OpenVMS Technical Journal V10, June 2007

This issue of the OpenVMS Technical Journal (V10, June 2007) features six articles covering various aspects of the OpenVMS operating system. Key topics include:

1. Migration Strategies: Details a phased, low-risk approach for migrating applications from older VAX and Alpha systems to HP Integrity servers (Itanium architecture) running OpenVMS. This involves leveraging OpenVMS's unique features like mixed-architecture clustering and binary translation, with a five-step process covering qualification, binary image translation, data format normalization, source code updates, and native recompilation.
2. OpenVMS Customer Support: Addresses HP's initiatives to strengthen OpenVMS customer support following outsourcing. Strategies include comprehensive training, mentorship, 24x7 global collaboration, and dedicated project leaders to ensure high-quality service and efficient problem resolution.
3. Java on OpenVMS: Dispels common myths regarding Java's performance, adaptation, and portability on OpenVMS. Benchmarks demonstrate that Java performs competitively, is well-adapted to OpenVMS (though file system I/O can be a bottleneck), and perceived portability issues often stem from UNIX-centric development rather than core incompatibilities.
4. Web Application Environment: Describes the successful implementation of a web application maintenance and testing environment for a legacy DIBOL application on OpenVMS. It highlights solutions for managing multiple application versions and supporting diverse web servers (OSU, SWS, WASD Apache) simultaneously, using logical names, CGI procedures, and virtual host configurations.
5. DCL Simplification: Explores how DCL (Digital Command Language) symbol assignments can simplify OpenVMS procedure development, improve maintainability, and enhance the user interface. An example procedure, SET_ATTRIBUTES.COM, is presented for centralizing definitions of common commands, VT escape sequences, and process information.
6. T4 Performance Tool: Reviews the evolution and benefits of the T4 (Total Timeline Tracking Tool) approach for OpenVMS performance management. It demonstrates how T4, combined with tools like TLViz and CSVPNG, provides powerful visualization and analysis of system performance trend data, aiding in diagnostics, planning system upgrades, and optimizing consolidations.