cswbs relnotes alpha

This document provides an installation guide and release notes for the HP Secure Web Browser (SWB) for OpenVMS Alpha, based on SeaMonkey V1.1.12, released in February 2009.

Key Information:

1. Prerequisites:

   • Hardware: OpenVMS Alpha or Integrity servers, with a recommendation to start the SWB before other color-intensive applications on 8-plane video systems.
   • Disk Space: Requires significant disk space (80,511 blocks compressed, 150,000 expanded for the PCSI kit, plus additional for GTK+ and OpenVMS Porting Library).
   • Memory: Minimum 256 MB, with 512 MB recommended for robust performance.
   • Software: OpenVMS Alpha V7.3-2+, DECwindows MOTIF V1.5 ECO3+, HP TCP/IP Services V5.4+. Java Development Kit (JDK) v5.0-5+ is optional for Java plug-in support. Local files must be in Stream_LF record format.
   • System Resources: Adequate Account Quotas (PGFLQUOTA, FILLM) and System Parameters (PROCSECTCNT, WSEXTENT/WSMAX) are crucial to prevent startup failures or performance issues. Installing Secure Web Browser images is the preferred solution for process section shortages.

2. Installation:

   • The SWB kit is a self-extracting archive containing PCSI kits for the browser, GTK+, and OpenVMS Porting Library (OPL). GTK+ and OPL are automatically installed if not already present or up-to-date.
   • Installation is performed using the PRODUCT INSTALL CSWB command into a top-level directory.
   • An optional INSTALL.COM script can be used to install SWB images, improving system resource utilization and performance, especially for multiple users, and mitigating process section problems.

3. Running the Browser:

   • The SWB is a full-featured browser, including Navigator (web browser), Composer (HTML editor), Messenger (mail client), and Newsgroups client.
   • It is invoked using @SYS$COMMON:[CSWB]MOZILLA.
   • Requires approximately 336 global pages and one global section to run.

4. Release Notes & Known Problems:

   • GTK+ and OPL are included in the self-extracting kit since V1.4.
   • IPv6 support is disabled by default since V1.2-1 due to potential GENERIC_POLL messages and frequent hangs when enabled. It can be manually enabled if needed.
   • Java plug-in support requires JDK v5.0-5+ and specific setup steps.
   • Integration with the CDE desktop is possible, allowing the browser to be launched from an icon.
   • Known Issues: Includes problems with non-privileged users failing to start (due to incorrect file protection on COMPREG.DAT), mail folders not displaying if FILLM quota is low, mail sub-folder issues (V1.2-1 and earlier), browser exiting when switching full-screen mode (V1.2-1 and earlier), and various resource-related startup errors with detailed troubleshooting steps (e.g., increasing virtual memory for DECwindows X server, adjusting quotas).

5. FAQs & Support:

   • Addresses common questions such as differences from Netscape/Mozilla (SWB is HP-supported), Java support, no VAX platform support, coexistence with Mozilla, changing date formats, and keyboard mapping.
   • Support is provided under existing OpenVMS service agreements, with informal help available through the comp.os.vms newsgroup and a dedicated HP web form for technical feedback.