DEC OSF1 3.0 Release Notes 199408

This document comprises the Release Notes for DEC OSF/1 Version 3.0, published by Digital Equipment Corporation in August 1994. It is intended for installers and users, outlining significant new features, changes, restrictions, and planned retirements of features and interfaces.

Key highlights include:

• New Features & Enhancements:

  • Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP) support for AXP systems.
  • A single set of kernel binaries for both uniprocessor and multiprocessor systems, including Realtime preemption.
  • Optional enhanced security features.
  • Improvements to kernel subsystem configuration allowing dynamic parameter changes without kernel rebuilds, and support for loadable device drivers.
  • Enhanced performance monitoring tools (uprofile, kprofile, pfm).
  • Expanded printer support for various models.
  • Development environment enhancements including thread support in debugging tools, compiler improvements (128-bit floating point, 32-bit pointers, multibyte character sets), and the new ATOM Advanced Developer's Kit.
  • Integration of the basic Logical Storage Manager (LSM) concatenation function as an optional subset, with advanced features requiring a separate license.
  • Significant Internationalization Enhancements, including kernel-level international keymapping.
  • POLYCENTER Common Agent as an optional subset and default SNMP agent.
  • Realtime changes to conform to POSIX P1003.4 Draft 14 (1003.1b) standards.
  • POLYCENTER Advanced File System (AdvFS), which can now be used as root, /usr, or /var, supports NFS Version 3 with 64-bit file access, and has an updated metadata version.
  • Network and Communications improvements, including NFSv3, enhanced NIS security, STREAMS-based Local Area Transport (LAT) protocol with SVR4 tty name support, and Data Link Bridge (dlb) support.
  • New X Server Extensions (Input, Image 5.0, Synchronization, Screen Saver, Access X) and other workstation-related changes.

• Key Changes & Restrictions:

  • Applications no longer have write access to the /usr file system; /var should be used instead.
  • cpio and tar commands are replaced by links to the pax utility, with older versions available optionally.
  • Kernel configuration files from earlier DEC OSF/1 versions are not compatible due to syntax changes for certain SCSI devices.
  • Specific firmware revisions are required for certain hardware components (e.g., Adaptec SCSI cards on Digital 2100 Servers, RZ26 devices).
  • Compatibility issues with older versions of certain layered products like DECsafe Available Server, DECnet/OSI, Digital Standard MUMPS (DSM), and Multimedia Services.
  • Detailed disk space requirements for various installation types are provided.
  • Issues with commands (nm, ex/vi, dump), system administration (kernel build failures without SCSI, adding swap devices), and programming environment (signal behavior, malloc issues, DECladebug problems) are noted.
  • Binary compatibility issues for network applications and applications linked against older shmctl/msgctl system calls or SCSI/CAM drivers require recompilation.
  • Several issues and workarounds are documented for the Window System software, including Motif clipboard interoperability, mwm error messages, and PostScript display problems.

• Features Scheduled for Retirement:

  • /bin/echo command's -n flag.
  • BSD tty name space.
  • Certain duplicated functions in libm and libc.
  • OSF/Motif Version 1.1.3 libraries.
  • XIE Version 3.0 X Server Extension.
  • Logical Volume Manager (LVM) interface (to be replaced by LSM).
  • POLYCENTER Common Agent Developer's Kit.
  • Obsolete POSIX Realtime functions (P1003.4 draft).
  • Ethernet Trailer Encapsulation.