HP OpenVMS Version 8.2-1 for Integrity Servers New Features and Release Notes

This document, "HP OpenVMS Version 8.2-1 for Integrity Servers New Features and Release Notes" (September 2005), details the new functionalities and important operational notes for the OpenVMS I64 Version 8.2-1 operating system.

Key New Features include:

• Expanded Hardware Support: Integration with new HP Integrity server platforms (rx7620, rx8620, Superdome) leveraging the sx1000 Chipset, and enhanced support for nPartitions.
• Improved Clustering: Increased OpenVMS I64 cluster node limit to 96 (including mixed Alpha/I64 clusters) and introduction of shared SCSI storage for two-node I64 cluster systems.
• New InfoServer Utility: Enables creation of virtual disk services (for DVDs, SCSI, Fibre Channel, CDs, and partitions) and supports network booting from a virtual DVD drive.
• Debugging and System Analysis Tools: Availability of HP DELTA and System Code Debugger (SCD), improvements to the OpenVMS Debugger (C++ and Ada support, Heap Analyzer), a new System Dump Analyzer (SDA) command (FC PERFORMANCE) for Fibre Channel I/O, and the COLLECT command for dump analysis. Ctrl/P on consoles now invokes the IPC utility.
• Memory and Power Management: Support for larger granularity hints for memory-resident sections on I64 platforms (up to 4GB page sizes) and a new power-saving feature that places idle CPUs in low-power mode.
• Licensing and Traceback: A PPL (Per Processor License) units assignment tool and a new TBK$I64_SYMBOLIZE routine for the Traceback facility to correlate executable PC values with source code.
• Linker Utility Enhancements: Significant changes for I64, including new qualifiers and options, different handling for overlaid program sections and relaxed reference/definition symbols, and support for ELF groups and UNIX-style weak symbols, alongside an enhanced linker map.

Important Release Notes and Considerations include:

• Compatibility: Disk incompatibility with OpenVMS versions prior to 7.2 and the necessity of removing the TIE (Translated Image Environment) Kit before upgrading.
• Booting and Firmware: Specific instructions for booting from installation DVDs, common cluster disks, and Fibre Channel devices, along with recommended firmware versions for Integrity servers.
• Networking: Details on supported networking options (DECnet, TCP/IP) and network update restrictions, particularly regarding auto-negotiation for network booting. Synchronous data links are not supported.
• Console and Graphics: Peripheral connection requirements for DECwindows Motif and the lack of VGA Console support for booting.
• System Configuration: Precautions when using the EFI Shell on shared or shadowed system disks and recommendations to turn off pool reclamation (NPAG_AGGRESSIVE and NPAG_GENTLE default to 100).
• Documentation Updates: Corrections and clarifications for various OpenVMS manuals, including details on the Librarian (increased object module name key length) and Linker utilities (noting future withdrawal of /EXPORT_SYMBOL_VECTOR and /PUBLISH_GLOBAL_SYMBOLS qualifiers).

The document also outlines the contents of the OpenVMS I64 Operating Environment DVD, OpenVMS Freeware CDs, and the Open Source Tools CD (featuring GNV, IAS, STUNNEL, GnuPG, GTK+), as well as product licensing information and available documentation.