distnetbeans iguide relnotes

This document is the Installation Guide and Release Notes for HP Distributed NetBeans for OpenVMS Version 6.5.1, released in June 2010. It details the setup and configuration of a client-server development environment designed for OpenVMS.

Key Components:

• Distributed NetBeans Client for OpenVMS: A plug-in for NetBeans 6.5 running on a desktop system (tested on Windows, expected to work on MAC-OS, Linux, HP-UX).
• IDE Server for OpenVMS: Runs on OpenVMS Alpha or I64, providing remote development services to the client.
• Communication between client and server is encrypted using SSL.

Installation & Prerequisites:

• Client: Requires NetBeans 6.5 (from NetBeans.org) and Java Standard Edition v jdk1.5.0_17 or higher on the desktop. The client plug-in (.nbm file) is installed via the NetBeans plug-in wizard.
• IDE Server (OpenVMS Alpha/I64):
  • Hardware: Minimum 500MHz processor, 256MB RAM, 2000 blocks free disk space (ODS-5 required for Java SDK).
  • Software: OpenVMS Version 8.2+, Software Development Kit (SDK) v 1.4.2-7+ for Java Platform, required ECOs, HP TCP/IP Services (V5.4+ for Alpha, V5.5+ for I64) with FTP Service enabled and started. Optional 3GL compilers (BASIC, C/C++, FORTRAN, COBOL, PASCAL) are supported.
  • Installation: The server is installed on OpenVMS using a PCSI kit (PRODUCT INSTALL IDESERVER), typically from a privileged account.

Post-Installation Configuration:

• Startup/Shutdown: Modify OpenVMS system startup/shutdown files to include IDE$STARTUP.COM and IDE$SHUTDOWN.COM.
• Accounts & Quotas: Requires specific OpenVMS system parameters (e.g., CHANNELCNT >= 2000) and disk quotas for the IDE$SERVER account (200,000 blocks if disk quotas are enabled) and remote IDE$USER accounts (e.g., WSEXTENT >= 30000, JTQUOTA >= 60000, PGFLQUO >= 500000).
• Logical Names: Several logical names can be defined (e.g., IDE$JDK_VERSION to force a Java SDK version, IDE$RMI_PORT to change the RMI port, IDE$HOST_IPNAME for multi-Ethernet systems) to control server behavior.
• Processes: The IDE Server operates as IDE$SERVER, starting IDE$RMIREG. User connections create IDE$USER_xxxxxx detached processes, which may not inherit all LOGIN.COM definitions.

Release Notes & Known Problems:

• Version: This release, 6.5.1, explicitly supports NetBeans 6.5; NetBeans 5.5.1 is no longer supported.
• Workaround: When migrating from NetBeans 5.5.1, install the Distributed NetBeans 6.5.1 client module after importing old settings to prevent errors.
• Networking: NAT routers and multiple Ethernet cards require specific java.rmi.server.hostname and IDE$HOST_IPNAME configurations respectively to avoid connection issues.
• Ant: Apache Ant 1.6.5 is included, but the <delete> tag in build-impl.xml may require modification.
• Restrictions: No CMS support; remote projects cannot be created in directories containing NBPROJECT folders; SYS$LOGIN cannot be a remote root.
• FTP: Windows 7/Vista real-time protection can slow FTP; closing a remote project does not always close the FTP File System Node.

Corrected Problems:

• Improved FTP exception recovery.
• Fixed errors when the Remote IDE server was not initially added to the Services Tab.
• Resolved an IllegalStateException during "Add Remote Watch" actions.
• Reduced unnecessary logging and improved remote directory selection speed.

Software Support: HP provides official support for Distributed NetBeans on OpenVMS Alpha and I64 through service agreements. Community support is available via NetBeans user groups and OpenVMS newsgroups, with an HP engineering team contact email provided.