vms732-cvrlet

This document is a cover letter from Hewlett-Packard announcing the release of HP OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.3-2, available as of October 2003. HP emphasizes its commitment to providing advanced functionality and high-quality products.

Key highlights of the release include:

• New Features:

  • Inherits all features from OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.3-1.
  • Enhancements to SAN offerings, system availability, I/O and SMP performance, and security.
  • System and application performance improvements (e.g., Fast Path for LAN/PEdriver, XFC enhancements, Smart Array 53xx series adapter support).
  • Enhanced security features, including integration of Common Data Security Architecture (CDSA) Version 2.0, Kerberos V5 2.0, HP SSL Version 1.1-A (based on OpenSSL), and Authentication and Credentials Management Extensions (ACME).
  • UNIX® portability features, with improved security for porting UNIX-style applications.
  • Numerous system management features, such as changes to the Backup utility, Dynamic Volume Expansion (DVE), Error Log Viewer (ELV), LAN Failover, HP Volume Shadowing with Dissimilar Device Shadowing (DDS), HP StorageWorks Modular SAN array 1000 support, and the USB Configuration Manager (UCM) utility.
  • New hardware support for AlphaServer DS15, ES47, ES80, GS1280 systems, and ATI RADEON 7500 2D/3D graphics.
  • Inclusion of HP Secure Web Browser (Mozilla-based) and HP Secure Web Server (Apache-based).

• OpenVMS Freeware Version 6.0: Included on CD-ROMs, provided "as is" without HP warranty or support. Users must check original authors' restrictions.

• Service Support & Tools: Provides remedial fixes for the OpenVMS 7.3 family. HP Service Tools include WEBES (for most AlphaServers) and DECevent (for GS60/GS140 platforms).
• Documentation: Online documentation is provided on two CD-ROMs (Files-11 and ISO 9660 formats) in HTML and PDF. Users are directed to consult specific guides before installation.
• Software Product Descriptions (SPDs): Available on the distribution media and online, with subscription services for layered products.
• OpenVMS Source Listings Kit: Available on CD-ROM with debug symbols, requiring a separate license for viewing.

Important Release Notes and Warnings:

• Dual-Controller HSGnn Crash: Under heavy I/O loads, HSGnn storage arrays with many LUNs can crash due to a timing limit. Workarounds (reducing LUNs or distributing I/O) are suggested, and HP is investigating.
• Firmware: HP recommends upgrading to the latest platform-specific firmware (e.g., Alpha Systems Firmware CD-ROM Version 6.5 or 6.6+) before upgrading OpenVMS.
• DECwindows LBX/XPROXY Help: Specific post-installation commands are required to load help files for Low-Bandwidth X applications.
• DECwindows Race Condition: A timing issue may cause a race condition in DECwindows Motif applications displaying continuous output, leading to a compute-bound loop. Workarounds include activating an input device or running applications over DECnet/TCP/IP.
• PWDMIX UAF Flag: When setting mixed-case passwords, two separate MODIFY operations are required (one for the PWDMIX flag, one for the password) to avoid issues, a bug to be fixed in a future release.
• Galaxy Support: OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.3-2 support for Galaxy on AlphaServer ES47/ES80/GS1280 systems is still undergoing testing; users should check the HP website for the latest status.