VSI-I64VMS-OPENJDK80-V0800-222-1-RNOTES.PDF

This document outlines the Release Notes for OpenJDK 8 for VSI OpenVMS I64, dated June 9, 2020. This is a free and open-source implementation of the Java Platform, Standard Edition (Java SE), based on the OpenJDK 8u222 distribution. It is designed to develop and run Java-based programs on VSI OpenVMS I64 Version 8.4-2L1 with the latest updates.

Key improvements and fixed problems in this release include:

• Resolution of unexpected OpenVMS debugger starts and incomplete Java crash dumps.
• Improvements in child process creation and inherited I/O handling.
• Fixes for various file system path resolution issues (IfExists(), toRealPath()).
• Correction of atomic operation errors and incorrect JVM exit status values.
• Changes to JVM options (UseCompressedOops is always false; TypeProfileLevel has limited values).
• Enabling of several C RTL features to improve system behavior.

Compatibility and migration notes highlight significant differences, especially when moving from Oracle Java 6 for HPE OpenVMS:

• Exclusive 64-bit pointers: Requires C/C++ JNI application code to be recompiled with /POINTER_SIZE=64 and relinked.
• Increased case sensitivity: File names, particularly for .java and .class files, are more case-sensitive, with UNIX-style syntax generally preferred.
• Logical name changes: JAVA$ENABLE_ENVIRONMENT_EXPANSION is implicitly handled, and JAVA$FILENAME_CONTROLS now defaults to "8". JAVA$FORK_PIPE_STYLE no longer supports the value "2" (sockets).
• AWT Headless Mode: java.awt.headless defaults to "true"; must be explicitly set to "false" for AWT graphical user interfaces.
• No debug versions of images are provided due to the size of HotSpot JVM.

System Requirements for OpenJDK 8 for VSI OpenVMS I64 include:

• VSI OpenVMS Version 8.4-2L1 with specific update kits (VMS842L1IUPDATE-V0100, VMS842L1IDPML-V0100, VMS82L1_RTL-V0200).
• Installation on an ODS-5-enabled file system.
• DECWindows Motif V1.5 or higher.
• OpenVMS internationalization data kit (VMSI18N) for the Java debugger (jdb).
• Enabled kernel support for Thread Manager upcalls.
• A supported TCP/IP stack (VSI, HPE, or MultiNet TCP/IP).

Installation is performed using the compressed OpenVMS PCSI kit (VSI-I64VMS-OPENJDK80-V0800-222-1.PCSI$COMPRESSED) via $ PRODUCT INSTALL OPENJDK80, followed by executing @SYS$STARTUP:OPENJDK$SETUP.COM.

Known issues and limitations include:

• jdb fails with "UTF ERROR" if VMSI18N is not installed.
• OpenJDK does not operate correctly if set process/case=sensitive is executed, or if DECC$FILENAME_UNIX_ONLY or DECC$DISABLE_TO_VMS_LOGNAME_TRANSLATION logical names are defined.
• Defining JAVA$FILE_OPEN_MODE to "3" is deprecated and can cause application problems.
• Incompatibility with HPE Secure Web Browser for OpenVMS and the Availability Manager Analyser kit.
• JAVA$DAEMONIZE_MAIN_THREAD is deprecated as it's now default behavior.
• A new logical name, JAVA$XCOMP_SAFE_MODE, can be used to prevent ACCVIO crashes when using the -Xcomp option, at a minor performance cost.
• JVM crash logs are created in SYS$SCRATCH.