OVMS V62 NEW FEATURES.PDF

This document, the "OpenVMS Version 6.2 New Features Manual" from May 1995, details the new functionalities and enhancements introduced in OpenVMS VAX Version 6.2 and OpenVMS Alpha Version 6.2 operating systems.

Key new features cover:

1. General User Features:

   • Bundling of an OpenVMS Freeware disc with various tools and utilities.
   • Automatic foreign commands from DCL by searching specified directories.
   • Enhancements to several DCL commands, including new qualifiers for TCP/IP functions.
   • Support for Internet format user addresses in Mail.
   • Addition of the VALUE keyword to the Sort/Merge Utility.

2. System Management Features:

   • Introduction of OpenVMS Management Station, a Microsoft Windows-based tool for account management across multiple OpenVMS systems.
   • Significant VMScluster system enhancements, including:
     • SCSI interconnect support as a shared storage interconnect for multiple Alpha systems, with detailed configuration, installation, troubleshooting, and hot-plugging procedures.
     • Support for multiple-site VMScluster systems spanning long distances (up to 150 miles) using ATM, DS3, and FDDI WAN communication services.
     • New LANCP utility for booting VMScluster satellite nodes without requiring DECnet.
     • DECnet software is no longer a prerequisite for VMScluster operations.
     • Support for TMSCP served SCSI tapes.
     • Enhanced support for HSJ, HSC, and HSD series controller failover.
     • Introduction of "warranted" and "migration" VMScluster system configurations.
   • Volume Shadowing improvements, such as geometry-based device recognition, increased limits on disks in shadow sets, and StorageWorks RAID Array subsystem support.
   • AUTOGEN changes for SYSMWCNT computation, autoconfigure prevention, and DECnet parameter overrides.
   • New and changed system parameters.
   • A new Backup Manager providing a screen-oriented interface to the BACKUP utility, and BACKUP now supports up to 32 directory levels and a /[NO]ALIAS qualifier.
   • Introduction of two proxy authorization files (NETPROXY.DAT and NET$PROXY.DAT) and a Security Server process for intrusion/proxy database management.
   • New LAT system management features and a /NO_SHARE qualifier for LICENSE MODIFY.
   • Options for choosing languages and date/time formats for SHOW commands.
   • OPCOM changes including selected operator classes and new field names.
   • Ability to erase old home blocks using ANALYZE/DISK_STRUCTURE /HOMEBLOCKS.
   • Ability to install or upgrade OpenVMS from a running Alpha system to a target disk.
   • Inclusion of selected layered products (like POSIX, DECwindows Motif, TCP/IP Services) and all online documentation on the OpenVMS CD-ROM distribution kit.

3. Programming Features:

   • DECnet/OSI full name support (for Alpha systems) and related run-time routines and system services.
   • New LAN programming features for OpenVMS Alpha, including new devices, drivers, and configuration procedures for ISA devices.
   • New LAT programming features for $QIO function modifiers and SENSEMODE/SETMODE arguments.
   • Numerous system services changes and enhancements for intrusion database, proxy database, cluster event notification, and Persona System Services for impersonation.
   • OpenVMS Alpha support for SCSI-2 devices, specifically tagged command queuing.
   • Availability of the C++ RTL object library in SYS$LIBRARY:STARLET.OLB.
   • A new linker option RMS_RELATED_CONTEXT= for controlling RMS-related name context processing.

4. DEC C XPG4 Localization Utilities:

   • New XPG4-compliant utilities for managing internationalization data, including GENCAT (for message catalogs), ICONV COMPILE/CONVERT (for character set conversions), and LOCALE COMPILE/LOAD/UNLOAD/SHOW (for locale management).

The document is intended for general users, system managers, and programmers, providing detailed information on these new capabilities.