XML C Technology for HP OpenVMS

This document is the Installation Guide and Release Notes for XML C Technology for HP OpenVMS Version 2.0-1, released in January 2005. It is based on Apache Xerces C Version 2.2.0 and Apache Xalan C Version 1.5.

Key Information:

• Purpose: Provides instructions for installing, configuring, building, and supporting the XML C Technology on HP OpenVMS systems, along with release notes for version 2.0-1.
• Platform Support: Available for OpenVMS Alpha (v7.3-2 or higher) and OpenVMS I64 (v8.2 or higher) platforms.

• Prerequisites:

  • Compaq C++ Version 6.5 or higher.
  • Crucially, installation requires an ODS-5 enabled disk due to long file names and deep directory structures.
  • Significant disk space is needed for the self-extracting ZIP file, expansion, and final installation (e.g., 136,831 to 182,330 blocks for Alpha, 334,577 to 397,546 for I64, depending on options).

• Installation Process:

  1. Remove Previous Versions: Any prior OpenVMS XML-C version must be uninstalled first.
  2. Download Kit: The kit is included with OpenVMS product distributions or downloadable from HP's website as a self-extracting ZIP file.
  3. Expand Kit: Extract the ZIP file (e.g., XML-C-2_0-1.EXE) into a directory on an ODS-5 disk.
  4. Install Kit: Run INSTALL_XML-C-2_0.COM (requires SYSNAM privilege). The installer prompts for an ODS-5 target directory and allows selection of specific XML components (Xerces, Xalan, sources) to install.

• Post-Installation:

  • Users must add logical name definitions (XML-C$ROOT, XERCES-C$ROOT, XALAN-C$ROOT) to SYS$MANAGER:SYLOGICALS.COM for persistent system-wide access after reboots.
  • An optional XML C Test Procedure (XML-C-2_0-TP) can be run to verify installation; parse times may vary from benchmarks, but element counts should match.

• Building XML C Sources:

  • Building from source is only necessary if modifying the code.
  • A full build is lengthy (several hours) and recommended as a batch job.
  • When building in a clustered environment, ensure logicals (XALAN-C$ROOT, XERCES-C$ROOT) are defined on the nodes executing the batch jobs.
  • Options for building include CLEAN (full rebuild) and DEBUG.
  • The kit provides object libraries (OLB) by default, but users can build and link against shareable images (XERCESSHR, XMLSHR). HP notes that while shareable images offer benefits, relinking might still be required for future XML-C releases due to its open-source nature.

• Release Notes (Changes from Version 2.0 to 2.0-1):

  • XML-C Documentation has been removed; users are directed to Apache Xerces C and Xalan C websites.
  • Separate kits are now provided for Alpha and I64 platforms.
  • The kit now ships object libraries (OLB) instead of shareable images (shareable images can still be built by the user).
  • Includes two Xerces and one Xalan sample.
  • Removed the requirement for a C compiler and the HP Secure Web Server for OpenVMS.

• Support: Provided through existing HP OpenVMS service agreements, informal support via comp.os.vms newsgroup, and technical feedback via email to OpenVMS.eBusiness@hp.com.