DECNETOSI ALPHA REL NOTES.PDF

This document summarizes the Release Notes for DECnet/OSI Version 7.0 for OpenVMS, released in November 1995, detailing new features, upgrade information, known problems, and workarounds.

Key New Features:

• 64-bit Virtual Address Support: For Alpha systems, allowing applications to use the DECnet/OSI $QIO interface with buffers in extended address space. Existing 32-bit applications do not require recompilation.
• Enhanced DECNET_REGISTER: Now supports importing and exporting into a Phase IV database.
• New Cluster Configuration Options: Added for configuring satellite nodes and cluster script locations.
• NET$MGMT: Full X.25 entity set support.
• Networking Performance: Node abbreviations/nicknames and reverse path caching introduced.
• OSAK Software: Includes support for the OSAK Application Programming Interface (API) and a new OSI Session Programming Interface (SPI).
• FTAM: Version 3.2 API changes and DAP/FTAM gateway append function support.

Upgrade and Installation Considerations:

• Requires OpenVMS Version 7.0.
• Upgrading from DECnet/OSI V5.7 on Alpha systems may remove DECnet/OSI identifiers from RIGHTSLIST.DAT, requiring manual re-granting or pre-installation of ECO2.
• Users migrating the DEC X.25 Client from Phase IV must install the dedicated DEC X.25 product for DECnet/OSI.
• NET$CONFIGURE.COM must be reinvoked after installation to properly configure directory services.
• Phase IV database and object migration expects NETNODE_REMOTE.DAT and NETOBJECT.DAT to be in SYS$COMMON:[SYSEXE].
• Installation using POLYCENTER with the /REMOTE qualifier is not supported for DECnet/OSI.

Known Problems, Restrictions, and Workarounds:

• MOP (Maintenance Operation Protocol): On Alpha V7.0, MOP requires setting the SYSGEN MULTITHREAD parameter to 0, which disables kernel threads systemwide.
• Network Management: NET$SHUTDOWN.COM can hang with FDDI routing circuits (workaround: manually disable/delete circuits) and may cause premature disconnections when invoked remotely.
• DECdtm Services: Not supported on OpenVMS VAX Version 6.0 for DECnet/OSI.
• OSI Transport: Connections to non-conformant systems may fail; a workaround involves disabling specific parameter sending in the Connection Request TPDU. The default for "Congestion Avoidance" is now disabled due to potential performance impact in multiprotocol networks.
• DECdns: Server software is not available for Alpha systems. A critical limitation is that server processes can crash if a group contains more than 100 members; limiting to 75 members or using subgroups is recommended. DNS Clerk startup hangs due to buffer limits can be resolved by increasing the /BUFFER_LIMIT. Incompatibilities between DNS V1 and DECdns V2 servers for large directories require a configuration switch to disable updates.
• Programming: Applications must explicitly wait for Connect Accept completion, differing from Phase IV behavior. The CMISE API has stricter functional unit validation. The OSAK API does not support the session disconnect timer or session segmentation.
• FTAM: Fixed files (FTAM-3) have a 6.5K record size restriction.

The document also provides details on configuring routing modes, X.25 access filters, managing DECdns and DECdts resources (e.g., PAGEDYN), and clarifies specific documentation points and error messages.