From: STAR::REL_MGMT "31-May-1996 1647" 31-MAY-1996 16:53:56.40 To: @DISTRIBUTION CC: Subj: OpenVMS Release Management Newsletter May 31, 1996 Welcome to the OpenVMS Release Management Newsletter! Our aim is to keep you informed about OpenVMS releases. Please send questions or comments to STAR::REL_MGMT, which forwards mail to the entire OpenVMS release management staff. This newsletter contains the following updates: Summary of Planned Releases Gryphon Release Status Goblin Release Status V7.0 Threads SDK Status Layered Product Updates ============================ Summary of Planned Releases: ============================ GRYPHON - OpenVMS V7.1 - Mid-Q2 FY97 SSB Submission TSUNAMI - OpenVMS V?.? - 2nd half 1997 SSB Submission GOBLIN - OpenVMS V6.2-1H3 - May 1996 (Lynx EV45 and EV5, RMLynxLP, Sable, Gamma, Rawhide Dodge, Noritake, Mikasa, Chinet, Maverick, Mustang LX3+, Alcor, ALPHAbook 1 Laptop, TurboLaser, EB64+, EB164, KZPSA/SCSI clusters on all PCI-based AlphaServers, KZTSA/SCSI clusters on TURBOchannel DEC 3000 workstations, CIPCA on Mid-Range AlphaServers and TurboLaser, KFPSA on all PCI-based AlphaServers, KZPDA on Low-End and Mid-Range AlphaServers, S3 Trio32/64 graphics card) NOTE: In general, we will plan for a separate Hardware release every quarter. To maximize revenue potential for that quarter, we will aim to support H/W by the middle of the quarter, unless otherwise directed. There is currently no planned Q1 H/W release, however. ====================== Gryphon (OpenVMS V7.1) ====================== GENERAL: We plan to begin FT1 Qualification on 6/13/96 and submit to the SSB on 6/27/96. We are presently in a validation and stabilization phase of the release. Several projects in the cluster space are in twenty day validation phases, expected to complete by 6/10/96. The major risk to the FT1 schedule is now meeting our FT1 Doneness Criteria for QARs. These criteria are: No FT1 SS QARs No QARs in the OP state No QARs in the OP state No QARs rated > 60 that have not been analyzed and understood by the Gryphon QAR team for relevance to FT1. These criteria are somewhat more restrictive than those used in previous releases, and the Gryphon Team requests everyone's assistance in meeting these goals! (Thanks!) We have integrated over 50 projects and closed over 1200 QARs in this release, to date. We presently have 27 field test sites lined up, complete project coverage for field test site, and expect to have 100% directed field test coverage. We plan to hold a one day field test training for internal and external site contacts on June 10/11. The internal milestones for the balance of the release will be re-assessed after we ship to FT1. We are taking into consideration the need to ship Oracle support functionality in FT2. NEXT MAJOR MILESTONE: Begin FT1 Qual on 6/13/96 SCHEDULE: Jun 13 = FT1 Qual Begins Jun 27 = FT1 SSB Submit FT2 milestone is being designed Nov, 1996 = Final SSB Submit CONTACTS: Project Manager: CJ Coppersmith (STAR::COPPERSMITH) Project Leader: Karen Marion (EVMS::MARION) Product Manager: Mary Jane Vazquez (STAR::VAZQUEZ) LP Coordinator: Sue Avery (EVMS::AVERY) ============================= GOBLIN H/W Release (V6.2-1H3) ============================= HIGHLIGHTS: Goblin shipped to FIS and SSB this month. 1H3 was FIS ready on May 28 and SSB ready on May 29! In addition to the hardware support provided in Zombie (V6.2-1H2), Goblin introduces new OpenVMS Alpha support for the following: - Rawhide Dodge (AlphaServer 4100 5/300) (AlphaServer 4100E 5/300) - KFPSA (PCI-DSSI cluster) - CIPCA (CI-PCI cluster) - KZPSA/SCSI Clusters - EB164 reference platform design for Aspen clone systems - KZPSA/SCSI Clusters support extended to Rawhide and TurboLaser Pending successful Systems Options Qual, the following are also expected to be supported in Goblin once they FRS: - Pinnacle/Noritake (AlphaServer 1000A 5/266) - Pinnacle/Mikasa (AlphaServer 1000 5/266) - Bret (DSR, EV56 AlphaStation) - Corelle (DSR, EV56 Low-End AlphaServer) - Primo Noritake (DSR, EV56 AlphaServer 1000A) NEXT MAJOR MILESTONE: None. DECISIONS REACHED: Readiness review was held and passed on May 21. A fix for referencing H/W type (EV56) was accepted. This will allow Primo to be a DSR. SCHEDULE: MILESTONE SCHEDULE START PLANNED ACTUAL Rawhide SSB Schedule SSB pre-Qual start 4/18 4/26 5/2 SSB final Qual start 4/23 5/8 5/8 SSB final Qual complete 5/1 5/21 5/16 Pinnacle EFT pre-Qual start 3/29 5/2 Qual start 5/8 5/8 Qual end 5/17 5/16 Goblin support of Pinnacle 5/21 5/21 readiness review Other non-P0 projects SSB pre-Qual start 4/5 4/8 SSB Qual start project-specific SSB Qual end 5/17 Advance Goblin kit to FIS 4/29 5/15 5/15 Advance Goblin kit to SSB 4/29 5/15 5/15 Goblin SSB readiness review 4/30 5/21 5/21 Goblin SSB Submit 5/1 5/21 5/15 Goblin FIS ready by... 5/15 5/29 5/28 Goblin SSB ready by... 5/15 5/29 5/29 CONTACTS: Release Manager: Susan Lindeberg (STAR::SLINDEBERG) Release Project Leader: Jim McLaughlin (STAR::JMCLAUGHLIN) Builder: Lori Desmarais (STAR::DESMARAIS) Release Product Manager: Bill Hanley (STAR::HANLEY) ======================= V7.0 Threads Update/SDK ======================= GENERAL: Pre-integration testing of the final DECthreads changes looks good. We have one outstanding Show-stopper Debugging in a kernel threads environment and an application crash at Reuters that needs investigating. The current plan is to release the Threads Update as an SDK on June 14th. The primary distribution mechanism will be via download from the Internet. A CD kit will be produced, but it will be available only upon request. Distribution of full multiple kernel threads functionality to the entire customer base will occur as part of the Gryphon release. As distributed, the Threads Update kit does not enable multiple kernel threads (or upcalls), by default. Image header bits control multiple kernel threads and upcalls. These bits may be set via a linker switch or by using a new utility program (THREADCP). SCHEDULE: Final Checkins Complete 6/03 Release via internet 6/14 Submit to SSB 6/14 CONTACTS: Project Manager: Brian Allison (STAR::BALLISON) Project Leader: Mary Sullivan (EVMS::SULLIVAN) Product Manager: Ric Raymond (STAR::RRAYMOND) LP Coordinator: Sue Avery (EVMS::AVERY) ================ LAYERED PRODUCTS ================ EAGLE/THETA THREADS UPDATE GENERAL INFORMATION: On May 8, we announced the availability of the Threads Update EFT kit and asked owners of threaded LPs to test it out. The kit allows you to enable upcalls and multiple kernel threads, and is available on BULOVA in the following location: Directory BULOVA::ALPHA$KITS:[V70_THREADS_EFT] ALPHATHREADS070.A;2 23346 8-MAY-1996 12:40:52.00 ALPHATHREADS070.RELEASE_NOTES;1 21 8-MAY-1996 12:36:07.00 ALPHATHREADS070_RELEASE_NOTES.PS;1 90 8-MAY-1996 12:36:26.00 Total of 3 files, 23457 blocks. Note that this kit should be used on Alpha machines running OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.0. We're using the EVMS-THETA-UPD QAR database to track problems related to using the new threading features or side effects/regressions introduced by the new kit. Please continue to use EVMS-GRYPHON for generic OpenVMS Alpha V7 reports. GRYPHON GENERAL INFO/HIGHLIGHTS: Responses to the recently circulated V5.5-2 to V7.1 upgrade proposal have been favorable. (The proposal dealt with an upgrade path that would more easily move customers from V5.5-2 to V7.1. We asked LP groups to assess the impact on their products.) At this point, a full investigation of the operating system impact/work has to be conducted in order to fully understand the scope and feasibility of the proposal. You can expect to read more about this in the future. We've also been getting responses to a proposal to remove the Motif GUI from PCSI. Although a final decision hasn't been reached yet, the responses confirm our thoughts that removing the GUI is the right thing to do. We'll communicate the decision as soon as possible. Remember that layered products and tools are invited to participate in the Internet effort for field test. If you would like to place a Gryphon-compatible kit on the Internet for field test, contact STAR::AVERY. GENERAL INFO/HIGHLIGHTS: REMINDER: Tables that show the layered products that are compatible with OpenVMS V7.0 are located here: http://www.openvms.digital.com Once on the OpenVMS home page, click on Literature and then look for the Software Public Rollout Reports. Separate reports are published for the VAX and Alpha platforms. The reports are updated monthly to reflect new and revised product submissions.