From:	ELAB::PANETTA  "Ron Panetta, GE-ELAB, 8*256-2555  13-Nov-1990 1343" 13-NOV-1990 13:58:39.97
To:	@NETMGRS,@SYSMGRS
CC:	
Subj:	VMS V5.3-X bug that you might be interested in knowing about

Following is a VMS bug that Bob Sanguedolce encountered on his system
at Aircraft Engine (Lynn, MA). I though you might be interested in it.
Thanks Bob for passing the information along.

Ron
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From:	FOF107::SANGUEDOLCE  "Bob Sanguedolce - Plant-III Systems" 13-NOV-1990 09:31:47.11
To:	ELAB::PANETTA
CC:	
Subj:	VMS 5.3-X Bug Report


Ron,

	The following is a report of a bug that we discovered in DEC VMS
Ver 5.3-X that does not appear to be widely publicized by Digital. I thought
you might be interested in this report and please pass it on through your
various mailing lists.

	DEC VMS Ver 5.3-X has a bug which causes an immediate system crash
if any type of access (COPY, DIRECTORY, BACKUP, OPEN, etc) is made to a
directory file that is larger than about 1800 blocks. These directory files
hold directory information and structure (files with the name *.DIR) NOT data,
text, or executable files within a directory. In VMS 5.2, DEC stated
that directory files can now exceed 1024 blocks in size (VMS 5.2 Release Notes,
Page 4-31).                              

	However, access to a directory file that is larger than about 1800
blocks causes an immediate system crash. Remember that access to a directory
file is also made whenever you access any of the files within that directory
for reading, writing, or almost anything.

	One of the more common ways that a directory file will get this large 
is if you have an application that creates a great number of log or data files
and does not purge them.

	If you contact DEC in Colorado (if you have RDC support on your
system) they have a patch for this problem that they can download to your
system. The fault is in the F11BXQP system file. To my knowledge, DEC has
NOT stated whether or not this problem is corrected in VMS 5.4.

Bob Sanguedolce
Systems Manager

GE Aircraft Engines - Factory of the Future
Mail Zone 100MA
1000 Western Avenue
Lynn, MA 01910

Telephone (617) 594 -6572   8*263-6572