From: SMTP%"RELAY-INFO-VAX@CRVAX.SRI.COM" 13-APR-1994 15:31:37.95 To: EVERHART CC: Subj: DEC Apr 12th Announcement: VMSclusters for OpenVMS V6.1 X-Newsgroups: comp.os.vms From: ramsey@cua.edu (Betsy Ramsey) Subject: DEC Apr 12th Announcement: VMSclusters for OpenVMS V6.1 Message-ID: Sender: ramsey@news.cua.edu (Betsy Ramsey) Organization: The Catholic University of America Date: Wed, 13 Apr 1994 14:54:30 GMT Lines: 129 To: Info-VAX@CRVAX.SRI.COM X-Gateway-Source-Info: USENET This is from DEC's WWW server http://www.digital.com/. VAXcluster and VMScluster Software for OpenVMS V6.1 HIGHLIGHTS o Your choice of cluster solution is now architecture independent: Digital's industry leading VAXcluster and VMScluster systems are now functionally equivalent o Support for the KFMSB adapter means that VAX 7000 and VAX 10000 systems using DSSI as their cluster interconnect can now be upgraded to DEC 7000 AXP and DEC 10000 AXP systems o FDDI support is now available on all Alpha AXP systems and a wide range of VAX systems o System management of VAXcluster and VMScluster systems is enhanced through inclusion of the DEC Availability Manager for Distributed Systems (DECamds) in the VAXcluster and VMScluster software products PRODUCT DESCRIPTION With the release of VAXcluster Software for OpenVMS VAX V6.1 (SPD 29.78.XX) and VMScluster Software for OpenVMS AXP V6.1 (SPD 42.18.XX), you can now acquire affordable systems that offer high availability, leadership performance, and easy system management. The new features and benefits offered by these two products can be summarized as follows: o DEC Availability Manager for Distributed Systems -- DECamds features have been included in both cluster products, so users with a license for either VAXcluster or VMScluster software now have the right to the DECamds functionality. This functionality includes realtime monitoring, investigation, diagnosing, and correction capabilities. The driver portion runs in each node being monitored and directs its output to a centralized display. System level data can be analyzed at the display station, with corrective action proposed. Refer to the article in the March 14, 1994, issue of Digital's Customer Update for more information. o Cross-Architecture Satellite Booting -- Both software products provide support for performing cross-architecture satellite booting. This permits VAX boot nodes to provide boot service to AXP satellites, and AXP boot nodes to provide boot service to VAX satellites. This feature reduces the entry cost of adding Alpha AXP systems in existing VAXcluster systems. o Virtual I/O Cache -- V6.1 of OpenVMS AXP software supports virtual I/O caching. This enables portions of processor memory to be dynamically allocated to caching data read from storage devices. This is especially good for read-only files, such as images, and decreases the amount of system I/O bandwidth required. o TMSCP Server -- The TMSCP (Tape Mass Storage Control Protocol) server is now supported in Alpha AXP systems running the OpenVMS AXP operating system. All TMSCP compatible tapes locally connected to an AXP node are now available to all members of the VMScluster system, increasing resource sharing in these systems. o Increased System Support -- VMScluster Software for OpenVMS AXP V6.1 has been qualified to support more large systems in a VMScluster system: it supports any combination of up to 16 DEC 4000 AXP, DEC 7000 AXP, or DEC 10000 AXP systems. You can benefit significantly from the large increase in processing power thus available in a VMScluster configuration. The new limits equal those for similar VAX systems. The number of CIXCD adapters supported in a VMScluster system has been increased to 10. o Enhanced Adapter Support -- VMScluster Software for OpenVMS AXP V6.1 supports the KFMSB adapter. Alpha-ready VAX 7000 and VAX 10000 systems using the DSSI as their cluster interconnect can now be upgraded to DEC 7000 AXP and DEC 10000 AXP systems. This software also supports the DEFEA (EISA to FDDI) adapter, while VAXcluster Software for OpenVMS VAX V6.1 supports the new DEFQA (FDDI to Q-bus) and DEFTA (FDDI to TURBOchannel) adapters. This new support brings the benefits of FDDI, such as high bandwidth and clustering over a 40 kilometer distance, to more VAX and AXP systems. Summarizing the new adapter support: New Adapter Functionality Systems Benefited KFMSB XMI to DSSI DEC 7000/10000 AXP DEFQA Q-bus to FDDI VAX 3000/4000; DEC 3000/4000 AXP DEFTA TURBOchannel to FDDI DEC 3000 AXP; VAX 4000-90 DEFEA EISA to FDDI DEC 2000 AXP o New System Services -- Three new system services have been added to VMScluster Software for OpenVMS AXP V6.1. They provide for automatic notification when a node leaves or enters a VMScluster system. This feature enhances the performance of database systems, such as Rdb. For more information, refer to the systems services manual in the OpenVMS documentation set. o Mixed-Architecture VMScluster Systems -- These versions of VAXcluster and VMScluster software have been qualified for coexistence in mixed-architecture VMScluster systems. These versions can also run with other versions of VAXcluster software (back to V5.5-2) and VMScluster software (back to V1.5). Consult SPD 29.78.XX for specifics. o Volume Shadowing as System Integrated Product -- Volume shadowing will be distributed as a system integrated product beginning with OpenVMS AXP V6.1. This will simplify the distribution and installation of a product commonly used in VMScluster systems. o Functional Equivalence and Industry Leadership -- These releases of cluster software make VAXcluster and VMScluster systems functionally equivalent. You now have an architecturally independent choice for your cluster solution from Digital, including more configuration choices, better system management capabilities, and increased performance. AVAILABILITY AND ORDERING VAXcluster Software for OpenVMS VAX V6.1 will be available at the end of this month. VMScluster Software for OpenVMS AXP V6.1 will be available in May. Order No. Description VAXcluster Software for OpenVMS VAX: QL-VBR**-AA Traditional license QT-VBR**-L9 Layered Product Support service QL-VBR**-RA Update license VMScluster Software for OpenVMS AXP: QL-MUZ**-AA Traditional license QT-MUZ**-L9 Layered Product Support service QL-MUZ**-RA Update license