=:The OpenVMS Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)C

The OpenVMS Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)



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13.4 Where can I get Java for OpenVMS?



GJava is available on and is included with OpenVMS Alpha, starting with Bthe OpenVMS Alpha V7.2 and later releases. Java download kits are 4available for OpenVMS Alpha V7.1 and later releases.

DJava is not available on OpenVMS VAX. As for why: the Java language Fdefinition requires a floating point format (IEEE) that is not native Cto VAX, and this would require the emulation of all floating point Hoperations within Java applications. Further, the C source code used to Himplement for Java itself is heavily dependent on passing IEEE floating Dpoint values around among the many internal subroutines, and adding Fsupport for VAX would entail changes to the HP C compiler for OpenVMS HVAX---and specifically to the VAX VCG code generator that is used by HP ?C on OpenVMS VAX systems---in order to add support for passing DIEEE-format floating point doubles around. Alternatively, extensive Bchanges to the Java source code to remove the assumption that the 'double is an IEEE floating point value.

EThere are currently no plans to make a version of Java available for GOpenVMS VAX. (A prototype version of Java was created for OpenVMS VAX, 5and performance was found to be inadequate. At best.)

GIf Java2 or other environment lifts the requirements for IEEE floating ?point as part of the language definition, this decision may be revisited.

HIf you are having problems with Display Postscript, you need to upgrade Eyour Java kit---1.2.2-3 and later remove the requirement for Display CPostcript extensions, and Java 1.2.2-3 is required with DECwindows V1.2-6 and later.

EFor additional information on Java for Alpha systems, please see the ?OpenVMS documentation (V7.2 and later), and the following site:



HHP (Compaq) Secure Web Server (CSWS) includes CSWS_JAVA, which provides Ethe following Apache Tomcat technologies: JavaServer Pages 1.1, Java FServlet 2.2, and MOD_JK. (CSWS is based on the Apache web server. See SOFT1.)c

13.5 Obtaining user input in DCL CGI script?



HIf you choose to use the GET method, then the form data is available in 3the DCL symbol QUERY_STRING, in URL-encoded format.

EIf you use the POST method, then you need to read the form data from Estdin. For a DCL CGI script running under the Netscape FastTrack web ?server, you can read the data using the following READ command:

 

"
$ READ SYS$COMMAND postdata 




to read the information in.

AThe following describes the use of DCL command procedures as CGI scripts with the OSU web server:

HDCL CGI is also discussed in the Writing Real Programs in DCL book, and in the Ask The Wizard website.o

13.6 How can a batch job get its own batch entry number?



GTo have a batch procedure retrieve its own batch entry number, use the following:

 

"
&$ Entry = F$GETQUI("DISPLAY_ENTRY", - /    "entry_number","display_entry","this_job") 




ERemember that the entry numbers issued by the OpenVMS Job Controller Dare opaque longword values. Don't assume you know the format of the 1number, nor the range of numbers you might see...b

13.7 How do I convert to new CMS libraries?



FA change was made to the format of the CMS database for CMS libraries Cstarting with V3.5-03---to ensure that earlier versions of CMS are Cunable to access the database once the "conversion" to V3.5-05 and Hlater is made, you must issue the following two commands when upgrading Bfrom V3.5-03 and prior. (The only differences between CMS version BV3.5-03 and CMS version V3.5-05 involve changes to ensure that np <earlier version of CMS can access the "converted" database.)

GTo perform the "conversion", issue the following commands for each CMS library present:

 

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)$ RENAME disk:[directory]00CMS.* 01CMS.* '$ COPY NLA0: disk:[directory]00CMS.CMS 




CThe new file 00CMS.CMS must have the same security settings as the H01CMS.CMS file, and is created solely to ensure continued compatibility Fwith tools that expect to find a 00CMS.CMS file (eg: various versions .of the Language-Sensitive text editor LSEDIT).t

13.8 Where can I get new certificates for Netscape Navigator?



@The URLs that I found for adding/updating root certificates are:



GTo update certificates in Netscape Navigator V3.03 on OpenVMS, use the following:

0Thawte Server certificate which expired in 1998:

    =
  1. Under the Options Menu choose "Security Preferences..."(
  2. Select the "Site Certificates" tab;
  3. Select "Thawte Server CA" in the list of certificates/
  4. Select "Delete Certificate" and then "OK"1
  5. Go to http://www.thawte.com/serverbasic.crtD
  6. Follow the instructions on the popup dialog box to accept the J certificate This mostly involves hitting the "Next" button and clicking I an accept button and then naming the resulting certificate. I named it the same name as the original.


;VeriSign/RSA Server certificate which expired Dec 31, 1999:

    =
  1. Under the Options Menu choose "Security Preferences..."(
  2. Select the "Site Certificates" tabH
  3. Select "Verisign/RSA Secure Server CA" in the list of certificates/
  4. Select "Delete Certificate" and then "OK"A
  5. Go to https://www.verisign.com/server/prg/browser/root.htmlD
  6. Follow the instructions on the popup dialog box to accept the J certificate This mostly involves hitting the "Next" button and clicking G an accept button and then naming the resulting certificate. Verisign ( suggests using the name "VeriSign CA".
f

13.9 Why doesn't DCL symbol substitution work?



FThe DCL symbol substitution processing occurs only at the DCL prompt, Dnot within data and not within files. If you wish to perform symbol Csubstitution in this environment, you typically write a small file Hcontaining the command(s) and data to be invoked---potentially only the Bdata---and you then invoke the created procedure or reference the specified data.

DIn this case, use of a file containing nolinemode commands or other Ctechniques might be useful---you will want to ensure that the text Geditor you use does not attempt to use screen mode or similar, as this Dis not generally considered adventageous within a command procedure.

.Tools such as FTP have alternatives: COPY/FTP.

FDCL symbol substitution occurs in two passes, using the ampersand and Fthe apostrophe. In most cases, only the apostrophe is necessary. In a Hfew cases---such as the DCL PIPE command---you will may need to use the Fampersand to get the substitution to work. The following example uses Eampersand substitution to transfer the contents of the header into a logical name:

 

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I$ PIPE CC/VERSION | (READ SYS$PIPE hdr ; DEFINE/JOB/NOLOG hdr &hdr ) 




GA logical name (in the job logical name table; shared by all processes Hin the current job) was used as DCL symbols cannot be returned back out ,from a DCL PIPE or other spawned subprocess._

13.10 Where can I get Perl for OpenVMS?



FOpenVMS support is included in the standard distribution of Perl, the Hpopular scripting language created by Larry Wall. In addition to nearly Eall of the functionality available under Unix, OpenVMS-specific Perl Fmodules provide interfaces to many native features, as well as access Fto Oracle, Ingres, and Sybase databases via the Perl DBI available on OpenVMS.

FA website useful for getting started with Perl on OpenVMS---where you Hwill find such things as download links, instructions, auxiliary tools, %and sample scripts---is available at:



EIf you have a C compiler, the best way to obtain Perl is to download Cand build it yourself. The latest production quality source kit is available from:



AYou will need GUNZIP and VMSTAR (both available from the OpenVMS EFreeware CD, or from other sites) to unpack the archive; once you've 8done that, read the instructions in the README.vms file.

GBinary distributions for most Alpha and VAX environments are available Hon the OpenVMS Freeware CD-ROM and from various websites, including the following:



EDuring active Perl development cycles, test kits are sometimes found at: from:



HWatch the mailing list (see below) for details on experimental releases.

ECharles Lane maintains pages on how to write CGI scripts in Perl for Gthe OSU HTTP server, as well as more general tips, tricks, and patches )for building and running Perl on OpenVMS:



GThere are OpenVMS-specific Perl modules that implement interfaces to a Hsubset of the VMS System Services. With these modules, you can get (and =often set) device, job, queue, user, system, and performance Dinformation. The lock manager, RMS indexed files, screen management Gutilities, and Intracluster Communication Services are also accessible 6via Perl. The relevant modules are all available from:



FTo subscribe to the OpenVMS Perl mailing list (a discussion forum for Aboth user support and new development), send an email message to vmsperl-subscribe@perl.org

-The mailing list archives may be searched at:

h

13.11 Where can I get DECmigrate (VEST and TIE)?



FThe DECmigrate image translation tool, a tool that translates OpenVMS 4VAX images for use on OpenVMS Alpha is available at:



%This tool is not currently supported.

4See Section 7.4.s

13.12 Where can I get Zip, Unzip, self-extracting zip, etc?



@Many packages are provided in ZIP, GZIP, or BZIP2 format, which Hrequires you to acquire the associated unzip tool to unpack it. You can Cget ZIP and UNZIP and related and similar tools from the following areas:



Eor you can request the FILESERV_TOOLS package from the e-mail server.

CBeware: The [000TOOLS...] pre-built versions of ZIP on the OpenVMS HFreeware V4 (http://www.openvms.compaq.com/freeware/freeware40/) CD-ROM Fwill erroneously return BILF errors on OpenVMS V7.2 and later. Use of Hthe source on the Freeware V4 to rebuild the ZIP image(s), or acquiring Fa pre-built ZIP image from one of the above areas can avoid this. The Bpre-built version of ZIP on the Freeware V4 kit is older than the 4included ZIP sources, and it contains a latent bug.]

DDirections for creaating and using the sfx self-extracting zip file Gcompression mechanism are available in the unzip kit that is available at:



Specifically:



CIf you want to build the zip images for yourself (eg: for an older 3OpenVMS version), pull over the entire contents of:



and invoke LINK.COM.

>HP OpenVMS Engineering uses a tool known as FTSV for creating Cself-extracting compressed files using the OpenVMS DCX compression Ctools, as seen with various OpenVMS ECO (patch) kits. sfx provides Hbetter compression than does DCX. The FTSV and its related FTSO package @have only limited availability outside HP, and are not standard products.


F

Chapter 14
Hardware Information


z

14.1 What are the OpenVMS differences among VAX, Alpha, and IA-64?



FIn terms of software, very few. As of OpenVMS V6.1, the VAX and Alpha Cplatforms are very close to "feature parity". OpenVMS on BIA-64 is expected to have "feature parity" with OpenVMS HAlpha, and is based on the same source pool. Most applications can just 7be recompiled and run. Some differences to be aware of:



FThere are also a number of manuals which discuss migration to OpenVMS DAlpha available on the documentation CD-ROM media, both in the main 8documentation and in the archived documentation section.

FOn more recent OpenVMS Alpha versions, OpenVMS Alpha has begun to add Efeatures and support not available on OpenVMS VAX. Salient new areas include the following:

y

14.2 Seeking performance information for Alpha (and VAX) systems?



EHP makes a wide range of performance documents available through its RFTP and WWW Internet servers (see Section 3.2).

DThe following contain information on current Alpha and VAX products:



CThe following sites contain information on various retired VAX and Alpha products:



Also see CPU2000:

x

14.3 Where can I get updated console firmware for Alpha systems?



9Firmware updates for HP Alpha systems are available from:



@The latest and greatest firmware---if updated firmware has been Hreleased after the most recent firmware CD was distributed---is located at:



GFor information on creating bootable floppies containing the firmware, 6and for related tools, please see the following areas:



HThe SROM firmware loader expects an ODS-2 formatted floppy, see mkboot. DAs for which image to use, the ROM image uses a header and the file Fextension .ROM, and the SROM bootable floppy cannot use the .ROM file.

FTo check the firmware loaded on recent OpenVMS Alpha systems, use the command:

 

"
/$ write sys$output f$getsyi("console_version") /$ write sys$output f$getsyi("palcode_version") SDA> CLUE CONFIG 




=Also see Section 14.11.w

14.4 How do I boot an AlphaStation without monitor or keyboard?



HThe AlphaStation series will boot without a keyboard attached. To use a Fserial terminal as the console, issue the console command SET CONSOLE FSERIAL - after that, it will use the terminal. The DEC 3000 model 300 Gseries has a jumper on the motherboard for this purpose. Various older HAlpha workstations generally will not (automatically) bootstrap without Ha keyboard connected, due to the self-test failure that arises when the (missing) keyboard test fails.

CThe usual settings for the console serial terminal (or PC terminal (emulator acting as a serial console are:

 

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=9600 baud, 8 bits, no parity, one stop bit (9600 baud, 8N1). 




HAlphaServer 4100 and derivative series platforms, and AlphaServer GS80, GGS160, and GS320 series system consoles are capable of 57600 baud. See Ethe COM2_BAUD console environment variable, and ensure that you have $current SRM firmware version loaded.

HThe AlphaStation and AlphaServer series use the PC DIN serial connector kfor the "COM1" and "COM2" serial lines, see Section 14.46 for details and pinout.p

14.5 Will OpenVMS run on a Multia? AlphaPC 164LX? 164SX?



FYes, there are a set of unsupported images that permit recent OpenVMS GAlpha versions to bootstrap on the Multia UDB system. These images and Bthe associated instructions are available at the OpenVMS Freeware website:



EInstructions are included IN the kits. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. PLEASE!

ESome of the restrictions involved when running OpenVMS on the Multia >system include (but may well not be limited to) the following:



GThe Multia images are not included on the OpenVMS Freeware V4.0 CD-ROM Ckit, the kit that was distributed with OpenVMS V7.2. (These images .became available after Freeware V4.0 shipped.)

;Other sources of information for OpenVMS on Multia include:



FOpenVMS Alpha is not supported on the AlphaPC 164LX and 164SX series, Dthough there are folks that have gotten certain of the LX series to Dload SRM and bootstrap OpenVMS. (The Aspen Durango II variant.) One <problem was reported: IDE bootstraps fail; SCSI is required.

=Also see Section 14.10.v

14.6 What is the least expensive system that will run OpenVMS?



GThe cheapest systems presently offered by HP that will run OpenVMS are Dthe AlphaServer DS10 server and the AlphaStation XP900 workstation. HOther companies sell Alpha-powered systems and Alpha motherboards, some Hof which will run (and can be purchased with) OpenVMS---see the OpenVMS HSoftware Product Description (SPD) for details on the supported systems Hand configurations. There are also many used AlphaStation, AlphaServer, Aand DEC 3000 models available which are quite suitable. For more Bexperienced OpenVMS system managers, the (unsupported) Multia can Vbootstrap OpenVMS---see Section 14.5 for details.

@Depending on the OpenVMS version and configuration, the OpenVMS 3Software Product Description (SPD) is available at:



FWhen purchasing a system, ensure that the system itself is supported, Hthat the system disk drive is supported or closely compatible, that the DCD-ROM drive is supported or is closely compatable and that (in the Ccase of SCSI devices) it also specifically supports 512 byte block Btransfers; no equivalent requirement exists for IDE devices. Also Cparticularly ensure that the video controller is supported. Use of Esupported HP hardware will generally reduce the level of integration effort involved.

;A CD-ROM drive is required for OpenVMS Alpha installations.

7CD-ROM drive compatibility information is available at:

p

14.7 Where can I get more information on Alpha systems?



1HP operates an AlphaServer information center at:

>Alpha Technical information and documentation is available at:

CSoftware Product Description (SPD) information, including platform support documentation:



/Information on Multia hardware is available at:



GInformation on current and future Alpha microprocessor designs is also available from AlphaPowered at:

=The NetBSD folks maintain some Alpha hardware information at:




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