| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 602.1 | An Antique (and Slow) Processor | XDELTA::HOFFMAN | Steve, OpenVMS Engineering | Thu May 15 1997 14:58 | 27 |
|
OpenVMS VAX V7.1 is supported in this configuration, though I'd
definitely increase the memory to 16 MB, and I'd look for some RA81
or RA82-class disks. The customer will want a current license and
license PAK for OpenVMS, and will want current PAKs if also upgrading
Pascal and Fortran. (Customer PAKs tend not to expire -- but it's
worth checking for any specific "oddities" in the local PAKs.)
For specific OpenVMS support requirements, see the OpenVMS Product
Description (SPD).
As for PATHWORKS minimum system requirements, you'll want to check
with the PATHWORKS Software Product Description (SPD).
My assumption here is that this box is woefully underpowered -- that
CPU design is well over ten years old. I'd look at replacing the
KA630/MS630 CPU/memory with a KA650/MS650, KA655/MS650, or better,
or replacing the entire system with a MicroVAX 3100 series box.
Confirm that all software is supported -- see the software rollout for
details:
http://www.openvms.digital.com/openvms/os/swroll/index.html
Be sure to read the new features and the release notes manuals for the
various releases, as well as the installation guides.
|
| 602.2 | | EEMELI::MOSER | Orienteers do it in the bush... | Thu May 15 1997 15:12 | 4 |
| as a nit: I'd go with a fresh installation, instead of the multi-step
upgrade to go from V5.4 up to V7.1
/cmos
|
| 602.3 | | OTOOA::GMACDONALD | Its badluck to be superstitious | Thu May 15 1997 16:22 | 26 |
| Thanks for the info.
> OpenVMS VAX V7.1 is supported in this configuration, though I'd
> definitely increase the memory to 16 MB, and I'd look for some RA81
> or RA82-class disks. The customer will want a current license and
> license PAK for OpenVMS, and will want current PAKs if also upgrading
> Pascal and Fortran. (Customer PAKs tend not to expire -- but it's
> worth checking for any specific "oddities" in the local PAKs.)
> My assumption here is that this box is woefully underpowered -- that
> CPU design is well over ten years old. I'd look at replacing the
> KA630/MS630 CPU/memory with a KA650/MS650, KA655/MS650, or better,
> or replacing the entire system with a MicroVAX 3100 series box.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure how easy that will be. This system comes in a
real strange looking enclosure. It is used on the aircraft for the Dept.
of National Defence in Canada.
For what they are doing now they say the box runs quite fast (runs a
Pascal program which collects information from the aircraft.) They were
wondering if an upgrade to 7.1 will have much additional overhead. As
far as Pathworks goes, they would only need it once in awhile to download
some of the data collected to a PC (it wouldn't run while the system was in
production; only after it was taken off the airplane.)
Thanks. Grant.
|
| 602.4 | Plug Compatible... | XDELTA::HOFFMAN | Steve, OpenVMS Engineering | Thu May 15 1997 17:08 | 54 |
| > My assumption here is that this box is woefully underpowered -- that
> CPU design is well over ten years old. I'd look at replacing the
> KA630/MS630 CPU/memory with a KA650/MS650, KA655/MS650, or better,
> or replacing the entire system with a MicroVAX 3100 series box.
:Unfortunately, I'm not sure how easy that will be. This system comes in a
:real strange looking enclosure. It is used on the aircraft for the Dept.
:of National Defence in Canada.
If this box uses DIGITAL KA630/MS630 modules, then the KA650/MS650
or KA655/MS650 are plug-replaceable -- the system requirements, the
I/O bulkhead connection, etc., are compatible. Power-down and open
the box, pull the current KA630 and MS630(s) out, and plug in the
KA65x and one or two MS650s, and reboot.
Confirm that all the other Q-bus boards are at appropriate revisions.
In particular, older QDSS boards tend to be sensitive to the presence
of KA650 and KA655 CPUs. KA650-vintage QDSS controllers, and most
other Q-bus boards don't care...
Other potential problems around the upgrade will be any "odd" hardware
or software present in the box -- you'll have to run a basic software
audit to see what is configured and what is actually used, and what
is supported on V7.1.
Disk upgrades to (antique) RA81/RA82 series disks should be similarly
easy, assuming there are DIGITAL disks inside this box -- these series
disks are physically quite compatible with the older RA-series disks.
--
If you choose not to upgrade the CPU, seriously consider upgrading
to 16 MB. If the system is not already using an 8 MB MS630 board,
you will need two of these 8 MB modules -- otherwise, one additional.
:For what they are doing now they say the box runs quite fast (runs a
:Pascal program which collects information from the aircraft.) They were
:wondering if an upgrade to 7.1 will have much additional overhead. As
:far as Pathworks goes, they would only need it once in awhile to download
:some of the data collected to a PC (it wouldn't run while the system was in
:production; only after it was taken off the airplane.)
Check the PATHWORKS SPD for the minimums. V7.1 will likely be
somewhat slower than they are presently used to, particularly
given the extremely limited memory present in the current 8MB
configuration
--
(This big box could easily be replaced by a rather more compact
(and far faster) MicroVAX 3100 series, unless these folks have
relatively large shock and vibration requirements, or other "odd"
environmental requirements...)
|
| 602.5 | | ALPHAZ::HARNEY | John A Harney | Thu May 15 1997 18:05 | 15 |
| Pathworks seems like major overkill if they don't need full-time file
serving.
What about just installing UCX and FTPing the files to the PC?
Or zip the data files, and DECnet Mail them to a system on the ground
that CAN transfer files to the PC.
Or, and I'm being serious, Kermit, if the files aren't too big.
In 8MB, you're going slow enough as it is. I can't imagine PATHWORKS
helping things AT ALL.
Just ideas and opinions...
\john
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| 602.6 | PWRK =>16MB minimum | GIDDAY::GILLINGS | a crucible of informative mistakes | Thu May 15 1997 21:24 | 5 |
| Pathworks simply won't install unless you have 16MB or more. If you can
find the parts, it's trivially easy to upgrade Q-BUS processors and
memory. Just plug in the faster processor and reboot!
John Gillings, Sydney CSC
|
| 602.7 | My MicroVAX II runs V7.1 | COMEUP::SIMMONDS | loose canon | Fri May 16 1997 00:48 | 11 |
| .3> For what they are doing now they say the box runs quite fast (runs a
.3> Pascal program which collects information from the aircraft.) They were
.3> wondering if an upgrade to 7.1 will have much additional overhead. As
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
If you're asking about the application execution environment, I doubt
they'll discern much difference, provided any increased WSET memory
requirements are met.. the critical code paths are still fast.. they
may also see a little application code improvement out of the current
compilers.
John.
|