Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS

Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS

Version 4.4 Release Notes


July 2001

This document provides information about the latest release of Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS software that is not supplied in the user documentation.

Revision/Update Information: This is a new manual.

Operating System: Compaq OpenVMS Alpha, Version 6.2, 7.1--2, 7.2--1, or 7.3
Compaq OpenVMS VAX, Version 6.2, 7.1, 7.2, or 7.3

Software Version: Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS, Version 4.4



Compaq Computer Corporation
Houston, Texas


This document was prepared using DECdocument, Version V3.3-1e.

© 2001 Compaq Computer Corporation

Compaq and the Compaq logo Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

ACMS, DECforms, DECnet, DECset, OpenVMS, PATHWORKS, and Tru64 are trademarks of the Compaq Information Technologies Group, L.P. in the United States and other countries.

Motif is a registered trademark of The Open Group in the United States and other countries.

All other product names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective companies.

Confidential computer software. Valid license from Compaq required for possession, use, or copying. Consistent with FAR 12.211 and 12.212, Commercial Computer Software, Computer Software Documentation, and Technical Data for Commercial Items are licensed to the U.S. Government under vendor's standard commercial license.

Compaq shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. The information in this document is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind and is subject to change without notice. The warranties for Compaq products are set forth in the express limited warranty statments accompanying such products. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty.

ZK6619

The Compaq OpenVMS documentation set is available on CD-ROM.

Contents


Preface

These notes provide the following information about the Version 4.4 release of the Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS software:

Intended Audience

Read this document if you are responsible for installing ACMS software or designing, implementing, or managing ACMS applications. This document supplements and contains information not found in the ACMS documentation.

Structure of This Document

This document has the following structure:
Chapter 1 Gives a brief introduction to the release notes.
Chapter 2 Describes any installation changes for this version of ACMS.
Chapter 3 Describes problems that have been fixed with this version of ACMS.
Chapter 4 Lists problems that can occur with this version of ACMS.
Chapter 5 Lists any restrictions.
Chapter 6 Provides general release information.
Chapter 7 Describes how to report a software problem.

Related Documents

The following table lists the books in the Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS documentation set.
ACMS Information Description
Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS Version 4.4 Release Notes+ Information about the latest release of the software
Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS Version 4.4 Installation Guide Description of installation requirements, the installation procedure, and postinstallation tasks.
Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS Getting Started Overview of ACMS software and documentation.
Tutorial for developing a simple ACMS application.
Description of the AVERTZ sample application.
Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS Concepts and Design Guidelines Description of how to design an ACMS application.
Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS Writing Applications Description of how to write task, task group, application, and menu definitions using the Application Definition Utility.
Description of how to write and migrate ACMS applications on an OpenVMS Alpha system.
Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS Writing Server Procedures Description of how to write programs to use with tasks and how to debug tasks and programs. Description of how ACMS works with the APPC/LU6.2 programming interface to communicate with IBM CICS applications. Description of how ACMS works with third-party database managers, with Oracle used as an example.
Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS Systems Interface Programming Description of using Systems Interface (SI) Services to submit tasks to an ACMS system.
Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS ADU Reference Manual Reference information about the ADU commands, phrases, and clauses.
Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS Quick Reference List of ACMS syntax with brief descriptions.
Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS Managing Applications Description of authorizing, running, and managing ACMS applications, and controlling the ACMS system.
Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS Remote Systems Management Guide Description of the features of the Remote Manager for managing ACMS systems, how to use the features, and how to manage the Remote Manager.
Online help+ Online help about ACMS and its utilities.


+Available online only.

For additional information on the compatibility of other software products with this version of ACMS, refer to the Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS Software Product Description (SPD 25.50.xx).

For additional information about the Open Systems Software Group (OSSG) products and services, access the following OpenVMS World Wide Web address:


http://www.compaq.com/openvms 

Reader's Comments

Compaq welcomes your comments on this manual.

Print or edit the online form SYS$HELP:OPENVMSDOC_COMMENTS.TXT and send us your comments by:
Internet openvmsdoc@compaq.com
Fax 603 884-0120, Attention: OSSG Documentation, ZKO3-4/U08
Mail Compaq Computer Corporation
OSSG Documentation Group, ZKO3-4/U08
110 Spit Brook Rd.
Nashua, NH 03062-2698

How To Order Additional Documentation

Use the following World Wide Web address for information about how to order additional documentation:


http://www.compaq.com/openvms 

To reach the OpenVMS documentation website, click the Documentation link.

If you need help deciding which documentation best meets your needs, call 1--800--ATCOMPA.

Conventions

The following conventions are used in this manual:
Ctrl/ x A sequence such as Ctrl/ x indicates that you must press and hold the key labeled Ctrl while you press another key or a pointing device button.
PF1 x A sequence such as PF1 x indicates that you must first press and release the key labeled PF1 and then press and release another key or a pointing device button.
[Return] In examples, a key name enclosed in a box indicates that you press a key on the keyboard. (In text, a key name is not enclosed in a box.)

In the HTML version of this document, this convention appears as brackets rather than a box.

... A horizontal ellipsis in examples indicates one of the following possibilities:
  • Additional optional arguments in a statement have been omitted.
  • The preceding item or items can be repeated one or more times.
  • Additional parameters, values, or other information can be entered.
.
.
.
A vertical ellipsis indicates the omission of items from a code example or command format; the items are omitted because they are not important to the topic being discussed.
Monospace text Monospace type indicates code examples and interactive screen displays.

In the C programming language, monospace type in text identifies the following elements: keywords, the names of independently compiled external functions and files, syntax summaries, and references to variables or identifiers introduced in an example.

In the HTML version of this document, this text style may appear as italics.

- A hyphen at the end of a command format description, command line, or code line indicates that the command or statement continues on the following line.
numbers All numbers in text are assumed to be decimal unless otherwise noted. Nondecimal radixes---binary, octal, or hexadecimal---are explicitly indicated.
bold text Bold text represents the introduction of a new term or the name of an argument, an attribute, or a reason.

In the HTML version of this document, this text style may appear as italics.

italic text Italic text indicates important information, complete titles of manuals, or variables. Variables include information that varies in system output (Internal error number), in command lines (/PRODUCER= name), and in command parameters in text (where dd represents the predefined code for the device type).
UPPERCASE Uppercase text indicates the name of a routine, the name of a file, the name of a file protection code, or the abbreviation for a system privilege.

In command format descriptions, uppercase text is an optional keyword.

UPPERCASE In command format descriptions, uppercase text that is underlined is a required. You must include it in the statement if the clause is used.
lowercase In command format descriptions, a lowercase word indicates a required element.
<lowercase> In command format descriptions, lowercase text in angle brackets indicates a required clause or phrase.
( ) In command format descriptions, parentheses indicate that you must enclose the options in parentheses if you choose more than one.
[| |] In command format descriptions, vertical bars within square brackets indicate that you can choose any combination of the enclosed options, but you can choose each option only once.
{| |} In command format descriptions, vertical bars within braces indicate that you must choose one of the options listed, but you can use each option only once.

References to Products

The ACMS documentation set often refers to products by abbreviated names. The following product abbreviations are used in this documentation set:
Abbreviation Product
ACMS Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS Alpha, and Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS VAX
Ada Compaq Ada for OpenVMS Alpha Systems, and Compaq Ada for OpenVMS VAX Systems
BASIC Compaq BASIC for OpenVMS, and Compaq BASIC for OpenVMS
C Compaq C for OpenVMS Alpha Systems, and Compaq C for OpenVMS VAX Systems
CDD Oracle CDD/Administrator, and Oracle CDD/Repository
COBOL Compaq COBOL for OpenVMS Alpha Systems, and Compaq COBOL for OpenVMS VAX Systems
DATATRIEVE Compaq DATATRIEVE for OpenVMS Alpha, and Compaq DATATRIEVE for OpenVMS VAX
DBMS Oracle CODASYL DBMS
DECforms Compaq DECforms for OpenVMS
FORTRAN Compaq Fortran for OpenVMS Alpha Systems, and Compaq Fortran for OpenVMS VAX Systems
OpenVMS The Compaq OpenVMS Alpha operating system, and the Compaq OpenVMS VAX operating system
Pascal Compaq Pascal for OpenVMS Alpha, and Compaq Pascal for OpenVMS VAX
PL/I PL/I for OpenVMS Systems
Rdb Oracle Rdb
SQL The SQL interface to Oracle Rdb
TDMS Compaq TDMS for OpenVMS VAX


Chapter 1
Features of This Release

Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS, Version 4.4 includes corrections made to the product since the release of ACMS Version 4.3 and offers the following new features for ACMS and the Remote Manager.

1.1 General ACMS Features

This section describes the general features included in ACMS Version 4.4.

1.1.1 Enhanced OpenVMS and Layered Product Support

Version 4.4 provides support for ACMS with the following versions of the Compaq OpenVMS operating system and related layered products:

1.1.2 New Flag for the ACMS$DEQUEUE_TASK Service

The ACMS$M_QUE_NORRL flag prevents the ACMS$DEQUEUE_TASK service from accessing the queue file, regardless of whether a record lock has occurred.

1.1.3 Updated ISSUBVAL.B32 Function in the ACMS$GETUAI Service

The updated ISSUBVAL.B32 function (ACC) in the ACMS$GETUAI service keeps the SYSUAF.DAT file open between calls to this service.

1.2 Remote Manager Features

This section describes the general features included in the ACMS Remote Manager Version 4.4.

1.2.1 Web-Enabled ACMS Systems Management

A new interface for Remote Manager enables ACMS users to perform most Remote Manager functions from a remote client system via one of the supported web browsers.

Known as the Remote Manager web agent, this interface is available for use with Remote Manager Version 4.4 server systems. The web agent software contains its own web server, which is installed on an OpenVMS Alpha system local to the Remote Manager server hosts used for monitoring ACMS systems. Once installed, ACMS system managers can then use the web browser from a privileged client system running TCP/IP to access the Remote Manager agent web page. From this web page, they can monitor and manage all ACMS systems as they would normally using the ACMSMGR utility.

The Remote Manager web agent is designed to be used in conjunction with the Compaq Management Agents for OpenVMS software. For information about this software and the underlying web-based enterprise management (WBEM) architecture, visit the following web site:


http://www.openvms.compaq.com/openvms/products/mgmt_agents/ 

For instructions on how to install, configure, and use the web interface, see Chapter 3 of the Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS Remote Systems Management Guide.

1.2.2 Enhanced System Tuning Capability

Updated ACMSMGR SET and SHOW commands (and API functions) allow system managers to better monitor and tune their ACMS systems. In addition to the standard ACMSGEN parameters, Remote Manager users can now view or set the following ACMS and OpenVMS system information:

For more information on the updated API functions, Remote Manager parameters, and ACMSMGR commands, see Chapters 6, 8, 9, and 11 of the Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS Remote Systems Management Guide.

1.2.3 ACMS Run-Time Error Collection and Filtering

Through a new class of data, ERROR, Remote Manager users can view most ACMS run-time errors normally sent to SWL or ATR logs. The Remote Manager now collects, consolidates, and stores informational messages generated by ACMS processes in an error log. This log assists ACMS system managers in troubleshooting and system monitoring by providing a single, comprehensive view of error information across multiple ACMS nodes.

The error log contains most messages generated by ACMS processes and applications at run-time and is stored in a location determined by the logical name ACMS$MGMT_ERR_LOG.

Several new ACMSMGR commands have been added that enable users to display and manage the contents of this log. SHOW ERROR lists the contents of the Error log for one or more nodes. To prevent unnecessary errors from filling the error log, users can choose to filter errors. The Error Filter table holds records that contain symbolic name, code, and ACMS node for messages to be filtered. Users create error filter records using the ADD FILTER command and display records using the SHOW FILTER command. To create a backup of the error records, users can also save filters to an ASCII text file using SAVE FILTER.

For more information on working with error logs and filters, updated Remote Manager parameters, and new ACMSMGR commands, see Chapters 5, 6, 8, 9, and 11 of the Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS Remote Systems Management Guide.

1.2.4 Data Collection Storage and Viewing


Remote Manager now allows users to save data collections at predetermined intervals for later analysis. Known as data snapshots, information storage is activated per collection record and written to a data snapshot file. Multiple collection records can share the same file, which is stored in a location determined by the logical name ACMS$MGMT_SNAPSHOT.

A new utility, ACMSSNAP, enables users to view the contents of the data snapshot file. This utility navigates through data records in the file by date and displays information using functions equivalent to ACMSMGR SHOW commands.

For more information on saving data collections, updated Remote Manager parameters, and updated ACMSMGR commands, see Chapters 5, 6, 8, 9, and 11 of the Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS Remote Systems Management Guide.


Next Contents