CHARON-VAX V4.8 Build 183-02 for Linux - Release Notes

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Please review this document before proceeding with installation of CHARON-VAX for Linux

Products included in the CHARON-VAX version 4.8 build 183-02 for Linux

In this document the terms CHARON and CHARON-VAX are used to refer to all the products below:

• CHARON-VAX/XM version 4.8 build 183-02 for Linux

• CHARON-VAX/XM PLUS version 4.8 build 183-02 for Linux

• CHARON-VAX/XK PLUS version 4.8 build 183-02 for Linux

• CHARON-VAX/XL version 4.8 build 183-02 for Linux

• CHARON-VAX/XL PLUS version 4.8 build 183-02 for Linux

• CHARON-VAX/6610 PLUS version 4.8 build 183-02 for Linux

• CHARON-VAX/6620 PLUS version 4.8 build 183-02 for Linux

• CHARON-VAX/6630 PLUS version 4.8 build 183-02 for Linux

• CHARON-VAX/6660 PLUS version 4.8 build 183-02 for Linux

Supported software platforms

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.x, 64bit

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.5 - 6.8, 64bit

• CentOS 7.x, 64bit

• VMware ESXi 5.5 and 6.x up to 6.5 (requires a supported Linux operating system on top of a ESXi virtual machine)

Hosting hardware requirements and configuration recommendations

• The number of available x86/x64 compatible (Intel or AMD) CPU cores in the hosting server should be at least 150% of the number of emulated CPU cores.

• The recommended number of available (Intel or AMD) CPU cores in the hosting server is twice the number of emulated CPU cores.

• Intel Xeon v3 generation and above (E3 v3, E5 v3, E7 v3), CPUs with a clock frequency of 3GHz and higher are recommended for optimal CHARON performance.

• DDR4 RAM 1866 MHz and above is recommended for optimal CHARON performance.

• The minimum host memory size depends on the amount of emulated VAX memory and on the number of CHARON instances running on one host. The minimum host memory = (2Gb +  the amount of VAX memory emulated) per CHARON-VAX instance.

• Mid range and high end RAID controllers with at least 1GB cache with write-back enabled and battery backup option is recommended.
  (Using low-end RAID controllers may cause significant performance degradation and CHARON-VAX crash. RAID5 and similar configurations are not recommended.)

• Intel HT (Hyper-Threading Technology) should be disabled on the hosting server.

• Hosting server should always run at full speed. Power management and the screen saver should be disabled on the hosting server.

• On VMware, E1000 network adapters must be used for CHARON.

• The Port Group Security Tab containing the CHARON network adapter(s) must be set to Promiscuous mode, MAC Address Change and Forged Transmit=Accept.

New functionalities introduced in build 183-02 since previous release (build 171-01)

• Performance improvements

  • DIT (ACE) is enabled starting from this release for all CHARON-VAX products

  • CHARON performance is improved (ID#4769)

  • HASP libraries have been upgraded (ID#4709, ID#4450)

  • All the libraries are linked statically (ID#4710)

  • Instruction scheduling is updated with Ivy Bridge and Haswell tables (ID#4619)

  • Preserving console saved state across product upgrades is implemented (ID#4782)

• New configuration options and configuration changes

  • The default log mode has been set to "append" in the configuration templates (ID#4752)

  • Updated CFG template files copyright message to year 2016 (ID#4720)

  • Loop devices ("/dev/loop0") support as the storage containers is implemented (ID#4908)

• New licensing options.

  • Field Test and Production builds offer identical functionality (ID#4552)

  • One license can serve CHARON instances on one host or different hosts by choice (ID#4884)

  • Software License transfer feature is disabled (ID#4787)

• Installation improvements

  • This release is available on RHEL 6.x x64 as well (ID#4894)

  • CentOS 7.x is now supported

  • Fedora support has been removed

  • "charon.service" template is introduced instead of the old "charon" template (ID#4968)

• CHARON utilities.

  • NCU supports VLAN configuration (ID#4857)

  • Tape Utilities package is added (ID#3589)

  • The "-key <key-ID>" option (when generating a C2V file using the "-c2v" option) is implemented in "hasp_srm_view" utility. This option is required if more than one license is visible. (ID#4965) 

Problems fixed in build 183-02 since build 171-01

• Fixed the situation when CHARON does not start if "/var/lock/lockdev/" semaphores are in "incorrect" state (ID#4228)

• Fixed incorrect mapping to "/dev/st" devices in the sample configuration files (ID#4703)

• Fixed incorrect denotation of the distributive RPM package (ID#4734)

• Fixed Incorrect handling of disconnect timeout on devices connected as "/dev/sgN" (ID#4790)

• Fixed the situation when "hasp_srm_view" incorrectly displays license expiration date when multiple licenses are examined (ID#4922)

• Fixed wrong error message in log if no core is available for reservation (ID#4867, Case #00028768)

• Fixed a negative value in CHARON log displayed in the case of long ID some Software Licenses (SL) may have (ID#4913)

• Fixed impossibility to install Ultrix 4.3 and 4.5 on MicroVAX II (ID#4383)

• Fixed VAX 6620 hang up when running VAX ROM diagnostic (ID#3542)

• Fixed invalid message in the log file when starting MicroVAX II with RAM size 8Mb (ID#4699)

• Fixed CHARON-VAX service (cluster config) stuck after an overflow of the RX buffer (ID#4821)

• Fixed incorrect reporting of Host CPU (N of Threads) in CHARON log file (ID#5004)

• Fixed irrelevant messages on unlocking VDISK media (ID#5012, Case #00029419)

• Fixed a problem when NCU disables "Create and Remove bridge" option (ID#4950)

• Fixed an issue leading to situation when a serial line output is frozen (ID#4983)