CHARON-VAX V4.6 Build 165-02 for Linux - Release Notes

Table of Contents

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

Products included in the CHARON-VAX for Linux version 4.6 build 165-02

In this document the term CHARON-VAX is used to refer to all the products below:

• CHARON-VAX/XM PLUS version 4.6 Build 165-02  for Linux
• CHARON-VAX/XL PLUS version 4.6 build 165-02  for Linux
• CHARON-VAX/6610 PLUS version 4.6 build 165-02  for Linux
• CHARON-VAX/6620 PLUS version 4.6 build 165-02  for Linux
• CHARON-VAX/6630 PLUS version 4.6 build 165-02  for Linux
• CHARON-VAX/6660 PLUS version 4.6 build 165-02  for Linux

Supported software platforms

• Linux Fedora 20
• Linux Red Hat Enterprise 6.2 - 6.5

Hosting hardware requirements

Please refer to "CHARON-VAX for Linux installation Hardware Requirements" section of "CHARON-VAX V4.6 for Linux - User's Guide"

Configuration changes required when upgrading from Windows platform to build 165-02

• A license update is required for upgrading from Windows versions of CHARON-VAX. STROMASYS will ask to collect the state of the HASP license dongle or software license and email it for the license update. The instructions are provided in the "CHARON-VAX for Linux licensing" section of the "CHARON-VAX V4.6 for Linux - User's Guide"
• Note that version 4.6 does not support running CHARON-VAX remotely via ssh, telnet, VNC, etc. if the standard HASP dongle or standard software license is used. Please use the Network HASP key or network-wide software license for that. Another option is to configure CHARON-VAX as a Linux service/daemon to run it remotely. See this chapter for details on how to configure CHARON-VAX as a service/daemon. 
• Linux Xterm does not provide the full functionality of a VT100 terminal by default. Please refer to the user manual for the details of setting up the mode for emulating VT100.
• The CHARON-VAX configuration file should be reviewed if migrating from CHARON-VAX for Windows. Linux specific configuration parameters (for example, network adapter references) should be changed to Linux specific parameters. Please refer to the "CHARON-VAX V4.6 for Linux - User's Guide" for details.
• Please note that the actual network communication speed and mode is determined by the Linux network speed and mode settings. This configuration change is required to avoid network timeouts in VAX/VMS during the negotiation phase 

Known restrictions of build 165-02

• CI and DSSI clusters do not work in this particular release (ID#4389)
• HW partitioning is not supported in CHARON, but it can present the same HW layout with its possibility to run multiple instances in the same time.
• ULTRIX version 4.3 and 4.5 cannot be booted on any model of CHARON-VAX having an RQDX3 adapter (for example MicroVAXII, MicroVAX3600) and the ACE feature of CPU turned on. Workaround is to turn the ACE feature off. For details, see the following section of the "CHARON-VAX V4.6 for Linux - User's Guide". (ID#4383)
• A Valid Network license is not accepted automatically on expiration of the SL (Software License). It leads to CHARON-VAX stopping. (ID#4179)

• The NCU utility sets the "gro" feature to OFF when it dedicates a networks card to CHARON-VAX. However this feature is still ON after Linux reboots (ID#4409)

• If a network cable is disconnected, CHARON-VAX does not detect that link is down in the operating system (ID#4318)

• Unexpected exception (SCB + 004) machine check may happen on a VAX 4000 Model 700/705 under certain conditions (ID#4242)
• By default the layout of the right part of the PC keyboard is not mapped to the layout of the VT100 keyboard. Use a special script created by Geoff Kingsmill ( http://www.decuslib.com/decus/freewarev50/decxterm/decxterm ). Run this script, then run CHARON-VAX normally according to instructions in the Users's Guide. (ID#3030)
• By default a telnet session to the CHARON-VAX console port does not support ESC sequences of a VT100. To enable this open xterm, connect to CHARON-VAX and press "Ctrl-]" once connected. Then issue the "mode char" command to enable character mode. If it is also required to map the right part of the keyboard correctly, use the xterm started by Geoff Kingsmill's script (see above). (ID#3030)

• Network speed auto negotiation works with some restrictions (see the table below). It is always recommended to use full duplex mode on the hosting server.

  Host settings	VAX/VMS (autodetect mode)
  1 Gbps full duplex	100 Mbps full duplex
  100 Mbps full duplex	100 Mbps full duplex
  100 Mbps half duplex	100 Mbps half duplex
  10 Mbps full duplex	10 Mbps full duplex
  10 Mbps half duplex	10 Mbps half duplex

• Please note that CHARON-VAX has not been tested with SAN attached storage volumes over 2TB in size.

Distribution and Installation

Please refer to the "CHARON-VAX for Linux installation" chapter of the "CHARON-VAX V4.6 for Linux - User's Guide"

Related documents

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