OpenVMS upgrade paths

Owned by Bruno Miretti (Deactivated)
Last updated: Feb 08, 2016
3 min read

Table of contents

OpenVMS Alpha Upgrade (or Update) Paths

From V1.0,
    you can upgrade to V1.5.
From V1.5, or V1.5-1H1,
    you can upgrade to V6.1.
From V6.1,
    you can upgrade to V6.2.
From V6.1, or V6.2,
    you can upgrade to V7.0.
From V6.1, V6.2, V6.2-1H(1,2,3), or V7.0,
    you can upgrade to V7.1.
From V6.2,
    you can update to V6.2-1H1, V6.2-1H2, or V6.2-1H3.
From V6.2, V6.2-1H(1,2,3), V7.1, V7.1-1H(1,2), or V7.2,
    to V7.2-1.
From V6.2, ... or V7.2,
    to V7.2-1H1, to 7.3.
From V7.1, you can update to V7.1-1H(1,2), ...
    to V7.2-1H1, to 7.3.
From 7.2, 7.2-1, 7.2-1H1, 7.2-2, 7.3 or 7.3-1,
    you can upgrade to V7.3-2
From V7.3, V7.2-2, V7.2-1H1, V7.2-1, and V7.1-2,
    you can upgrade to V7.3-1
From V7.3-1,
    you can upgrade to V7.3-2 or to V8.2.
From V7.3-1 or V7.3-2,
    you can upgrade to V8.2.

Some typical OpenVMS Alpha upgrade (or update) paths are:

V1.0 -> V1.5 -> V6.1 -> (V6.2, V7.0, V7.1, V7.2, V7.3)
V1.5-1H1 -> V6.1 -> (V6.2, V7.0, V7.1, V7.2, V7.3)
V6.2 -> V6.2-1H3
V6.2 -> V7.2-1
V6.2 -> V7.3
V6.2-1H(1,2,3) -> V7.1
V6.2-1H(1,2,3) -> V7.2-1
V6.2 through 7.1-1H2 inclusive -> V7.3
V7.1 -> V7.1-2
V7.1 -> V7.2-1
V7.1-1H(1,2) -> V7.1-2
V7.1-1H(1,2) -> V7.2-1
V7.1-2 -> V7.3-1
V7.2 -> V7.2-1H1
V7.2 -> V7.3 -> V7.3-1
V7.2-1 -> (V7.3, V7.3-1)
V7.2-2 -> (V7.3, V7.3-1, V7.3-2)
V7.3 -> (V7.3-1, V7.3-2)
V7.3-1 -> (V7.3-2, V8.2)
V7.3-2 -> V8.2

(warning) Note that OpenVMS Alpha V7.0 does not include support for hardware and/or configurations first supported in OpenVMS Alpha V6.2-1H1, V6.2-1H2, or V6.2-1H3; one must upgrade to OpenVMS Alpha V7.1, or later.

(warning) One cannot update directly to a V6.2-1Hx Limited Hardware Release (LHR) from any release prior to the baseline V6.2 release. The same prohibition holds for performing updates directly to V7.1-1Hx from any release prior to V7.1---this is not supported, and does not produce the expected results. The LHR kits can, however, be directly booted and can be directly installed, without regard to any operating system that might be present on the target disk.

(info) Users of OpenVMS Alpha V7.1-1H1, V7.1-1H2, V7.2-1H1 or other hardware are encouraged to upgrade to the next available non-hardware-release, and should preferably upgrade to the current or to a supported OpenVMS Alpha release.

(info) OpenVMS Alpha updates for LHRs (through V7.1-1Hx) require the use of VMSINSTAL for the update. These LHR releases use PCSI for the installation, but not for the update. Non-LHR releases use PCSI for installs and upgrades.

(info) OpenVMS Alpha V7.1-2 and later use PCSI for LHRs and for OpenVMS upgrades and for all OpenVMS ECO kit installations; V7.1-2 and later use upgrades and not updates. VMSINSTAL OpenVMS ECO kits (updates) are not used on OpenVMS Alpha V7.1-2 and later; prior to V7.1-2, VMSINSTAL-based ECO (update) kits are used for OpenVMS.

OpenVMS VAX Release Upgrade Paths

From V5.0 through V5.4-3 inclusive, one can upgrade to V5.5.
From V5.5, V5.5-1, or V5.5-2HW, one can upgrade to V5.5-2.
From V5.5, V5.5-1, or V5.5-2, one can upgrade to V6.0.
From V5.5-2, V5.5-2H4, or V6.0, one can upgrade to V6.1.
From V6.0, or V6.1, one can upgrade to V6.2.
From V6.1, or V6.2, one can upgrade to V7.0.
From V6.1, V6.2, or V7.0, one can upgrade to V7.1.
From V6.1, one can upgrade to V7.3 (with VAXBACK ECO for V6.1).

Some typical OpenVMS VAX upgrade paths are:

V5.x -> V5.5 -> V6.0 -> V6.2 -> (V7.1, V7.2, V7.3)
V5.5-2HW -> V5.5-2
V5.5-2, or V5.5-2H4 -> V6.1 -> (V6.2, V7.0, or V7.1)
V6.1 -> V6.1 with VAXBACK ECO -> (V7.2, V7.3)
V6.2 -> V7.2
V6.2 -> V7.3

(info) Note that OpenVMS VAX V6.0 does not include support for hardware and/or configurations first added in OpenVMS VAX V5.5-2H4, one must upgrade to OpenVMS VAX V6.1.

(info) Note that OpenVMS VAX V5.5-2HW is a pre-release version of V5.5-2. Any system running it should be upgraded to V5.5-2, or later.

(warning) If you attempt a direct upgrade from OpenVMS VAX V6.1 to V7.2 or later without having first applied the VAXBACK ECO kit to your V6.1 system, you will receive an error message:

%BACKUP-E-INVRECTYP, invalid record type in save set

and the upgrade will fail. Acquire and apply the VAXBACK ECO kit for OpenVMS VAX V6.1. (lightbulb) OpenVMS VAX V6.2 and later do not require an application of an ECO for an upgrade to V7.2 and later.

The entire article can be found here:

OpenVMS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Contents

OpenVMS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - What are the OpenVMS version upgrade paths


<Go to Top>


© Stromasys, 1999-2024  - All the information is provided on the best effort basis, and might be changed anytime without notice. Information provided does not mean Stromasys commitment to any features described.