

                    InfoServer_100_Software_____________________________
                    Version 1.1 Release Notes

                    Order Number: AA-PG43A-TE


                    January 1991

                    This document describes problems in Version 1.0 of
                    the InfoServer 100 software and documentation, with
                    changes and corrections provided in the Version 1.1
                    release.







                    Revision/Update Information:  This document
                                                  supersedes the
                                                  DEC InfoServer 100
                                                  Software
                                                  Version 1.0 Release
                                                  Notes.

                    Operating System and Version: VMS Version 5.4

                    Software Version:             InfoServer 100 Version
                                                  1.1







                    Digital Equipment Corporation
                    Maynard, Massachusetts

 






              ________________________________________________________________
              January 1991

              The information in this document is subject to change
              without notice and should not be construed as a commitment
              by Digital Equipment Corporation. Digital Equipment
              Corporation assumes no responsibility for any errors that
              may appear in this document.

              The software described in this document is furnished under
              a license and may be used or copied only in accordance with
              the terms of such license.

              No responsibility is assumed for the use or reliability
              of software on equipment that is not supplied by Digital
              Equipment Corporation or its affiliated companies.

              Restricted Rights: Use, duplication, or disclosure by the
              U.S. Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in
              subparagraph (c)(1)(ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and
              Computer Software clause at DFARS 252.227-7013.

               Digital Equipment Corporation 1991.

              All Rights Reserved.
              Printed in the U.S.A.

              The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment
              Corporation: CDA, DDIF, DEC, DECUS, DECdtm, DECnet,
              DECwindows, DECwriter, DEQNA, DIGITAL, Desktop-VMS, GIGI,
              HSC, LN03, LiveLink, MASSBUS, MicroVAX, PrintServer 40,
              Q-bus, ReGIS, ULTRIX, UNIBUS, VAX RMS, VAX, VAXcluster,
              VAXserver, VAXstation, VMS, VT, XUI, and the Digital logo.

              The following are third-party trademarks:

              Inspire is a registered trademark of Alphatronix
              Incorporated.

              MS-DOS is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

              PostScript is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems
              Incorporated.

              This document was prepared using VAX DOCUMENT, Version 1.2

 














     _________________________________________________________________

                                                              Contents



           1     InfoServer 100 Description....................      1
           2     Software Changes from Version 1.0 to Version
                 1.1...........................................      2
           2.1       Updating System Software..................      2
           2.2       Managing Client Licenses..................      3
           2.2.1       SET SERVER DISK ACCESS Command..........      3
           2.2.2       SHOW DISK ACCESS Command................      3
           2.2.3       Login Informational Message.............      4
           2.3       Magneto-optical Read/Write Disk Support...      5
           2.4       Software Corrections......................      5
           2.5       Display Change............................      6
           3     Documentation Release Notes...................      6

































                                                                   iii

 










        _________________________________________________________________




              These release notes provide update information for the
              Version 1.1 release of the InfoServer 100 software. All
              known problems affecting InfoServer 100 operation in
              VAX/VMS and MS-DOS Personal Computer Systems Architecture
              (PCSA) environments are documented, together with
              information specific to the Version 1.1 release.

              The release notes should be distributed to InfoServer
              managers and other individuals responsible for the
              installation, operation, and management of InfoServer 100.

        1 InfoServer 100 Description

              InfoServer 100 is an Ethernet-based, high-performance
              virtual disk server that can serve physical disk media and
              sets of logical disk blocks to the network. Host systems
              running the appropriate client software can connect to
              virtual disks served by InfoServer 100 and utilize them as
              though they were locally attached devices.

              Unlike a file server, InfoServer 100 does not impose a file
              system on the virtual disks that it serves. This means that
              InfoServer 100 can serve a disk with any type of on-disk
              file structure. Because the host client system interprets
              the on-disk structure, each host system can use its own
              native file system. Multiple on-disk structures can be
              served and accessed simultaneously on a single InfoServer
              100.

              A primary function of InfoServer 100 is to make compact
              discs (CDs) available to clients on the network. The
              InfoServer automatically serves CDs using their volume
              labels as service names when the server is booted or when
              CDs are inserted into their drives. No management action is
              required. Client systems need only "bind to" and mount
              the CDs under their volume labels. The InfoServer can
              automatically serve CDs in ODS-2, ISO-9660, or High Sierra
              format. Other media types can be served manually through
              the InfoServer management interface.

              InfoServer 100 can serve read/write disk partitions. A
              partition is a logical subset of a read/write disk. A
              single disk can be subdivided into several partitions,
              each of which can be served to the network independently.
              These partitions appear as whole disks to the remote client
              systems. For example, an MS-DOS PC using the PCSA product
              can access and use InfoServer partitions as though they
              were local hard disks.

                                                                        1

 




        1 InfoServer 100 Description


              InfoServer 100 can serve as an initial load system for some
              VAX computers. Using Maintenance Operation Protocol (MOP),
              InfoServer 100 can downline load the primary bootstrap to
              these VAX computers. The computers then connect back to
              the VMS software distribution CD and allow the VMS BACKUP
              utility to make a copy of the VMS operating system savesets
              on a local read/write disk from the CD. All future VMS
              boots are then done from that local read/write disk.

              InfoServer 100 can downline load other products. Any
              Ethernet-based product that requests a particular file name
              (that is, does not require a Network Control Program (NCP)
              database entry to locate the required downline load file)
              can be loaded from InfoServer. Special MOP partitions can
              be created and the desired file copied to that partition.
              Each InfoServer can handle up to 100 simultaneous downline
              loads more efficiently than host-based downline loaders,
              which must start processes to assist in the load.

        2 Software Changes from Version 1.0 to Version 1.1

              This section describes the changes made in the Version 1.1
              release of the InfoServer 100 software.

        2.1 Updating System Software

              The InfoServer Version 1.1 software is distributed on the
              VMS Consolidated Software Distribution CDROM disk. To run
              the Version 1.1 software on InfoServer 100, you must first
              copy the software to the InfoServer internal read/write
              disk. Follow these steps:

              1. Insert the VMS Consolidated Software Distribution CDROM
                 with the InfoServer software update into the InfoServer
                 to be upgraded. The documentation for VMS Consolidated
                 Software Distribution indicates which CDROM contains the
                 InfoServer software update.

              2. Log in to the InfoServer either from a locally attached
                 terminal or from a remote LAT terminal. Refer to
                 the InfoServer 100 System Operations Guide for more
                 information about using the InfoServer command set.

              3. Enter the InfoServer SHOW DEVICES command to identify
                 the InfoServer device that holds the VMS Consolidated
                 Software Distribution CDROM. For example, if the CDROM
                 is located in the internal CDROM drive on the right side
                 of the unit, the InfoServer device name is DK2:.

              4. On the InfoServer, enter the following commands at the
                 InfoServer prompt, specifying in the second command the
                 InfoServer device identified in the previous step:

                 InfoServer> SET SERVER STATE OFF
                 InfoServer> UPDATE SYSTEM device
                 InfoServer> SET SERVER STATE ON

        2

 




                       2 Software Changes from Version 1.0 to Version 1.1


              5. The Version 1.1 software is installed on the internal
                 disk and will run when the InfoServer reboots. To
                 run the new software immediately, enter the following
                 command:

                 InfoServer> REBOOT YES

              To identify the Version 1.1 software running on the
              InfoServer, you can enter the InfoServer SHOW SERVER
              command. The system displays V1.1, BL5. For more
              information on the commands used to update InfoServer
              system software, refer to the InfoServer 100 System
              Operations Guide.

        2.2 Managing Client Licenses

              InfoServer 100 requires licenses for each client system
              that accesses the InfoServer system. The Version 1.1
              software includes two new commands to manage licensed
              clients. These commands are described in Sections 2.2.1 and
              2.2.2. The software also includes a new login informational
              message, described in Section 2.2.3.

        2.2.1 SET SERVER DISK ACCESS Command

              The SET SERVER DISK ACCESS command allows the InfoServer
              manager to set the number of client access licenses that
              have been purchased for the InfoServer. The command syntax
              is as follows:

              SET [SERVER] DISK ACCESS  value

              In this command, value is the decimal number of client
              licenses that have been purchased. When the Version
              1.1 software is first loaded on the InfoServer, the
              software assumes a disk access value of 4, which is the
              default number of client access licenses shipped with each
              InfoServer.

              If you have purchased more licenses, you can use this
              command to indicate the appropriate number. For example,
              if you have purchased an additional four client access
              licenses for the InfoServer, you would enter the following
              command to set your authorized clients to a total of eight:

              InfoServer> SET SERVER DISK ACCESS 8

        2.2.2 SHOW DISK ACCESS Command

              The SHOW DISK ACCESS command allows the InfoServer manager
              to monitor client disk usage. The command syntax is as
              follows:

              SHOW DISK [ACCESS]

              The system displays disk usage as follows:

                                                                        3

 




        2 Software Changes from Version 1.0 to Version 1.1


              InfoServer> SHOW DISK ACCESS

                                * InfoServer Virtual Disk Access Summary *

              Current clients using disk access:                3
              Highest clients using disk access:                5

              Authorized clients for disk access:               4
              Client disk access overdraft:                     1

              *** Your highest disk access exceeds the authorized limit by 1.
              *** Current server overdraft policy is to allow unlimited overdraft.

              The new display includes these items:

              o  Number of client systems currently accessing the
                 InfoServer

              o  Highest number of client systems that have accessed the
                 InfoServer concurrently

              o  Number of client systems authorized for the InfoServer
                 (with the SET SERVER DISK ACCESS command)

              o  Number of client systems that have temporarily
                 "overdrafted" the authorized limit

              The field "Client disk access overdraft" shows the number
              of client systems that have connected to the InfoServer
              concurrently in excess of the number of authorized clients.
              In this example, the InfoServer manager has authorized
              four clients to access the InfoServer. At some point,
              five client systems were connected to the InfoServer
              concurrently, meaning that the the authorized limit was
              exceeded by one. In this situation, the InfoServer manager
              must purchase one additional client access license and then
              enter the SET SERVER DISK ACCESS command to set the number
              of authorized clients to 5.

              When the "Client disk access overdraft" field is not zero,
              two additional lines of information are displayed. The
              first line repeats the overdraft value. The second line
              indicates the InfoServer overdraft policy. For the Version
              1.1 software release, the policy allows an unlimited number
              of client systems to exceed the authorized limit, until the
              required additional client licenses can be purchased and
              authorized with the SET SERVER DISK ACCESS command. This
              policy might change in future software releases.

        2.2.3 Login Informational Message

              If the highest number of concurrent client systems that
              access the InfoServer exceeds the authorized value set
              with the SET SERVER DISK ACCESS command, an informational
              message like the following is displayed each time the
              system manager logs in to the InfoServer, either from a
              locally attached terminal or from a remote LAT terminal.

        4

 




                       2 Software Changes from Version 1.0 to Version 1.1


              Enter Password: ESS (not echoed)

              DEC InfoServer 100 Version 1.1

              %ESS-I-AUTHACC, there are 4 disk access licenses authorized for this server.
              %ESS-I-ACTACC, highest number of clients using disk access is 5.
              %ESS-I-LIC, please purchase and authorize 1 additional client access licenses.

              InfoServer>

              In this example, the informational message indicates that
              one additional client access license is needed for the
              InfoServer. When the license has been purchased, you can
              use the SET SERVER DISK ACCESS command to indicate the new
              number of authorized clients for the InfoServer (in this
              example, five).

              These informational messages are displayed only if
              the maximum number of clients attempting to access the
              InfoServer concurrently exceeds the authorized value that
              you have set.

        2.3 Magneto-optical Read/Write Disk Support

              The Version 1.1 release of the InfoServer software includes
              changes that are required to support magneto-optical
              disk devices. These devices are optical disk drives that
              support read/write storage. The optical disks are double
              sided, with approximately 300Mb of storage per side.
              The Alphatronix Inspire magneto-optical disk drive has
              been qualified and is supported as an add-on device for
              InfoServer 100.

        2.4 Software Corrections

              This section describes software problems in the Version 1.0
              InfoServer software that have been corrected in the Version
              1.1 release.

              o  VMS BACKUP write access. VMS Version 5.4-1 includes
                 write-access support for the InfoServer 100. The VMS
                 BACKUP command requires that the source and target
                 disks of a BACKUP/PHYSICAL command have the same value
                 for "number of cylinders," "tracks per cylinder,"
                 and "sectors per track." The InfoServer Version 1.1
                 software now passes this information to the client when
                 a connection is made.

              o  MOP downline loading. InfoServer Version 1.0 software
                 crashed with a crash code 11 when a MOP downline load
                 was requested that contained a file name more than 12
                 characters in length. The Version 1.1 software fixes
                 this problem.

              o  Device errors. If InfoServer Version 1.0 software
                 detects a hardware or device error when reading a
                 disk, the software returns an incorrect error code that
                 causes the VMS operating system to enter and exit mount
                 verification continually. The Version 1.1 software fixes
                 this problem.

                                                                        5

 




        2 Software Changes from Version 1.0 to Version 1.1


              o  AUTOMOUNT. The InfoServer Version 1.0 software
                 automatically servs some CDROMs even when the AUTOMOUNT
                 characteristic is set to DISABLED. The Version 1.1
                 software fixes this problem.

              o  MOP partitions. The InfoServer Version 1.0 software
                 does not properly detect when an InfoServer partition is
                 changed to MOP ENABLED. Downline load requests continue
                 to fail as if the partition were set to MOP DISABLED.
                 The Version 1.1 software fixes this problem.

              o  Device size. The InfoServer Version 1.0 software does
                 not reset the device size listed in the SHOW DEVICES
                 display when a CDROM is removed. The Version 1.1
                 software fixes this problem.

              o  Ethernet thickwire and no heartbeat. The InfoServer
                 Version 1.0 software does not operate correctly
                 when used with an Ethernet thickwire connector to a
                 transceiver that does not supply heartbeat. The Version
                 1.1 software fixes this problem.

              o  Service passwords. The InfoServer Version 1.0 software
                 does not correctly process a password-protected service
                 if the service password is typed in lowercase letters.
                 The Version 1.1 software fixes this problem.

        2.5 Display Change

              In Version 1.1, the BRIEF format of the InfoServer command
              SHOW SERVICES contains the current number of connections
              to the service. This new data has been added to the
              information that was already displayed for this command
              in the Version 1.0 software release.

        3 Documentation Release Notes

              The InfoServer 100 System Operations Guide for Version 1.0
              contains the following erorrs:

              o  On page 1-3, the first sentence of the second paragraph
                 should read as follows:

                 "You can simply connect the InfoServer 100 to your
                 Ethernet local area network and turn it on."

                 In the Bookreader version of the document, a figure
                 should be displayed between the first and second
                 paragraphs. Because of a processing error, the figure
                 does not appear.

              o  On page 3-38 (SET SERVER WRITE ACCESS command), the
                 keyword SYNCHRONIZED should be PRE-EMPTIVE.

              o  On page 9-8 (CREATE PARTITION command), the first
                 sentence in the Description section should begin "You
                 use".

              In the Bookreader version of the VMS LAD Control Program
              (LADCP) Manual, the Table of Contents display includes a
              spurious "0" before the LADCP Commands entry.

        6

 




                                            3 Documentation Release Notes


              These errors will be corrected in the next documentation
              release.






















































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