2
Release Information

This chapter provides information specific to this release of Oracle9i for HP OpenVMS.  The following sections are included:

• Product Set

• Changes and Enhancements

• Known Restrictions

Product Set

The following components are included on the product CD-ROM:

Oracle9i

Release 2 (9.2.0.2)

Oracle Net

Release 2 (9.2.0.2)

Changes and Enhancements

In order to take full advantage of the latest OpenVMS CPU and compiler optimizations in Oracle software products, Oracle9i Release 2 (9.2.0.2) and associated Oracle9i Release 2-based products will require HP OpenVMS AlphaServers with EV56 or later generation CPUs.  AlphaServers with earlier generation CPUs will see a performance degradation.  Refer to Note 181307.1 on MetaLink for a list of affected models and for instructions on how to identify the CPU model number.

The following changes and enhancements are unique to this release of Oracle9i for HP OpenVMS:

2349006 - CHANGE CALL TO SYS$CREPRC TO HAVE PRC$M_IMGDMP SET

In releases prior to Oracle9i Release 2 (9.2.0.2), when one of the background processes terminated abruptly with an access violation, no useful information was readily available regarding the cause for termination.  For troubleshooting, certain actions needed to be taken, and the crash needed to be reproduced.  Starting with this release, by default, an image dump will be created when a background process aborts.  If you do not want this feature enabled, you can turn it off using the following commands:

$ define/system ORA_<SID>_<PROCESS_NAME>_DMP FALSE
$ <start the instance and open the database>

Example:

$ define/system ORA_PROD_LMD0_DMP FALSE
$ sqlplus/nolog
SQL> connect / as sysdba
SQL> startup

Please note that this change has no effect on normal daily production behavior.  Oracle Corporation recommends that you do not define the dump logical.

Oracle9i Release 2 Dependency on ODS-5 Disk Structure

In general, ODS-5 format allows VMS to support Microsoft Windows file naming formats.  Longer file names, additional character support, and the ability to have lowercase and mixed-case file names are some of the features supported on ODS-5 disks.

The disks on which the Oracle code tree resides must be formatted in Files-11 On-Disk Structure Level 5 (ODS-5) format.  This is the disk to which the VMS logicals ora_root, ora_rootdir, and oracle_home will point.  The directory that is referenced by these logicals is the parent directory for all Oracle RDBMS software, such as APACHE, CTX, INSTALL, NETCONFIG, RDBMS, UTIL, and so forth.  The disks on which Oracle database files reside can be formatted as either ODS-2 or ODS-5.

Caution: Oracle Corporation STRONGLY urges you to read the OpenVMS Guide to Extended File Specifications PRIOR to changing the structure of any disk.  This guide discusses ODS-2 and ODS-5 formats in much more detail and has important information that you must understand and follow.

Oracle Note 205630.1 can be viewed at Oracle MetaLink.  Alternatively, use the search function and search for "ODS-5" for more information.

Precautions

• Do not change the format of any VMS disk without first making a backup of the disk.

• Conversion from ODS-2 to ODS-5 does not require you to restore files.

• Conversion from ODS-5 to ODS-2 does require you to restore files.
  • Contact Hewlett-Packard for more information on reverting back to ODS-2 format from ODS-5 format.

Checking Disk Format

To check the current disk format, use the following DCL command:

$ SHOW DEVICE/FULL <device-name>

The Volume Status: will display the current ODS level.  The default when initializing disks is ODS-2.

Changing Disk Format

If you plan to reformat an existing (in use) disk from ODS-2 to ODS-5 format, then do the following:

1. Make at least one VMS backup of the disk.

2. Use the Set Volume command:

   $ SET VOLUME /STRUCTURE_LEVEL=5  <device-name> 
   

   Example:

   $ SET VOLUME/STRUCTURE_LEVEL=5  $2$DKC100: 
   

Formatting a New Disk

If you plan to use a new (empty) disk, then use the Initialize command to format the new disk to ODS-5 format, as follows:

$ INITIALIZE/STRUCTURE=5 <device-name>: <volume-label>

Example:

INITIALIZE/STRUCTURE=5 $2$DKC100: TESTVOL 

Oracle9i Release 2 New Directory Structure

Beginning with this release, the directory structure of Oracle9i for HP OpenVMS closely resembles that of Oracle9i on UNIX systems.  Database Administrators will more quickly become familiar with Oracle9i as the platform by being able to make file locations more consistent and predictable.

Initialization Parameters in Oracle9i Release 2 That Have Been Desupported

ALWAYS_ANTI_JOIN

ALWAYS_SEMI_JOIN

JOB_QUEUE_INTERVAL

OPTIMIZER_PERCENT_PARALLEL

HASH_MULTIBLOCK_IO_COUNT

DB_BLOCK_LRU_LATCHES

DB_BLOCK_MAX_DIRTY_TARGET

SORT_MULTIBLOCK_READ_COUNT

DB_FILE_DIRECT_IO_COUNT

GC_DEFER_TIME

GC_RELEASABLE_LOCKS

GC_ROLLBACK_LOCKS

LM_LOCKS

LM_RESS

USE_INDIRECT_DATA_BUFFERS

Initialization Parameters in Oracle9i Release 2 That Are Becoming Obsolete

ROLLBACK_SEGMENTS

FAST_START_IO_TARGET

TRANSACTIONS_PER_ROLLBACK_SEGMENT

LOG_CHECKPOINT_INTERVAL

DB_BLOCK_BUFFERS

BUFFER_POOL_KEEP

BUFFER_POOL_RECYCLE

Known Restrictions

RMAN Runs Only Over TCP/IP

The connection to both the catalog and the database must be a TCP/IP connection.

OpenVMS

OpenVMS always performs its I/O asynchronously.  Several init.ora parameters that mimic asynchronous behavior are not needed on OpenVMS.  Refer to the Oracle9i Administrator's Guide, section 1.5.3 for the list of parameters that are not supported on OpenVMS.

PORTAL

With some limitations, Oracle9i for HP OpenVMS with iAS mid tier (with VMS back end database configuration) is supported.  For information about iAS support, contact:

http://infodec_us@oracle.com/

The following items are not supported:

RAC Guard and RAC High Availability Extensions

RAC Guard and RAC High Availability Extensions are not supported in this release due to the lack of cluster failover in the Operating System.

RAC Management Pack

RAC Management Pack is not supported in this release.

LDAP

LDAP (OID) is currently not supported.  This feature is a candidate for support in future releases.

iFS and Ultra Search

iFS and Ultra Search are not supported due to the lack of third party software called INSO filter.

EJB BEANS

Oracle9i for HP OpenVMS does not support EJB on the server.  If customers have iAS in mid tier, however, they can still use the database on OpenVMS in order to use EJB.