SYSMSH@ULKYVX.BITNET.UUCP (03/28/87)
The fix for the 8600 memory bug that is tickled by DEUNA/LAT changes the cpu serial number. Field service usually neglects to tell you that your serial number is going to change. When you re-boot, some of your third party proprietary software may no longer work...... Mark Hittinger/systems programmer iv/ocis south center University of Louisville/Louisville, Ky 40292 sysmsh%ulkyvx.bitnet@wiscvm.wisc.edu
oberman@LLL-ICDC.ARPA.UUCP (03/29/87)
>The fix for the 8600 memory bug that is tickled by DEUNA/LAT changes the >cpu serial number. Field service usually neglects to tell you that your >serial number is going to change. When you re-boot, some of your third >party proprietary software may no longer work...... VAXs have no software readable cpu serial number. The do have a system ID number. This number is for DEC use in determining ECO and FCO status. Any FCO will change the system id. That's why it's there. On some processor type a lot of CPU have the same SID. And I don't believe all of the new CPUs even have them. They are some times even settable by DIP switches. I wish third party software vendors would get to understand this and NOT use them as keys. It is my policy that is several systems are bid, I reject any using this silly scheme unless the cost of any alternative is totally prohibative. The time and effort involved in fixing this when you have virtually every type ov VAX CPU DEC has ever made is absurd! (Have you ever had to enter an ISSCO system password? It's several lines of random characters which have to be exactly right!) R. Kevin Oberman Lawrence Livermore Nat'l Lab arpa: oberman@lll-icdc.arpa (415) 422-6955 ------