KROON@HGRRUG51.BITNET.UUCP (08/23/86)
Does anyone have some experience with the following upgrade situation?
We have a 780 running VMS V4.3. The 780 will be replaced by a 8300.
Since the 8300 needs VMS V4.4 we have to install it. Now there are
two alternatives:
1. - keep running V4.3 on the 780,
- ugprade the hardware to 8300,
- install a virgin VMS V4.4,
- tailor the virgin VMS V4.4 to the local environment
2. - upgrade V4.3 to V4.4 while still on the 780
- upgrade the hardware to 8300
Obviously the second alternative is much easier because the need for local
tailoring is absent.
My problem is the following: will a VMS V4.4 system that has been created
by upgrading a VAX-11/780 + VMS V4.3 to VMS V4.4 bee bootable on a 8300?
The reason that I am not sure about this can best be explained by the
following example:
Assume that I have also installed VAX/RSX V2.1 on my V4.4 and 780. Because
it is a 780 with compatibility mode the installation procedure will not
include the PDP-11 instruction emulator. It is obvious that this will
cause problems on the 8300 which has no compatibility mode.
I have asked this question to our local DEC rep but his answer doesn't
help me. He expects no problems, but agrees with our sceptisism.
Thanks for any info. Peter A. Kroon.art@mitre.ARPA (Art McClinton) (09/12/86)
I think I would start afresh and create a VMS 4.4 system for the 8300. The loacal tailoring then would be done and the VMS 4.3 specific files moved in from the backup tapes of the vms 4.3 system. May potentially more work but will result in better system in the end. Less AssUmptions as to what will not be affected by the switch. It is also good to every once in a while start over on the system disk. I found when I put up VMS 4 from scratch that still had remnents of VMS 1 that had not been deleted by the previous upgrades but were still hanging around taking up disk space but not used or needed. The other approach might work but this one definitely will work. - Arthur T. McClinton Jr., (703) 883-6356 The MITRE Corporation, Mail Stop Z305 1820 Dolley Madison Blvd. McLean, VA 22102