COMPAQ
                                                         AV-R3XSM-TE

                                                         August 2001


 Dear Customer:

 To continue our tradition of providing enhanced storage management
 software capability to our customers, COMPAQ offers this release
 of Compaq Archive Backup System (ABS) for OpenVMS[TM], V3.2A.
 Storage Library System (SLS) licenses continue to be honored by
 ABS Version 3.2A to allow the SLS user the option to move to ABS.

 ABS Version 3.2A has been designed to run on OpenVMS VAX, versions
 6.2, 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 and OpenVMS Alpha versions 6.2, 7.1-2,7.2-1
 and 7.3. You can use ABS in a mixed-architecture, OpenVMS VAX and
 Alpha systems environment. ABS allows for "rolling" upgrades. This
 means that you can install ABS on your server and incrementally
 update your ABS clients.

 ABS V3.2A is a bugfix release and ABS V3.2A is compliant with the
 Operating System Release Version 7.3 for both VAX and Alpha.

 OpenVMS Version 7.3 provides support for Fibre Channel (FC) con-
 nected tape devices. This is accomplished through the use of Mod-
 ular Data Router (MDR) connected to the FC Switch. MDR converts
 Fibre Channel protocol to SCSI protocol, which the tape device un-
 derstands. Please refer to OpenVMS V7.3 for a complete listing of
 supported tape devices.

 ABS V3.2A provides a Fibre Channel locking feature for the tape
 devices that are shared by more than one cluster or system. It
 assures that only one process can allocate the FC connected tape
 drive at a time. (See either release notes for ABS V3.2A or MDMS
 V3.2A)

 Please note that the Java Runtime environment will not be shipped
 in the future releases. The customer should download the latest
 supported JREs from the Sun sites. Please refer to the release
 notes for restrictions on running the GUI on Windows with the
 default java kit (JRE V1.1.8 ) shipped with this release.

                                NOTE

   For customer using Java V1.1.8:

   Please note that JDK V1.1.8_008 has begun the Sun End of Life
   (EOL) process. The EOL transition period is from 1/10/2001
   until 10/09/2002. With this notice, customers should now
   begin to move to current product versions.

 

 Changes to the scope of Support for ABS V3.2A

 ABS is compatible as an ABS NT client for Windows NT Intel and
 Windows NT Alpha. In a future release, ABS will discontinue to
 utilize Windows NT Alpha as a client. As of Version 3.2A, the ABS
 UNIX client will only utilize Tru64 UNIX. The ABS UNIX client may
 still function with other brands of UNIX, but no support will be
 provided for non-Tru64 UNIX.

 We had announced with the ABS V3.0 release that we would discon-
 tinue support for POLYCENTER Scheduler V2.1B with a future re-
 lease. We have discontinued support of POLYCENTER Scheduler V2.1B
 as of ABSV3.1A.

 ABS V3.2A only supports the use of MDMS V3.2A for its media man-
 ager. ABS V3.2A does not support MDMS V2.9x as the media manager.
 All ABS users should be updating to this current version of the
 product. If you need assistance in updating your environment,
 please contact the customer support center or your designated
 field representative.

 Please refer to the release notes for what bugfixes are contained
 in V3.2A since V3.2.

 The following documentation is available for ABS. The PDF ver-
 sions are included in the kit. All the documents are included on
 the OpenVMS Consolidated Documentation CD. The ABS kits are also
 available from the web. Refer to http://www.openvms.compaq.com
 /openvms/storage/abspage.html

 o  Archive Backup System Version 3.2A software for VAX and Alpha
    systems

 o  Archive Backup System Version 3.2A documentation:

    -  Archive Backup System Version V3.2A for OpenVMS SPD 48.16.18

    -  Archive Backup System Version V3.2A for OpenVMS Release
       Notes (online only)

    -  Archive Backup System Version V3.2A for OpenVMS Installation
       Guide

    -  Archive Backup System Version V3.2A for OpenVMS Guide to
       Operations

    -  Archive Backup System Version V3.2A for OpenVMS Command
       Reference Guide

 Refer to the SPD for any prerequisite software. Refer to the ABS
 V3.2A Installation guide for installation prerequisites.




                                  2

 

 For additional information, please refer to the product documen-
 tation. If you need additional assistance, please call the COMPAQ
 Customer Support Center.

 Sincerely,

 OpenVMS Product Management
 CXOSWPM@compaq.com
 ©2001 Compaq Computer Corporation














































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