SUMMARY: CD and Doc kit for DU 4.0

From: Steffen Kluge <kluge_at_ave.ac.agit.de>
Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 20:27:10 +0200

Thanks to Tom Blinn and Pat Lampert(?) for their replies. I append
my e-mail conversation with Tom, which made the thing more clear
for me.

---
TB> What part numbers did you order, and when did you order them?
SK> Well, we ordered by cleartext description (on 12 July), and our
SK> distributor added the part numbers:
SK>
SK> 1. Digital UNIX CD-Set version 4.0                      (QA-MT4AA-H8)
SK> 2. Digital UNIX Layered Products CD-Set for version 4.0 (QA-054AA-H8)
SK> 3. Digital UNIX complete printed doc for version 4.0    (QA-MT4AA-GZ)
SK> 4. Digital UNIX base license update                     (QL-MT4AE-7E)
SK>
SK> We got delivered:
SK>
SK> 1. a box containing Digital UNIX v4.0 CD's AND Digital UNIX v3.2F CD's
SK>    (this box contained a sheet "Important Product Information",
SK>     part no. AV-QTLUA-TE, which instructed us to wait for version
SK>     4.0 of the software library to become available, if we intended
SK>     to use certain layered products - POLYCENTER, DCE, etc.)
SK> 2. a CDROM folder "Digital UNIX Alpha Lib Pkg Q2CY96", containing
SK>    8 CD's labelled 'April 1996' with layered software, on-line docs
SK>    and NAS 7.1
SK> 3. a box containing books for Digital UNIX v3.2C
SK> 4. a license PAK
TB> Sounds right, given the part numbers.
TB> 
TB> QA-MT4AA-H8 is the part number for the combined CDROM media kit, which will
TB> have both V4.0 and V3.2x (where V3.2F was current when you ordered the kit).
TB> By now, you'd probably get V3.2G in the kit, or at least, by next month, as
TB> it's in manufacturing now and I've received my kit.
TB> 
TB> QA-054AA-H8 is the part number for the layered products CDROM kit, which is
TB> what you got, but apparently the July version wasn't ready yet.  If what you
TB> want is the right layered products for V4.0, you need the July kit, and if
TB> you specified the one to go with V4.0 on your order, then your distributor
TB> got you the wrong kit (they should have verified that it was the July 1996
TB> distribution, and deferred the order until it was available).
TB> 
TB> QA-MT4AA-GZ is the part number for the V3.2x printed documentation.  The new
TB> part number for the V4.0 printed documentation is QA-MT4AP-GZ.  If you want
TB> the printed reference pages, that's part number QA-MT4AG-GZ.  These parts
TB> are listed in the V4.0 SPD, but you probably didn't have that.  I believe
TB> it's available on the www.unix.digital.com web site, but I haven't checked.
TB> 
TB> QL-MT4AE-7E is a valid operating system update license part number.
---
TB> My understanding is that there are now three medias kits for the Digital
TB> UNIX operating system -- one for just V3.2C through V3.2G (which use the
TB> same books, but you'd get the latest CD media), one for just V4.0 (which has
TB> new books and new CDROM media), and one with BOTH V3.2G and V4.0.
SK> Obviously we got the latter, only with 3.2F instead of 3.2G. What is that
SK> needed for? Isn't the 4.0 CD set self-contained and complete?
TB> Yes.  When we introduced V4.0, we realized that some customers buying new
TB> kits would want to run V4.0, and some would want to run the most up to date
TB> revision of V3.2x.  So we decided that new licenses would be for V4.0 (so a
TB> customer has the right to run V4.0 or any earlier version), and we decided
TB> to put both the V3.2x and V4.0 media and installation manuals in the kit.
TB> 
TB> For example, there are some hardware systems that are supported by V3.2F
TB> that are not supported by V4.0.  Also, there are layered applications (both
TB> from Digital and from third parties) that work with V3.2x but don't yet work
TB> with V4.0.  So some people need (or want) V3.2x, which is why it's in the
TB> box at no additional charge.
---
TB> As for the layered product CD kit, it's the same part number, but what you
TB> get depends on what's available in your geography at the time you order it.
TB> If the July kit wasn't available yet and the April kit was available, you
TB> will get the April kit.
SK> Are there problems with the April kit and version 4.0? Anyway, the only
SK> layered product from this kit that is of critical importance for us
SK> right now are the ADVFS Utilities. We have a multi-volume file domain
SK> setup under v2.0 and would like to keep it. However, ADVFS Utils seem
SK> to be contained in the Digital UNIX v4.0 CD set, too (on the Associated
SK> Products CD's). I suppose we can safely install v4.0 using only that CD set.
TB> I believe you are 100% right on the ADVFS Utilities -- use the versions on
TB> the Associated Products CD.  There are other things, like DECnet/OSI and the
TB> Open3D software, that simply won't work, because they are dependent on some
TB> data structures in the kernel that have changed.  Most other things (such as
TB> languages) will work with no changes.  The V4.0 Installation Guide and/or
TB> the Release Notes and the Customer Letter should list the incompatible stuff
TB> we knew about when the kit was produced.
---
TB> So, there *is* new printed documentation for V4.0 but you have to be sure
TB> you order the right part numbers to get it (because we still have the V3.2C
TB> documentation available under the old part numbers, yes, this is a real mess
TB> for customers), and yes, there is a July layered products CDROM but it may
TB> not have been available in Germany when you placed your order.
SK> We will send back the v3.2C docs and obtain the v4.0 books.
 
TB> Sounds like it was an honest mistake on the part of your distributor.  Give
TB> them the part number I've indicated above and you should get the right stuff
TB> the next time.
TB> 
TB> Let me apologize on behalf of Digital for the confusion our part numbering
TB> can create.  It's way too complicated for mere mortals to get it right.
---
Thanks again!
Steffen
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Steffen Kluge <kluge_at_ave.ac.agit.de>
ave GmbH Aachen
Keywords: photography, Mozart, UNIX, Islay Malt
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Received on Fri Aug 02 1996 - 20:59:56 NZST

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