OpenVMS 7.3 and 7.3-2 cluster

[Anne Jamieson]

Does anyone know of any problems that may arise when clustering two Alphaservers, one running OpenVMS 7.3 and one running OpenVMS 7.3-2?

Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks
Anne

[Kris Clippeleyr · Accepted solution]

Anne,

Welcome to the VMS forum.

Although it is always advisable to have the same versions of VMS for all the nodes in a cluster, I don't see any problems combining V7.3 and V7.3-2. We have here a cluster consisting of a VAX (V7.3), an Alpha (V7.3-1) and an Itanium (V8.2-1) (this is officially not supported), and haven't had any problems with it.

Regards,
Kris (aka Qkcl)

[Anne Jamieson]

Thanks Kris,

I appreciate the very quick response and I did think it shouldn't be a problem clustering them but thought I would ask the question to see if anyone replied.

Kind regards
Anne

[Steven Schweda]

For the official word, try the SPD for
"HP OpenVMS Cluster Software":

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/info/spd/
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/info/SP2978/SP2978PF.PDF

[...]

- Migration support is provided for OpenVMS
Cluster systems running two versions of the
OpenVMS operating system. These versions can
be:
-- Any mix of Version 7.3-2, Version 7.3-1,
Version 7.3, Version 7.2-2, Version 7.2-1,
Version 7.2-1H1, Version 7.2

[...]

Migration support means that HP has qualified the
two architectures and versions for use together in
configurations that are migrating in a staged fashion
to a higher version of OpenVMS or to AlphaServer
systems. HP will answer problem reports submitted
about these configurations. However, in exceptional
cases, HP may recommend that you move your sys-
tem to a warranted configuration as part of the solu-
tion.

[...]

[Phillip Thayer]

Anne,

Wde are running a cluster with a VAX on OpenVMS 6.2 and an Alphaserver running VMS V7.3 and we have not had any problems with it. The only yhing we had to do was have two different system disks because of the different HW architecture. I have in the past clustered system with different minor versions of VMS for migration purposes and had no problem with this as well. I don't se any problem with what your planning on doing.

Phil

[Robert Gezelter]

Anne,

I do not have a citation (my recollection is SPDF 25.01), but note for reference that mixed architecture OpenVMS clusters are supported and the latest version for VAX is, if I recall correctly, 7.3.

- Bob Gezelter, http://www.rlgsc.com

[Steven Schweda]

Note that "two Alphaservers" make a "mixed
version" cluster, not a "mixed architecture"
cluster. Note also that the SPD cited earlier
discusses both types of mixing. (I just
didn't quote the irrelevant section(s).)

[Anne Jamieson]

Thanks to everyone who has replied to my question. You've all helped and made me decide that there shouldn't be a problem clustering two systems with different OpenVMS versions on. The SPD for HP OpenVMS Cluster Software actually states "the ability to have more than one version of OpenVMS in an OpenVMS cluster", so I'm pretty happy that it should work fine.

Thanks again for all your help!

Anne

[Anne Jamieson]

I'm closing the thread now as I'm satisfied that I've got the answer to my question so thanks for all who replied.

Kind regards

Anne

[Troodon]

DONT initialize any Alpha volumes as /STRUCTURE=5. It will cause unexpected problems on the VAXen.

[Steven Schweda]

> [...] the VAXen.

Which of the "two Alphaservers" in the
original posting do you think is likely to
be a VAX?

An interesting question might be, "Why not
update the V7.3 system to V7.3-2?"

[Troodon]

When referring to mixed clusters, I was making a general comment about the incomplete interoperability between VAX OpenVMS V7.3 and the later versions of Alpha/IA64 OpenVMS which offer ODS Structure level 5.

In my opinion the SPD does not spell this out clearly enough. Also, VAXen can see the level 5 disks well enough until some later date when a level 5 only filename is used or some other event specific to level 5 occurs.

[Steven Schweda]

> I was making a general comment [...]

Which was entirely irrelevant to the
original question. Or did I miss something?

> ODS Structure level 5

Hmmm. "ODS Structure"? Perhaps I should
add this one to my list:

http://antinode.org/complaints/aer.html

[Troodon]

Mr. Schweda: Kris Clippeleyr's reply referred to clustering VAX and Alphas and I was making a general comment regarding my experience with this. I do not see the need for your lack of collegiality. A magic wand does not excuse you from polite behavior.

[Steven Schweda]

Mr. Stunkel:

I thought that the idea here was to help the
person who posted the question, rather than
to discuss our general experiences with each
other when those are irrelevant to the
original question, at least without noting
that that discussion _was_ irrelevant to the
original question. Perhaps I'm confused
about how one collegue should help another.

> A magic wand does not excuse you from
> polite behavior.

I'm not responsible for any decorations which
this forum attaches to my name. And which
behavior of mine was impolite? I'm sure that
I was _thinking_ impolitely, but I don't see
where I actually wrote anything as bad as all
that. Irregardful, I'll certainly try as
hard as I can to avoid hurting your feelings
in the future, if for no other reason than to
avoid cluttering this form with these kinds
of complaints and responses.