Updating? Beware!

When updating from previously installed versions this document points out obvious "gotchas" or other known implications. Of course it is often difficult to anticipate all potential interactions with localized installations.

The procedure AfterUpdate.com attempts to clean up any files known to exist in previous versions and that are no longer required. Execute it after an update.

Be sure to read about significant changes (although this is not exhaustive), and the revised Technical Overview and to a lesser extent the Environment Overview.


4.n to 5.0

There is one changed configuration directive, [DirDescription], a boolean has been modified to be an integer, [DirDescriptionLines], the number of lines an HTML file is searched for a directory description. Backward compatibility is maintained.

There is a new HTTPd qualifier, /SSL=, and a new configuration logical name, HTTP$SSL_CERT to support the optional SSL functionality. If this is not in use then they are of no consequence.

The example startup file has been extensively modified to (hopefully) ease startup configuration and to support the optional SSL functionality. You might like to check these out in the HT_ROOT:[EXAMPLE] directory.

The v5.0 HTTPd will not use the v4.4 message file. Please copy the HT_ROOT:[EXAMPLE]HTTPD$MSG.CONF to where-ever this is located for your local site. If you have customized it then you will need to carefully compare the two and migrate one into the other somehow. The [dir], [general], [ssi], and [upd] sections have changed. Sorry for any inconvenience.

For sites using DTSS the HTTPD$GMT logical is no longer required. WASD will calculate the GMT offset using the SYS$TIMEZONE_DIFFERENTIAL logical (and thus automatically detect changes involving daylight saving).

4.4 to 4.5

Checking against HT_ROOT:[EXAMPLE]HTTPD$MAP.CONF, change your v4.4 HTTPD$MAP to provide revised mappings for "/echo*", "/tree*" and "/xray*"

Additional configuration parameters can be supplied to control cache behaviour, logging and scripting environments.

The caching module has only been extensively exercised during testing. WASD intranet sites are not busy sites, so the cache is essentially untried with a real-world load and data profile! Should it be suspected of giving problems disable it immediately and contact the author.

Message file version number 4.4 is compatible with v4.4 and v4.5 servers!

Muhammad Muquit's WWW Counter has been unbundled from v4.5, but is obtainable as a separate WASD-ready package.

4.n to 4.4

Due to changes in connection request processing some NETLIB supporting TCP/IP packages can no longer provide DNS lookup (it now occurs at AST level, see the NETLIB documentation).

This version has a separate, configurable message database capable of supporting multiple, concurrent languages. A logical name, HTTPD$MSG, needs to be provided to locate it for the server. A default file may be copied from HT_ROOT:[EXAMPLE]HTTPD$MSG.CONF to wherever the site places configuration files.

The configuration directives "ErrorInfo", "ErrorSysAdmin" and "AuthVMS" have been retired, and the following introduced, "DirDescription", "DirNoPrivIgnore", "ErrorSourceInfo", "LogFormat" and "Service".

SYSUAF-authentication (previously "AuthVMS") is now controlled using the server qualifier /SYSUAF. The qualifiers /PROFILE and /SERVICE have been introduced.

Minor changes to configuration (including mapping for the echo and Xray facilities) and startup files can be checked in the HT_ROOT:[EXAMPLE] directory.

3.n to 4.n

There are some significant changes in configuration file format and server startup (as well as functional and performance improvements for that price :^)

If at all possible, restoring the new version 4 tree, reviewing the new configuration and mapping files, etc., adjusting startups, and then migrating any local applications into it, might be the cleanest approach.