ECO NUMBER: VAXLIBR01_053 ----------- PRODUCT: OpenVMS VAX Operating System -------- UPDATED PRODUCT: OpenVMS VAX Operating System 5.3 ---------------- APPRX BLCK SIZE: 810 ---------------- COVER LETTER *** Note *** The probability of experiencing the delta-time limit on earlier versions of OpenVMS is significantly reduced because OpenVMS DECthreads (both pthread and CMA interfaces) and the OpenVMS SECURITY Server do not exist in versions of OpenVMS prior to V5.5. DIGITAL has created delta-time ECOs for OpenVMS Versions 5.0 - 5.4-3 for those customers possibly affected by the delta-time limit or in the rare situation where a third-party or customer application does not adhere to the delta-time limit. DIGITAL is aware that some customers may have their own customized versions of library routines in the LIBRTL.EXE image. The pre-V5.5 kits completely replace the existing LIBRTL.EXE with a new one and, in doing so, replace any customized versions of library routines with the standard routines. For this reason, DIGITAL recommends that only those customers who believe they are impacted by the delta-time limit install the pre-V5.5 kits. The problem occurs in software that converts times between UNIX and OpenVMS formats. The UNIX time format is an offset from the UNIX "epoch" of 1-JAN-1970 (UTC). On 19-MAY-1997 the offset reaches 10,000 days, and any software attempting to use the RTL LIB$ routines to manipulate these delta-time values will receive errors. Applications use the conversion routines primarily for compliance with the POSIX standard interface; therefore DIGITAL believes that most applications on earlier versions of OpenVMS (V5.0 - V5.4-3) will not be impacted. 1 KIT NAME: VAXLIBR01_053 2 KITS SUPERSEDED BY THIS KIT: None 3 KIT DESCRIPTION: 3.1 Version(s) of OpenVMS to which this kit may be applied: OpenVMS VAX V5.3, V5.3-1, V5.3-2 -- COVER LETTER -- Page 2 30 April 1997 3.2 In order to receive the full fixes listed in this kit the following remedial kits also need to be installed: None 3.3 Files patched or replaced for OpenVMS VAX V5.3 o [SYSLIB]LIBRTL.EXE (new image) o [SYSLIB]LIBRTL2.EXE (new image) o [SYS$LDR]MESSAGE_ROUTINES.EXE (new image) o [SYSLIB]STARLET.OLB (updated with LIB$DATE_ARITHMETIC and LIB$DATE_CVT) 3.4 Files patched or replaced for OpenVMS VAX V5.3-1, V5.3-2 o [SYSLIB]LIBRTL.EXE (new image) o [SYSLIB]LIBRTL2.EXE (new image) o [SYS$LDR]MESSAGE_ROUTINES.EXE (new image) o [SYSLIB]STARLET.OLB (updated with LIB$DATE_ARITHMETIC and LIB$DATE_CVT) 4 PROBLEMS ADDRESSED IN VAXLIBR01_053 KIT o The OpenVMS operating system has a documented delta-time restriction that may cause a serious error in some applications and OpenVMS components beginning on or around 19-MAY-1997. DIGITAL has corrected this potential problem and has provided ECOs (Engineering Change Orders) that remove the delta-time limit. Applications and OpenVMS components most likely to experience errors are those that pass delta-time arguments with values exceeding 9999 days on system-supplied date routines. The most likely date that these errors will occur is 19-MAY-1997:00:00, which is 10,000 days after the common UNIX time origin of 1-JAN-1970. -- COVER LETTER -- Page 3 30 April 1997 5 KIT INSTALLATION RATING: The following kit installation rating, based upon current CLD information, is provided to serve as a guide as to which customers should apply this remedial kit. (Reference attached Disclaimer of Warranty and Limitation of Liability Statement) INSTALLATION RATING: 3 : Only customers that will experience or are experiencing the Delta time problem should install this kit. 6 INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS: Install this kit with the VMSINSTAL utility by logging into the SYSTEM account, and typing the following at the DCL prompt: @SYS$UPDATE:VMSINSTAL VAXLIBR01_053 [location of the saveset] The saveset location may be a tape drive, or a disk directory that contains the kit saveset. System should be rebooted after successful installation of the kit. If you have other nodes in your VMScluster, they should also be rebooted in order to make use of the new image(s). During installation you may see error messages of the type %LIBRAR-W-COMCOD, compilation warnings in module LIBRTL file These messages are not an indication of installation problems or failure and should be ignored. 7 REMOVAL INSTRUCTION: Remove this kit and restore the original file(s) and libraries by logging into the SYSTEM account, and typing the following DCL prompt: @SYS$UPDATE:LIBRTL$ECO_DROP Copyright (c) Digital Equipment Corporation, 1997 All Rights Reserved. Unpublished rights reserved under the copyright laws of the United States. The software contained on this media is proprietary to and embodies the confidential technology of Digital Equipment Corporation. Possession, use, or dissemination of the software and media is authorized only pursuant to a valid written license from Digital Equipment Corporation. -- COVER LETTER -- Page 4 30 April 1997 DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY THIS PATCH IS PROVIDED AS IS, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED CONDITIONS, REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT, ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. IN NO EVENT WILL DIGITAL BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOST REVENUE OR PROFIT, OR FOR SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, HOWEVER CAUSED AND REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY, WITH RESPECT TO ANY PATCH MADE AVAILABLE HERE OR TO THE USE OF SUCH PATCH.