ECO NUMBER: ABSE01A021 ----------- PRODUCT: Storage Library System for OpenVMS -------- UPDATED PRODUCT: Storage Library System for OpenVMS 2.9 ---------------- APPRX BLCK SIZE: 252 ---------------- DIGITAL September, 1997 Archive/Backup System Version 2.1A-ECO1 for OpenVMS Cover Letter ECO Number ABSE01A021 Product Archive/Backup System Version 2.1A for OpenVMS Updated Product Archive/Backup System Version 2.1A-ECO1 for OpenVMS Approximate 252 blocks Block Size Kit Description: This kit contains a correction to a problem found in Archive/Backup System (ABS) Version 2.1A for OpenVMS as shipped on the Q3CY97 OpenVMS consolidated product distributions for VAX and Alpha and packaged in the Storage Library System (SLS) Version 2.9 media kit. Problem Description In ABS Version 2.1A, if you created an incremental save request and specified only a disk name, only the disk name was passed to the VMS BACKUP Utility. This produced incorrect behavior for an incremental backup operation. Solution: This has been corrected for ABS Version 2.1A-ECO1. If you specify only a disk name, ABS will append [000000...]* to the end of the disk name and pass this specification to the VMS BACKUP command. This is the correct behavior for an incremental backup operation. To verify that you have the correct version of the file ABS$TEMPLATES:VMS_ BACKUP-2.INCREMENTAL_ARCHIVE_TEMPLATE, type the file and make sure that the BACKUP command is the same one as shown in the following example: $ TYPE ABS$TEMPLATES:VMS_BACKUP-2.INCREMENTAL_ARCHIVE_TEMPLATE Correct_Example: . . . DEFINE SYS$COMMAND SYS$INPUT:{CR} BACKUP {DMWR.include_device_name}{DMWR.include_object_name} -{CR} . . . Incorrect_Example: . . . DEFINE SYS$COMMAND SYS$INPUT:{CR} BACKUP {DMWR.wildcard_include_spec} -{CR} . . . This ECO contains a patch for ABS Version 2.1A and contains the correct images for your type of system (VAX or Alpha). DIGITAL highly recommends that you install this ECO (ABS Version 2.1A-ECO1) on all systems that have ABS Version 2.1A installed. If you have an earlier version of ABS installed on your system, first install ABS Version 2.1A and then install this ECO (ABS Version 2.1A-ECO1). See the section titled Installation Instruc- tions for instructions about installing the ABS Version 2.1A-ECO1 software. Potential Impact The problem found in ABS Version 2.1A was when an incremental save request specified only a disk name. This problem can cause data to be lost because the save request would complete with a successful status even though no data was saved. For example, if you specified only a disk name for the include specification on an incremental save request, ABS generated the following VMS BACKUP command: . . . THREAD #1: $ BACKUP DSA10: - ! No directory specification THREAD #1: _$ - . . . In previous versions of ABS, ABS generated the correct VMS BACKUP command: . . . THREAD #1: $ BACKUP DSA10:[000000...]* - ! directory specification THREAD #1: _$ - In both examples, the save requests complete normally. In the first example, ABS did not save all files that were changed. ABS Version 2.1A appends the default ABS directory (ABS$ROOT:[000000]) to the disk name and only files that were changed in that di- rectory are saved on an incremental basis. Because files in this 2 directory rarely change, no data was saved. Also, if this direc- tory did not exist on the specified disk, the VMS BACKUP Utility produced the following message: BACKUP-W-NOFILES warning message ABS Version 2.1A-ECO1 corrects this problem. Installation Instructions: Use the following procedure to install ABS Version 2.1A-ECO1: 1. Log in to the SYSTEM account 2. Enter the following DCL command at the system prompt: $ @SYS$UPDATE:VMSINSTAL ABSE01A021 save set location Where: save set location is a tape drive or a disk directory specification. Disclosure Notice: This ECO has been internally tested and verified against the configuration in which the problem this ECO addresses was first found. It has not been through an exhaustive field test process. Due to the experimental stage of this ECO, DIGITAL makes no rep- resentations regarding its use or performance. The customer shall have the sole responsibility for adequate protection and backup data used in conjunction with this ECO. For additional information, please refer to the product documenta- tion. If you need additional assistance, please call the DIGITAL Customer Support Center. Sincerely, Judy Cross Archive/Backup System for OpenVMS Product Manager (719) 548-2830 crossju@mail.dec.com ©Copyright Digital Equipment Corporation 1997 All Rights reserved 3 Copyright Digital Equipment Corporation 1997. All Rights reserved. This software is proprietary to and embodies the confidential technology of Digital Equipment Corporation. Possession, use, or copying of this software and media is authorized only pursuant to a valid written license from Digital or an authorized sublicensor. This ECO has not been through an exhaustive field test process. Due to the experimental stage of this ECO/workaround, Digital makes no representations regarding its use or performance. The customer shall have the sole responsibility for adequate protection and back-up data used in conjunction with this ECO/workaround.