ECO NUMBER:     VMS721H1_IPC-V0200
             PRODUCT:        OpenVMS Alpha OPERATING SYSTEM V7.2-1H1
             UPDATE PRODUCT: OpenVMS Alpha OPERATING SYSTEM V7.2-1H1




                                COVER LETTER


1  KIT NAME:

     VMS721H1_IPC-V0200


2  KITS SUPERSEDED BY THIS KIT:

     VMS721H1_IPC-V0100


3  KIT DEPENDENCIES:

     3.1  The following remedial kit(s), or  later,  must  be  installed
          BEFORE installation of this, or any required kit:

     VMS721H1_UPDATE-V0400


     3.2  In order to receive all the corrections listed  in  this  kit,
          the   following  remedial  kits,  or  later,  should  also  be
          installed:

     None.


4  KIT DESCRIPTION:

     4.1  Version(s) of OpenVMS to which this kit may be applied:

     OpenVMS Alpha V7.2-1H1


     4.2  Files patched or replaced:


      o  [SYS$LDR]SYS$IPC_SERVICES.EXE (new image)

      o  [SYSEXE]IPCDEF.STB (new file)



5  PROBLEMS ADDRESSED IN VMS721H1_IPC-V0200 KIT


      o  A system can crash with an "INCONSTATE, Inconsistent  I/O  data
         base" bugcheck when another node is rejoining the cluster after
         rebooting, and the ACCEPT fails.

         Crashdump Summary Information:
         ------------------------------
         Bugcheck Type:     INCONSTATE, Inconsistent I/O data base
         Current Process:   NULL
         Current Image:     <not available>

-- COVER LETTER --                                              Page 2
                                                       5 December 2001


         Failing PC:        FFFFFFFF.83350640   SYS$IPC_SERVICES+48640
         Failing PS:        1C000000.00000804
         Module:            SYS$IPC_SERVICES
                            (Link Date/Time: 19-MAY-2001 01:30:51.36)
         Offset:            00048640


         Images Affected:

          -  [SYS$LDR]SYS$IPC_SERVICES.EXE


      o  When processes are communicating via ICC, if  process  resource
         wait  is  enabledand  the transmitter gets too far ahead of the
         receiver, then the transmitting process goes into  MUTEX  wait.
         This  is  expected  as the BYTLIM quota is exhausted.  However,
         the transmitter processes  hangs  in  MUTEX  wait  waiting  for
         BYTCNT/BYTLM to be returned.

         Images Affected:

          -  [SYS$LDR]SYS$IPC_SERVICES.EXE


      o  A system crash due to a KRNLSTAKNV  bugcheck  can  occur.   The
         crash  is  caused  by  fork queue corruption.  In order for the
         corruption to occur, all of the following must be true:

          -  Multinet is running

          -  IPC is using the CI

          -  The CI is not running on the primary CPU

          -  There is heavy  Multinet  and  IPC  activity,  pushing  the
             timing of fork queue access for both


         Images Affected:

          -  [SYS$LDR]SYS$IPC_SERVICES.EXE

          -  [SYSEXE]IPCDEF.STB 




6  KIT INSTALLATION RATING:

     The following kit  installation  rating,  based  upon  current  CLD
     information,  is  provided  to  serve as a guide to which customers
     should apply this remedial kit.  (Reference attached Disclaimer  of
     Warranty and Limitation of Liability Statement)

-- COVER LETTER --                                              Page 3
                                                       5 December 2001


     INSTALLATION RATING:

      INSTALL_1 : To be installed by all customers.



7  INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS:

     Install this kit with the POLYCENTER Software installation  utility
     by logging into the SYSTEM account, and typing the following at the
     DCL prompt:

     PRODUCT INSTALL VMS721H1_IPC /SOURCE=[location of Kit]

     The kit location may be a tape drive, CD, or a disk directory that
     contains the kit.

     Additional help on installing PCSI kits can be found by typing
     HELP PRODUCT INSTALL at the system prompt


     This kit requires a system reboot.  Compaq strongly recommends that
     a  reboot  is performed immediately after kit installation to avoid
     system instability

     If you have other nodes in your OpenVMS cluster, they must also  be
     rebooted  in  order  to make use of the new image(s).  If it is not
     possible or convenient to reboot the entire cluster at this time, a
     rolling re-boot may be performed.



     7.1  Special Installation Instructions:

          7.1.1  Scripting of Answers to Installation Questions

          During installation,  this  kit  will  ask  and  require  user
          response  to  several  questions.  If you wish to automate the
          installation of this kit and avoid having to provide responses
          to  these  questions,  you must create a DCL command procedure
          that includes the following definitions and commands:

           -  $ DEFINE/SYS NO_ASK$BACKUP TRUE

           -  $ DEFINE/SYS NO_ASK$REBOOT TRUE

           -  Add  the  following  qualifiers  to  the  PRODUCT  INSTALL
              command and add that command to the DCL procedure.

                /PROD=DEC/BASE=AXPVMS/VER=V2.0


           -  De-assign the logicals assigned

          For  example,  a  sample   command   file   to   install   the
          VMS721H1_IPC-V0200 kit would be:

-- COVER LETTER --                                              Page 4
                                                       5 December 2001



          $
          $ DEFINE/SYS NO_ASK$BACKUP TRUE
          $ DEFINE/SYS NO_ASK$REBOOT TRUE
          $!
          $ PROD INSTALL VMS721H1_IPC/PROD=DEC/BASE=AXPVMS/VER=V2.0
          $!
          $ DEASSIGN/SYS NO_ASK$BACKUP
          $ DEASSIGN/SYS NO_ASK$REBOOT
          $!
          $ exit

     Copyright  (c)  Compaq  Computer  Corporation,  2001   All   Rights
     Reserved.   Unpublished rights reserved under the copyright laws of
     the United States.  COMPAQ, the Compaq logo, VAX, Alpha,  VMS,  and
     OpenVMS  are  registered  in the U.S.  Patent and Trademark Office.
     All other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their
     respective companies.

     Confidential computer software.  Valid license from Compaq required
     for  possession,  use,  or copying.  Consistent with FAR 12.211 and
     12.212,   Commercial   Computer   Software,    Computer    Software
     Documentation, and Technical Data for Commercial Items are licensed
     to the U.S.  Government under vendor's standard commercial license.

     Compaq shall not be liable for technical  or  editorial  errors  or
     omissions  contained  herein.   The information in this document is
     provided as is without warranty of  any  kind  and  is  subject  to
     change  without notice.  The warranties for Compaq products are set
     forth in the express limited warranty statements accompanying  such
     products.   Nothing  herein  should be construed as constituting an
     additional warranty.

     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  COMPAQ  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.