ECO NUMBER:     VAXCMAR04_062
             PRODUCT:        OpenVMS VAX OPERATING SYSTEM 6.2
             UPDATE PRODUCT: OpenVMS VAX OPERATING SYSTEM 6.2




                                COVER LETTER


1  KIT NAME:

     VAXCMAR04_062


2  KITS SUPERSEDED BY THIS KIT:

     VAXCMAR03_062


3  KIT DESCRIPTION:

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

     OpenVMS VAX V6.1, V6.2


     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 V6.2:


      o  SYS$COMMON:[SYSLIB]CMA$OPEN_RTL.EXE image

      o  SYS$COMMON:[SYSLIB]CMA$RTL.EXE image



     3.4  Files patched or replaced for V6.1:


      o  SYS$COMMON:[SYSLIB]CMA$OPEN_RTL.EXE image

      o  SYS$COMMON:[SYSLIB]CMA$RTL.EXE image



4  PROBLEMS ADDRESSED IN VAXCMAR04_062 KIT


      o  Paths to initiate time slicer  for  the  pthread  api  and  the
         exception returning api failed to enable the time slicer.


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                                                       15 January 1997


5  PROBLEMS ADDRESSED IN VAXCMAR03_062 KIT FOR OPENVMS V6.2


      o  Prior to this  change,  the  DECthreads  time-slicer  would  be
         operational regardless of whether any threads had actually been
         created.  This change delays enabling the time-slicer until the
         first  thread  create  operation.   Hence  products  which only
         occasionally use threads do not  have  to  pay  the  time-slice
         penalty  when  threads are never used.  Note that once enabled,
         the time-slicer stays enabled for the process until the program
         which is using threads exits.



6  PROBLEMS ADDRESSED IN VAXCMAR02_062 KIT


      o  When CMA$NOCACTUSSTACK is  defined,  cactus  stack  linking  is
         disabled.   This  was done under a logical, as disabling cactus
         stack linking has the unpleasant side effect of  disabling  the
         ability  to  use <ctrl y> DEBUG.  There is a class of customers
         who require the cactus stack linking and can't be  impacted  by
         this change, but SWIFT customers require that we disable cactus
         stack linking.



7  PROBLEMS ADDRESSED IN VAXCMAR01_062 KIT


      o  A non-Fatal exception that is raised is  not  caught  in  V6.2.
         This non-fatal exception was caught in V6.1.



8  PROBLEMS ADDRESSED IN VAXCMAR01_061 KIT


      o  The customer visible symptom is that DECthreads hang in a  call
         to cma_delay or any timed condition wait.



9  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:

     INSTALL_3 : To  be  installed  by  customers  experiencing  the  problems
     corrected.

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                                                       15 January 1997


10  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 VAXCMAR04_062 [location of the saveset]

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

     No reboot is necessary after successful installation of the kit.

     If you have other nodes in your VAXcluster, they should be rebooted
     or  install this kit in each system in order to make use of the new
     image(s).


11  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$UPDATE:CMA$ECO_DROP


     Copyright  (c)  Digital  Equipment  Corporation,  1996  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.

     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.