Oracle on OpenVMS Newsletter, December 2021

Dear Oracle on OpenVMS Customers,

This is an update on product news for Oracle Rdb and the Oracle Database on OpenVMS. Since our last newsletter in October, we have shipped Oracle CODASYL DBMS 7.4.1.0 and the October PSU for the Oracle Database on OpenVMS. In this newsletter, we have information on both these deliveries.

Product Releases:

The products released since our last newsletter are:

Oracle CODASYL DBMS:

• Oracle Codasyl DBMS 7.4.1.0, November 2021

Oracle Database on OpenVMS:

• 11.2.0.4.211019DBPSU, October 2021

Highlights of what is in each of these releases and information on how to access them is given below.

Oracle CODASYL DBMS 7.4.1.0

This 7.4 release shipped on November 16, 2021. It provides new features and bug fixes. The Release Notes can be found online at https://www.oracle.com/database/technologies/related/rdb-doc.html.

Importantly, now that a 7.4 version has been released, CODASYL DBMS has been brought back into alignment with the Oracle Rdb releases and support horizon. The current support phase for the 7.4 version of both products is Premier Support. The support dates for this release can be found in the Oracle Lifetime Support Policies document at http://www.oracle.com/us/support/library/lifetime-support-technology-069183.pdf.

New features include:

• POLYCENTER Software Installation (PCSI) registration support. With this capability, DBMS installs or deinstalls get registered in a PCSI database. Users can now issue the DCL commands PRODUCT SHOW and PRODUCT HISTORY to display information about DBMS installed or deinstalled releases.
• New DBO/RECOVER /PROGRESS_REPORT qualifier and Ctrl/T display
• Oracle CODASYL DBMS timer queue limit increased
• Changed Behavior for the NOEDIT_FILENAME qualifier in DBO/BACKUP /AFTER_JOURNAL command
• Correction to an unexpected change to After Image Journal BACKUP behavior when using the DBO /MODIFY /AIJ_OPTIONS keyword BACKUP=NONAME
• If necessary, DBO/MODIFY /JOURNAL_OPTIONS=ROTATE may create an emergency AIJ
• DBO/MOVE_AREA adds /LIVE, /NOLIVE and /NOSNAPSHOTS qualifiers
• DBO/SHOW LOGICAL_NAME Supports /DESCRIPTION Qualifier

The bugs fixed in this release include:

• DBO/BACKUP /AFTER /NOEDIT_FILENAME Still Applying Edit String
• Unexpected "Improperly handled condition" Reported by DBO /RESTRUCTURE Command
• Also in this release are problem fixes brought forward from Oracle CODASYL DBMS release 7.3.3. These include:
– Alignment fault corrections
– Fixed problems with the EDIT_FILENAME Qualifier
– Long running deletes not advancing the After-Image Journal checkpoint
– A long running query blocking other queries

More details on the bugs fixed in this release can be found in the Release Notes.

Both the Itanium and Alpha 7.4.1.0 kits are available on My Oracle Support (MOS): Patch 33539679 (Itanium) and Patch 33539668 (Alpha).

Oracle 11.2.0.4 Patch Set Updates (DB PSU)

The latest PSU for the Oracle Database on OpenVMS was shipped on October 19. All PSUs are cumulative, meaning that all the prior PSUs are rolled up into subsequent PSUs. The PSU release and its corresponding patch numbers are:

• 11.2.0.4.211019DBPSU – Patch 33128584

There was one new OpenVMS specific bug fixed in this PSU:

• Frequent listener crash OpenVMS 11.2.0.4 with TNS-12582 BROKEN PIPE

Other OpenVMS specific bugs fixes brought forward from prior 11g PSUs include:

• TCPIP / LIBCLNTST correction
• Unable to connect to a 12c database from11.2.0.4 on OpenVMS
• Invalid header- validation failed
• Linking with LNOCIC.COM causes %ILINK-E-INVLDHDR under certain conditions

You can find details on these and other bugs fixed in this release in the PSU README. We did not ship any individual OpenVMS specific patches in this timeframe.

As we stated in our previous newsletter and in other communications, this is the last and final PSU for the Oracle Database on OpenVMS. One-off patches for 11.2.0.4, if needed, will be available through the end of this year. After December 31, 2021, 11.2.0.4 on OpenVMS will continue to be supported in the indefinite Sustaining Support phase. In this phase, all existing patches are available, but no new patches are produced. Oracle Support will help you resolve issues, provide pre-existing workarounds or find new workarounds for any problems encountered.

PSUs for 11.2.0.4 on other platforms will continue to be released through 2022 under Oracle’s Market Driven Support (MDS) Program. While OpenVMS is not currently part of MDS we could make a case to add it if there is enough customer demand. If you are interested in having continued PSU support for your 11.2.0.4 OpenVMS databases through 2022 under this paid program, please contact us at infordb_us@oracle.com.

Customer Events:

Oracle Database on OpenVMS and Oracle Rdb Engineering spoke at the VMS Generations User Event in France on November 18, 2021. This was a virtual event.

Oracle Rdb Training:

Oracle Rdb training is provided by our training partner JCC Consulting. For an overview of the training offered at JCC, go to http://jcc.com/services/training. Courses can be customized for delivery at customer sites or other public venues. The course schedule is established and based on expressed needs and all courses are given by experienced seminar leaders who are also experts on the topics. To indicate your needs, please go to http://jcc.com/seminar-request.

Questions?

If you have any product questions, please contact Oracle Support or send us an email at infordb_us@oracle.com.

Best Regards,

Oracle Database on OpenVMS and Oracle Rdb Engineering

Oracle Corporation - Worldwide Headquarters, 2300 Oracle Way, Austin, TX 78741500, United States

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