Thoughts about VMS ECOs now in .PCSI form

MDPlatts · *nix forums beginner Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 3

I don't like the new format/concept either - it was common to get bad
downloads or they just put up a bad kit which then of course did not
expand and you got errors.

The only reason for not doing it before seemed to be the FTP server did
not handle long file names ok - so why as well as changing the file
name change the format. Just do the former - but DCX the
..PCSI$COMPRESSED file so we get the original dates and also know the
file is ok.

Now we may only find out its bad when we try to install it.

Anyone know a way beyond doing "prod extract file" to test the kits?

M.

David J Dachtera · *nix forums Guru Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 1067

JimStrehlow@data911.com wrote:

JimStrehlow@data911.com · *nix forums beginner Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 15

Peter 'EPLAN' LANGSTOEGER wrote:
.... VMS ECOs are now no longer distributed via FTSV DCX compressed
..PCSI kits.
These kits are now in .PCSI$COMPRESSED format.
....

I just downloaded my first .PCSI$COMPRESSED patch and supporting text
file.
I have a test AlphaServer that I allow FTP gets; so I downloaded it in
binary form just fine.

My complaint was that for the first such download, the accompanying
text file had a misleading instruction in it which I reported to HP.
An OpenVMS v7.3-1 patch said that it obsoleted a v7.3-2 patch.

I check the FTP site about every two weeks or at least monthly for
patches and revisions. The date when I download a patch works for me;
but I understand your concerns. I would prefer ZIP format so that I can
preserve the H.P. issue date.

H.P., is there a reason why you avoid the ZIP format?

Jim Strehlow, Database and OpenVMS Systems Administrator
Alameda, CA, USA

Peter 'EPLAN' LANGSTOEGER · *nix forums Guru Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 517

In case you haven't noticed (eg. haven't got the mail relayed from Sue):
VMS ECOs are now no longer distributed via FTSV DCX compressed .PCSI kits.
These kits are now in .PCSI$COMPRESSED format.

Yesterday, the first ECOs was released in this format (VMS732_DRIVER V0100)
(why isn't it included in the master ECO list ??)
and I wish to express my thoughts/rants.

1) I like to get a kit with the original date from VMS engineering.
That means, I don't like files with dates from a copy, ftp or download.
Therefore, I like to get them ZIPped, BACKUPed or DCXed.

2) I like to get a kit without corrupting the file attributes during copy,
ftp or download. I don't like to find out how to restore file attributes.
Therefore, I like to get them ZIPped or DCXed

3) I like to get a kit in a format which I can unpack.
I don't like to use other machines (eg. using a VAX to unpack a VAX kit)
Therefore, I like to get them ZIPped (best with ZIPSFX).

4) I like to get kits every time in the same format.
I don't like to use one method to handle some files (VMS ECOs) and another
method to handle all other files (eg. layered products ECOs)
Therfore, I like to get ZIPped .PCSI kits for all products.

Is there a chance, that VMS engineering (ECO management) returns to
packaged Kit Files ? .PCSI (or .PCSI$COMPRESSED) files, but zipped (ZIPSFX),
instead of DCX/FTSV. Just like all other ECOs.
Please, now, before too many news kits are around...

-EPLAN

PS: Does everybody know how to restore a .PCSI$COMPRESSED Kit after a
VMS MOZILLA download ? I'm still trying...
--
Peter "EPLAN" LANGSTOEGER
Network and OpenVMS system specialist
E-mail peter@langstoeger.at
A-1030 VIENNA AUSTRIA I'm not a pessimist, I'm a realist

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