Release notes for Model 204 version 7.6

These release notes list the enhancements and other changes contained in Model 204 version 7.6.

Overview

These release notes contain installation and features information for the Rocket Model 204 version 7.6 release. Before beginning your installation, please read through this information about product installation and changes.

New in this release

This section summarizes the new features and enhancements for Model 204 version 7.6.

Performance

• TBD

Operating system requirements

Requirements for Model 204 version 7.6 are still being determined.

Model 204 version 7.6 requires the following operating system support:

• For IBM z/OS: Version x Release y.
• For IBM z/VM: Version x Release y.
• For IBM z/VSE:
  • Version x Release y or
  • Version 5 Release 1 or
  • Version 4 Release 3 or
  • Version 4 Release 2.1 or
  • Version 4 Release 2.0, with these program temporary fixes (PTFs) installed:
    • UD53436
    • UD53437
    • UD53438
    • UD53439

  Note: z/VSE V5.1 is required to take advantage of any 64-bit capabilities under VSE.

Hardware requirements

Requirements for Model 204 version 7.6 are still being determined.

Model 204 version 7.5 requires the IBM z/890 or above processor, except for the following feature:

The large (1 MB) page support feature requires the IBM z10 or above processor.

Model 204 compatibility with operating systems

Content for version 7.6 is still being determined.

For information on Model 204 certification with IBM operating systems, see: http://www.rocketsoftware.com/products/rocket-model-204/technical-information

Connect* compatibility with Model 204

Connect★ version 7.6 is compatible with all versions of Model 204.

SOUL enhancements

New SOUL statements

• The Private keyword has been added to class declarations and Friend declarations have been added to Class blocks.

New and changed classes and methods

Web class

The Web class has been created as a container for Janus Web Server specific methods. This class contains two new methods: ScreenInputCallback and ScreenOutputCallback. There is also an associated new system type: WebScreenCallback and a new WebScreenException exception class.

New and changed $functions

TBD

Sirius products and product enhancements

This section describes enhancements to the former-Sirius products.

Changes to Janus Web Server

SCREENTHROW setting for Janus Web Legacy

The new SCREENTHROW setting for Janus Web ports allows janus Web Legacy applications to trap client errors rather than deferring to the default Janus Web Legacy support error handling behavior.

File-related enhancements

New field attributes

This section lists the new field attributes. For more information on how related attributes work together, see the Field design topic.

TBD

Support for OI CHUNK fields in field groups

The CHUNK attribute for DEFINE FIELD was introduced in Model 204 version 7.5 to improve the efficiency of range finds using Ordered Index (OI) processing. The CHUNK attribute can now be specified for fields in a field group.

System management enhancements

TBD

Performance enhancements

64-bit addressing and Above The Bar (ATB) storage

Storage above the (2G) bar increases scalability, performance, and growth potential. 64-bit addressing is the de facto standard for Model 204.

• ATB support for FTBL was released with Model 204 version 7.4.
• ATB support for GTBL, NTBL, and QTBL was released with Model 204 version 7.5.
• ATB support for STBL and VTBL is added in Model 204 version 7.6.

When using non-swappable ATB server space, each user will get SERVNSSZ bytes of ATB space, even if the thread is logged out or running resident requests. For greater efficiency, Model 204 also provides swappable ATB server areas that can supplement or replace the non-swappable areas. These swappable ATB server areas are controlled by the SERVGA and SERVGSZ parameters.

STBL and VTBL in above the bar storage

STBL and VTBL can now be placed into swappable or non-swappable server storage area above the bar.

In order to store a table in ATB storage:

TBD: any changes to SERVNSSZ or SERVNSA for 7.6

• Increase the SERVNSSZ parameter by the corresponding table size.
• Set the proper bit in SERVNSA:
  • for STBL set the xxx byte to X'xx', so the value of SERVNSA is X'........'
  • for VTBL set the xxx byte to X'xx', so the value of SERVNSA is X'........'

Note: The settings for each server table above the bar are independent of each other. So if FTBL, GTBL, NTBL, QTBL, STBL, and VTBL are all placed above the bar, then SERVNSA should be set to X'........'.

Debugging and testing enhancements

TBD

Connect^★ enhancements

TBD

MQ/204 enhancements

TBD

Other features

TBD

Compatibility issues

This section describes any compatibility issues between V7.6 and prior versions of Model 204. An incompatibility arises if an operation that was previously performed without any indication of error, now operates (given the same inputs and conditions) in a different manner.

A normal bug fix resolving behavior that, although not indicating an error, was "clearly and obviously" incorrect, also introduces an incompatibility, but it might not be included below.

TBD

New and changed commands

TBD

Reliability enhancements

TBD

New and changed parameters

Note: The Sirius Mods parameters were merged with the Model 204 base as of Model 204 version 7.5, and they are available to all customers of version 7.5 and above. The combined set of parameters is displayed on the List of Model 204 parameters page. The former Sirius parameters in that listing are marked with an ^(S).

TBD

Documentation conversion to wiki format

Rocket Model 204 documentation is being converted from individual manuals in PDF format to a set of cross-linked HTML articles in this integrated wiki, M204wiki.

As of Model 204 release 7.6, most manuals are now in wiki format. The rest remain in PDF format, available in the M204 folder of the Rocket Software Documentation Library.

For details, see Model 204 documentation.

New and updated messages

Many messages have been updated and added in this release. See New and updated messages in Model 204 version 7.6 for details.