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
TBD
New SOUL statements
Non-OO enhancements in SOUL
- Mixed-case SOUL
- Longstrings
- Unicode
- Double quotation marks for quoted strings
- At sign (@) on right side of assignment
- Is Defined and Is Visible tests
- Copy qualifier for subroutine parameters
- Normal syntax for LOB fields
- Implicit concatenation
- Relative values for Model 204 numeric parameters
- SOUL macro facility
- External Call support for Stringlists and $lists
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 SSL support
TBD
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 isX'........'
- for VTBL set the xxx byte to
X'xx'
, so the value of SERVNSA isX'........'
- for STBL set the xxx byte to
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.