RE: FreeAXP 435

An update to the FreeAXP 4.0 kit has been posted. This update includes a fix for running multiple instances of FreeAXP on a single host. If you downloaded the FreeAXP 4.0.0.645e kit, please upgrade to the 4.0.0.646 kit.

Also, this upgrade includes the latest version of PuTTY, release 0.73.

FreeAXP 4.0.0.653 has been released. This release makes msipcap the default NDIS network driver. Npcap can be designated the NDIS driver by enabling the new use_npcap_driver option. See the online release notes for details.

www.migrationspecialties.com/pdf/VirtualAlpha_ReleaseNotes.pdf

FreeAXP 4.0.0.665 introduces a new feature: Auto-Idle. By default, Avanti utilizes one host CPU running at 100% to emulate the Avanti Alpha CPU. With the new Auto-Idle option enabled, Avanti will idle the host CPU when the guest O/S, Tru64 UNIX or OpenVMS, is not busy.

The Charon Idle and HP Idle utilities, available under OpenVMS only, provide similar functionality. These utilities work under Avanti and can continue to be used. Auto-Idle will not function if the Charon or HP Idle utilities are installed.

Note: Using Auto-Idle on I/O intensive applications will reduce application performance. Migration Specialties recommends disabling CPU idle features to achieve maximum performance.

Auto-Idle works by identifying a signature in the Tru64 UNIX or OpenVMS operating system at boot time. This signature varies depending upon the O/S version and patches installed. Auto-Idle has been tested under all major releases of Tru64 UNIX and OpenVMS supported by FreeAXP. It current does not function under OpenVMS 8.4-2L1.

If Auto-Idle does not work for you, first make sure the Charon or HP Idle utilities are
not installed. Review the [i:]Removing Charon & HP Idle Utilities[/i:] section in the FreeAXP User Guide. Double check that SYSGEN parameter CPU_POWER_MGMT is set to 0.

If Auto-Idle still does not work, post a note in the forum. We will need to gather a signature for your particular installation and add it to the FreeAXP signature list.

FreeAXP 4.0.0.669 has been released. In this release, Auto-Idle supports OpenVMS 8.4-2L1 as well as all other major OpenVMS and Tru64 UNIX releases.

The release of Avanti 4.0.0.670 adds the KZPCA wide SCSI controller to FreeAXP, Migration Specialties free Alpha emulator. Users of OpenVMS 7.2 or higher and Digital/Tru64 UNIX 4.0E and higher can now take advantage of the additional disks, speed, and stability provided by the KZPCA drivers. This version of FreeAXP may also support versions of OpenBSD.

FreeAXP 4.0.0.670 also includes these recent enhancements:

[b:]Auto-Idle:[/b:] When enabled, reduces FreeAXP host CPU load when virtual Alpha is not busy.

[b:]Auto-Exit:[/b:] When enabled, automatically shuts down FreeAXP instance when guest Tru64 UNIX or OpenVMS O/S executes a normal shutdown.

[b:]Multiple FreeAXP instances on a single host system:[/b:] You can now have as many FreeAXP instances as there are host CPU’s available minus one. I.E. An eight-core system will support up to seven instances of FreeAXP. (A more realistic scenario is four FreeAXP instances on an eight-core system, but seven is legal).

FreeAXP 4.0.0.671 has been released. This release adds additional Auto-Idle support for various OpenVMS and Tru64 UNIX configuration, including Tru64 UNIX 4.0.