HPlogo Communicator e3000 MPE/iX Release 7.0 (Software Release C.70.00): HP e3000 MPE/iX Computer Systems > Chapter 2 Announcements

Introducing MPE/iX 7.0 Release

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Welcome to the newest MPE/iX Release -- 7.0! In this release, we introduce two new server families: the HP e3000 N-Class and A-Class, based on our state of the art PA-RISC hardware and available at hardware speeds unprecedented in the HP e3000 family. Improved performance is expected across the board, but performance gains from this raw horsepower will especially be seen in single-threaded batch applications.

The HP e3000 A-Class server with relative performance levels between 2.2 and 5.4 (estimated) are the new low-end of the HP e3000 peoduct line. The HP e3000 N-Class servers with relative performance levels between 9 and 72 (estimated) are the new mid-range and high-end of the HP e3000 product line.

This first release of N-Class and A-Class servers, in the first calendar half 2001, supports uni-processor configurations, with up to 2 Gb of main memory. Also in June or July of 2001, a 7.0-based Express release will add N-Class and A-Class support of multi-processors and large main memory configurations (up to 16 Gb for N-Class and up to 2Gb for A-Class), which will yield exemplary performance. Look for performance benchmark statistics in the near future.

MPE/iX Release 7.0 also adds support for PCI I/O devices (on N-Class and A-Class machines only). PCI I/O is robust, industry-standard, high-performing, and state-of-the-art.

N-Class and A-Class servers, in both uni-processor and multi-processor configurations, will be available for shipment in the first calendar half, 2001.

Our Next Platform ("Push") Release:

Normally, any MPE/iX release that ends with a ".0" number is a "platform" or "push" release. In the past, this implied that the release is proactively shipped to all customers with current support contracts.However, customer feedback has indicated that nearly all customers wait for the first Express or PowerPatch release after the "push" release before updating. So, in order to save on customer & HP logistics, we've decided to "push" an early 7.0-based Express release. This Express release will be proactively distributed to all customers with current support contract sometime in mid-2001.

Customers purchasing new N-Class or A-Class systems before then will have to use MPE/iX Release 7.0. Release 7.0 is also supported on 9x8, 9x9, and 99x systems, and these systems will support the same capacity limits as they did on MPE/iX Release 6.5. In other words, Release 7.0 supports multi-processor configurations and large memory configurations on these current systems. Customer with these systems may order MPE/iX Release 7.0, or they may choose to wait for the proactive distribution of the early 7.0-based Express release.

Before Deciding On MPE/iX Release 7.0 -- Some Important Notes:

Due to development schedule conflicts, much of the newly introduced functionality in MPE/iX Release 6.5 Express 2 is not yet present in MPE/iX Release 7.0. This functionality will be available in an early 7.0-based Express release, which is due to ship in June or July of 2001 and which will be proactively distributed ("pushed") to all HP e3000 customers with current support contracts. For more information, please see the "Communicator HP e3000 MPE/iX Express 2 Based on Release 6.5", available at http://docs.hp.com Customers using any of these features should wait for the early 7.0-based Express release before updating. The specific list of functionality present in Release 6.5 Express 2 that is not in Release 7.0 is:

  • QUERY/iX Enhancements

  • TurboIMAGE/iX Expanded Limits

  • Large Size Datasets in TurboIMAGE/iX

  • AS Clause in ALLBASE/SQL

  • High Availability FailOver for the SureStore E Disk Array XP256

  • MPE/iX High Availability Cluster/iX

For similar reasons, Predictive Support is not available in MPE/iX Release 7.0. It will be included in MPE/iX Release 7.0 Express 1.

Older series 9x7 servers are not supported on MPE/iX Release 7.0 or later. See the article, "HP Will Retire Support of HP 3000 9x7 Servers," elsewhere in this Communicator document, for more information.

New Web-Based Resource

New Web-Based Resource Enables Customers to Look Up MPE/iX Revisions Supported by Software Vendors.

When planning an operating system upgrade, customers are interested in knowing if their third-party software vendors have certified their products on the new release. HP has created a new web-based resource that enables customers to look up revisions of MPE/iX supported by third-party software vendors. For more information on this resource or to look up a specific partner go to the following website: http://www.hppartners.com/meet.php3.

NOTE: Before undertaking an upgrade customers should check directly with their third-party software vendors to ensure that they have acquired the proper software revision levels.



Chapter 2 Announcements

MPE/iX Release 6.0 End Of Support Extended