Communicator e3000 MPE/iX Release 7.0 (Software Release C.70.00) > Appendix D Backdating Your System

Planning Your Backdate

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Planning can and should be done prior to performing your backdate. The backdate requires downtime and planning it ensures that all the requirements are met. The sections include:

Determine Your Backdate Method
Verify Your Requirements
Compatibility Issues
Patch Considerations
Check Patch Tape Media
Validate Your System Backup (Method 1)
Check for Disk Space

Determine Your Backdate Method

There are essentially three methods for backdating your system software version level. The methods are as follows:

Method 1: Using a Customized System Load Tape. See CSLT;CSLT:backdating>Customized System Load Tape (CSLT) together with the Fundamental Operating System (FOS) and Purchasable Products (SUBSYS) tapes from the earlier release.
The CSLT you use to backdate your system could have been created under many different circumstance. For example:
- During a system update (with no patches)
- While installing patches from a PowerPatch tape
- While updating and installing patches from a PowerPatch tape
Method 2: Using Factory System Load Tape (SLT) and Fundamental Operating System (FOS) and Purchasable Products (SUBSYS) tapes from the earlier release.
Method 3: Using a Factory Preload Tape (FPT). If your system was preinstalled at the factory, you must backdate using the FPT.

The system software version level options are:

Backdate from 7.0 to 6.0
Backdate from 7.0 to 6.5

NOTE: Backdating from 7.0 to a release before 6.0 (General Release) is not supported.

To determine which method is optimal for your system and your situation, call the Response Center, if you have a software support contract, or your HP representative, before deciding to backdate your system.

If your Hewlett-Packard representative and you both agree that backdating your operating system is necessary, follow the steps below. Please read all the instructions in this chapter before you begin your backdate. Determine what prior IO devices you will back date to.

Verify Your Requirements

To verify your requirements for backdating:

Review and confirm the process you are going to perform with the HP Response Center or your representative.
Table D-1 "List of required materials" has a list of materials required for each of the possible backdating methods.

Table D-1 List of required materials

Requirement	Method 1	Method 2	Method 3
CSLT (for the release to which you want to backdate) from the system you want to backdate.	Required
HP-provided factory SLT (for the release to which you want to backdate).		Required
HP-provided factory preload tape (FPT) that came with the system.			Required
Fundamental Operating Software (FOS) tape from the release to which you want to backdate.	Required	Required
SUBSYS tape from the release to which you want to backdate, if you installed or updated any optional products with that release.	Required	Required	Required
A `STORE` tape with `HPSWINFO.PUB.SYS`, `NMCONFIG.PUB.SYS`, and `NMINIT.PUB.SYS` from the release to which you want to backdate.	Required	Required	Required
A `STORE` tape with `@.CONFIG.SYS` from the release to which you want to backdate. If this is not available, run `SYSGEN` and customized the factory supplied configuration file for your system.	Recommended		Recommended
Current full system backup tapes.	Required	Required	Required
Patch tapes (to reapply patches) if you had installed patches onto the earlier release of the system.		Required	Required

Compatibility Issues

While backdating, you may encounter compatibility issues that arise from backdating certain purchasable products. Before you proceed, we recommend that you read:

The Communicator 3000 for the release you are backdating to, as well as the copy you received with your new release. These documents provide additional information on backdating specific products.
Check that any new disk drive in the configuration is supported on the release you are backdating to.

Patch Considerations

If you have applied patches to your level 6.0 or 5.5 system software, read the section appropriate to the backdating method you are using. The sections are:

Method 1: Using a CSLT
Method 2: Using a Factory SLT
Method 3: Using an FPT

Method 1: Using a CSLT

The CSLT you use to backdate your system could have been created under many different circumstances. For example:

During a system update (with no patches)
While installing patches from a PowerPatch tape
While updating and installing patches from a PowerPatch tape

NOTE: If you installed patches using a PowerPatch tape, you must use the CSLT generated during the process.

If you installed patches from a PowerPatch tape on your system, you need to restore the STORE files that are appended to the CSLT created during the installation of the most recent PowerPatch tape. Refer to "Restore FOS and SUBSYS" for directions on restoring the STORE portion of the CSLT.

If you applied other patches to your system (such as reactive patches), you need to reapply them at the end of the process.

If you are not sure what patches have been applied to your system, be sure to call the Response Center or HP Representative before backdating your system.

Method 2: Using a Factory SLT

If any patches were applied to your 6.0 or 5.5 system, they must be reapplied from the PowerPatch tape(s) after the backdate. Follow the appropriate manual for the release you are backdating to.

To determine the patches that were applied to your system, restore the HPSWINFO file from a backup of the release you are backdating to.

Method 3: Using an FPT

If any patches were applied to your 6.0 or 5.5 system, they must be reapplied from the PowerPatch tape(s) after the backdate. Follow the appropriate manual for the release you are backdating to.

Check Patch Tape Media

To verify the patch tape source media and contents:

Log on from the console with the following conditions.
```
  :HELLO MANAGER.SYS,INSTALL;HIPRI
  :OPENQ LP
  :STREAMS streams_device
```
An LP device must be configured in SYSGEN. A common streams_device value is 10.
Already spooled and streamed messages might display.
Collect the tape media you will be using as source material to modify the system software. This includes the PowerPatch and Reactive Patch tapes.
If you have a PowerPatch tape, check it to ensure the tape is not damaged.
If you do not have a PowerPatch tape, proceed to Step 4.
1. Mount PowerPatch tape.
```
  :FILE TAPE;DEV=TAPE
  :VSTORE *TAPE;@.INSTALL.SYS;SHOW
```
2. Reply to the tape request.
  vstore displays a listing of verified files. These files are not being restored to disk.
If you have a Reactive patch tape, check it to ensure that it is not damaged.
If you do not have a Reactive patch tape, proceed to Step 5.
1. Mount Reactive tape.
```
  :FILE TAPE;DEV=TAPE
  :VSTORE *TAPE;@.@.@;SHOW
```
2. Reply to the tape request.
  vstore displays a listing of verified files. These files are not being restored to disk.
If any files are not verified or if you receive any errors or warnings, ensure your tape drive is clean and repeat the procedure to be sure it is a media problem and not a dirty tape drive.
Run the cleaning cartridge through your DDS drive at least three times to ensure that the drive is thoroughly cleaned.
If your media is bad, contact your local HP Support Representative.

Validate Your System Backup (Method 1)

If you are using a CSLT (Method 1) to backdate your system, perform the steps in this section.

If you are using a Factory SLT (Method 2) or a Factory Preload Tape (Method 3), proceed to "Check for Disk Space."

Before you begin the process of backdating, log on and verify that your backup tape is valid.

From the console, log on with the following conditions.
```
  :HELLO MANAGER.SYS,INSTALL;HIPRI
  :SPOOLER LP;OPENQ
  :STREAMS streams_device
```
where streams_device is the device number. A common streams_device value is 10.
An LP device must be configured in SYSGEN. Already spooled and streamed messages might display.
Validate the backup created before you started the update process that you are now backdating from. You need the valid backup to restore the NMCONFIG file.
Use the VSTORE command to make sure that the full backup is readable.
```
    :FILE TAPE;DEV=tape_device
    :VSTORE *TAPE;@.@.@;SHOW=OFFLINE;DIRECTORY
```
If your backup is not valid, you must use Method 2 or Method 3.

Check for Disk Space

Ensure you have sufficient disk space to backdate your system.

Refer to "Estimating Disk Space" in Chapter 3 "Planning for Your Task" and Appendix C "Managing Disk Space" for additional information about these steps.

Reserve contiguous and non-contiguous disk space.
```
  :BUILD AXLDEV1;DISC=n,1,1;DEV=1
  :BUILD AXLSPACE;DISC=m,32,32
```
where:

n

AXLDEV1 number, determined in Chapter 3 "Planning for Your Task" or use the default of 120,000 sectors.

m

AXLSPACE number, use the maximum value 1,084,000 (for 6.0 or 5.5 versions)

If a colon (:) prompt is returned. The files were built and you have enough disk space.
If you receive a message: Out of disk space, you need to make more space.
Purge the AXLSPACE file. The AXLDEV1 file is automatically purged by the UPDATE tool.
```
  :PURGE AXLSPACE
```
If you do not have enough disk space, either contiguous (AXLDEV) or non-contiguous (AXLSPACE):
- Store files to tape. Purge the stored files from the system.
- Purge the files and groups as directed in Steps 8 through 10 of the next section, "Securing Your System."
- Refer to Appendix C "Managing Disk Space" for directions on clearing space.

Appendix D Backdating Your System

Securing Your System