What is the SCO OpenServer Release 5.0.7 Large Filesystem Performance Supplement and where can I download it?

KEYWORDS: sco openserver 5.0.7 large filesystem performance supplement lfps htfs dtfs

RELEASE:  SCO OpenServer 5.0.7

PROBLEM:  What is SCO OpenServer Release 5.0.7 Large Filesystem Performance Supplement and where can I download it?

SOLUTION: This supplement provides several updates that improve the performance
of large filesystems.  Specifically, this supplement includes:

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NOTE: To Large Filesystem Performance Supplement version 1.1.0a customers:

  Version 1.1.0c of the Large Filesystem Performance Supplement (LFPS) fixes
  serious packaging problems that existed in the initial release (version 
  1.1.0a) of the supplement. 

  If you are currently using the LFPS version 1.1.0a, *DO NOT* attempt to 
  discover and fix these problems in the *Software Manager* by running
  *Software*-->*Software Manager*-->*Fix Discrepancies*, as you will lose 
  access to the *fsck*(ADM) and *mkfs*(ADM) binaries for the HTFS and DTFS 
  filesystems.

  To fix these problems, 1.1.0a customers should install the Large Filesystem
  Performance Supplement version 1.1.0c. For your convenience, you do not need 
  to remove version 1.1.0a of the supplement before installing the updated LFPS.
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 * an updated HTFS driver that improves file creation performance
   on HTFS filesystems.  Performance gains are more appreciable
   on large (greater than 50GB) filesystems, especially when
   the filesystem is over half full.

 * an updated fsck(ADM) binary that minimizes downtime while
   an HTFS filesystem is ``cleaned'' after an abnormal system
   shutdown.  This new version of fsck fixes a problem where
   ``fast fsck'' failed on filesystems larger than 100GB,
   requiring that a full filesystem check always be run.
   A ``fast fsck'' generally lasts less than a minute, while a
   full filesystem check can take a number of minutes to several
   hours, depending on your system.

 * updated mkfs(ADM) binaries for HTFS and DTFS that are now able to
   determine the size of devices larger than 204GB.



This supplement is supported on the following platforms:

 * SCO OpenServer Release 5.0.7 plus Maintenance Packs/Update Packs

 * SCO OpenServer Release 5.0.7



To install the Large Filesystem Performance Supplement:

 1.  Log in as root.

 2.  Download the Large Filesystem Performance Supplement from either
     the SCO web site or using FTP:

     +  to use the SCO web site, go to the SCO Update Service and
        Supplemental Downloads web page for SCO OpenServer Release 5.0.7:

           http://www.sco.com/support/update/download/osr507list.html


     +  to use FTP, go to the SCO Support Download Area:

           ftp://ftp.sco.com/pub/openserver5/507/lfps


 3.  Start the Software Manager by double-clicking on its icon on the
     desktop, or by entering the following at the command-line prompt:

     scoadmin software

 4.  From the Software menu, select Install New.

 5.  When prompted for the host (machine), select the current host and
     then click on Continue.

 6.  Select Media Images as the Media Device, then click on Continue.
     (You may need to scroll down before you see the Media Images
     option.)

 7.  Enter the absolute pathname for the directory that contains the
     Large Filesystem Performance Supplement media image.  For example:

       /tmp/lgfsupp

     Click on OK.

 8.  In the Install Selection window, make sure that the Large Filesystem
     Performance Supplement is highlighted then click on Install.

 9.  When the installation is complete, click on OK. The Software Manager
     lists the supplement among the installed software.

10.  Exit the Software Manager by selecting the Host menu, then Exit.

11.  Reboot the machine, if required. If the Software Manager relinks the
     kernel during the installation, you must reboot before the new kernel
     takes effect.