4.3.1 Upgrade Paths

The following subsections describe the various types of upgrades to OpenVMS Version 8.4.

4.3.1.2 Indirect Upgrade Paths

If you are running a version of OpenVMS Alpha earlier than Version 7.3-2, you cannot upgrade directly to Version 8.4. You need to perform intermediate version upgrades before upgrading to Version 8.4. HP recommends performing the various upgrades over a several-day period, allowing for system disk backups between upgrades. This allows to look for, and recover from, problems that might arise because of a specific upgrade. This also allows you to identify the exact point in the upgrade stream where the problem arises.

For example, if you are running OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.1, you need to perform an intermediate upgrade to either Version 7.2, 7.2-1, or 7.2-2, and then upgrade to Version 7.3-2. After this, you can upgrade to Version 8.4.

	NOTE: When performing an intermediate upgrade, review each OpenVMS installation manual available for the version of OpenVMS that you are upgrading to, checking for any special requirements such as patches that might have to be applied before upgrading.

4.3.2 Update License Requirements

	IMPORTANT: Before upgrading to OpenVMS Integrity servers Version 8.4, you must have the appropriate OE license loaded on your system. Similarly, before upgrading your OpenVMS Alpha system, you must have the appropriate Alpha licenses loaded on your system.

HP software licenses grant the right to use the current version of a product or any previous version of the product at the time of purchase.

	NOTE: When you initially purchase the OpenVMS software and license, HP provides a Product Authorization Key (PAK) that is required to enable the License Management Facility (LMF) to register the license and to validate and authorize subsequent use of the product. A PAK does not provide license or new version rights. For more information about licensing and the License Management Facility, see the HP OpenVMS License Management Utility Manual.

If you need an Update License, please contact your HP Sales representative.

4.3.3 Components You Choose Not to Install

If you choose not to install optional OpenVMS networking software (DECnet or TCP/IP) or the DECwindows/Motif GUI during the upgrade, the upgrade procedure removes these products from the system disk. Note that TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS is installed automatically when OpenVMS is installed by HP SIM provisioning. For information about checking for appropriate versions of software on your system and for certain products requiring that you manually remove older versions, see Section 4.4.

	NOTE: Unless you have specific reasons to do otherwise, HP recommends that you accept the defaults and install all OpenVMS options. OpenVMS and layered products have various dependencies on many of these options. Even if you think you do not need certain options, some OpenVMS or layered product operations might not work correctly if other OpenVMS options are not installed. Note also that, for OpenVMS Integrity server installations, the availability of certain options depends on the OE you have purchased. For more information, see the HP Operating Environments for OpenVMS for Integrity Servers Software Product Description (SPD 82.34.xx).

4.3.4 Licenses and Layered Products

The upgrade procedure is designed so that you do not need to reinstall most layered products after the upgrade. However, you might need to reinstall certain layered products because of product-specific installation procedures.

The upgrade procedure leaves your OpenVMS license and layered product licenses intact. You do not need to reinstall these licenses after you upgrade.