Product: File System 4.1 for Solaris

Release To Fulfillment Date: Friday March 11, 2005

General Availability Date: Monday April 04, 2005


Product Description:

VERITAS File System is a high performance journaling file system that provides easy management and quick-recovery for applications. VERITAS File System delivers scalable performance, continuous availability, increased I/O throughput, and structural integrity.


New Features, Functionality, and Highlights:

This release of VERITAS File System includes the following new features and enhancements.

Concurrent I/O Interface
Support is now available for VX_CONCURRENT caching advisory for a file. When the advisory is set, a write system call on the file takes the inode read/write lock in shared mode instead of exclusive. In addition, the file system avoids caching the file data for these writes in the page cache. The required concurrency control is performed by the application.
The behavior of the write system call is changed only on the file descriptor on which the VX_CONCURRENT advisory is set. Write system calls to the same file through other file descriptors take an exclusive inode read/write lock and cache the pages.  


Support for Solaris 10 Including Fine-Grain Permissions and Global Zones
VERITAS File System 4.1 supports Solaris 10 and the accompanying fine-grain permissions. Local zones are also supported.


Support for Local Zones
VERITAS File System is supported in local zones. A file system is mounted as a loopback file system (LOFS) in local zones. Concurrent I/O and Oracle Disk Manager (ODM) are supported in local zones.  


SANVM Compatibility
Previously, VERITAS File System provided two interfaces to SANVM, depending on whether or not the mounted file system was a cluster file system. There is now a single ioctl interface that freezes and thaws file systems regardless of how they are mounted.  


Application Templates (Provider Only)
Application templates provide a parameterized approach to storage allocation and management. The File System graphical user interface integrates with the application template infrastructure to facilitate File System administration.  


Software Developer's Kit (SDK)
The VERITAS File System Software Developer's Kit provides developers with information on how to use the application programming interfaces (APIs) provided with
the File System Software Developer's Kit.

SDK features include:

File Change Log

Multi-volume support

Named Data Streams

VERITAS File System I/O


Other VERITAS File System Enhancements:  

File Change Log (FCL) is now fully supported.

File System support for UIDS now exceeds 67 million.

The fsadm command now allows fragmentation reporting and defragmentation operations on an individual file or directory, or on Storage Checkpoints.

The vxupgrade command now upgrades only Version 4 and Version 5 disk layouts.

Disk layout versions prior to Version 4 cannot be mounted.

The largefiles option is now the default file size option for the mount command and mkfs command.

The delaylog option is now the default intent logging mount option. The change of the default mount option from log to delaylog does not increase the risk of data loss, but allows File System to cache data to improve performance.

The default Storage Checkpoint creation mode is now removable.

VERITAS File System is now JumpStart compliant.

Operation of the intent log replay was improved to increase the speed of recovery after a file system failure.

The histlog function was implemented in the fsdb_vxfs command. The history log records structural changes to the file system to aid in product support.

Two new tunable parameters, inode_aging_count and inode_aging_size, for use with the Storage Checkpoint API, were added to the vxtunefs command.

The vxfsu_get_ioffsets library call was renamed vxfs_get_ioffsets.

More File System functions can be performed from the VERITAS Enterprise Administrator GUI.

The Lite version of File System now supports the setext command.


Fixed Incidents:

The following issues have been fixed in this release of VERITAS File System:

Reorganizing Extents and Mapped Files
The reorganization of structural ilist extents or mapped files no longer fail due to allocations in space being removed from the file system. In previous releases, File System was unable to move structural ilist extents or mapped regular files. Higher-level operations which required this ability failed. Prior to version 4.0, this affected only the file system shrink operation; however, with the introduction of multi-volume file systems,  this also affected volume shrink and removal.


EOL statement for Previous Release/OS Version:

Sun Microsystems has announced the End of Support Life for Solaris 2.6. Contact Sun customer support for more information.

With VERITAS Storage Foundation (tm) 4.1, Solaris 2.7 is no longer supported. See the VERITAS Storage Foundation 4.1 Release Notes for more details. To view End of Support Dates for versions prior to 4.0 and 4.1, see the Related Documents section below.


Supported Operating System:

This release supports Solaris 8 (32-or 64-bit), 9 (32-or 64-bit), or 10 (64-bit).


Supported Hardware:

This release supports Sun SPARC systems. For information on hardware requirements, see the VERITAS Volume Manager 4.1 Hardware Notes


Hardware Compatibility List:

See the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) in the Related Documents section below


Supported Applications:

See the VERITAS Storage Foundation 4.1 Release Notes for the supported applications


Required Patches:

See the VERITAS Storage Foundation 4.1 Release Notes for the required patches


Link to Release Notes:

See the VERITAS Storage Foundation Release Notes in the Related Documents below


List of VERITAS Software Packages and Their Revisions:

  PKGINST:  VRTSap
     NAME:  VERITAS Action Provider
 CATEGORY:  application
     ARCH:  sparc
  VERSION:  2.00.023
  BASEDIR:  /opt/VRTSob
   VENDOR:  VERITAS Software
     DESC:  Rules engine add-on for VERITAS Object Bus
   PSTAMP:  sigsunb1m11015259
    EMAIL:  support@veritas.com
   STATUS:  spooled
    FILES:       53 spooled pathnames
                 19 directories
                 23 executables
                  6 package information files
              77446 blocks used (approx)

  PKGINST:  VRTScpi
     NAME:  VERITAS Cross Product Installation Framework
 CATEGORY:  optional
     ARCH:  sparc
  VERSION:  4.1.0.92
  BASEDIR:  /
   VENDOR:  VERITAS Software Corp.
     DESC:  Installation components and libraries
   PSTAMP:  4.1.0.92 03022005
   STATUS:  spooled
    FILES:       78 spooled pathnames
                  8 directories
                  4 executables
                  5 package information files
               1361 blocks used (approx)

  PKGINST:  VRTSfsdoc
     NAME:  VERITAS File System Documentation
 CATEGORY:  system,utilities
     ARCH:  sparc
  VERSION:  4.1,REV=4.1B18_sol_GA_s10b74L2a
  BASEDIR:  /
   VENDOR:  VERITAS Software
     DESC:  Documentation for VxFS
   PSTAMP:  VERITAS-4.1FSDOC-2005-02-24
  HOTLINE:  (800) 342-0652
    EMAIL:  support@veritas.com
   STATUS:  spooled
    FILES:        7 spooled pathnames
                  3 directories
                  1 executables
                  3 package information files
               5810 blocks used (approx)

  PKGINST:  VRTSfsman
     NAME:  VERITAS File System - Manual Pages
 CATEGORY:  system,language
     ARCH:  sparc
  VERSION:  4.1,REV=4.1B18_sol_GA_s10b74L2a
  BASEDIR:  /
   VENDOR:  VERITAS Software
     DESC:  Manual Pages for VERITAS File System
   PSTAMP:  VERITAS-4.1FS-2005-02-24
    EMAIL:  support@veritas.com
   STATUS:  spooled
    FILES:       75 spooled pathnames
                  7 directories
                  3 package information files
                888 blocks used (approx)

  PKGINST:  VRTSfsmnd
     NAME:  VERITAS File System SDK - Manual Pages
 CATEGORY:  system,language
     ARCH:  sparc
  VERSION:  4.1,REV=4.1B19_sol_GA_s10b74L2a
  BASEDIR:  /
   VENDOR:  VERITAS Software
     DESC:  Manual Pages for VERITAS File System SDK
   PSTAMP:  VERITAS-4.1FS-2005-03-03
    EMAIL:  support@veritas.com
   STATUS:  spooled
    FILES:       41 spooled pathnames
                  9 directories
                  1 executables
                  3 package information files
               2110 blocks used (approx)

  PKGINST:  VRTSfspro
     NAME:  VERITAS File System Management Services Provider
 CATEGORY:  application
     ARCH:  sparc
  VERSION:  4.1,REV=B18_sol_GA_s10b74L2a
  BASEDIR:  /
   VENDOR:  VERITAS Software
     DESC:  VERITAS File System Management Services Provider
   PSTAMP:  VERITAS-FSPRO-4.1.0.0-2005-02-24
  HOTLINE:  800-342-0652
    EMAIL:  support@veritas.com
   STATUS:  spooled
    FILES:       50 spooled pathnames
                 14 directories
                  9 executables
                  8 package information files
               9764 blocks used (approx)

  PKGINST:  VRTSfssdk
     NAME:  VERITAS File System Software Developer Kit
 CATEGORY:  system,utilities
     ARCH:  sparc
  VERSION:  4.1,REV=4.1B18_sol_GA_s10b74L2a
  BASEDIR:  /
   VENDOR:  VERITAS Software
     DESC:  Libraries and Header Files for VxFS
   PSTAMP:  VERITAS-4.1FSSDK-2005-02-24
  HOTLINE:  (800) 342-0652
    EMAIL:  support@veritas.com
   STATUS:  spooled
    FILES:      815 spooled pathnames
                288 directories
                369 executables
                  5 package information files
               9184 blocks used (approx)

  PKGINST:  VRTSob
     NAME:  VERITAS Enterprise Administrator Service
 CATEGORY:  application
     ARCH:  sparc
  VERSION:  3.2.514.0
  BASEDIR:  /opt/VRTSob
   VENDOR:  VERITAS Software Corp.
     DESC:  Enterprise Administrator Service, Binaries
   PSTAMP:  VEA-3.2.514.0-January 14, 2005
    EMAIL:  support@veritas.com
   STATUS:  spooled
    FILES:      129 spooled pathnames
                  3 linked files
                 65 directories
                 15 executables
                  9 package information files
              56810 blocks used (approx)

  PKGINST:  VRTSobgui
     NAME:  VERITAS Enterprise Administrator
 CATEGORY:  application
     ARCH:  sparc
  VERSION:  3.2.514.0
  BASEDIR:  /opt/VRTSob
   VENDOR:  VERITAS Software Corp.
     DESC:  Enterprise Administrator, Binaries
   PSTAMP:  VEA-3.2.514.0-January 14, 2005
    EMAIL:  support@veritas.com
   STATUS:  spooled
    FILES:       65 spooled pathnames
                  9 directories
                  1 executables
                  8 package information files
             150162 blocks used (approx)

  PKGINST:  VRTSperl
     NAME:  Perl 5.8.6 for VERITAS
 CATEGORY:  optional
     ARCH:  sparc
  VERSION:  4.0.12
  BASEDIR:  /
   VENDOR:  VERITAS Software Corp.
     DESC:  Perl 5.8.6 for VERITAS
   PSTAMP:  4.0.12 01112005
   STATUS:  spooled
    FILES:     1719 spooled pathnames
                204 directories
                  3 executables
                  5 package information files
              59253 blocks used (approx)

  PKGINST:  VRTStep
     NAME:  VERITAS Task Exec Provider
 CATEGORY:  application
     ARCH:  sparc
  VERSION:  1.20.028
  BASEDIR:  /opt/VRTSob
   VENDOR:  VERITAS Software
     DESC:  Command line execution add-on for VERITAS Object Bus
   PSTAMP:  sigsunb1m11011811
    EMAIL:  support@veritas.com
   STATUS:  spooled
    FILES:       32 spooled pathnames
                 16 directories
                  9 executables
                  6 package information files
              10409 blocks used (approx)

  PKGINST:  VRTSvlic
     NAME:  VERITAS License Utilities
 CATEGORY:  application
     ARCH:  sparc
  VERSION:  3.02.005k
  BASEDIR:  /
   VENDOR:  VERITAS Software Corp
   PSTAMP:  VERITAS-VLIC-3.02.005k:18-Feb-2005
   STATUS:  spooled
    FILES:       53 spooled pathnames
                 17 directories
                 22 executables
                  5 package information files
               5222 blocks used (approx)

  PKGINST:  VRTSvxfs
     NAME:  VERITAS File System
 CATEGORY:  system,utilities
     ARCH:  sparc
  VERSION:  4.1,REV=4.1B18_sol_GA_s10b74L2a
  BASEDIR:  /
   VENDOR:  VERITAS Software
     DESC:  Commercial File System
   PSTAMP:  VERITAS-4.1FS-2005-02-24
  HOTLINE:  (800) 342-0652
    EMAIL:  support@veritas.com
   STATUS:  spooled
    FILES:      574 spooled pathnames
                 16 linked files
                154 directories
                220 executables
                 15 setuid/setgid executables
                  7 package information files
             154770 blocks used (approx)


General License Information:

This release uses SIG licensing.


What Scripts or Command to Use:

VERITAS File System is installed as part of VERITAS Storage Foundation. Read the VERITAS Storage Foundation and High Availability Solutions 4.1 Getting Started Guide, VERITAS Storage Foundation 4.1 Release Notes and the VERITAS Storage Foundation 4.1 Installation Guide for the installation instructions.


Link to Installation and Configuration Guide:

See the VERITAS Storage Foundation Installation Guide in the Related Documents section below


Link to File System Administrator's Guide:

See the VERITAS File System 4.1 Administrator's Guide for Solaris in the Related Documents section below


Caution:   VxFS file systems must be cleanly unmounted before upgrading to the VERITAS File System 4.0 or 4.1 release from any previous release. For more information, refer to TechNote 265504 in the Related Documents section below


For the latest information on updates, patches, and software issues regarding this release, see the Related Documents section below