OpenVMS Alpha Guide to Upgrading Privileged-Code Applications

This document, dated December 1995, provides guidance for developers on upgrading privileged-code applications and device drivers to run on OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.0. The primary changes introduced in this version, which may require source code modifications for privileged software, include the introduction of 64-bit virtual addressing and kernel threads support.

Key areas covered in the guide include:

• Infrastructure Changes: Details regarding the relocation of page tables, the global page table, and the PFN database to S2 space, as well as changes to data structure formats and the obsolescence of certain I/O routines.
• Modifying Device Drivers: Instructions for supporting 64-bit addressing in device drivers, including the use of the Direct I/O Buffer Map (DIOBM) structure and updated I/O support routines.
• Kernel Threads: Information on the new Kernel Thread Block (KTB) process structure, per-kernel thread data, and scheduling changes.
• Image Registry: An overview of the Image Registry facility, which allows for managing version dependencies.
• Removed Symbols: Comprehensive tables listing removed date structure fields, routines, macros, and system data cells, along with their replacements and migration advice.
• Appendices: Extensive reference material covering data structure changes, specific I/O support routine updates, and new kernel thread-related macros and routines.

This manual is intended specifically for system programmers using privileged-mode interfaces; nonprivileged applications generally do not require modifications to run on Version 7.0.