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As of August 3, 2005 IRIX 6.5.28 is releasing with new IRIX 6.5 based systems shipping from SGI worldwide manufacturing centers. The IRIX 6.5.28 release continues the focus on stability, reliability, security and compatibility required in the IRIX 6.5.xx release process.
The IRIX 6.5.28 release delivers several software enhancements, extensions and improvements requested by our customers. Approximately 69 customer reported incidents are also resolved in this release.
The general distribution process is through the online ordering system. IRIX 6.5.28 images are available for download on Supportfolio™.
IRIX 6.5.28 Highlights
Expanded support for diskless workstation
The diskless workstation feature is now supported with the following systems:
- Regular Origin 300/350/3000 servers
- IP35 machines with KONA graphics
- IP35 machines with VOYAGER graphics
- IP35 machines with ODYSSEY graphics, supported prior to this release.
Increased maximum allocation group size in XFS filesystems
XFS filesystems support a maximum allocation group size of up to 1 terabyte. This requires that you use the -d largeag option of the mkfs command.
Directory quotas
Quotas may be set on a per-directory basis. This provides a quota for all files and subdirectories starting at any given directory.
Audit logs
An audit record is now added to the audit log when a user logs in or logs out from ftp.
Improved netgather script
The netgather script now collects additional NFS information about mounted filesystems that can aid in customer support.
Symbolic links in AutoFS filesystems
Support for symbolic links has been added to the AutoFS filesystem. This enhancement allows users to avoid using LoFS filesystems for accessing directories on the local host via autofs mounts.
ISO 9660 filesystem support for large filesystems
Support for ISO 9660 filesystems larger then 2GB is now available.
Failsoft support
The IRIX 6.5.28 release supports Failsoft modes of operation. With the incorporation of Failsoft operation modes, certain fatal hardware errors are able to be confined, affecting only the work running in a cpuset, and therefore do not result in system crash. The running job on the affected cpuset is suspended, and no further work is allowed to be submitted to the cpuset. The other cpus within the cpuset are released from the cpuset to be rescheduled by the system to continue doing useful work.
The failed CPU is held in an isolated, unusable state pending administrative action to remedy. This feature does not require any user or administrative intervention to take effect.
SGI Software Product Life Cycle Management
IRIX support policy
In accordance with the SGI software product life cycle management strategy announced in November 2000, SGI will announce support mode changes for various software products on a quarterly basis. To view customer letters containing support mode changes announced since November 2000, as well as the latest IRIX Support Policy documents, visit the IRIX Support Policy Web page located at: http://support.sgi.com/irix/6.5
Changes to Support Mode Status
The following workstations, graphics and scalable server systems have transitioned to retired support mode for the IRIX 6.5.23 release. IRIX 6.5.23 and beyond do not support installation on these systems.
- Challenge® S, Challenge® M, Challenge® DM, Challenge® L, Challenge® XL
- Indigo®, Indigo2™, Indigo2™ Extreme, Indigo2 Impact™, Indy®
- Power Challenge™, Power Indigo2™, Power Onyx™
- Onyx®
Contact your local sales representative to discuss options for replacement or upgrade products.
IRIX 6.5 Application Compatibility Mandate
For those providers asking about quarterly recertification of applications, please take a moment and become acquainted with the application compatibility protections offered by IRIX 6.5. This is a very powerful mandate that allows an application to be developed under IRIX 6.5.X and be run on any IRIX 6.5.Y, regardless of whether Y > X, Y = X, or Y < X.
The Mandate of Application Compatibility in SGI IRIX 6.5 is at URL: http://techpubs.sgi.com/tpl.cgi/view/SGI_Developer/mandate_IRIX
Caveats to Read Before You Upgrade
Users are reminded to review the special "Caveats to Read Before You Upgrade" section of the online Welcome document. Visit the "Caveat and Release Note Updates" link at: http://support.sgi.com/irix/6.5 for any late-breaking information.
Critical Patch for IRIX 6.5.28 NFS Servers
IRIX NFS clients using UDP with the default 16K buffer size are denied access to NFS services on IRIX 6.5.28 servers. SGI has released patch 5918 to address this issue. SGI strongly recommends that customer install this patch on IRIX 6.5.28 NFS servers to maintain proper system operations.
For additional information regarding this caveat, contact your local service representative or the SGI Customer Support Center.
Important note if you do live installs of the IRIX quarterly releases
Installation
Updated Inst program
New installation features were used starting with IRIX 6.5.21 that necessitate install using the miniroot, then you may do so by the usual method. However, if you plan to upgrade by 'live' install and are running IRIX 6.5.19 or earlier, you must first install patch 5086.
IRIX 6.5.xx Lookahead
IRIX 6.5.29 is in development and is planned to release mid-February, 2006.
