Technical data

Programming Release Notes
6.10 Debugging Modes—Avoiding CPUSPINWAIT Bugchecks
6.10 Debugging Modes—Avoiding CPUSPINWAIT Bugchecks
V7.1
The OpenVMS operating system has a number of special modes of operation
designed to help you debug complex hardware and software problems. In general
terms, these special modes enable an extra level of tracing, data recording,
and consistency checking that is useful in identifying a failing hardware or
software component. These modes of operation are controlled by several system
parameters: MULTIPROCESSING, POOLCHECK, BUGCHECKFATAL, and
SYSTEM_CHECK.
If you are using one of these special modes (for example, to debug a device driver
or other complex application), under certain conditions, generally related to
high I/O loads, it is possible to incur a CPUSPINWAIT bugcheck. To prevent a
CPUSPINWAIT bugcheck, either use the system default settings for these system
parameters, or reduce the loading of the system.
If you have reason to change the default settings, you can reduce the likelihood of
encountering a problem by setting the SMP_LNGSPINWAIT system parameter to
a value of 9000000.
6.11 Hypersort (SORT/MERGE/CONVERT)—Alpha Only
The following sections contain release notes pertaining to restrictions and known
problems in the use of the High-Performance Sort/Merge utility, Hypersort. These
restrictions and known problems supplement the material in the OpenVMS
Utility Routines Manual.
Hypersort (HYPERSORT.EXE) can optionally be selected for use by SORT,
MERGE, CONVERT, Compaq COBOL, and Oracle Rdb. Use SORT32 as a
work-around for problems or restrictions in Hypersort, unless the problem or
restriction also exists in SORT32.
6.11.1 Hypersort and /FORMAT=RECORD_SIZE - Restriction
V7.3
Hypersort does not support /FORMAT=RECORD_SIZE for use with SORT or
MERGE.
6.11.2 Hypersort and Input Asterisk (*)—Restriction
V7.3
Hypersort does not support asterisk (*) as an input file specification.
6.11.3 Hypersort and Free Disk Space for Work Files—Restriction
V7.3
Hypersort does not support work-file specifications that result in insufficient free
disk space to complete the sort or merge operation.
6.11.4 Hypersort Work File Directories—Restriction
V7.3
Hypersort work files must be redirected to directories that allow multiple-file
versions that can handle the number of requested work files. This restriction also
exists in SORT32.
Programming Release Notes 6–15