HP-UX 11i Version 2 June 2007 Release Notes

Introduction to HP-UX 11i Version 2

HP-UX 11i v2 Compatibility

Chapter 2

HP-UX 11i v2 Compatibility

Compatibility on HP-UX 11i for HP 9000 and Integrity Servers

Introduction

Hewlett-Packard (HP) understands your need for investment protection. By providing

multiple levels of compatibility between operating system versions, between hardware

platforms, on virtual machines, and even between chip architectures, we believe the

HP-UX operating system provides the most comprehensive investment protection in the

industry. (See “Definition of Terms and Levels of Compatibility” on page 29 for a

definition of levels of compatibility.)

Compatibility Across Operating System Releases and Hardware Platforms

For “Well-behaved” user space applications Hewlett-Packard (see “Definition of Terms

and Levels of Compatibility” on page 29 for a definition of “Well-behaved” and other

terms):

• Maintains forward data, source, build environment, and binary compatibility across

all hardware platforms of the same architecture family (e.g., Integrity or HP 9000)

which are supported by the same version of HP-UX;

• Provides forward data, source, build environment, and binary compatibility across

HP-UX versions on HP 9000 servers and Integrity servers on their respective

architectures. This is true for 32bit or 64bit applications on either architecture

family;

• Delivers new features and improved performance with each new HP-UX release.

Binary compatibility across Operating System versions applies to legacy features

(features that were present in the earlier release) and often still holds true for new

features. There are some instances, however, where applications may be required to

recompile in order to use or leverage a new feature.

See the release notes for each version of HP-UX for information on new features that

may require changes to applications.

Compatibility within HP-UX 11i Virtualization Solutions

“Well-behaved” applications built on HP-UX 11i are binary compatible to run within

HP-UX Virtual Partitions (vPars) on the same architecture family. No changes,

recompilation or re-certification is necessary.

“Well-behaved” applications built on HP-UX 11i Integrity are binary compatible to run

within an HP Integrity Virtual Machine (VM). This binary compatibility applies to

applications with no specific device dependencies and to applications that depend only

on devices currently virtualized by Integrity VM. Most applications do not have specific

device dependencies. However, if your application has specific device dependencies,

please refer to the HP Integrity Virtual Machines QuickSpecs for details. You can view

the document at

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12715_div/12715_div.PDF