HPE Shadowbase Software Release Glossary, Policy, and Versions

Versions

Older Versions of HPE Shadowbase

HPE Shadowbase versions are numbered numerically (e.g., N.MMM) in ascending order, with an attached “^XXX” suffix to match the corresponding HPE SPR number. The “N” is the Shadowbase release major number and the “MMM” is the Shadowbase release minor number. For example:

• V6.100^AAA, initial release

• V6.101^AAB, subsequent release

Starting with the L-series HPE Shadowbase NonStop release version 6.800

The Shadowbase releases will also properly update the HPE part number (T#) version to correspond to the Shadowbase release number.  Previously, all of the Shadowbase releases had the same T# version.

For L-series NonStop Shadowbase version 6.800 and newer, the T# version will be T1122 LNM, with the T# version matching the Shadowbase major (N) and most-significant minor number (M).  Hence, for version 6.800, the full version name will become: T1122 L68 Version 6.800.  Subsequent releases in the 6.8nn version scheme will add in the HPE SPR number using the standard HPE (^XXX) SPR naming convention.

For example, the sequence of versions of Shadowbase for version 6.800, assuming there are two follow on versions numbered 6.801 and later 6.810, would be:

• T1122 L68 6.800, original release
• T1122 L68 6.801^AAA, second release
• T1122 L68 6810^AAB, third release

If another major release is subsequently created, for example version 6.900, the HPE Shadowbase release would become: T1122 L69 6.900.

Mirroring the HPE support model, Gravic Shadowbase releases will generally set the support status:

• A new version becomes available on <date>: status = Active
• <date> plus two years: status = Mature
• <date> plus four years: status = Limited (transfer to Limited by default, serves as the notice date for Obsolete)
• <date> plus six years: status = Obsolete (with Limited status serving as the 12 months advance notice)

At the time a new version of Shadowbase software becomes available, Gravic will set the Active, Mature, Limited, and Obsolete dates for that release. These dates are published and updated periodically, based on the availability of new versions, and the support policies of the various systems, platforms, databases, and environments that Shadowbase software runs on.

Note that due to Gravic and HPE product release and document publication timing differences, the Gravic Shadowbase product support status and the HPE Shadowbase product support status as listed in the SPML may be slightly different.

The Shadowbase support matrix (please reference: Supported Databases and Platforms) will be updated as changes occur. Periodically check the support status matrix for the environments on which you run Shadowbase software.

Policy

Gravic, Inc. standardized the HPE Shadowbase software product release and support policies to more closely align with those of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), including definitions and methodology. Between new product version releases, Gravic follows the standard HPE product update mechanism, involving the release of SPRs (TCDs and TCFs), as described in the Glossary section below.

Current HPE NonStop product support status is published in two documents, available on the HPE NonStop eServices Portal:

• Hardware Product Maintenance List (HPML)
• Software Product Maintenance List (SPML)

The HPML/SPML are updated annually. Years for each support category are calculated starting from the date the product is released.

Product status is listed on a Product ID (“PID”) basis (also referred to as a “SKU” in the newer HPE platforms), and falls into one of the four support categories, as defined in the SPML:

Active (from initial release for 2 years):

• All customer-reported defects are analyzed
• Repair action taken as appropriate
• Usage questions answered, existing fixes and workarounds provided

Mature (years 3 & 4):

• Customer-reported defects for critical or major problems addressed
• Usage questions answered, existing fixes and workarounds provided
• Repair action taken as appropriate for defects categorized as Major or Critical (i.e., the system or application is down or at high risk; business cannot be conducted, or there are continual failures, or data corruption)

Limited (years 5 & 6):

• All calls answered, full phone and email support
• All customer-reported defects are analyzed
• Description similar to HPML usage of category “support at least through.” Support actions limited to providing:
  • Existing fixes
  • Workarounds to known problems
  • Responses to setup, usage, and configuration questions

Obsolete (after year 6 or later):

• The product has reached the end of its service life; no support services are available for the product
• For Independent Products, a minimum of six months’ notice will be provided when there is a successor product
• State is equivalent to end-of-service-life (EOSL) for hardware

Manuals and Softdocs

HPE Shadowbase Manuals are posted on the HPE NonStop Technical Library.

Topics include:

• HPE Integrity NonStop L-Series
• HPE Integrity NonStop J-Series
• HPE Integrity NonStop H-Series
• HPE Integrity NonStop G-Series
• HPE Integrity NonStop Release and Migration
• Service Access Workbench (SAW)

For more information on HPE Shadowbase Softdocs, please visit:

Contact Us

Please contact us if you have more questions regarding our release and support policies.