  VAX 7000-610 console variables? 
 The Question is:
 
On VAX a 7610 - Replaced processor board. The original board had Firmware
Rev =V2.4-2750[A18] the replacement board had Firmware Rev =V4.2-4835.
 
There are two new variables "bootvax_compat" (currently set to OFF) and
"compat_mode" (currently set to ON).
 
Also there used to be a "conv" variable which is no longer in the list of
variables. (i.e. &gt;&gt;&gt;show  * )
 
What are these two new vaiables for and what should their settings be?
 
Hareware: CI VAXcluster, VMS 5.5-2, VAX 7610 (2), VAX8700 (1), VAX 6320 (1).
(7610's have FDDI).
 
Thank for your reponse.
 
 The Answer is:
 
  From the V4.2 console release notes:
 
       1) In Version 4.2 of the VAX7000/10000 console, support has been
          added for running VAX VMS Version 5.5-2 on the VAX7000/10000
          Model 800 CPU. This means that this version of VAX VMS can now
          be used with the VAX7000/1000 Model 600 and Model 800 CPUs only.
 
          The environment variable COMPAT_MODE has been added to facili-
          tate this. It has three states:
 
          o  ON (default) - for use with VAX VMS V6.1, V6.2 on all CPUs
 
          o  OFF - for use with future releases of VAX VMS
 
          o  V55 - for use with VAX VMS V5.5-2 on the Model 800 CPU
 
          The Model 600 fully supports VAX VMS V5.5-2, V6.1, V6.2, and V7.0
          regardless of the setting of COMPAT_MODE.
 
          With COMPAT_MODE set to ON (default) the Model 700 supports
          running VAX VMS V6.1, V6.2, and V7.0. This CPU does not support
          running VAX VMS V5.5-2.
 
          With COMPAT_MODE set to ON (default) the Model 800 supports
          running VAX VMS V6.1, V6.2, and V7.0. These versions of the oper-
          ating system will see the CPU as a Model 700.
 
          With COMPAT_MODE set to V55, VAX VMS V5.5-2 is supported on the
          Model 800, but the operating system will see the CPU as a Model 600
          and all restrictions pertaining to running VAX VMS V5.5-2 on a
          Model 600 CPU will apply (i.e., 512 Mb memory limit, no BI support,
          etc.).
 
       2) The environment variable BOOTVAX_COMPAT has been added to V4.2
          of the console. This is to enable reboot (VMS shutdown with
          reboot) behavior that is compatible with VAX systems that reboot
          from the defined, default boot device. The variable has two states:
 
          o  OFF (default)
 
          o  ON
 
          With BOOTVAX_COMPAT set to OFF, all reboots will occur on the
          initial boot device, regardless of the BOOTDEF_DEV setting. This
          has been the behavioral mode of VAX7000 in the past.
 
          With BOOTVAX_COMPAT set to ON, all reboots will be from the
          device specified by BOOTDEF_DEV, regardless of the initial boot
          device.
 
 
