Thanks for the feedback on the Data ONTAP release model.

There were numerous factors we considered in the decision making process for both Data ONTAP 6.0 and 5.3.6H1. Factors including * time to market * time frame for separation of code lines * feature/function and regression/reliability testing scope * project schedule differences * and the risk profile of the various alternatives were critical in the decision making process. We believe the resulting release model decisions provided the highest quality solution for you in the most timely manner. Follow-on maintenance releases for both Data ONTAP 5.3.6H1 and 6.0 will address the platform specific issues associated with the above mentioned releases.

Ed Reidenbach Marketing Manager, Data ONTAP, Multiprotocol and High Availability Network Appliance Phone: 408-822-6167 Email: edr@netapp.com

-----Original Message----- From: Todd C. Merrill [mailto:tmerrill@mathworks.com] Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2000 7:11 AM To: toasters@mathworks.com Subject: F760/F840, ONTAP 5.3.x/6.x gripes

Can someone from NetApp comment on these following concerns?

It seems...inconvenient for those who upgraded to ONTAP 6 on F760s to have to revert back to 5.3.6.x in order to upgrade to the F840s. The release of ONTAP 6 couldn't wait until a port to the x86 code was ready for the F840s?

And, also, why won't 5.3.6H1 run on an alpha-based filer? I couldn't test 5.3.6H1 *anywhere* in my environment, except on my new F840 which I needed immediately on a high-visibilty filer. I upgraded and went live with 5.3.6H1 and crossed my fingers that there would be no problems with this new release. Very unnerving. I'm now running with two different ONTAP versions on a group of filers, and hoping I don't run into any inconsistencies across my environment due to this. Again, a port of 5.3.6H1 couldn't have been made for the alpha-based filers coincident with the x86-based F840?

Lastly, could the boot process be made smarter to load the appropriate microkernel, x86 or alpha, if *both* were included on disk? These gyrations to install and download x86- or alpha-based code from *floppy* (slllooowwwww) just seems so...so...kludgy. Probably not, but I'm just asking. Makes a simple head-swap upgrade not so simple.

In summary, in comparison to the usual elegant and quick upgrades and downgrades for previous ONTAP versions, these points above just increased my downtime [0] and decreased my comfort level.

(BTW, the 840 is taking the load of our previous 760 without even breaking a sweat. Yipee!)

[0] Just one of these migrations or ugprade/downgrades takes you far below a 99.999% uptime metric.

Until next time...

The Mathworks, Inc. 508-647-7000 x7792 3 Apple Hill Drive, Natick, MA 01760-2098 508-647-7001 FAX tmerrill@mathworks.com http://www.mathworks.com ---