Users on OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.2 (and later) systems can
take advantage of Extended File Specifications capabilities. In
contrast, systems running prior versions of OpenVMS cannot mount
ODS-5 volumes, correctly handle extended file names, or even see
extended file names.
The following topics describe support on OpenVMS Version 7.2
(and later) and on prior versions of OpenVMS in a mixed-version
cluster.
Users on OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.2 (and later) Systems
Users on OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.2 and later systems can continue
to access pre-Version 7.2 files and directories; for example,
they can do all of the following:
o Create and access deep directory structures on ODS-2 volumes.
o Read a BACKUP saveset created on an earlier version of
OpenVMS.
o Use DECnet to copy a file with an ODS-5 name to a file with an
ODS-2 name on a system running an earlier version of OpenVMS.
Users on pre-Version 7.2 Systems
On mixed-version clusters, some restrictions exist. Users on a
version of OpenVMS prior to Version 7.2:
o Cannot access any files on an ODS-5 volume. This is true
regardless of whether the volume is connected physically on
a CI or SCSI bus, or by an MSCP or QIO server.
o Cannot successfully create or restore an ODS-5 image saveset.
However, these users can successfully restore ODS-2-compliant
file names from an ODS-5 saveset.