Preliminary Raven Schedule



 Field Test 0 Code Freeze               3/27/97
 Field Test 0                           4/15/97 (done...)
 Internal Field Test Code Freeze        Late June 1997
 Internal Field Test                    July 1997
 External Field Test #1 Code Freeze     Early August 1997
 External Field Test #1                 Oct/Nov 1997
 External Field Test #2 Code Freeze     Early November 1997
 External Field Test #2                 Dec 1997 - Feb 1998
 SSB Submit                             March 1998

Field Test 0

This is a very early field test whose primary purpose is to allow Digital to
take advantage of FASB accounting, on some of the early development work
done on Raven. This is a good opportunity to get some very early field
exposure for some projects which can make the late March code freeze date.
Beware that this kit will go to a very limited number of sites and that
there will be no formal documentation provided (other than a cover letter).
Field Test 0 will also ship with a working version of at least Decnet Phase
4 and DECwindows. There are no plans to test any other layered products
(although we don't expect many to be broken). Regression tests will be run
on this kit, but there will not be an extensive qualification effort. There
is a column in the "Project List" chart which indicates projects that are
expected to be complete for this field test.

Field Test 0 shipped as planned on 4/15/97. It is being tested by LJK
Software (focusing on Per-Thread Security), and Bristol (focusing on the
Registry).



Internal Field Test

The Internal Field Test is planned to get internal layered products and
applications some exposure to changed elements of OpenVMS that may cause
them some problems. Any project which which has made changes which could
break a layered application must be complete at this time. At this time at
least the following projects must participate in the Raven internal field
test -

   * HFS
   * Per-Thread Security
   * A sub-set of the infrastructure security changes
   * Kernel Threads Enhancements
   * DECthreads Enhancements

There will be validation efforts completed for selected projects prior to
internal field test and a mini-qualification will be done. Distribution will
be via the network and the matrix of installation tests will not be done.



External Field Test #1

This will be the first widespread exposure of Raven to our customers. All
code for Raven should be complete at this time with the exception of some
parts of the infrastructure projects. It is also a goal that all backlog
QARs (qars that were transferred into Raven from previous projects), be
closed at this time. Any projects of P1 or P2 priority that are not complete
at this time will likely be deferred to the release after Raven. The code
base for EFT-1 will under go extensive verification testing, system level
testing and a matrix of installation tests. Preliminary documentation for
new features will be available. Distribution will be via CDrom to a small
(10-ish), number of customers.



External Field Test #2

This is the final test of Raven prior to release. The infrastructure
projects will all be complete and we hope to have a version of DCOM
available too. Extensive component, system and installation testing will
take place prior to the release of EFT-2. Distribution will be via CDrom to
the same set of customers who received EFT-1. In addition to supplying kits
to the "official" field test customers, we will probably produce an SDK kit
for widespread distribution to all interested customers.




