                                                           From: A.Longinotti
                                                           Date: 01 March 2001


             VLT-SW-MAR2001 - RELEASE NOTES FOR INS COMMON SOFTWARE
             ======================================================

These notes take as reference for comparison the last external release (OCT99).

All existing packages run both on fullCCS and ccsLite.

Packages BOSS, XXXX, TPL, STOO, ICB have been tested, and therefore
are supported, only on HP-UX (not on Solaris).

                                 New packages
                                 ------------

BOSS (Base OS):
        It provides the common core for all Observation Software 
	implementations.
        Support for Super-OSs, i.e. applications coordinating several 
	OSs/instruments, only partly provided.
        User Manual: VLT-MAN-ESO-17240-2265
        For users of the NOV2000 release only: See also file
        boss/BackUpCompNotes for a list of backward incompatibilities
        with respect to NOV2000.

XXXX (Template Instrument):
        Added to the release tape (examples/insapp/XXXX)
        It is a complete instrumentation application, using all available
        INS common sw packages.
        It is supposed to be taken as example for instrumentation sw 
        applications development.
        User Manual: VLT-MAN-ESO-17240-1973

TPL:
        It provides a library with common functionality for the development 
	of instrumentation specific templates
        The User Manual contains also a set of applicable rules for the 
	development of templates.
        User Manual: VLT-MAN-ESO-17240-2240

STOO:
        It provides a common startup tool for instrumentation applications.
        User Manual: VLT-MAN-ESO-17240-2153


                               Existing packages
                               -----------------

DXF:
        Added file transfer capability (VLTSW20000384)

OSLX:
        New class oslxFITS_EXT, supporting usage of FITS binary tables and
        based on cfitsio library (module cfitsio added to the release).

ICB (Base ICS):
        1) new class icbMOT_POS, for motors with continuous range.
        2) Support usage of 2 or more LCUs.
        3) Support 2 or more ICSs in the same CCS WS environment.
        3) Added concept of assemblies on WS part
        4) Added Self-Test program ic0SelfTest

PCO:
        No Changes.

IST:
        No Changes.

MISC:
        No Changes.

SLX:
        No Changes (except fixing SPRs)
        


                               Obsolete packages
                               -----------------

FHT:
        Not supported any more.

                                   ___oOo___




