[Info-vax] recovery data

[Phillip Helbig undress to reply]

Information has been saved to allow you to uninstall the following patches:

RECOVERY DATA SET 001 created 22-MAR-2015 23:02:09.46
   -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
   PATCH                                  APPLIED TO
   -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
   DEC AXPVMS VMS84A_UPDATE V5.0          DEC AXPVMS VMS V8.4
   -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------

RECOVERY DATA SET 002 created 22-MAR-2015 22:53:49.95
   -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
   PATCH                                  APPLIED TO
   -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
   DEC AXPVMS VMS84A_PCSI V2.0            DEC AXPVMS VMS V8.4
   -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------

* The operation you are performing will invalidate all saved recovery data sets.
* Recovery data sets represent restore points that have a limited lifespan.  Any
* operation that modifies the product database, except for installation of other
* patches where recovery data is also saved, makes existing data sets outdated.

* If you continue, recovery data for the patches listed above will be deleted.
* The deletion of recovery data does not affect the installation status of
* patches applied to products that are not participating in this operation.
* However, continuing with this operation will prevent you from uninstalling
* these patches at a future time by use of the PRODUCT UNDO PATCH command.

As I mentioned, I haven't done much with PRODUCT INSTALL in a while.  I
do remember this message, though.  What does it actually mean?  Does 
anyone else find it confusing?

If I continue, then neither the current installation (of COBOL, say) nor 
the installation of VMS 8.4 or the PCSI patch will be affected, but I 
can't undo VMS 8.4 or the PCSI patch via PRODUCT UNDO PATCH?  If so, 
what does it mean when it says that the deletion won't affect products 
which are not participating in this operation?  If that's really the 
case, why issue the mesage at all?