Document revision date: 19 July 1999

A system has several different sets of values for system parameters. The following table describes these values:

Value	Description
Default values	Values provided with the system to allow you to boot any supported configuration.
Current values	Values stored in the default parameter file on disk and used to boot the system. On VAX systems, the default parameter file is VAXVMSSYS.PAR. On Alpha systems, the default parameter file is ALPHAVMSSYS.PAR.
Active values	Values that are stored in memory and are used while the system is running. You can change the active value on a running system only for system parameters categorized as dynamic system parameters.
Values stored in other parameter files	For special purposes, you can create a parameter file other than the default parameter file that is used to store current values.

When the system boots, it reads the current values into memory, creating active values. An active value remains equal to the current value until you change either the active value or the current value.

When you execute the AUTOGEN command procedure through the SETPARAMS phase, it changes current values.

The System Management utility (SYSMAN) and the System Generation utility (SYSGEN) allow you to show and modify both current and active values. Use the USE and WRITE commands to specify which values you want to show or modify.

For more information about managing parameters with SYSMAN, see Section 14.7. For more information about managing parameters with SYSGEN, see Section 14.8.

14.1.2 Pages and Pagelets

On VAX systems, the operating system allocates and deallocates memory for processes in units called pages. A page on a VAX system is 512 bytes. Some system parameter values are allocated in units of pages.

On Alpha systems, some system parameter values are allocated in units of pages, while others are allocated in units of pagelets.

A page on an Alpha system can be 8 kilobytes (KB) (8192 bytes), 16KB, 32KB, or 64KB. A pagelet is a 512-byte unit of memory. One Alpha pagelet is the same size as one VAX page. On an Alpha computer with a page size of 8KB, 16 Alpha pagelets equal one Alpha page.

When reviewing parameter values, especially those parameters related to memory management, be sure to note the units required for each parameter. Section 14.7.2 and Section 14.8.2 explain how to show parameter values and their units of allocation.

14.2 Recommended Method for Changing Parameter Values

Many system parameters can affect other parameters and the performance of the system. For this reason, Compaq recommends that you use the command procedure SYS$UPDATE:AUTOGEN.COM (AUTOGEN) to manage system parameters. For information about AUTOGEN, see Section 14.4.

The System Management utility (SYSMAN) and the System Generation utility (SYSGEN) also allow you to manage system parameters. Although these utilities are not generally recommended for changing parameter values, you can use one of these utilities for the following reasons:

• To display system parameters and their values on a VAX or Alpha system
• To display system parameters and their values for systems in an OpenVMS Cluster environment
• To temporarily modify a single parameter that has little effect on other parameters

Compaq recommends that you use the AUTOGEN command procedure to tune your system. If you use the System Management utility (SYSMAN) or the System Generation utility (SYSGEN) to modify system parameter values, and you do not include these changes in the AUTOGEN parameter file MODPARAMS.DAT, these changes will be overridden the next time you run AUTOGEN.

If you used SYSMAN or SYSGEN to change parameter values in the past, use the following procedure to convert your parameter settings to work with AUTOGEN. This procedure explains how to add your customized parameter settings to MODPARAMS.DAT so they will be retained when you run AUTOGEN.

Before performing this task, you should understand AUTOGEN, feedback, and the AUTOGEN parameter file MODPARAMS.DAT, as explained in Section 14.4.

1. Save the parameter values that the system is now using as follows:

   $ RUN SYS$SYSTEM:SYSMAN SYSMAN> PARAMETERS USE ACTIVE SYSMAN> PARAMETERS WRITE SYS$SYSTEM:nodename_PARAMS_CURRENT.PAR

2. Write a listing of the active parameter values to an ASCII file named nodename_PARAMS.OLD as follows:

   SYSMAN> PARAMETERS SHOW/ALL/OUTPUT=nodename_PARAMS.OLD SYSMAN> PARAMETERS SHOW/SPECIAL/OUTPUT=nodename_PARAMS_SPECIAL.OLD SYSMAN> EXIT $ APPEND nodename_PARAMS_SPECIAL.OLD nodename_PARAMS.OLD

   
   You will use this file in step 6.

3. Edit AUTOGEN's parameter file SYS$SYSTEM:MODPARAMS.DAT to define symbols to specify values for the following parameters:
   • Parameter values that are not calculated by AUTOGEN, such as SCSNODE and SCSSYSTEMID. Refer to the AUTOGEN description in the OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual for a table of the parameters calculated by AUTOGEN.
   • Any parameter values that must be adjusted to suit your system work load, for example, GBLPAGES and GBLSECTIONS.
   
   To specify a value, define symbols using the format MIN_parameter, MAX_parameter, or ADD_parameter rather than specifying an explicit value. For example:

   $ EDIT SYS$SYSTEM:MODPARAMS.DAT

   SCSNODE = "MYNODE" ! Not calculated by AUTOGEN SCSSYSTEMID = 10001 ! Not calculated by AUTOGEN MIN_GBLPAGES = 10000 ! Needed for MCS, BLISS32, and ADA MIN_GBLSECTIONS = 600 ! Needed for MCS, BLISS32, and ADA

   
   To help you track the changes you make in MODPARAMS.DAT, add comments to each line, preceded by an exclamation point (!). For information about defining symbols in MODPARAMS.DAT, see Section 14.5.1.

4. Run AUTOGEN, but do not reboot. Use one of the following commands, depending on your system:
   • If the system has run a typical work load for more than 24 hours since last booting:

     $ @SYS$UPDATE:AUTOGEN SAVPARAMS SETPARAMS FEEDBACK

     
     The SAVPARAMS phase collects feedback information about resource use on the running system; this information is used by AUTOGEN. This command creates a feedback report named SYS$SYSTEM:AGEN$PARAMS.REPORT, which tells you about peak resource use.

   • If you want to use a previously collected feedback file:

     $ @SYS$UPDATE:AUTOGEN GETDATA SETPARAMS FEEDBACK

     
     If you start from the GETDATA phase, AUTOGEN does not collect current feedback.

   • If this is a new system (that is, it has no feedback) or the system has had little activity since last boot (for example, over the weekend) so there is no valid feedback file:

     $@SYS$UPDATE:AUTOGEN GETDATA SETPARAMS CHECK_FEEDBACK

     
     Use the CHECK_FEEDBACK parameter to let AUTOGEN determine whether the feedback is valid.

5. Write a listing of the new parameter values to an ASCII file as follows:

   $ RUN SYS$SYSTEM:SYSMAN SYSMAN> PARAMETERS USE CURRENT SYSMAN> PARAMETERS SHOW /ALL /OUTPUT=nodename_PARAMS.NEW SYSMAN> PARAMETERS SHOW /SPECIAL /OUTPUT=nodename_PARAMS_SPECIAL.NEW SYSMAN> EXIT $ APPEND nodename_PARAMS_SPECIAL.NEW nodename_PARAMS.NEW

6. Compare the old and new parameter values as follows:

   $ DIFFERENCES/PARALLEL/OUTPUT=nodename_PARAMS.DIF/MATCH=5 - _$ nodename_PARAMS.OLD nodename_PARAMS.NEW

7. Print the differences file you created in step 6 (named in the format nodename_PARAMS.DIF). Print the file on a 132-column line printer to make the output easier to read.
8. Compare the numbers in the two columns following each parameter name column. The left column shows the old value; the right column shows the new value. Figure 14-1 illustrates sample output.

   Figure 14-1 Old and New Parameter Values

   ---

   
9. Make any adjustments in MODPARAMS.DAT using symbols prefixed by MIN_, MAX_, or ADD_. For example, if AUTOGEN calculated a smaller value for GBLPAGES, you might specify a minimum value for this parameter as follows:

   MIN_GBLPAGES = 10000

   
   If you originally specified a parameter value in MODPARAMS.DAT (in step 3) but the parameter has not been changed, verify the following data:

   • The parameter name is spelled correctly and completely (not abbreviated). In MODPARAMS.DAT, AUTOGEN sees parameter names as symbol assignments. AUTOGEN cannot equate a symbol to the corresponding system parameter unless it is spelled correctly. Look in AGEN$FEEDBACK.REPORT for any error messages AUTOGEN might have written.
   • The value is correct: count the digits and make sure no commas are present.
   • The parameter occurs only once in MODPARAMS.DAT.
   • The parameter is not commented out.
   
   For most parameters, if the new value is greater than the old value, you can accept AUTOGEN's setting. If the new value is less than the old value, Compaq recommends that you retain the old value because the system may not have been using that resource when running AUTOGEN.
   For example, you might have used SYSMAN to increase GBLPAGES to 10,000 to accommodate layered products, but have not specified that change in MODPARAMS.DAT. AUTOGEN might calculate that the system needs only 5000 global pages. When you reboot after running AUTOGEN, not all of your layered products may be installed, and you might receive the system message GPTFULL, "global page table full," indicating that the system needs more GBLPAGES.
10. Repeat from step 3 until you are satisfied with the new parameter values.
    If necessary, make further changes in MODPARAMS.DAT, run AUTOGEN again, and verify the changes as before. Usually after this second pass of AUTOGEN, the parameter values will be stable and you can then reboot.
11. Reboot. When you reboot, the system will use the new parameter values. Using AUTOGEN to reboot or rebooting right away is not necessary. However you must reboot before the system uses the new parameter values.
    If the system does not boot, perform a conversational boot and use the backup parameter file you created in step 1:

    SYSBOOT> USE SYS$SYSTEM:nodename_PARAMS_CURRENT.PAR SYSBOOT> CONTINUE

    When you enter the CONTINUE command, the system boots with the parameter values you saved before running AUTOGEN.
    After the system has booted, if you want to use the old parameter values you can enter the following commands:

    $ RUN SYS$SYSTEM:SYSMAN SYSMAN> PARAMETERS USE SYS$SYSTEM:nodename_PARAMS_CURRENT.PAR SYSMAN> PARAMETERS WRITE CURRENT SYSMAN> EXIT

12. Run AUTOGEN using feedback regularly to ensure that the resources of your system match your system work load. For information about running AUTOGEN using feedback, see Section 14.5.

The AUTOGEN command procedure, SYS$UPDATE:AUTOGEN.COM, is provided on your distribution kit, and runs automatically when your system is installed or upgraded to set appropriate values for system parameters. In addition, Compaq recommends that you run AUTOGEN when you want to reset values for system parameters or to resize page, swap, and dump files. The new values and file sizes take effect the next time the system boots.

AUTOGEN only calculates certain significant system parameters. Refer to the AUTOGEN section of the OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual for a table of system parameters affected by AUTOGEN calculation.

When to Run AUTOGEN

Compaq recommends running AUTOGEN in the following circumstances:

• During a new installation or upgrade. (This happens automatically as part of the installation or upgrade procedure.)
• Whenever your work load changes significantly.
• When you add an optional (layered) software product. See the specific product documentation for installation requirements. Certain layered products might require you to execute AUTOGEN to adjust parameter values and page and swap file sizes. (For information about using AUTOGEN to modify page and swap files, see Section 15.15.1.)
• When you install images with the /SHARED attribute; the GBLSECTIONS and GBLPAGES parameters might need to be increased to accommodate the additional global pages and global sections consumed.
• On a regular basis to monitor changes in your system's work load. You can automate AUTOGEN to regularly check feedback and recommend system parameter changes. Section 14.6 describes a batch-oriented command procedure that runs AUTOGEN in feedback mode on a regular basis and automatically sends the feedback report to an appropriate Mail account.
• Periodically to provide adequate swapping file space. Use the FEEDBACK option and make sure the system has been up long enough (at least 24 hours) and that the load is typical. Also, make sure the SYS$SYSTEM:MODPARAMS.DAT file does not contain a hardcoded SWAPFILE value, which prevents AUTOGEN from correctly sizing the swapping files.

AUTOGEN Operations

AUTOGEN executes in phases. Depending on which phases you direct it to execute, AUTOGEN performs some or all of the following operations:

• Collects the following types of data:
  • Feedback (from the running system)
  • The hardware configuration (from the system)
  • Parameter requirements supplied by you (from MODPARAMS.DAT)
  • Parameter requirements supplied by Compaq
• Calculates appropriate new values for significant system parameters (listed in the AUTOGEN section of the OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual)
• Creates a new installed image list
• Calculates the sizes of system page, swap, and dump files
• Adjusts the sizes of system page, swap, and dump files values of system parameter values, if necessary
• Optionally shuts down and reboots the system

Invoking AUTOGEN

To invoke AUTOGEN, enter a command in the following format at the DCL prompt:

@SYS$UPDATE:AUTOGEN [start-phase] [end-phase] [execution-mode]

where:

start-phase	Is the phase where AUTOGEN is to begin executing. Section 14.4.3 lists the AUTOGEN phases.
end-phase	Is the phase where AUTOGEN is to complete executing. Section 14.4.3 lists the AUTOGEN phases.
execution-mode	Is one of the following modes: FEEDBACK---Use feedback. NOFEEDBACK---Do not use feedback. CHECK_FEEDBACK---Use feedback if it is valid. If feedback is invalid, ignore it, but continue executing through the end phase. Blank (no execution mode specified)---Use feedback if it is valid. If it is not valid, quit before making any modifications.

For detailed information about invoking AUTOGEN, and the command line parameters you can specify, refer to the AUTOGEN section of the OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual.

Controlling AUTOGEN Operations

Table 14-1 summarizes the methods for controlling AUTOGEN behavior.

Table 14-1 Controlling AUTOGEN

To Control...	Use This Method...
Which operations AUTOGEN is to perform	Specify a start phase and an end phase when you invoke AUTOGEN.
Parameter values set by AUTOGEN	Specify values in the AUTOGEN parameter file MODPARAMS.DAT. Periodically examine the results of calculations that AUTOGEN makes to determine whether AUTOGEN has drawn the correct conclusions about your hardware configuration and to be sure the system parameter values are appropriate for your workload requirements. If the values are not appropriate, adjust them by specifying desired values in MODPARAMS.DAT. For more information on MODPARAMS.DAT, see Section 14.4.4.
AUTOGEN's use of feedback information	Specify an execution mode when you invoke AUTOGEN. AUTOGEN can often improve system performance by using dynamic feedback gathered from the running system. However, feedback information is not always valid or appropriate. For more information, see Section 14.4.1.

14.4.1 AUTOGEN Feedback

AUTOGEN feedback minimizes the need for you to modify parameter values or system file sizes. Instead, feedback allows AUTOGEN to automatically size the operating system based on your actual work load. Sizing is the process of matching the allocation of system resources (memory and disk space) with the workload requirements of your site.

Feedback is information, continuously collected by the operating system executive, about the amount of various resources the system uses to process its work load. The information is collected when exception events occur, so the collection does not affect system performance. When run in feedback mode, AUTOGEN analyzes this information and adjusts any related parameter values.

AUTOGEN feedback affects the following resources (for a complete list of the affected system parameters, refer to the AUTOGEN section of the OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual):

• Nonpaged pool
• Paged pool
• Lock resources
• Number of processes
• Global pages
• Global sections
• File system caches
• System logical name table sizes
• Page files
• Swap files

Feedback is gathered during AUTOGEN's SAVPARAMS phase and is written to the file SYS$SYSTEM:AGEN$FEEDBACK.DAT. This file is then read during the GETDATA phase. (See Section 14.4.3 for more information about AUTOGEN phases.)

Feedback is useful only if it accurately reflects the system's normal work load. For this reason, AUTOGEN performs some basic checks on the feedback and issues a warning message for either of the following conditions:

• The system has been up for less than 24 hours.
• The feedback is over 30 days old.

Whenever you modify the system (for example, a hardware upgrade, a change in the number of users, an optional product installation), you should operate in the new system environment for a period of time, and then execute AUTOGEN again starting from the SAVPARAMS phase.

On VAX systems, you can define the logical name AGEN$FEEDBACK_REQ_TIME to specify, in hours, a minimum age required for feedback. For more information, see Section 14.5.2.

When AUTOGEN runs, it displays whether feedback is used, as follows:

Feedback information was collected on 21-JAN-1998 14:00:08.53 Old values below are the parameter values at the time of collection. The feedback data is based on 21 hours of up time. Feedback information will be used in the subsequent calculations

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