Document revision date: 30 March 2001

For more information on the /INTERCHANGE qualifier and on magnetic tape labeling and tape interchange, refer to the OpenVMS System Manager's Manual, Volume 1: Essentials.

/LABEL=option

• OWNER_IDENTIFIER:"(14 ANSI characters)"
  Allows you to specify the Owner Identifier field in the volume label. The field specified can accept up to 14 ANSI characters.
• VOLUME_ACCESSIBILITY:"character"
  Specifies the character to be written in the volume accessibility field of the OpenVMS ANSI volume label VOL1 on an ANSI magnetic tape. The character may be any valid ANSI "a" character. This set of characters includes numeric characters, uppercase letters, and any one of the following nonalphanumeric characters:

  ! " % ' ( ) * + , - . / : ; < = > ?

  
  By default, the OpenVMS operating system provides a routine that checks this field in the following manner:

  • If the magnetic tape was created on a version of the OpenVMS operating system that conforms to Version 3 of ANSI, then this option must be used to override any character other than an ASCII space.
  • If a protection is specified and the magnetic tape conforms to an ANSI standard that is later than Version 3, then this option must be used to override any character other than an ASCII 1.
  
  If you specify any character other than the default, you must specify the /OVERRIDE=ACCESSIBILITY qualifier on the INITIALIZE and MOUNT commands in order to access the magnetic tape.

/MAXIMUM_FILES=n

(volume size in blocks)/((cluster factor + 1) * 2)

The maximum size you can specify for any volume is as follows:

(volume size in blocks)/(cluster factor + 1)

The minimum value is 0. Note that the maximum can be increased only by reinitializing the volume.

/MEDIA_FORMAT=[NO]COMPACTION

Note that once data compaction or noncompaction has been selected for a given cartridge, that same status applies to the entire cartridge.

/OVERRIDE=(option[,...])

If you specify only one option, you can omit the parentheses.

To initialize a volume that was initialized previously with the /PROTECTION qualifier, your UIC must match the UIC written on the volume or you must have VOLPRO privilege.

You can initialize a volume previously initialized with /PROTECTION if you have control access.

/OWNER_UIC=uic

For magnetic tapes, no UIC is written unless protection on the magnetic tape is specified. If protection is specified, but no owner UIC is specified, your current UIC is assigned ownership of the volume.

/PROTECTION=(ownership[:access][,...])

Applies the specified protection to the volume:

• Specify the ownership parameter as system (S), owner (O), group (G), or world (W).
• Specify the access parameter as read (R), write (W), create (C), or delete (D).

The default is your default protection. Note that the /GROUP, /SHARE, and /SYSTEM qualifiers can also be used to define protection for disk volumes.

For magnetic tape, the protection code is written to an OpenVMS specific volume label. The system applies only read (R) and write (W) access restrictions; create and delete (D) access are meaningless. Moreover, the system and the owner are always given both read (R) and write (W) access to magnetic tapes, regardless of the protection code you specify.

For more information on specifying protection code, refer to the OpenVMS Guide to System Security. Any attributes not specified are taken from the current default protection.

When you specify a protection code for an entire disk volume, the access type E (execute) indicates create access.

/SHADOW=(device_name_1, device_name_2, device_name_3) label

The INITIALIZE command with the /SHADOW and /ERASE qualifiers performs the following operations:

• Formats up to six devices with one command, so that any three can be subsequently mounted together as members of a new host-based shadow set
• Writes a label on each volume
• Deletes all information from the devices except for the system files containing identical file structure information. All former contents of the disks are lost.

You can then mount up to three of the devices that you have initialized in this way as members of a new host-based shadow set.

Compaq strongly recommends that you use the /ERASE qualifier. By using the /ERASE qualifier, no merge operation is required when you create the shadow set with the MOUNT command.

All the devices must have identical, nonzero values for Total Blocks . You can view the Total Blocks value by entering the SHOW DEVICE/FULL command. If a device has never been mounted or initialized on this system, the SHOW DEVICE/FULL command for the device will not display a value for Total Blocks . To correct this condition, either mount and then dismount the device, or initialize the device. The Total Blocks value will then be displayed by SHOW DEVICE/FULL.

Note that the INITIALIZE/SHADOW command should not be used to initialize a disk to be added to an existing shadow set, as no benefit is gained.

Additional information can be found in Volume Shadowing for OpenVMS.

/SHARE (default)

/NOSHARE

/SIZE=n

To deallocate space, specify /SIZE=0. All resources specifically allocated to the DECram disk are returned to the system.

Note that n cannot exceed 524,280 blocks either on a VAX system or on versions of DECram prior to Version 2.3. DECram Version 2.3 running on an Alpha system supports up to 67,108,864 blocks, equivalent to 32GB.

/STRUCTURE=level

Structure Level 1 is incompatible with the /DATA_CHECK and /CLUSTER_SIZE qualifiers. The default protection for a Structure Level 1 disk is full access to system, owner, and group, and read (R) access to all other users.

Note that Alpha does not support Files-11 On-Disk Structure Level 1 disks, and specifying 1 on Alpha results in an error. VAX does not support Structure Level 5 disks, and specifying 5 on VAX results in an error.

Refer to the OpenVMS Guide to Extended File Specifications for more information about Structure Level 5 (ODS-5) disks.

/SYSTEM

Defines a system volume. The owner UIC defaults to [1,1]. Protection defaults to complete access by all ownership categories, except that only system processes can create top-level directories.

/USER_NAME=name

/VERIFIED

/NOVERIFIED

/WINDOWS=n

Examples

$ INITIALIZE/USER_NAME=CPA $FLOPPY1 ACCOUNTS
      

Initializes the volume on $FLOPPY1, labels the volume ACCOUNTS, and gives the volume a user name of CPA.

$ ALLOCATE DMA2:  TEMP
  _DMA2: ALLOCATED
$ INITIALIZE  TEMP:  BACK_UP_FILE
$ MOUNT  TEMP:  BACK_UP_FILE
%MOUNT-I-MOUNTED, BACK_UP_FILE mounted on _DMA2:
$ CREATE/DIRECTORY  TEMP:[GOLDSTEIN]
 
      

This sequence of commands shows how to initialize an RK06/RK07 volume. First, the device is allocated, to ensure that no one else can access it. Then, when the volume is physically mounted on the device, the INITIALIZE command initializes it. When the volume is initialized, the MOUNT command makes the file structure available. Before you can place any files on the volume, you must create a directory, as shown by the CREATE/DIRECTORY command.

$ ALLOCATE MT:
  _MTB1:  ALLOCATED
$ INITIALIZE MTB1:  SOURCE
$ MOUNT MTB1:  SOURCE
%MOUNT-I-MOUNTED, SOURCE mounted on _MTB1:
$ COPY *.FOR  MTB1:
$ DIRECTORY MTB1:
   .
   .
   .
$ DISMOUNT MTB1:
 
      

These commands show the procedure necessary to initialize a magnetic tape. After allocating a drive, the magnetic tape is loaded on the device, and the INITIALIZE command writes the label SOURCE on it. Then, the MOUNT command mounts the magnetic tape so that files can be written on it.

$ BACKUP filespec MUA0: ... /MEDIA_FORMAT=NOCOMPACTION-
_$/REWIND
 
      

This example creates a BACKUP tape with compaction and record blocking disabled.

$ INITIALIZE/ERASE/SHADOW=($4$MDA1300, $4$MDA1301) VOLATILE
 
$MOUN/SYS DSA42 /SHAD=( $4$MDA1300 , $4$MDA1301 ) VOLATILE
%MOUNT-I-MOUNTED, VOLATILE MOUNTED ON _DSA42:
%MOUNT-I-SHDWMEMSUCC, _$4$MDA1300: (WILD3) IS NOW A VALID MEMBER OF THE SHADOW SET
%MOUNT-I-SHDWMEMSUCC, _$4$MDA1301: (WILD4) IS NOW A VALID MEMBER OF THE SHADOW SET
$SHO DEV DSA42:
 
DEVICE              DEVICE          ERROR    VOLUME         FREE  TRANS MNT
 NAME               STATUS          COUNT     LABEL        BLOCKS COUNT CNT
DSA42:              MOUNTED             0  VOLATILE       5799600     1   1
$4$MDA1300: (WILD3) SHADOWSETMEMBER     0  (MEMBER OF DSA42:)
$4$MDA1301: (WILD4) SHADOWSETMEMBER     0  (MEMBER OF DSA42:)
 
      

This example shows correct use of the INITIALIZE/ERASE/SHADOW command. Note that the command specifies multiple devices on the same line.

Creates or initializes queues. You use this command to create queues and to assign them names and options. The /BATCH qualifier is required to create a batch queue.

Requires OPER (operator) privilege to create queues and manage (M) access to modify queues.

Format

INITIALIZE/QUEUE queue-name[:]

Parameter

queue-name[:]

Specifies the name of an execution queue or a generic queue. The queue name may be a string of 1 to 31 characters. The character string can include any uppercase and lowercase letters, digits, the dollar sign ($), and the underscore (_), and must include at least one alphabetic character.

Description

Use the INITIALIZE/QUEUE command to create a queue or to change the options of an existing queue that is stopped.

Normally you create output and batch queues by entering the necessary INITIALIZE/QUEUE commands when you set up your system or OpenVMS Cluster. Later, you can use the INITIALIZE/QUEUE command to create additional queues as they are needed. When you create a queue with the INITIALIZE/QUEUE command, information about the queue is stored in the queue database.

To create and start the queue at the same time, you can use the INITIALIZE/QUEUE/START command. If you want to create the queue only and start it at another time, you can enter only the INITIALIZE/QUEUE command. Later you can enter the START/QUEUE command to begin queue operations.

You can use the INITIALIZE/QUEUE, START/QUEUE, and SET QUEUE commands to change queue options; as you change queue options, information about the queue in the queue database is updated.

You can use the INITIALIZE and START commands only on stopped queues. To change options on a running queue, use the SET QUEUE command. To change queue options that cannot be altered with the SET QUEUE command, use the following procedure:

1. Stop the queue with the STOP/QUEUE/NEXT command.
2. Restart the queue with the START/QUEUE or the INITIALIZE/QUEUE/START command, specifying the appropriate qualifiers for the options you desire.
   Any qualifiers that you do not specify remain as they were when the queue was previously initialized, started, or set.

Note that initializing an existing queue does not delete any current jobs in that queue. Any new queue settings established by the new INITIALIZE/QUEUE command affect all jobs waiting in the queue or subsequently entering the queue. Any jobs that are executing in the queue when it is stopped complete their execution under the old settings.

The following qualifiers apply to generic and execution queues:

/OWNER_UIC
/PROTECTION
/[NO]RETAIN
/[NO]START
/NAME_OF_MANAGER

The following qualifiers apply to all types of execution queues:

/AUTOSTART_ON
/BASE_PRIORITY
/[NO]CHARACTERISTICS
/[NO]ENABLE_GENERIC
/[NO]NO_INITIAL_FF
/ON
/WSDEFAULT
/WSEXTENT
/WSQUOTA

The following qualifiers apply only to batch execution queues:

/CPUDEFAULT
/CPUMAXIMUM
/[NO]DISABLE_SWAPPING
/JOB_LIMIT

The following qualifiers apply only to printer, terminal, or server execution queues:

/[NO]BLOCK_LIMIT
/[NO]DEFAULT
/FORM_MOUNTED
/[NO]LIBRARY
/[NO]PROCESSOR
/[NO]RECORD_BLOCKING
/[NO]SEPARATE

Types of Queues

There are several different types of queues. In general, queues can be divided into two major classes: generic and execution. When a job is sent to an execution queue, it is executed in that queue. No processing takes place in generic queues. Generic queues hold jobs that will execute on an execution queue.

Generic Queues

The following are several types of generic queues:

• Generic batch queue---Holds batch jobs for execution on batch execution queues.
• Generic output queue---Holds jobs for execution on output queues. There are three types of generic output queues:
  • Generic printer queue---Holds print jobs for printing on output execution queues.
  • Generic server queue---Holds jobs for processing on output execution queues.
  • Generic terminal queue---Holds print jobs for printing on output execution queues.

The /GENERIC qualifier designates a queue as a generic queue. You specify the execution queues to which a generic queue feeds jobs in one of two ways:

• You can explicitly name execution queues assigned to the generic queue by including a list of queues with the /GENERIC qualifier.
• You can specify the execution queues that may receive jobs from any generic queue that does not specify an explicit target list by specifying the /ENABLE=GENERIC qualifier when you create the execution queue.

Generic queues, unlike execution queues, are not automatically stopped when the system is shut down or the queue manager is stopped; therefore, generic queues do not normally need to be restarted each time the system reboots.

Logical Queues

Another type of queue is the logical queue. A logical queue is a special type of generic queue that can place work only into the execution queue specified in the ASSIGN/QUEUE command. The logical queue's relation to an execution queue remains in effect until you enter a DEASSIGN/QUEUE command to negate the assignment.

Execution Queues

The following are several types of execution queues:

• Batch execution queue---Executes batch jobs.
• Output execution queue---Processes print output jobs. There are three types of output execution queues:
  • Printer execution queue---Invokes a symbiont to process print jobs for a printer.
  • Server execution queue---Invokes a customer-written symbiont to process jobs.
  • Terminal execution queue---Invokes a symbiont to process print jobs for a terminal printer.

Batch execution queues execute batch jobs. Batch jobs request the execution of one or more command procedures in a batch process.

Output execution queues process print jobs. A print job requests the processing of one or more files by a symbiont executing in a symbiont process. The default system symbiont is designed to print files on hardcopy devices (printers or terminals). Customer-written symbionts can be designed for this or any other file processing activity. Server queues process jobs using the server symbiont specified with the /PROCESSOR qualifier. Server queue symbionts are written by the customer.

Either the /AUTOSTART_ON qualifier or the /ON qualifier designates a queue as an execution queue, and specifies where the queue is to run.

By using the /ON qualifier, you can specify one node (for batch queues) or node and device (for output queues) on which the queue can be started. A queue initialized with the /ON qualifier needs to be started by a command explicitly naming the queue.

You can specify one or more nodes (or nodes and devices) on which the queue can be started by using the /AUTOSTART_ON qualifier. A queue initialized with the /AUTOSTART_ON qualifier is automatically started by the queue manager when any of the queue's nodes have been enabled for autostart by that queue manager.

Autostart Queues

An execution queue (either batch or output) can be designated as an autostart queue. Because all of a queue manager's autostart queues on a node can be started with a single command, autostart queues eliminate the need for lengthy queue startup procedures.

In an OpenVMS Cluster, autostart queues can be set up to run on one of several nodes. If a queue is set up this way, and the node on which the queue is running leaves the cluster, the queue can fail over to another node and remain available to the cluster.

The /AUTOSTART_ON qualifier designates an execution queue as an autostart queue.

Qualifiers

/AUTOSTART_ON=(node::[device][,...])

Designates the queue as an autostart execution queue and specifies the node, or node and device, on which the queue can be located. For batch queues, only node is applicable.

In a cluster, you can specify more than one node (or node and device) on which a queue can run, in the preferred order in which nodes should claim the queue. This allows the queue to fail over to another node if the node on which the queue is running leaves the cluster.

When you enter the INITIALIZE/QUEUE command with the /AUTOSTART_ON qualifier, you must initially activate the queue for autostart, either by specifying the /START qualifier with the INITIALIZE/QUEUE command or by entering a START/QUEUE command. However, the queue will not begin processing jobs until the ENABLE AUTOSTART/QUEUES command is entered for a node on which the queue can run.

This qualifier cannot be used in conjunction with the /ON or /GENERIC qualifier. However, if you are reinitializing an existing queue, you can specify the /AUTOSTART_ON qualifier for a queue previously created or started with the /ON qualifier. Doing so overrides the /ON qualifier and makes the queue an autostart queue.

For more information about autostart queues, refer to the chapter about queues in OpenVMS System Manager's Manual, Volume 1: Essentials.

/BASE_PRIORITY=n

Specifies the base process priority at which jobs are initiated from a batch execution queue. By default, if you omit the qualifier, jobs are initiated at the same priority as the base priority established by DEFPRI at system generation (usually 4). The base priority specifier can be any decimal value from 0 to 15.

You also can specify this qualifier for an output execution queue. In this context the /BASE_PRIORITY qualifier establishes the base priority of the symbiont process when the symbiont process is created.

/BATCH

/NOBATCH (default)

Specifies that you are initializing a batch queue. If you are reinitializing an existing queue, you can use the /BATCH qualifier only if the queue was created as a batch queue.

A batch queue is classified as either an execution queue or a generic queue. By default, the /BATCH qualifier initializes an execution queue. To specify a generic batch queue, use the /GENERIC qualifier together with the /BATCH qualifier.

The /BATCH and /DEVICE qualifiers are mutually exclusive; the /NOBATCH and /NODEVICE qualifiers cannot be used together.

/BLOCK_LIMIT=([lowlim,]uplim)

/NOBLOCK_LIMIT (default)

Limits the size of print jobs that can be processed on an output execution queue. The /BLOCK_LIMIT qualifier allows you to reserve certain printers for certain size jobs. You must specify at least one of the parameters.

The lowlim parameter is a decimal number referring to the minimum number of blocks accepted by the queue for a print job. If a print job is submitted that contains fewer blocks than the lowlim value, the job remains pending until the block limit for the queue is changed. After the block limit for the queue is decreased sufficiently, the job is processed.

The uplim parameter is a decimal number referring to the maximum number of blocks that the queue accepts for a print job. If a print job is submitted that exceeds this value, the job remains pending until the block limit for the queue is changed. After the block limit for the queue is increased sufficiently, the job is processed.

If you specify only an upper limit for jobs, you can omit the parentheses. For example, /BLOCK_LIMIT=1000 means that only jobs with 1000 blocks or less are processed in the queue. To specify only a lower job limit, you must use a null string ("") to indicate the upper specifier. For example, /BLOCK_LIMIT=(500,"") means any job with 500 or more blocks is processed in the queue. You can specify both a lower and upper limit. For example, /BLOCK_LIMIT=(200,2000) means that jobs with less than 200 blocks or more than 2000 blocks are not processed in the queue.

The /NOBLOCK_LIMIT qualifier cancels the previous setting established by the /BLOCK_LIMIT qualifier for that queue.

/CHARACTERISTICS=(characteristic[,...])

/NOCHARACTERISTICS (default)

Specifies one or more characteristics for processing jobs on an execution queue. If you specify only one characteristic, you can omit the parentheses. If a queue does not have all the characteristics that have been specified for a job, the job remains pending. Each time you specify the /CHARACTERISTICS qualifier, all previously set characteristics are cancelled. Only the characteristics specified with the qualifier are established for the queue.

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