OpenVMS System Manager's Manual

Updated: 11 December 1998

OpenVMS System Manager's Manual

Contents

Index

3.4.1 Selecting a Product List

Products are stored in a save set, which is a specially formatted file that contains a group of files. Installation and upgrade procedures move the files from the save set to your system disk.

The product-list parameter lists the products that you want to install. You can use this parameter when you install layered products or update the operating system. (When you perform an upgrade procedure, you can list only one product, VMSvvu.)

Note

Do not use the wildcard character (*) if you are installing layered products and updating the operating system at the same time. In this case, update the system first. If you use the wildcard character, VMSINSTAL sorts the product list in alphabetical order; the operating system would probably not be installed first.

If you want to specify more than one item in the product-list parameter, separate the items using commas and no intervening spaces. Use the following format to specify the product list:

facvvu

Table 3-1 explains the format of facvvu. Using this format, you can install a specific version and update of a product from distribution media containing several versions and updates. If you do not include a version and update number, all versions and updates to the specified product from the source are installed in alphabetical order.

Table 3-1 Format of facvvu Save-Set File Name
fac The product name code (1 to 36 alphanumeric characters)

vv The major version number (2 digits)

u The minor version number (1 digit), also known as update number

**Table 3-1 Format of *facvvu* Save-Set File Name**
fac	The product name code (1 to 36 alphanumeric characters)
vv	The major version number (2 digits)
u	The minor version number (1 digit), also known as update number

If you are installing from a distribution kit, the list of products on your distribution media is included with the bill of materials for the distribution kit. If the list is not available, you can obtain one by using the DIRECTORY command; the distribution media then finds and displays the products that are included.

How to Perform This Task

To obtain the product list, enter commands in the following format:

MOUNT/OVERRIDE=ID device:
DIRECTORY device:[0,0]

where device is the drive that holds the distribution media.

If you are installing from a disk directory, obtain the product list by entering DIRECTORY and specifying the disk directory in the following format:

DIRECTORY node::device:[directory]

Examples

$ MOUNT/OVERRIDE=ID MUA0: %MOUNT-I-MOUNTED, VMS071 mounted on _MUA0: $ DIRECTORY MUA0:[0,0]

The DIRECTORY command in this example directs the distribution media to find the products included on the MUA0: drive; for example:

Directory MUA0:[000,000] 000000.DIR;1 BACKUP.SYS;1 BADBLK.SYS;1 BADLOG.SYS;1 BITMAP.SYS;1 CONTIN.SYS;1 CORIMG.SYS;1 DECW071.C;1 DECW071.D;1 DECW071.E;1 DECW071.F;1 INDEXF.SYS;1 ISL_SCRIPT.ESS;1 SECURITY.SYS;1 SYS0.DIR;1 VMS071.A;1 VMS071.B;1 VMS071.C;1 VMS071.D;1 VMS071.E;1 VMS071.F;1 VOLSET.SYS;1 Total of 22 files.

$ DIRECTORY BRAVO::DUA1:[0,0]
The DIRECTORY command in this example directs the distribution media to find the products on the node BRAVO, which is on the DUA1: device.

Note

To access a remote node, you must have read and execute access (R,E) to the directory.

3.4.2 Selecting the Source

The source parameter identifies the source of the optional software product as one of the following ones:

A drive that holds the distribution media; for example, a TK50 drive designated as the MUA0: drive.
A disk directory to which the product save set has been transferred from the distribution media for later installation.
You specify a disk directory as the source when you select the Get Save Set option. For more information about this option, see Section 3.6.3.
A disk directory on another node.

You can also use a logical name to specify the source. If you do not specify the source, VMSINSTAL.COM asks you for it, as follows:

* Where will the distribution volumes be mounted:

3.4.3 Selecting Options

The VMSINSTAL.COM command procedure permits the use of six options. Table 3-2 briefly describes each option. Section 3.6 contains a detailed description of each option.

Table 3-2 VMSINSTAL.COM Options
Letter Choice Option Description

A Autoanswer Makes it easier to reinstall a product after an upgrade by providing responses to the questions and prompts during the reinstallation. (Specify this option only when installing layered products.)

AWD= Alternate Working Device Lets you specify an alternate working device for the temporary working directory. (You can specify this option when installing layered products or applying updates.)

G Get Save Set Saves you time by allowing you to store product save sets temporarily on a magnetic tape or in a disk directory. (Specify this option only when installing layered products.)

L File Log Logs all file activity to the terminal during installation.

N Release Notes Displays or prints the online release notes file supplied by the layered product.

R Alternate Root Lets you install the product on a system disk other than that of the running system.

**Table 3-2 VMSINSTAL.COM Options**
Letter Choice	Option	Description
A	Autoanswer	Makes it easier to reinstall a product after an upgrade by providing responses to the questions and prompts during the reinstallation. (Specify this option only when installing layered products.)
AWD=	Alternate Working Device	Lets you specify an alternate working device for the temporary working directory. (You can specify this option when installing layered products or applying updates.)
G	Get Save Set	Saves you time by allowing you to store product save sets temporarily on a magnetic tape or in a disk directory. (Specify this option only when installing layered products.)
L	File Log	Logs all file activity to the terminal during installation.
N	Release Notes	Displays or prints the online release notes file supplied by the layered product.
R	Alternate Root	Lets you install the product on a system disk other than that of the running system.

You specify each option by entering the appropriate option letter after the keyword OPTIONS in the command that starts VMSINSTAL.COM. The OPTIONS keyword is optional. However, if you have an option list, you must enter OPTIONS before it. If you enter an option list without the OPTIONS keyword, VMSINSTAL.COM displays an informational error message and the installation ends. (The option-list parameter lists the options requested.)

How to Perform This Task

To specify each option:

Invoke the VMSINSTAL.COM procedure, entering appropriate option letters after the keyword OPTIONS.
Press Return.

If you specify more than one option, separate the options with commas. Do not separate the options with spaces.

Example

$ @VMSINSTAL.COM NEWAID021 MTA0: OPTIONS A,N

3.4.4 Selecting the Destination

The destination parameter is optional. By default, VMSINSTAL.COM assumes that the product is to be installed in the system common directory SYS$COMMON on the system disk. However, you must use this parameter in the following two instances:

To install the product in an alternate root. The product is installed on a system disk other than that on which the target system is running. Specify the alternate system root in the following format:
device:[SYSn.]
where:

device The device on which the alternate root resides

SYSn. The top-level directory of the alternate system root

You can also specify a previously defined logical name for the alternate root.
To copy the product kit save sets into a storage directory for later installation. For more information about the Get Save Set option, see Section 3.6.3.
Specify the destination directory in the following format:
device:[directory]
where:

device The destination disk device

directory Usually a directory dedicated to product save sets on the specified disk

3.4.5 Verifying, Logging, and Confirming the Operation

The VMSINSTAL.COM command procedure includes a BACKUP command that copies the save sets to the destination directory. You can verify, log, and confirm the copy operation by specifying BACKUP qualifiers with the VMSINSTAL.COM Get Save Set option. See Section 3.6.3 for more information.

3.4.6 Completing the Installation

When the installation is complete, VMSINSTAL.COM performs one of the following actions, depending on the requirements of the product you have installed:

Performs an automatic shutdown of the system; you might be instructed to reboot manually.
Returns you to the system prompt.

When the product is installed, back up the updated system disk. For instructions, see Section 10.17.

3.5 Recovering from a System Failure

If the system fails during installation of an update or optional software product, VMSINSTAL.COM attempts to continue the installation upon rebooting. Depending on when the system failed, one of three conditions exists:

The system disk was not altered before the system failure. In this case, VMSINSTAL.COM instructs you to restart the installation.
The system disk or a library used by the installation was corrupted. In this case, VMSINSTAL.COM instructs you to restore either the system disk or the corrupted library from the backup copy and to restart the installation.
VMSINSTAL.COM continues the installation. In this case, the procedure performs most of the installation. In addition, VMSINSTAL.COM might tell you that you must perform some tasks manually to complete the installation.

3.6 Selecting VMSINSTAL.COM Options

When you use VMSINSTAL.COM, the command procedure allows you to select up to six options (summarized previously in Table 3-2.) The following sections describe those VMSINSTAL.COM options in detail.

3.6.1 Using the Autoanswer Option (A) (Layered Products Only)

The Autoanswer option makes it easier to reinstall a product by providing responses to VMSINSTAL.COM questions and prompts during the reinstallation. You use the Autoanswer option most often to reinstall products after an upgrade.

If you specify the Autoanswer option when you install a product initially, an answer file is created in the form product.ANS in the SYS$UPDATE directory, where product is the product name parameter that you provide when you start VMSINSTAL.COM.

The answer file contains a record of your responses to questions and prompts from VMSINSTAL.COM. For example, if you install the product NEWAID010 with the Autoanswer option, VMSINSTAL.COM creates an answer file called NEWAID010.ANS.

When you reinstall the product and specify the Autoanswer option (typically after upgrading your operating system), VMSINSTAL.COM reads the answer file instead of asking you questions.

If you want to create a new answer file when you reinstall a product, you must first delete the existing answer file.

Example

To use the Autoanswer option, specify the following command:

$ SYS$UPDATE:VMSINSTAL.COM NEW$PRODUCT010 CSA1: OPTIONS A

You can then examine the file:

$ TYPE SYS$COMMON:[SYSUPD]NEW$PRODUCT010.ANS;1 * Do you want to install the entire kit [Y]? \ * Are these selections correct [Y]? \ * Does this product have an authorization key registered and loaded? \Y * Will you allow a system shutdown after this product is installed [YES]? \ * How many minutes for system shutdown [0]: \ * Do you want to do an automatic system reboot [YES]? \ $

3.6.2 Using the Alternate Working Device Option (AWD=)

Restriction

Before using this option, check with the product's installation guide to be sure this option is supported by that product.

You can use the Alternate Working Device option to specify an alternate working device for the temporary working directory (defined as the logical name VMI$KWD). This option allows you to perform an installation with fewer free blocks on the system disk than are otherwise required.

If you do not specify this option, VMSINSTAL.COM creates the temporary working directory in the following location:

SYS$SPECIFIC:[SYSUPD.facvvu]

Table 3-1 explains the format of facvvu.

How to Perform This Task

Use the following format to specify this option:

AWD=dev:[dir]

where:

dev Specifies the alternate working device

dir Specifies the directory under which the facvvu subdirectory will be created

Specifying a directory is optional. If you do not specify a directory, VMSINSTAL.COM creates the working directory on the specified device with the following directory specification: [000000.facvvu]. If you specify a directory, VMSINSTAL.COM creates the working directory as a subdirectory within the directory that you specify (for example, [WORK.facvvu]). If the directory that you specify does not exist, VMSINSTAL.COM does not create it.

Example

To use the working directory [INSTALL] on the alternate device DUA2:, issue the following command:

$ @SYS$UPDATE:VMSINSTAL.COM NEWAID010 CSA1: OPTIONS AWD=DUA2:[INSTALL]

3.6.3 Using the Get Save Set Option (G) (Layered Products Only)

Note

You cannot use this option to copy operating system kits.

Installing products either from a distribution tape or from console media directly onto your system disk is time-consuming. The Get Save Set option saves you time by allowing you to copy product save sets and store them temporarily while you do other work; you can then perform an update more quickly at a time that is convenient for you.

You might consider dedicating a user disk on a node that other licensed system users can access. You can store product save sets on this dedicated user disk to give other licensed system users fast access to the product save-set directory.

3.6.3.1 Storing a Product Save Set

To store a product save set on a disk directory using the Get Save Set option, enter a command using the following syntax:

@SYS$UPDATE:VMSINSTAL.COM product-list source OPTIONS G device:[directory]

The directory you specify must exist, and the device must be mounted.

Examples

If you specify just one option, enter the disk directory name immediately after the OPTIONS G parameter, leaving a space between G and the disk directory. For example, if you are storing save sets for a product named NEWAID010 from the console drive into disk directory USER1:[PRODUCTS], enter the following command:

$ @SYS$UPDATE:VMSINSTAL.COM NEWAID010 CSA1: OPTIONS G USER1:[PRODUCTS]

If you specify more than one option, place the disk directory name after the last option, leaving a space between the last option and the disk directory name. For example:

$ @SYS$UPDATE:VMSINSTAL.COM NEWAID010 CSA1: OPTIONS G,N USER1:[PRODUCTS]

VMSINSTAL.COM creates one or more files to store the product save set in the disk directory. The save-set file name has the following format:

facvvu.x

Table 3-1 explains the format of facvvu. The format of the file type (x) is:

x A literal file type that identifies save-set files, where A is the first save set, B the second, and so forth

3.6.3.2 Installing a Product

To install the product on your system, enter a command in the following format:

@SYS$UPDATE:VMSINSTAL product-list device:[directory]

Example

For the product NEWAID010, enter this command:

$ @SYS$UPDATE:VMSINSTAL NEWAID010 USER1:[PRODUCTS]

VMSINSTAL.COM installs the NEWAID product on your system disk.

3.6.3.3 Specifying Backup Qualifiers

When you use the Get Save Set option, you can specify three BACKUP command qualifiers: /VERIFY, /LOG, and /CONFIRM. The qualifiers must be enclosed in quotation marks because they are passed as a parameter of the Get Save Set option (G). VMSINSTAL passes the parameter to the BACKUP command within VMSINSTAL. The following example includes the Get Save Set option and BACKUP qualifiers:

$ @SYS$UPDATE:VMSINSTAL TEST042 DUA0:[KITS] OPTIONS G DUB0:[KITS] - _$ "VERIFY/LOG/CONFIRM"

The following table contains explanations of the qualifiers shown in the example:

Qualifier Explanation

/VERIFY Compares the contents of the output specifier with the contents of the input specifier after a save, restore, or copy operation completes. If a file does not compare successfully, an error message reporting this fact is displayed.

/LOG Causes the file specification of each file processed to be displayed at the terminal during the operation. The default is /NOLOG.

/CONFIRM Displays a prompt on your terminal before each file is processed. To process the file, enter Y or YES and press the Return key. The system interprets any other response, including simply pressing the Return key, as NO.

Qualifier	Explanation
/VERIFY	Compares the contents of the output specifier with the contents of the input specifier after a save, restore, or copy operation completes. If a file does not compare successfully, an error message reporting this fact is displayed.
/LOG	Causes the file specification of each file processed to be displayed at the terminal during the operation. The default is /NOLOG.
/CONFIRM	Displays a prompt on your terminal before each file is processed. To process the file, enter Y or YES and press the Return key. The system interprets any other response, including simply pressing the Return key, as NO.

Refer to the OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual for more information about the BACKUP command and its qualifiers.

3.6.4 Using the File Log Option (L)

The File Log option logs all file activity to the terminal during installation. File activity as any action that alters the disposition of a file, such as creating a new file, updating a library, or deleting a file.

3.6.5 Using the Release Notes Option (N)

Use the Release Notes option to display or print the online release notes file supplied by a layered product and by the update procedure.

Note

Not all layered products provide online release notes.

The release notes file receives the file name facvvu.release_notes, where facvvu represents the product name code, version, and update numbers (see Table 3-1); for example, NEWAID010.RELEASE_NOTES.

How to Perform This Task

If release notes are available and you specify option N, VMSINSTAL.COM asks you the following questions. (The default answers are indicated in brackets.)

Release notes included with this kit are always copied to SYS$HELP. Additional Release Notes Options: 1. Display release notes 2. Print release notes 3. Both 1 and 2 4. None of the above. (1) *Select option [2]: (2) *Queue name [SYS$PRINT]: (3) *Do you want to continue the installation [N]:

The following list contains explanations that correspond to the numbered entries in the example:

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device	The device on which the alternate root resides
SYSn.	The top-level directory of the alternate system root

device	The destination disk device
directory	Usually a directory dedicated to product save sets on the specified disk

dev	Specifies the alternate working device
dir	Specifies the directory under which the facvvu subdirectory will be created