Updated: 11 December 1998

OpenVMS System Manager's Manual

In a conversational boot operation, you can show and modify values for individual parameters.¹ The system modifies the values both in memory and in the system parameter file.

How to Perform This Task

1. Follow the instructions for performing a conversational boot in one of the following manuals:
   • On VAX systems, refer to the most recent versions of the OpenVMS VAX Upgrade and Installation Manual and the upgrade and installation supplement for your VAX computer.
   • On Alpha systems, refer to the most recent version of the OpenVMS Alpha Upgrade and Installation Manual.
2. At the SYSBOOT> prompt, enter SHOW and SET commands to show and change the value of system parameters. For example:

   SYSBOOT> SET UAFALTERNATE 1

   
   For information about SET and SHOW commands, refer to the OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual (SYSGEN).

3. Enter the CONTINUE command to continue booting:

   SYSBOOT> CONTINUE

Example

SYSBOOT> SHOW UAFALTERNATE Parameter Name Current Default Min. Max. Unit Dynamic -------------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ---- UAFALTERNATE 0 0 0 1 Boolean SYSBOOT> SET UAFALTERNATE 1 SYSBOOT> CONTINUE

4.2.2 Booting with an Alternate System Parameter File

In programming research and development environments where you must alter operating conditions for experimentation, testing, and debugging, you might want to temporarily boot your system using system parameter values stored in a parameter file other than the default parameter file. The conversational boot operation lets you reset active values using a different parameter file.¹

How to Perform This Task

1. Follow the instructions for performing a conversational boot in one of the following manuals:
   • On VAX systems, refer to the most recent versions of the OpenVMS VAX Upgrade and Installation Manual and the upgrade and installation supplement for your VAX computer.
   • On Alpha systems, refer to the most recent version of the OpenVMS Alpha Upgrade and Installation Manual.
2. At the SYSBOOT> prompt, enter a command in the following format:

   USE file-spec

   
   where file-spec specifies the file name and type of the alternate parameter file. The file must be in SYS$SYSTEM. You cannot specify a device name. For example:

   SYSBOOT> USE ALTPARAMS.DAT

3. Enter the CONTINUE command to continue booting:

   SYSBOOT> CONTINUE

Example

SYSBOOT> USE ALTPARAMS.DAT SYSBOOT> CONTINUE

4.3 Assigning Port Allocation Classes with SYSBOOT

Compaq recommends that you use the CLUSTER_CONFIG procedure to define port allocation classes. If this is not possible (for example, if you are booting a private system disk into an existing cluster), you can use the SYSBOOT SET/CLASS command to assign port allocation classes to shared SCSI ports. For example, if port PKB is connected to a SCSI bus that another node has assigned port allocation class 152, you would enter the following command:

SYSBOOT> SET/CLASS PKB 152

Be sure that the DEVICE_NAMING parameter is set to 1 to enable new device-naming; for example:

SYSBOOT> SET DEVICE_NAMING 1

To deassign a port allocation class, enter the port name without a class number; for example:

SYSBOOT> SET/CLASS PKA

4.4 Booting in an Emergency

If a system problem prevents your system from booting, you might need to perform an emergency boot operation. Table 4-1 describes these emergency boot operations.

Table 4-1 Emergency Boot Procedures

Operation	Use	For More Information
Booting with default system parameters	When parameter values in the parameter file have been modified so that the system is unbootable	Section 4.4.1
Booting without startup and login procedures	If an error in the startup or login procedures prevents you from logging in	Section 4.4.2
Booting without the user authorization file	If you have forgotten the password and cannot log in to a privileged account	Section 4.4.3

4.4.1 Booting with Default System Parameters

If the current values stored in the parameter file have been incorrectly modified, these incorrect values might cause the system to become unbootable. With a conversational boot operation, you can reset the active values for all system parameters to the default value.

Note that in most cases, Compaq recommends that you use AUTOGEN to modify system parameters. In special cases, however, you can use a conversational boot to modify a parameter value temporarily. To change a parameter value permanently, you must edit MODPARAMS.DAT and run AUTOGEN. For instructions, see Section 14.5.)

How to Perform This Task

1. Perform a conversational boot by following the instructions in one of the following manuals:
   • On VAX systems, refer to the most recent versions of the OpenVMS VAX Upgrade and Installation Manual and the upgrade and installation supplement for your VAX computer.
   • On Alpha systems, refer to the most recent version of the OpenVMS Alpha Upgrade and Installation Manual.
2. At the SYSBOOT> prompt, enter the following command:

   SYSBOOT> USE DEFAULT

   
   This command specifies that default values should be used for all parameters.

3. To avoid starting all layered products on a system that is not tuned for them, possibly causing the system to hang, set the STARTUP_P1 system parameter as follows:

   SYSBOOT> SET STARTUP_P1 "MIN"

4. Enter the CONTINUE command to continue booting:

   SYSBOOT> CONTINUE

5. When the system finishes booting, determine which changed parameter caused the problem, and reset the parameter value. If you specified the value for the parameter in the AUTOGEN parameter file MODPARAMS.DAT, fix the value in that file and run AUTOGEN. For more information, see Section 14.5.
6. Shut down and reboot the system.

Example

SYSBOOT> USE DEFAULT SYSBOOT> SET STARTUP_P1 "MIN" SYSBOOT> CONTINUE Username: SYSTEM Password: $ EDIT SYS$SYSTEM:MODPARAMS.DAT . . . [Insert the following line in MODPARAMS.DAT:] MIN_NPAGEDYN = 2999808 . . . $ @SYS$UPDATE:AUTOGEN SAVPARAMS REBOOT

4.4.2 Booting Without Startup and Login Procedures

If the system does not complete the startup procedures or does not allow you to log in, bypass the startup and login procedures. The startup and login procedures provided by Compaq should always work. However, if you introduce an error when modifying the startup or login procedures, you can accidentally lock yourself out of the system. The following instructions tell you what to do in such a situation.

How to Perform This Task

1. Perform a conversational boot operation by following the instructions in one of the following manuals:
   • On VAX systems, refer to the most recent versions of the OpenVMS VAX Upgrade and Installation Manual and the upgrade and installation supplement for your VAX computer.
   • On Alpha systems, refer to the most recent version of the OpenVMS Alpha Upgrade and Installation Manual.
2. Enter the following command at the SYSBOOT> prompt:

   SYSBOOT> SET/STARTUP OPA0:

3. Enter the CONTINUE command to continue booting:

   SYSBOOT> CONTINUE

4. When the system is booted, the operator console displays the DCL command prompt ($). You are logged in.
5. Enter the following DCL command:

   $ SET NOON

   
   This command directs the operating system to ignore any errors that might occur. If you do not enter this command and you invoke an error, the system will log you out.

6. Correct the error condition that caused the login failure. That is, make the necessary repairs to the startup or login procedures, or to the UAF.
   Invoke a text editor to correct the file. Note that some system consoles might not supply a screen-mode editor. You can also copy a corrected file and delete the incorrect version by using the RENAME and DELETE commands.
7. Invoke SYSMAN and enter the following commands to reset the startup procedure:

   $ RUN SYS$SYSTEM:SYSMAN SYSMAN> PARAMETERS USE CURRENT SYSMAN> PARAMETERS SET/STARTUP SYS$SYSTEM:STARTUP.COM SYSMAN> PARAMETERS WRITE CURRENT SYSMAN> EXIT $

8. Perform a normal startup by entering the following command:

   $ @SYS$SYSTEM:STARTUP

Example

SYSBOOT> SET/STARTUP OPA0: SYSBOOT> CONTINUE $ SET NOON $ SET DEFAULT SYS$SYSROOT:[SYSEXE] $ RUN SYS$SYSTEM:SYSMAN SYSMAN> PARAMETERS USE CURRENT SYSMAN> PARAMETERS SET/STARTUP SYS$SYSTEM:STARTUP.COM SYSMAN> PARAMETERS WRITE CURRENT SYSMAN> EXIT $ @SYS$SYSTEM:STARTUP

4.4.3 Booting Without the User Authorization File

Ordinarily, the startup and login procedures provided by Compaq always work; however, certain user interventions can cause them to fail. A very simple way to lock yourself out of the system is to set passwords to login accounts and forget them. In such an emergency, you can use the alternate user authorization file rather than the standard user authorization file.

Setting the system parameter UAFALTERNATE defines the logical name SYSUAF to refer to the file SYS$SYSTEM:SYSUAFALT.DAT. If this file is found during a normal login, the system uses it to validate the account and prompts you for the user name and password.

If it cannot find this file, the system assumes that the UAF is corrupt and accepts any user name and any two passwords to log you in to the system from the system console. Logins are prohibited from all other terminal lines.

When you perform this procedure, the system assigns the following values to your user account:

Field	Value
Name	User name
UIC	[001,004]
Command interpreter	DCL
Login flags	None
Priority	Value of the system parameter DEFPRI
Resources	Values of the PQL system parameters
Privileges	All

The process name is usually set to the name of the device on which you logged in (for example, _OPA0:).

How to Perform This Task

1. Perform a conversational boot by following the instructions in one of the following manuals:
   • On VAX systems, refer to the most recent versions of the OpenVMS VAX Upgrade and Installation Manual and the upgrade and installation supplement for your VAX computer.
   • On Alpha systems, refer to the most recent version of the OpenVMS Alpha Upgrade and Installation Manual.
2. At the SYSBOOT> prompt, enter the following command:

   SYSBOOT> SET UAFALTERNATE 1

3. If your system is running DECwindows Motif for OpenVMS systems, you must also disable the windowing system by entering the following command:

   SYSBOOT> SET WINDOW_SYSTEM 0

4. Enter the CONTINUE command to continue booting:

   SYSBOOT> CONTINUE

5. When the startup procedure completes, log in on the console terminal by entering any user name and any two passwords in response to the Username: and Password: prompts.
6. Enter the following command to use the default UAF:

   $ DEFINE/SYSTEM/EXECUTIVE_MODE SYSUAF SYS$SYSTEM:SYSUAF.DAT

7. Use the Authorize utility to fix the problem that caused you to be locked out of the system (for example, a forgotten password). Enter HELP MODIFY at the UAF> prompt for information about modifying passwords. For more details, refer to the OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual.
8. Enter the following commands to invoke SYSMAN and clear the UAFALTERNATE system parameter you set in step 2:

   $ RUN SYS$SYSTEM:SYSMAN SYSMAN> PARAMETERS USE CURRENT SYSMAN> PARAMETERS SET UAFALTERNATE 0

   
   In most cases, Compaq recommends that you use AUTOGEN to modify system parameters. However, since this parameter is being changed only temporarily, you can use SYSMAN or SYSGEN to change it back.

9. If you disabled the windowing system in step 3, reenable it by entering the following command:

   SYSMAN> PARAMETERS SET WINDOW_SYSTEM 1

10. Enter the following command to save the changed system parameter values:

    SYSMAN> PARAMETERS WRITE CURRENT

11. Shut down and reboot the system.

Example

SYSBOOT> SET UAFALTERNATE 1 SYSBOOT> SET WINDOW_SYSTEM 0 SYSBOOT> CONTINUE Username: [Return] Password: [Return] Password: [Return] $ DEFINE/SYSTEM/EXECUTIVE_MODE SYSUAF SYS$SYSTEM:SYSUAF.DAT $ SET DEFAULT SYS$SYSTEM $ RUN AUTHORIZE AUTHORIZE> MODIFY SYSTEM/PASSWORD=FGLFTUTU AUTHORIZE> EXIT $ RUN SYS$SYSTEM:SYSMAN SYSMAN> PARAMETERS USE CURRENT SYSMAN> PARAMETERS SET WINDOW_SYSTEM 1 SYSMAN> PARAMETERS SET UAFALTERNATE 0 SYSMAN> PARAMETERS WRITE CURRENT SYSMAN> EXIT $ @SYS$SYSTEM:SHUTDOWN

4.5 Booting with Controlled Startup

Section 4.1.4 explains the site-independent startup command procedure, SYS$SYSTEM:STARTUP.COM. By default, when your system boots, it automatically executes STARTUP.COM to execute startup events. Under special circumstances, you might want to control site-independent startup when you boot the system. For example, you might want to perform one of the following tasks:

Task	For More Information
Boot with an alternate site-independent startup procedure	Section 4.5.1
Boot with an alternate site-independent startup command procedure by default	Section 4.5.2
Boot with minimum startup	Section 4.5.3
Display startup procedure commands as they execute	Section 4.5.4

The default system startup procedure is SYS$SYSTEM:STARTUP.COM. Compaq recommends you do not modify STARTUP.COM. However, in special environments, you might want the system to perform special startup commands. The conversational boot lets you specify that the system temporarily use an alternate startup procedure.

You can also perform site-specific startup events by adding commands to the site-specific startup command procedures. For more information, see Section 5.2.

How to Perform This Task

1. Follow the instructions for performing a conversational boot in one of the following manuals:
   • On VAX systems, refer to the most recent versions of the OpenVMS VAX Upgrade and Installation Manual and the upgrade and installation supplement for your VAX computer.
   • On Alpha systems, refer to the most recent version of the OpenVMS Alpha Upgrade and Installation Manual.
2. Enter the following command to show the current startup file:

   SYSBOOT> SHOW/STARTUP

3. Enter a command in the following format to specify the alternate site-independent startup command procedure:

   SET/STARTUP file-spec

   
   where file-spec specifies the entire file specification for the startup file to be used, including the device and directory. For example:

   SYSBOOT> SET/STARTUP SYS$SYSTEM:XSTARTUP.COM

   
   If the startup file specified as file-spec does not exist, the system displays the following message:

   Error opening primary input file SYS$INPUT File not found

   
   Check the file name you entered. Make sure you specified it correctly.

4. Enter the following command to verify the change:

   SYSBOOT> SHOW/STARTUP

5. Enter the following command to continue booting:

   SYSBOOT> CONTINUE

To make your alternate site-independent startup procedure the default startup procedure, see Section 4.5.2.

Example

SYSBOOT> SHOW/STARTUP Startup command file = SYS$SYSTEM:STARTUP.COM SYSBOOT> SET/STARTUP SYS$SYSTEM:XSTARTUP.COM SYSBOOT> SHOW/STARTUP Startup command file = SYS$SYSTEM:XSTARTUP.COM SYSBOOT> CONTINUE

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