Updated: 11 December 1998

OpenVMS System Manager's Manual

Local Area VAXcluster configuration: A VAXcluster configuration in which a single VAX computer serves as the management center of the cluster, plus one or more VAX computers that are connected to this hub.

local cluster: In the System Management utility (SYSMAN), the node from which you are executing SYSMAN.

local node: In a network, the node on which you are working.

In the System Management utility (SYSMAN), the node on which you execute SYSMAN.

Contrast with remote node.

logical block: Organizational unit of volume space. The logical block size cannot exceed the logical sector size.

logical block numbering: Begins with the first byte in the volume space and continues in a sequentially ascending order through the remainder of the volume space.

logical link: In a network, connects two processes and carries a stream of two-way communications traffic between the processes over a circuit. A single circuit established between two nodes can support many logical links concurrently.

logical name table: A table containing definitions of systemwide logical names that can be used by any process in the system.

logical queue: A special type of generic output queue that transfers print jobs to another output execution queue. You might use this kind of queue to temporarily redirect a queue when the device on which it runs is broken.

logical sector: Organizational unit of a volume; consists of one or more physical sectors. No more than one logical sector can begin in any physical sector.

Logical sectors are numbered in ascending order, with 0 assigned to the logical sector having the lowest physical address containing recorded data. Each logical sector includes a data field made up of 2048 or more bytes (the number of bytes always equals a power of 2).

login command procedure: A command procedure that executes each time a user logs in. Add commands to a login command procedure to execute commands when a user logs in, for example, to set up the user environment.

login (LGI) system parameters: System parameters that control login functions. The names of these system parameters begin with LGI.

loopback tests: In a network, a series of tests to help determine whether the network is operating properly.

lost file: A file that is not linked to a directory. When you delete a directory file (a file with the file type .DIR) without first deleting its subordinate files, the files referred to by that directory become lost files. Lost files are a nonproductive use of disk space and act as debits against a user's disk quota.

Magnetic Tape Ancillary Control Process (MTACP): The internal software process of the operating system that interprets the logical format of standard labeled tape volumes.

maintenance release: A release of the operating system that is applied with an update procedure.

managers: Devices on the network through which management is done using the Extensible Simple Network Management Protocol (eSNMP). Managers exchange information with master agents or subagents, which are devices such as routers and servers on the network being managed.

mandatory update: A software update that is required immediately after upgrading or installing the operating system.

mass storage control protocol (MSCP) server: In an OpenVMS Cluster environment, the component that implements the MSCP protocol, which is used to communicate with a controller for DSA disks, such as RA-series disks. In conjunction with one or both of the disk class device drivers (DUDRIVER, DSDRIVER), the MSCP server implements this protocol on a computer, allowing the computer to function as a storage controller.

master agents: Devices such as routers and servers on the network being managed (using the Extensible Simple Network Management Protocol (eSNMP)). Master agents or subagents exchange information with managers, which are the devices on the network through which the management is done.

master file directory (MFD): The file that contains the name of all user file directories on a disk.

media: The physical substance on which you can store data.

mount verification: A recovery mechanism for disk and tape operations. If a device goes off line or is write-locked while mount verification is enabled, you can correct the problem and continue the operation.

multivolume file: A file that is continued on another volume when the data blocks of a file or related files do not physically fit on one volume (a reel of magnetic tape).

network: A means of connecting computers that allows them to share or transfer information or communications. A network includes two or more computers that are connected, and the hardware and software that makes those connections.

network proxy account: A user account that allows users on a remote node in a network to access data by way of a local account on your system. Proxy accounts are useful when you want to grant one or more users on a remote node access to specific files but you do not want to give them a private account on your system.

new domain part (IDP): Unique network identifier that allows users on a DECnet-Plus network to communicate with users on other OSI networks, either through electronic mail, EDI, FTAM, VTP, or other internetwork utilities.

node: In a network, a computer system that is connected to another system in a network---by means of cables, telephone lines, microwave and satellite links, for example.

nonlocal cluster: In the System Management utility (SYSMAN), any cluster other than the one from which you are executing SYSMAN.

nonlocal environment: In the System Management utility (SYSMAN), your environment when you are not working on your local node or within your own cluster.

nonstop boot: The most common booting operation. You perform a nonstop boot if you do not want to stop to perform special operations---for example, to change system parameter values---before booting. Contrast with conversational boot.

object: In a network, a process to which a logical link connects. Some objects are DECnet programs---for example, the Mail object; other objects are user-written programs.

For two programs to communicate over the network, the source program on the local node establishes a logical link with the object on the remote node.

OPCOM messages: Messages broadcast by the Operator Communication Manager (OPCOM). These messages are displayed on operator terminals and written to the operator log file. The messages might be general messages that you send, user requests, operator replies, or system events.

OPCOM process: The system process that manages Operator Communication Manager (OPCOM) operations.

OpenVMS Cluster system: A loosely coupled configuration of two or more computers and storage subsystems, including at least one Alpha computer. An OpenVMS Cluster system appears as a single system to the user, even though it shares some or all of the system resources. When a group of computers shares resources in an OpenVMS Cluster environment, the storage and computing resources of all the computers are combined, which can increase the processing power.

See also VAXcluster system.

operator log file: The Operator Communication Manager (OPCOM) records messages in this file. The file is named SYS$MANAGER:OPERATOR.LOG.

operator terminals: Terminals designated to display messages broadcast by the Operator Communication Manager (OPCOM). Usually, the console terminal (with the device name OPA0:) is the operator terminal. However, you can designate any user terminal as an operator terminal.

output execution queue: A queue that accepts jobs for processing by a symbiont. The queue manager sends the symbiont a list of files, which the user defines when submitting the job. An output symbiont transfers data from a disk to an output device. As the symbiont processes each file, it produces output for the device it controls, such as a printer or a terminal.

owner UIC: Used with UIC-based protection, usually the UIC of the person who created a file or volume.

page: A unit used for allocating and deallocating memory.

On VAX systems, a page is 512 bytes.

On Alpha systems, a page can be 8 kilobytes (KB) (8192 bytes), 16KB, 32KB, or 64KB. The initial set of Alpha computers uses a page size of 8192 bytes. Compare with pagelet.

page file: In a paging operation, the file to which the system writes paged portions of memory. Your distribution kit includes a page file named SYS$SYSTEM:PAGEFILE.SYS. If necessary, SYS$SYSTEM:PAGEFILE.SYS can be used in place of the system crash dump file.

pagelet: On Alpha systems, a unit of memory in a 512-byte quantity. One Alpha pagelet is the same size as one VAX page. Also, on an Alpha 8KB computer, 16 Alpha pagelets equal 1 Alpha page.

page setup module: A device control module inserted at the beginning of each page of a print job.

paging: A memory management operation to efficiently use the physical memory allotted to a process by moving information between physical memory and files stored on disk. In paging, the system moves infrequently used portions of a process workspace out of physical memory to a file. Compare with swapping.

PAK: See Product Authorization Key (PAK).

partition: A logical subset of a read/write disk. A single disk can be subdivided into several partitions, each of which of which can be used independently. The partitions appear to be whole disks.

permanent database: In a network, a permanent copy of the DECnet configuration database. When you start the network, the permanent database provides the initial values for the volatile database. Changes remain after the network is shut down, but do not affect the current system.

permanently open image: A known image where directory information on the image file remains permanently resident in memory, eliminating the usual directory search required to locate a file.

physical dump: A crash dump containing the entire contents of physical memory to the system dump file. Compare with selective dump.

physical operation: In the Backup utility, an operation that copies, saves, restores, or compares an entire volume by logical blocks, ignoring any file structure.

physical sector: Division of a system or data area; smallest addressable unit on an ISO 9660 CD-ROM.

primary bootstrap image: Program that the boot block points to, which allows access to the system disk by finding the the secondary bootstrap image, SYSBOOT.EXE, and loading it into memory.

On VAX systems, the primary bootstrap image is VMB.EXE.

On Alpha systems, the primary bootstrap image is APB.EXE.

primary page and swap files: The default page file and swap file provided with your distribution kit. These files are named SYS$SYSTEM:PAGEFILE.SYS and SYS$SYSTEM:SWAPFILE.SYS. Contrast with secondary page and swap files.

primary processor: In a multiprocessing system, the processor that is either logically or physically attached to the console device and is the target of the console commands that bootstrap the multiprocessing system. The primary processor is responsible for starting other processors in the multiprocessing system. It also serves as the system timekeeper.

print forms: You can use print forms with output queues to determine certain page formatting attributes (such as margins and page length). In addition, the paper stock specified in a form determines whether a job is printed; if the stock of a job's form does not match the stock of the form mounted on the queue, the job is not printed.

Compaq supplies a default print form named DEFAULT. You can create additional forms if users need help formatting output, or if certain print jobs require special paper.

print job: An entry in an output queue that specifies a file or files to be printed on a printer. The user defines the file or files to be printed when submitting the job. When a printer is available, the queue manager sends the file to a symbiont for formatting and printing.

printer queue: A type of output execution queue that uses a symbiont to direct output to a printer. Compare with server queue and terminal queue.

priority: See base process priority or job scheduling priority.

private volume: A file-structured disk volume that contains only private files.

privileged image: A known image where increased privileges are temporarily assigned to any process running the image, permitting the process to exceed its user authorization file (UAF) privilege restrictions during execution of the image. In this way, users with normal privileges can run programs that require higher-than-normal privileges.

privileges: A means of restricting the functions users are authorized to perform on the system. System managers require privileges that are denied to most users.

process limits and quotas: User authorization file (UAF) parameters you can set for a user account to control the usage of system resources by processes in that account. (UAF parameters are different than system parameters.) You set values for process limits and quotas using the Authorize utility.

Product Authorization Key (PAK): Information, typically on a piece of paper, provided for many Compaq products. The data provided in the PAK allows you to register a software license in the license database on a system.

product configuration file (PCF): Optional POLYCENTER Software Installation utility file that might be supplied by the software manufacturer, or you can create it. A PCF contains responses to some or all of the installation questions for a product. It can provide default or required choices, which might differ from the default choices provided in the PDF.

product database (PDB): Database that is created automatically by the POLYCENTER Software Installation utility. When products are installed, the files and other objects that make up the product, such as directories and accounts, are recorded in the PDB. The configuration choices made during installation are also recorded.

product description file (PDF): File provided by the software manufacturer containing all the information the POLYCENTER Software Installation utility needs for installing either a software product or a set of software products.

product text file (PTF): POLYCENTER Software Installation utility file that is optionally supplied by the software manufacturer. It provides information about the product including product name, producer, configuration choice descriptions, and message text used during product installation.

protected image: A known image that is a shareable image and contains protected code. Protected code is code that runs in kernel mode or executive mode but that can be called by a user mode image.

protection code: Used with UIC-based protection, indicates who is allowed access and for what purposes.

public volume: A Files--11 volume that any user on the system can access and that can contain both private and public files.

queue: Allows users to submit requests for printing or batch processing. The system prints users' print jobs or processes users' batch jobs as resources allow.

queue characteristics: Characteristics you can define and assign to a queue to control the batch or print jobs that execute on the queue.

queue database: A file or files that store information about queues and batch and print jobs.

queue manager: The system component that controls queue activity.

quota file: On Files--11 volumes, the file that records all users who are allowed to use a disk and that shows their current disk usage and their maximum disk allocation. A quota file, QUOTA.SYS, which is stored in directory [000000] with other system files, requires 1 block of disk storage for every 16 entries. See also disk quotas.

reconfiguration: After installation of a product, changing the configuration choices made during the installation.

record blocking: On Files--11 volumes, the grouping of individual records into a block, thereby reducing wasted space.

remote node: In a network, a node that is accessible to the node you are working on (the local node) over the network.

In the System Management utility (SYSMAN), any node other than the one on which you are executing SYSMAN.

Contrast with local node.

reset module: A device control module inserted at the end of each print job. Use reset modules to reset a printer at the end of a job.

resident image: On Alpha systems, a known image that improves the performance of a shareable image. With a resident image, portions of images that contain code are moved into system space, where they reside on a large single page, thus improving performance.

root volume: The first volume in a volume set. Each volume in the volume set is identified by a volume number relative to the root volume, which is always relative to volume 1.

router: In a network, a node that performs routing operations.

routing: In a network of more than two nodes, the process of directing a data message from a source node to a destination node (known as an end node). Both routers and end nodes can send messages to and receive messages from other nodes in the network.

In a TCP/IP network. routing is the process of directing a data message from a source host to a destination host. See also host.

ruleset: Software routine or function that is analogous to an executable file; used by DECevent.

save set: A special file used by the Backup utility. The Backup utility saves files to a save set and restores files from a save set. Installation and upgrade procedures restore product files from a save set to your system disk.

scalar: A single data item, having one value. Compare with vector.

secondary bootstrap image: Image that allows access to the system disk: SYS$SYSTEM:SYSBOOT.EXE.

secondary page and swap files: Additional page files and swap files that you might create for performance or disk space reasons. The system uses the space in the secondary files for paging and swapping in addition to the space in the primary page and swap files.

secondary processor: In a multiprocessing system, any processor that is not a primary processor.

sector: The smallest unit discernible to the Files-11 On-Disk structure. For most Files-11 disks, a sector is equivalent to a block (512 bytes).

On ISO 9660 volumes, a uniquely addressable unit; each sector on a CD-ROM comprises a sequence of 2048 8-bit bytes.

security audit log file: A clusterwide file that contains a record of security events on the system. Using the ANALYZE/AUDIT command, you can produce reports and summaries of security events from the security audit log file.

selective dump: A crash dump containing only those portions of memory most likely to be useful in a crash dump analysis. A selective dump is useful when sufficient disk space is not available to hold all physical memory. Compare with physical dump.

selective operation: A Backup utility operation that processes files or volumes selectively, according to criteria such as version number, file type, UIC, date and time of creation, expiration date, or modification date.

sequential organization: On magnetic tape media, the organization of data; that is, data is organized in the order in which it is written to the tape.

server queue: A type of output execution queue that uses a user-modified or user-written symbiont to process the files that belong to print jobs in the queue. Compare with printer queue and terminal queue.

setup module: A device control module inserted at the beginning of a file in a print job.

shareable image: An image linked with the /SHAREABLE qualifier of the Linker utility; it must subsequently be linked into an executable image to be used. Shareable images are sometimes referred to as linkable images.

shared image: A known image for which more than one user can access the read-only and non-copy-on-reference read/write sections of the image concurrently, so that only one copy of those sections ever needs to be in physical memory.

shared resource: In an OpenVMS Cluster environment, a resource (such as a disk or a queue) that any node in the cluster can access. Data files, application programs, and printers are some items that can be accessed by users on a cluster with shared resources, without regard to the particular node on which the files or program or printer might physically reside.

site-independent startup command procedure: A command procedure that executes each time a system boots, and manages startup of a system. This file, named SYS$STARTUP:STARTUP.COM, is required on all systems, regardless of site-specific requirements. Do not modify this file. Compare with site-specific startup command procedure.

site-specific startup command procedure: A command procedure that executes each time a system boots. Unlike the site-independent startup command procedure, you can add commands to site-specific procedures to perform operations that vary from site to site.

sizing: The process of matching the allocation of system resources (memory and disk space) with the workload requirements of your site. Use the AUTOGEN command procedure to automatically size your system.

slicing: On Alpha systems, a feature that lets the operating system split the contents of images and sort the pieces so that they can be placed with other pieces that have the same page protection in the same area of memory. Consequently, translation buffers on Alpha systems are used more efficiently than if the loadable executive images or the shareable images were loaded in the traditional manner.

source disk: In the command procedures VMSINSTAL.COM or VMSKITBLD.COM, the disk from which you copy files. Compare with target disk.

spooled printer: A printer set up to write output to an intermediate storage device (such as a disk). Spool printers if your system runs applications that write or copy data directly to printers rather than submitting print jobs to a queue. In this way, printers remain available to other system users while the program is running.

startup database: A file that contains information used to start up system software. For example, the site-independent startup command procedure uses information in a startup database named STARTUP$STARTUP_VMS to start the operating system. It uses information in a startup database named STARTUP$STARTUP_LAYERED to start layered products.

swap file: In a swapping operation, the file to which the system writes swapped portions of memory. Your distribution kit includes a swap file named SYS$SYSTEM:SWAPFILE.SYS.

swapping: A memory management operation to efficiently use the physical memory allotted to an entire system by moving information between physical memory and files stored on disk. In swapping, the system moves the entire workspace of a less active process out of physical memory to a file. Compare with paging.

symbiont: Used with an output queue, a process for formatting of print jobs and sending them to a printer.

The standard print symbiont provided by the operating system is named PRTSMB and is designed to print files on basic output devices. The LAT print symbiont LATSYM is used to print files on output devices attached to a terminal server.

SYSGEN parameters: See system parameters.

system area: One of two divisions of CD-ROM volume space; includes logical sectors 0 through 15. Reserved for system use.

System Communications Services (SCS): In an OpenVMS Cluster environment, software that implements intercomputer communication, according to the Compaq Systems Communications Architecture (SCA).

system disk: Disk on which operating system files are stored.

system dump file: The file into which the operating system writes the contents of the error log buffers, processor registers, and memory when it detects an unrecoverable error or an inconsistency within itself that causes the system to fail. See also crash dump.

system image: An image that does not run under the control of the operating system. It is intended for standalone operation only. The content and format of a system image differs from that of a shareable image and an executable image.

system image snapshot: A record of the system setup used with the Snapshot facility.

system messages: Messages returned by the system when you enter commands in DCL or in utilities. These messages help you understand the result of each command.

system parameters: Parameters for which you can set values to control how the system functions. Values of system parameters control a wide range of system functions including but not limited to memory management, process scheduling, and system security.

system startup: Series of tasks that an operating system does to start up the system.

system volume: A volume available to all the users on a system. Compare to group volume.

systemwide logical name: A logical name that applies to the entire system. It is defined in the system logical name table and can be used by any process in a system.

tape mass storage control protocol (TMSCP) server: In an OpenVMS Cluster environment, the component that implements the TMSCP protocol, which is used to communicate with a controller for local MSCP tapes, such as TU-series tapes. In conjunction with the tape class device driver (TUDRIVER), the TMSCP server implements this protocol on a processor, allowing the processor to function as a storage controller.

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