Updated: 11 December 1998

OpenVMS VAX
Version 7.2 Upgrade and
Installation Manual

The OpenVMS help libraries (as well as some programming libraries) are distributed in a compressed format. You can use the SYS$UPDATE:LIBDECOMP.COM procedure to decompress the libraries all at once or individually. For a small system disk, it is almost never worth the extra disk blocks consumed to decompress these libraries. The cost of leaving them compressed is a longer access time when you use them.

If you frequently use help or an individual programming library, it might be worthwhile to individually decompress those libraries. If you only infrequently use help or do not mind the slower response time of the libraries in compressed form, leave them compressed.

H.5.4 Disabling Log File Creation

Depending on your environment, there might be system jobs that create log files of no concern to you or that contain more information than you need.

Unless you are a network manager or experiencing network problems, you probably do not need to log network events. By not logging network events, you can save disk space, a process slot, and some memory in the running system. To disable network logging, enter the following commands:

$ MCR NCP PURGE KNOWN LOGGING ALL $ MCR NCP CLEAR KNOWN LOGGING ALL

You need to enter these commands only once; they become permanent unless you reset the DECnet logging information.

To reduce the logging information for other tasks (such as OPCOM, Accounting, Security Auditing, Network Monitor Event Listener, and system-created batch log files), you need to add some commands to your system-specific startup command file, SYS$MANAGER:SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM (previously called SYSTARTUP_V5.COM).

The following is an example SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM command file for a single-user workstation:

$ SET NOON ! Continue thru any problems. $! $ DEFINE/USER SYS$COMMAND _OPA0: ! Disable some events from $ REPLY/DISABLE=(NETWORK,CLUSTER,SECURITY) ! using the operator window. $ SET TERM/SCOPE/PERM _OPA0: ! If windows do not start, use as scope. $! $ SET AUDIT/ALARM - ! Log interesting audit events. /ENABLE=(AUDIT,AUTHORIZATION,ACL,LOGIN=(LOCAL,DIALUP,NETWORK,REMOTE),- LOGFAILURE=ALL,BREAKIN=ALL) $! $ IF F$SEARCH("SYS$MANAGER:ACCOUNTNG.DAT;-1") .NES. "" THEN - PURGE SYS$MANAGER:ACCOUNTNG.DAT/KEEP=4 ! Purge old accounting info $! $ IF F$SEARCH("SYS$MANAGER:OPERATOR.LOG;-1") .NES. "" THEN - PURGE SYS$MANAGER:OPERATOR.LOG/KEEP=4 ! Purge old operator info $! $ DEFINE/SYSTEM/EXEC SYS$SYLOGIN SYS$MANAGER:SYLOGIN ! Set up system login $! $ ENABLE AUTOSTART/QUEUES ! Provide resources for autostart queues $ START/QUEUE SYS$BATCH ! Start a batch queue $! $ SUBMIT/NOKEEP/NOPRINT SYS$MANAGER:STARTNET ! Start net without batch log $! $! ... add other system specific and layered product commands here ... $! $ EXIT

You might have an environment that can function with even less information than that shown in the example. For example, to disable the operator log file, use REPLY/NOLOG, or to disable accounting, use SET ACCOUNTING/DISABLE. For more information about using these commands, refer to the OpenVMS DCL Dictionary.

H.5.5 Accessing Example and Documentation Files

If you have network access to another OpenVMS system (especially a timesharing system), you do not need to duplicate the example files distributed in the OpenVMS VAX or DECwindows Motif kits if they are available on the remote system. Similarly, remote access to the online documentation files also saves considerable disk space on any system with constrained disk space.

H.6 Managing Multiple Disk Systems

The following sections describe techniques for managing multiple disk systems. In addition to the goal of reducing the space requirements on the system device, it is possible to simultaneously reduce some of the I/O load to the system disk by redirecting necessary functions to an alternate device.

H.6.1 Alternate Page and Swap Files

Setting up alternate page and swap files is one of the best ways to reduce both the system disk space usage and I/O overhead. If you set up only a small primary page file on the system disk and install additional page and swap files in the startup command file SYS$MANAGER:SYPAGSWPFILES.COM, you can permanently cause these files to consume the least amount of space on the system device. For more information about setting up alternate page and swap files, refer to the OpenVMS System Manager's Manual.

H.6.2 Copying Dump Files

At startup, you can enhance the use of the paging file as a dump file that automatically copies the dump data for later analysis. This releases the disk space in SYS$SYSTEM:PAGEFILE.SYS to be used for paging automatically as well. Instead of manually invoking the System Dump Analyzer (SDA) to release the pages, you can add the following commands to the SYS$MANAGER:SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM file:

$ ANALYZE/CRASH SYS$SYSTEM:PAGEFILE.SYS COPY alternate_disk:[dir]dumpname.ext EXIT

There are several system logs and files that can be redirected to another device. For other system logs and files, it might be easier to reset and start a new log file, copy the old file or files to another device, and purge them from the system disk.

Some files that can be redirected are the system authorization file, the queue manager database, the audit log file, and batch log files. Some files that can be reset, copied, and purged are the operator log file, the accounting log file, and network log files. For more information about these facilities refer to the OpenVMS System Manager's Manual, the OpenVMS DCL Dictionary, or the utility reference manual for the utility whose files you want to offload.

H.6.4 Offloading Nonessential Files

Some of the files included with OpenVMS VAX Version 7.2 can be redirected to an alternate device during the installation or upgrade procedure. This can save many valuable system disk blocks while providing quick access to these files. For a small system disk configuration with multiple disks, this approach is recommended if you want the the Help Message utility (MSGHLP) to be available on line.

This glossary defines key terms in the context of an OpenVMS VAX computing environment.

boot, bootstrap: The process of loading system software into a processor's main memory. This guide uses the term boot to refer to this process.

boot command procedure: A program, stored on the console fixed disk, that is used to boot the OpenVMS operating system from a specified controller. Compaq provides a boot command procedure for each controller that the processor supports.

boot name: The abbreviated name of the boot command procedure you use to boot the system.

boot server: A VAX computer that is part of a local area VAXcluster. The boot server is a combination of a MOP server and a disk server for the satellite system disk. See also satellite node.

CI only VAXcluster: A computer system consisting of a number of VAX computers. It uses only the computer interconnect (CI) to communicate with other VAX computers in the cluster. These computers share a single file system.

computer interconnect (CI): A type of I/O subsystem. It links VAX computers to each other and to HSC devices. See also Hierarchical Storage Controller (HSC) device.

DECW$TAILOR: A software program that lets you add or remove DECwindows files from your system disk.

device name: The name used to identify a device on the system. A device name indicates the device code, controller designation, and unit number.

disk server: A VAX computer that is part of a local area VAXcluster. This computer provides an access path to CI, CSSI, and locally connected disks for other computers that do not have a direct connection.

Hierarchical Storage Controller (HSC) device: A self-contained, intelligent, mass storage subsystem that lets VAX computers in a VAXcluster environment share disks. Examples are the HSC50 and the HSC70.

HSC drive: Any disk or tape drive connected to an HSC device is called an HSC drive. A system disk on an HSC drive can be shared by several VAX computers in a VAXcluster environment.

InfoServer: A general-purpose disk storage server that allows you to use the distribution compact disc to install the operating system on remote client systems connected to the same local area network (LAN).

local area VAXcluster: A configuration consisting of one or more VAX computers that act as a MOP server and disk server, and a number of low-end VAX computers that act as satellite nodes. The local area network (LAN) connects all of the computers. These computers share a single file system.

local drive: Any drive that is connected directly to a VAX computer.

media: Any packaging agent capable of storing computer software (For example, compact discs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, disk packs, and tape cartridges.)

MOP server: A computer system running DECnet software that downline loads VAXcluster satellites using the DECnet maintenance operations protocol.

satellite node: A VAX computer that is part of a local area VAXcluster. A satellite node is downline loaded from a MOP server and then boots remotely from the system disk served by a disk server in the local area VAXcluster. See also boot server, disk server, MOP server.

save set: The format in which the Backup utility stores files. The OpenVMS operating system is shipped in this format.

scratch disk: A blank disk or a disk with files you no longer need.

source drive: The drive that holds the distribution kit during an upgrade or installation.

spin up, spin down: To spin up means to bring a disk drive up to operating speed; to spin down means to bring it to a gradual stop.

standalone BACKUP: A subset of the BACKUP utility that is booted into main memory instead of running under the control of the OpenVMS operating system. Standalone BACKUP is used to back up and restore the system disk and to install OpenVMS operating system software.

standalone system: A computer system with only one VAX computer.

system disk: The disk that contains or will contain the OpenVMS operating system. An OpenVMS system disk is set up so that most of the OpenVMS files can be shared by several VAX computers. In addition, each computer has its own directory on the system disk that contains its page, swap, and dump files.

target drive: The drive that holds the system disk during an upgrade or installation.

transaction log: A log used by DECdtm services to record information about transactions. The Log Manager Control Program (LMCP) is used to create a transaction log.

UETP (User Environment Test Package): A software package that tests all the standard peripheral devices on your system, various commands and operating system functions, the system's multiuser capability, DECnet for OpenVMS, and the VAXcluster environment.

VAXcluster environment: A computer system consisting of a number of VAX computers. There are three types of VAXcluster environments: CI only, local area, and mixed interconnect.

VMSTAILOR: A software program that lets you add or remove optional OpenVMS files from your system disk.

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