Compaq ACMS for OpenVMS
Managing Applications


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10.3.3 Modifying Variable Values for Use by ACMEXCPAR.COM

Modify the quota values by editing the input or output files of the ACMEXCPAR.COM phases. To calculate quotas on your ACMS system using this method, run each phase separately. To run a single phase, set your default to SYS$MANAGER and name the phase when you type the command to run ACMEXCPAR.COM:


$ SET DEFAULT SYS$MANAGER
$ @ACMEXCPAR.COM GENVAR MYAPPL     

The ACMEXCPAR procedure uses as input the initialization values in the file MYAPPL_GENVAR.DAT. ACMEXCPAR derives this file name during the GENVAR phase of the procedure. The GENVAR phase takes the MYAPPL application name from the command line and appends "_GENVAR.DAT" to it. The MYAPPL_GENVAR.DAT file contains initialization values that are specific to the MYAPPL application.

Whenever you change a parameter, run all subsequent phases in order to obtain the correct EXC quota values. For example, if you alter a value in the MYAPPL_GENPAR.DAT file, you must invoke GENPAR to perform the calculations, and then invoke WRITEPAR to read the new values and modify the SYSUAF.DAT file.

Enter the following command to run the GENPAR phase using the values in the file MYAPPL_GENPAR.DAT as input:


$ @ACMEXCPAR GENPAR MYAPPL

Compaq recommends use of the ACMSPARAM.COM and ACMEXCPAR.COM procedures to set system parameters and quotas because these procedures automatically modify other parameters that relate to the parameters that you are changing. However, there are some variables used by ACMSPARAM.COM and ACMEXCPAR.COM that you may want to calculate independently of the command procedures. Appendix A explains in more detail calculations for these variables. Use these formulas for informational or fine-tuning purposes only.


Chapter 11
Changing ACMS Parameter Values with the ACMSGEN Utility

This chapter explains how to use the ACMSGEN Utility to change the values of ACMS system parameters. See Section 11.8 for a summary of ACMSGEN commands and qualifiers. For reference information on the commands described in this chapter, refer to Chapter 22.

You can also adjust the ACMSGEN-generated parameters using the command procedure ACMSPARAM.COM. It is recommended that you use ACMSPARAM.COM rather than the ACMSGEN Utility, because ACMSPARAM.COM not only adjusts the ACMSGEN parameters, but ACMSPARAM.COM also uses the modified ACMSGEN parameters to modify other related parameters and quotas. Chapter 10 describes the ACMSPARAM.COM and ACMEXCPAR.COM command procedures.

11.1 How ACMSGEN Works

The ACMSGEN Utility is an ACMS tool that lets you modify and display ACMS system parameters. ACMSGEN works in much the same way that the OpenVMS SYSGEN Utility lets you change OpenVMS parameters. The ACMSGEN commands are a subset of the OpenVMS SYSGEN commands, but the ACMSGEN parameters are different.

ACMS keeps a set of systemwide parameter values in parameter files. When the ACMS system starts up, it reads in the current parameter file SYS$SYSTEM:ACMSPAR.ACM.

Once ACMS reads the parameter file, the parameters are stored in the active parameter global section. The ACMSGEN Utility can place the parameter file and the active parameter global section in an ACMSGEN work area. Then use ACMSGEN to examine and change parameter values in the ACMSGEN work area. Finally, you can issue the WRITE command to have ACMSGEN write out the work area to a parameter file or to the active parameter global section. By default, ACMSGEN reads the current parameter file on ACMS system startup and does not write out the work area on exit.

Table 11-1 describes the system components affected by ACMSGEN parameters.

Table 11-1 ACMS Components Affected by ACMSGEN Parameters
ACMS Component Description
ACMS Central Controller (ACC) Creates and controls ACMS processes. The ACMSGEN parameters affecting the ACC include the priority of the ACC and its OpenVMS user name.
Command Process (CP) Accepts, interprets, and services task selections. With Command Process parameters, you can control which OpenVMS user name the processes run under, and at what priority the processes run.
Terminal Subsystem Controller (TSC) Handles ACMS sign-ins and manages Command Processes. With TSC parameters, you can control the maximum and minimum number of Command Processes that can be active, the maximum number of terminals that can be serviced by a single Command Process, the user name the TSC processes run under, and the priority of the TSC processes.
Workspace Pool Used by the Application Execution Controller for workspace control and manipulation. Use ACMSGEN to specify the number of pages (VAX) or pagelets (Alpha) that are allocated to the pools used for workspaces.
Message Switch Helps ACMS processes communicate with each other. Use ACMSGEN parameters to control the size of the messages and the amount of memory that can be used to send messages.
Queued Task Initiator (QTI) Controls ACMS task queues and dequeues queued task elements for processing. Use ACMSGEN parameters to define the user name and priority for the QTI process.

11.2 How to Run the ACMSGEN Utility

No special privileges are required to use the ACMSGEN Utility, but to make permanent changes to an ACMS system, you need the OpenVMS SYSPRV privilege. To change parameters for an active system, you must have the OpenVMS OPER privilege.

Start the ACMSGEN Utility by using either of the following commands:


$ MCR ACMSGEN 
ACMSGEN>

or


$ RUN SYS$SYSTEM:ACMSGEN
ACMSGEN>

When you see the ACMSGEN Utility prompt (ACMSGEN>), begin to enter ACMSGEN commands. For example:


ACMSGEN> SHOW /ALL

To get information about an ACMSGEN Utility command, type HELP followed by the command name. For example:


ACMSGEN> HELP SHOW

Press [Ctrl/B] to recall each ACMSGEN command you enter.

Instead of typing in ACMSGEN commands individually, use the ACMSGEN command keypad. Press [PF1] then [PF2] for access to the command keypad. When you are finished with ACMSGEN, type EXIT or press [Ctrl/Z] to leave ACMSGEN and return to DCL:


ACMSGEN> EXIT
$

11.3 Types of Parameter Values

The four types of parameter values for you to work with are:

11.4 Changing Parameter Values

This section describes how to change current and active parameter values.

11.4.1 Changing Current Values

You can change the current value for any ACMS parameter. However, in addition to SYSPRV privilege, you must have write access to the ACMS parameter file.

To change the current value for one or more parameters, first initialize the work area with the USE CURRENT, USE ACTIVE, USE DEFAULT, or USE command. Then, if necessary, change one or more values in the work area with the SET command. Finally, update current values with the WRITE CURRENT command.

Make all of your changes without using the SET command if you are only:

The following commands increase the number of ACMS terminals by increasing the values of both the MAX_LOGINS and CP_SLOTS parameters:


ACMSGEN> SET MAX_LOGINS 25
ACMSGEN> SET CP_SLOTS 5
ACMSGEN> WRITE CURRENT

If this is the first work you do in an ACMSGEN Utility session, the work area contains current values when you begin, so you do not need to use the USE CURRENT command. The SET command places new values for MAX_LOGINS and CP_SLOTS in the work area. The WRITE CURRENT command writes all values from the work area to the SYS$SYSTEM:ACMSPAR.ACM file as new current values. These new current values take effect the next time you start the ACMS system.

Use these same commands, SET and WRITE CURRENT, to reset some current values to ACMS defaults. If you need to display default values or other parameter information on the terminal, use the SHOW command, as described in Section 11.6.

To reset all current values to ACMS defaults, use the USE DEFAULT and WRITE CURRENT commands:


ACMSGEN> USE DEFAULT
ACMSGEN> WRITE CURRENT

The USE DEFAULT command places ACMS default values in the work area. The WRITE CURRENT command writes the default values to the SYS$SYSTEM:ACMSPAR.ACM file as new current values.

If you have created a work file with the ACMSGEN Utility, you can update current values with values from the work file. Use the USE command to initialize the work area with values from the work file you name as a parameter. For example:


ACMSGEN> USE WORK
ACMSGEN> WRITE CURRENT

The USE command initializes the work area with values from the work file SYS$SYSTEM:WORK.ACM. The WRITE CURRENT command updates current values in the SYS$SYSTEM:ACMSPAR.ACM file with values from the work area.

If you change active values and want to make the changes permanent, update the current values for dynamic parameters with their active values. For example:


ACMSGEN> USE ACTIVE
ACMSGEN> WRITE CURRENT

The USE ACTIVE command initializes the work area with active values from the global section for active values. The WRITE CURRENT command updates the current values in the SYS$SYSTEM:ACMSPAR.ACM file with values from the work area.

11.4.2 Changing Active Values

You can change the active values only for dynamic parameters. To change active values, you must have SYSPRV privilege. To change the active values for one or more dynamic parameters, first initialize the work area with the USE, USE ACTIVE, USE CURRENT, or USE DEFAULT command. Then, if necessary, change one or more values in the work area with the SET command. Finally, update active values for dynamic parameters with the WRITE ACTIVE command.

Make all your changes without using the SET command if you are only:

For example, to change the active value of the MIN_CPIS parameter to 3, enter:


ACMSGEN> USE ACTIVE
ACMSGEN> SET MIN_CPIS 3
ACMSGEN> WRITE ACTIVE

The USE ACTIVE command initializes the work area with the values of the active ACMS system. The SET command places the value 3 into the work area as the value for MIN_CPIS. The WRITE ACTIVE command writes values from the work area to the global section for active values. The value 3 is the active value for MIN_CPIS. That value stays in effect until ACMS stops or until you change the value again.

Use these same commands to reset some active values to ACMS defaults. To display default values or other parameter information, use the SHOW command, described in Section 11.6.

Set the active values for all dynamic parameters to default values with the USE DEFAULT and WRITE ACTIVE commands. For example:


ACMSGEN> USE DEFAULT
ACMSGEN> WRITE ACTIVE

The USE DEFAULT command initializes the work area with ACMS default values for all parameters. The WRITE ACTIVE command makes the ACMS defaults the active values of ACMS, writing values from the work area to the global section for active values.

Update active values with values from a work file. For example:


ACMSGEN> USE WORK
ACMSGEN> WRITE ACTIVE

The USE command initializes the work area with values from the work file SYS$SYSTEM:WORK.ACM. The WRITE ACTIVE command updates active values for dynamic parameters with values from the work area.

If you recently updated current values and want the new values to take effect immediately, you can update the active values for dynamic parameters with the new current values. For example:


ACMSGEN> USE CURRENT
ACMSGEN> WRITE ACTIVE

The USE CURRENT command initializes the work area with values from the SYS$SYSTEM:ACMSPAR.ACM file. The WRITE ACTIVE command updates the active values of dynamic parameters with values from the work area.

11.5 Using a Parameter Work File

To save current or active values for any reason, copy the values to a work file. Use the ACMSGEN Utility to change values you have saved. Use the values in the work file later as current or active values for ACMS.

To save values in a work file, use the WRITE command. The WRITE command copies values from the work area to the file you name, creating a new version of the file:


ACMSGEN> WRITE WORK

Because the file specification is not complete, this command writes the values in the work area to the file SYS$SYSTEM:WORK.ACM. If this is the first command in an ACMSGEN session, the command writes the current values of ACMS system parameters to the file.

To save active values in a work file, use the USE ACTIVE and WRITE commands:


ACMSGEN> USE ACTIVE
ACMSGEN> WRITE WORK

The USE ACTIVE command initializes the work area with active values for parameters. The WRITE command writes the active values for dynamic ACMS parameters to the file SYS$SYSTEM:WORK.ACM, creating a new version of the file.

To copy default values to a work file, use the USE DEFAULT and WRITE commands:


ACMSGEN> USE DEFAULT
ACMSGEN> WRITE WORK

The USE DEFAULT command initializes the work area with default values. The WRITE command writes the default values for ACMS system parameters to the file SYS$SYSTEM:WORK.ACM, creating a new version of the file.

To change the values in a work file, or to use them to update current or active values, use the USE command to copy work file values into the work area. If you do not include device and directory in your file specification with the USE command, the default is SYS$SYSTEM. For example:


ACMSGEN> USE WORK
ACMSGEN> SET MAX_LOGINS 25
ACMSGEN> SET CP_SLOTS 5
ACMSGEN> WRITE WORK

The USE command initializes the work area with values from the work file SYS$SYSTEM:WORK.ACM. The SET command changes the value for the MAX_LOGINS parameter to 25 and the value for the CP_SLOTS parameter to 5 in the work area. The WRITE command writes values from the work area to the file SYS$SYSTEM:WORK.ACM, creating a new version of the file.

To update current values with values from a work file, use the USE command and the WRITE CURRENT command. To update active values with values from a work file, use the USE command and the WRITE ACTIVE command. These commands are described in Chapter 22.

11.6 Displaying Parameter Values

Use the SHOW command to get information about ACMS parameters, including their current, active, or default values. You can display values before changing them.

You must use either a qualifier or the name of an ACMS parameter with the SHOW command.

The SHOW command displays the following information for each parameter displayed:

To display information about all ACMS parameters including their current values, use the ACMSGEN SHOW/ALL command. Example 11-1 shows a sample display for this command. The display in Example 11-1 is produced on an OpenVMS Alpha system.

Example 11-1 ACMSGEN SHOW/ALL Command (on Alpha)

ACMSGEN> SHOW/ALL
(1)           
Parameters in use: CURRENT
                     (2)        (3)               (4)       (5)             (6)
Parameter Name   Current  Default  Minimum  Maximum      Unit           Dynamic 
--------------   -------  -------  -------  -------      ----           ------- 
MAX_LOGINS           60       60       0        -1       submitters         D 
MAX_TTS_CP           20       20       0        -1       terminals          D 
PERM_CPS             1        1        0        -1       command prcs       D 
CP_SLOTS             3        3        0        -1       command prcs          
MIN_CPIS             2        2        0        -1       CP threads         D
TSC_USERNAME         ACMS$TSC SYSTEM                                           
TSC_PRIORITY         6        4        0        31       VMS Priority          
ACC_USERNAME         ACMS$ACC SYSTEM                                           
ACC_PRIORITY         6        4        0        31       VMS Priority          
CP_USERNAME          ACMS$CP  SYSTEM                                           
CP_PRIORITY          6        4        0        31       VMS Priority 
MAX_APPL             10       10       0        -1       applications          
MSS_POOLSIZE         512      512      1        -1       Pagelets               
MSS_MAXBUF           1024     1024     512      65535    Bytes                 
MSS_MAXOBJ           500      500      1        -1       Objects               
WS_POOLSIZE          256      256      1        -1       Pagelets          
WSC_POOLSIZE         128      128      1        -1       Pagelets          
TWS_POOLSIZE         1600     1600     1        -1       Pagelets          
TWSC_POOLSIZE        50       50       1        -1       Pagelets          
USERNAME_DEFAULT     ACMS_USER                                              D 
NODE_NAME                ARK
MSS_PROCESS_POOL     256      256      1        -1       Pagelets            
MSS_NET_RETRY_TIMER  10       10       1        -1       seconds            D   
QTI_USERNAME         QTI_NAME SYSTEM                     VMS username 
QTI_PRIORITY         4        4        0        31       VMS Priority     
QTI_SUB_TIMEOUT      7200     7200     1        -1       seconds            D   
QTI_RETRY_TIMER      180      1800     1        -1       seconds            D   
QTI_POLLING_TIMER    5000     5000     1        -1       milliseconds       D 

The numbers in Example 11-1 correspond to the list that follows:


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