OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual

Document revision date: 15 July 2002

OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual

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Increasing the value of this parameter tends to decrease the limits of the working sets, while decreasing its value tends to increase their limits.

PHYSICAL_MEMORY (A)

(Alpha only) PHYSICAL_MEMORY specifies the amount of physical memory available for use. The default setting is --1, which equates to all memory in the system. Decreasing this parameter allows you to test smaller configurations of memory without having to remove memory boards.

This special parameter is used by Compaq and is subject to change. Do not change this parameter unless Compaq recommends that you do so.

PHYSICALPAGES (A)

(VAX only) PHYSICALPAGES sets the maximum number of physical pages of memory to be used on the system. Decreasing this parameter allows you to test smaller configurations of memory without the need to remove memory boards.

This special parameter is used by Compaq and is subject to change. Do not change this parameter unless Compaq recommends that you do so.

PIOPAGES (A,D)

PIOPAGES specifies the size of the process I/O segment, which holds data structures and buffer pool space for RMS to use when it handles I/O that involves process-permanent files. Once PIOPAGES is reset in SYSGEN, any new process receives the changed value.

Beginning with OpenVMS Version 7.2, the default value has been raised to 575. The setting has been raised to accommodate the increased demands for process-permanent memory that result from changes made to RMS file-naming parsing in Version 7.2.

This special parameter is used by Compaq and is subject to change. Do not change this parameter unless Compaq recommends that you do so.

PIXSCAN (A,D)

PIXSCAN specifies the number of process index slots scanned each second for computable or computable-outswapped processes. These processes receive an automatic priority boost for 1 quantum, unless the priority of the currently executing process is greater than 15. The priority boost is done to avoid potential deadlocks on the system.

This special parameter is used by Compaq and is subject to change. Do not change this parameter unless Compaq recommends that you do so.

POOLCHECK (D)

This special parameter is used by Compaq and is subject to change. Do not change this parameter unless Compaq recommends that you do so.

POOLCHECK is used to investigate frequent and inexplicable failures in a system. When POOLCHECK is enabled, pool-checking routines execute whenever pool is deallocated or allocated.

Two loadable forms of SYSTEM_PRIMITIVES.EXE are available at boot time. The default image, which contains no pool-checking code and no statistics maintenance, is loaded when POOLCHECK is set to zero. When POOLCHECK is set to a nonzero value, the monitoring version of SYSTEM_PRIMITIVES.EXE, which contains both pool-checking code and statistics maintenance, is loaded.

Setting the SYSTEM_CHECK parameter to 1 has the effect of setting POOLCHECK to %X616400FF. For further information about pool checking, refer to the OpenVMS VAX Device Support Manual (archived but available on the OpenVMS Documentation CD-ROM).

POOLCHECK is a DYNAMIC parameter. However, for a change in its value to have any effect, POOLCHECK must be non-0 at boot time (to load the monitoring version of SYSTEM_PRIMITIVES.EXE).

POOLPAGING

POOLPAGING enables (1) paging of pageable dynamic pool.

This special parameter is used by Compaq and is subject to change. Do not change this parameter unless Compaq recommends that you do so.

POWEROFF (D)

POWEROFF enables or disables software requests to the console firmware to remove power from the system. This parameter should normally be turned ON (1) to allow software to make power-off requests. However, POWEROFF can be set to OFF (0) to disable software power-off requests.

If firmware or hardware support for the power-off request is not implemented, the shut-down procedure will leave the system halted but fully powered.

PQL_DASTLM (D,G)

PQL_DASTLM sets the default limit on the number of pending ASTs for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_DBIOLM (D,G)

PQL_DBIOLM sets the default buffered I/O count limit for the number of outstanding buffered I/O operations permitted to a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_DBYTLM (D,G)

PQL_DBYTLM sets the default buffered I/O byte count limit for the amount of buffered space available to a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_DCPULM (D,G)

PQL_DCPULM sets the default CPU time limit for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process). PQL_DCPULM specifies the time limit in increments of 10 milliseconds.

The default value of 0 imposes no limit on CPU time usage and is typically the correct value for this parameter.

PQL_DDIOLM (D,G)

PQL_DDIOLM sets the default direct I/O limit for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_DENQLM (D,G)

PQL_DENQLM sets the default enqueue limit for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_DFILLM (D,G)

PQL_DFILLM sets the default open file limit for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_DJTQUOTA (D)

PQL_DJTQUOTA sets the default job table byte count quota for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process). PQL_DJTQUOTA specifies the number of bytes of paged pool allocated to the job table. The default value is usually adequate, unless a large number of job logical names or temporary mailboxes are used.

PQL_DPGFLQUOTA (A on VAX,D,G)

PQL_DPGFLQUOTA sets the default page file quota for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process). Compaq recommends that this parameter not be smaller than the PQL_DWSEXTENT parameter.

PQL_DPRCLM (D,G)

PQL_DPRCLM sets the default subprocess limit for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_DTQELM (D,G)

PQL_DTQELM sets the default number of timer queue entries for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_DWSDEFAULT (A,G)

PQL_DWSDEFAULT sets the default working set size for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_DWSEXTENT (A,D,G)

PQL_DWSEXTENT sets the default working set extent for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_DWSQUOTA (A,D,G)

PQL_DWSQUOTA sets the default working set quota for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_MASTLM (D,G)

PQL_MASTLM sets a default limit on the minimum number of pending ASTs for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_MBIOLM (D,G)

PQL_MBIOLM sets the minimum buffered I/O limit for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_MBYTLM (D,G)

PQL_MBYTLM sets the minimum buffered I/O byte limit for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_MCPULM (D,G)

PQL_MCPULM sets the minimum CPU time limit in increments of 10 milliseconds for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_MDIOLM (D,G)

PQL_MDIOLM sets the minimum direct I/O limit for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_MENQLM (D,G)

PQL_MENQLM sets the default limit on the minimum number of locks that can be queued at one time by a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_MFILLM (D,G)

PQL_MFILLM sets the minimum open file limit for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_MJTQUOTA (D)

PQL_MJTQUOTA sets the minimum job table byte count quota for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_MPGFLQUOTA (A on VAX,D,G)

On VAX systems, PQL_MPGFLQUOTA sets the minimum page file quota for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process). Compaq recommends that this parameter be no smaller than PQL_MWSEXTENT.

On Alpha systems, PQL_MPGFLQUOTA sets the minimum pagelet file quota for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_MPRCLM (D,G)

PQL_MPRCLM sets the minimum subprocess limit for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_MTQELM (D,G)

PQL_MTQELM sets the minimum number of timer queue entries for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

PQL_MWSDEFAULT (A,G)

PQL_MWSDEFAULT sets the minimum default working set size for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

This value overrides a smaller quantity that is set for a user in AUTHORIZE.

PQL_MWSEXTENT (A,D,G)

PQL_MWSEXTENT sets the minimum working set extent for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

This value overrides a smaller quantity set for a user in AUTHORIZE.

PQL_MWSQUOTA (A,D,G)

PQL_MWSQUOTA sets the minimum working set quota for a process created by the Create Process ($CREPRC) system service or the DCL command RUN (Process).

This value overrides a smaller quantity set for a user in AUTHORIZE.

PRCPOLINTERVAL (A on Alpha,D)

PRCPOLINTERVAL specifies, in seconds, the polling interval used to look for Systems Communications Services (SCS) applications, such as the connection manager and mass storage control protocol disks, on other nodes. All discovered nodes are polled during each interval.

This parameter trades polling overhead against quick recognition of new systems or servers as they appear.

PRIORITY_OFFSET

PRIORITY_OFFSET specifies the difference in priority required by the scheduler for one process to preempt the current process. A value of 2, for example, means that if the current process is executing at priority 1, a computable process at priority 2 or 3 is not allowed to preempt the current process. However, a priority 4 or higher process can preempt the current process. This mechanism affects only normal priority (0-15) processes. The default value is 0.

This special parameter is used by Compaq and is subject to change. Do not change this parameter unless Compaq recommends that you do so.

PROCSECTCNT (A,G)

PROCSECTCNT sets the number of section descriptors that a process can contain. Each section descriptor increases the fixed portion of the process header by 32 bytes.

Set a value greater than the maximum number of image sections in any section to be run, as indicated by the linkage memory allocation map for the image.

PSEUDOLOA

(VAX only) PSEUDOLOA specifies (in pages) the size of the PDA0 system image. PSEUDOLOA is used to boot standalone BACKUP from magnetic tape.

This special parameter is used by Compaq and is subject to change. Do not change this parameter unless Compaq recommends that you do so.

PU_OPTIONS

PU_OPTIONS is reserved for Compaq use only.

QBUS_MULT_INTR

(VAX only) QBUS_MULT_INTR enables (1) multilevel interrupt dispatching on systems that use the Q22-bus adapter. Refer to the OpenVMS VAX Device Support Manual for more information about the QBUS_MULT_INTR system parameter. (This manual has been archived but is available on the OpenVMS Documentation CD-ROM.)

This special parameter is used by Compaq and is subject to change. Do not change this parameter unless Compaq recommends that you do so.

QDSKINTERVAL

QDSKINTERVAL establishes, in seconds, the disk quorum polling interval. The default value is 3.

QDSKVOTES

QDSKVOTES specifies the number of votes contributed by a quorum disk in a cluster.

QUANTUM (A on Alpha,D,M)

QUANTUM defines the following:

Processor time: maximum amount of processor time a process can receive before control passes to another process of equal priority that is ready to compute
Balance set residency: minimum amount of service a compute-state process must receive before being swapped out to secondary storage

RAD_SUPPORT (G)

(Alpha only) RAD_SUPPORT enables RAD-aware code to be executed on systems that support Resource Affinity Domains (RADs); for example, AlphaServer GS160 systems. A RAD is a set of hardware components (CPUs, memory, and I/O) with common access characteristics.

Bits are defined in the RAD_SUPPORT parameter as follows:

RAD_SUPPORT (default is 79; bits 0-3 and 6 are set) ___________________________________________________ 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 8 7 4 3 6 5 8 7 0 +-----+-----+-----------+-----------+-----------+ |00|00| skip|ss|gg|ww|pp|00|00|00|00|0p|df|cr|ae| +-----+-----+-----------+-----------+-----------+ Bit 0 (e): Enable - Enables RAD support Bit 1 (a): Affinity - Enables Soft RAD Affinity (SRA) scheduling Also enables the interpretation of the skip bits, 24-27. Bit 2 (r): Replicate - Enables system-space code replication Bit 3 (c): Copy - Enables copy on soft fault Bit 4 (f): Fault - Enables special page fault allocation Also enables the interpretation of the allocation bits, 16-23. Bit 5 (d): Debug - Reserved to Compaq Bit 6 (p): Pool - Enables per-RAD non-paged pool Bits 7-15: - Reserved to Compaq Bits 16-23: - If bit 4 is set, bits 16-23 are interpreted as follows: Bits 16,17 (pp): Process = Pagefault on process (non global) pages Bits 18,19 (ww): Swapper = Swapper's allocation of pages for processes Bits 20,21 (gg): Global = Pagefault on global pages Bits 22,23 (ss): System = Pagefault on system space pages Encodings for pp, ww, gg, ss: Current (0) - allocate PFNs from the current CPU's RAD Random (1) - allocate PFNs using the "random" algorithm Base (2) - allocate PFNs from the operating system's "base" RAD Home (3) - allocate PFNs from the current process's home RAD If bits 16-23 are 0, the defaults for pp, ww, gg, ss are interpreted as follows: Process = home RAD Swapper = current RAD (also sets home RAD for process) Global = random RAD System = base RAD Bits 24-27: - If bit 1 is set, bits 24-27 are interpreted as a skip count value (power of 2). Example: If bits 24-27 contain a 3, the skip count is 8. If bits 24-27 contain a 5, the skip count is 32. If bits 24-27 are 0, the default of 16 is used as the skip count. Bits 28-31: - Reserved to Compaq

For more information about using OpenVMS RAD features, see the OpenVMS Alpha Galaxy and Partitioning Guide.

REALTIME_SPTS (D,G,M)

(VAX only) REALTIME_SPTS reserves a number of system page table entries for mapping connect-to-interrupt processes into system space. This value should normally remain at the default (0) in an environment that is not real-time. Where connect-to-interrupt processes do use the system, this value should represent the maximum number of pages that all concurrent connect-to-interrupt processes must map into system space. See the OpenVMS VAX Device Support Manual (archived but available on the OpenVMS Documentation CD-ROM).

RECNXINTERVAL (A on Alpha,D)

RECNXINTERVAL establishes the polling interval, in seconds, during which to attempt reconnection to a remote system.

RESALLOC

RESALLOC controls whether resource allocation checking is performed. The default value of 0 disables resource allocation checking.

This special parameter is used by Compaq and is subject to change. Do not change this parameter unless Compaq recommends that you do so.

RESHASHTBL (A,F,M)

RESHASHTBL defines the number of entries in the lock management resource name hash table. Each entry requires 4 bytes. A typical tuning goal is to have the RESHASHTBL parameter about four times larger than the total number of resources in use on the system. Managers of systems with memory constraints or systems that are not critically dependent on locking speed could set the table to a smaller size.

RJOBLIM (D)

RJOBLIM defines the maximum number of remote terminals allowed in the system at any one time.

RMS_DFMBC (A,D)

RMS_DFMBC specifies a default multiblock count only for record I/O operations, where count is the number of blocks to be allocated for each I/O buffer.

You can set this system parameter with the DCL command SET RMS_DEFAULT/SYSTEM and display the parameter with the SHOW RMS_DEFAULT command.

RMS_DFMBFIDX (A,D)

RMS_DFMBFIDX establishes the default RMS multibuffer count for indexed sequential disk operations. This value defines the number of I/O buffers that RMS allocates for each indexed file. For sequential access, a larger number that allows some of the index buckets to remain in memory can improve performance.

You can set this system parameter with the DCL command SET RMS_DEFAULT/SYSTEM and display the parameter with SHOW RMS_DEFAULT.

RMS_DFMBFREL (A,D)

RMS_DFMBFREL establishes the default RMS multibuffer count for relative disk operations. This value defines the number of I/O buffers that RMS allocates for each relative file.

You can set this system parameter with the DCL command SET RMS_DEFAULT/SYSTEM and display the parameter with SHOW RMS_DEFAULT.

RMS_DFMBFSDK (A,D)

RMS_DFMBFSDK establishes the default RMS multibuffer count for sequential disk operations. This value defines the number of I/O buffers that RMS allocates for sequential disk files.

The default value is usually adequate. However, if read-ahead or write-behind operations are used, a larger number improves performance.

You can set this system parameter with the DCL command SET RMS_DEFAULT/SYSTEM and display the parameter with SHOW RMS_DEFAULT.

RMS_DFMBFSMT (A,D)

RMS_DFMBFSMT establishes the default RMS multibuffer count for magnetic tape operations. This value defines the number of I/O buffers that RMS allocates for magnetic tape files.

You can set this system parameter with the DCL command SET RMS_DEFAULT/SYSTEM and display the parameter with SHOW RMS_DEFAULT.

RMS_DFMBFSUR (A,D)

RMS_DFMBFSUR establishes the default multibuffer count for unit record devices.

You can set this system parameter with the DCL command SET RMS_DEFAULT/SYSTEM and display the parameter with SHOW RMS_DEFAULT.

RMS_DFNBC (A,D)

RMS_DFNBC specifies a default block count for network access to remote, sequential, indexed sequential, and relative files.

The network block count value represents the number of blocks that RMS is prepared to allocate for the I/O buffers used to transmit and receive data. The buffer size used for remote file access, however, is the result of a negotiation between RMS and the remote file access listener (FAL). The buffer size chosen is the smaller of the two sizes presented.

Thus, RMS_DFNBC places an upper limit on the network buffer size that is used. It also places an upper limit on the largest record that can be transferred to or from a remote file. In other words, the largest record that can be transferred must be less than or equal to RMS_DFNBC multiplied by 512 bytes.

You can set this system parameter with the DCL command SET RMS_DEFAULT/SYSTEM and display the parameter with SHOW RMS_DEFAULT.

RMS_EXTEND_SIZE (D)

RMS_EXTEND_SIZE specifies the number of blocks by which files are extended as they are written. This number should be chosen to balance the amount of extra disk space wasted at the ends of each file against the performance improvement provided by making large extents infrequently.

When small disk quotas are used, specify a small number such as the disk cluster size to prevent the user's disk quota from being consumed. If the value of 0 is used, RMS allocates large extents and truncates the file back to its actual usage when it closes.

You can set this system parameter with the DCL command SET RMS_DEFAULT/SYSTEM and display the parameter with SHOW RMS_DEFAULT.

RMS_FILEPROT

RMS_FILEPROT determines the default file protection for system processes such as those that create the error log, operator log, and job controller. It also determines default file protection for processes created by the job controller (all interactive and batch processes).

Because a process always inherits its default file protection from its creator process, RMS_FILEPROT determines default file protection only for users who do not execute the DCL command SET PROTECTION/DEFAULT in their login command procedures or during interactive sessions.

The protection is expressed as a mask. (See the discussion of the $CRMPSC system service in the OpenVMS System Services Reference Manual for more information about specifying protection masks.) By default, the mask is 64000 (decimal) or FA00 (hexadecimal), which represents the following protection:

(S:RWED,O:RWED,G:RE,W:)

You can set this system parameter with the DCL command SET RMS_DEFAULT/SYSTEM and display the parameter with SHOW RMS_DEFAULT.

RMS_PROLOGUE (D)

RMS_PROLOGUE specifies the default prologue RMS uses to create indexed files. The default value 0 specifies that RMS should determine the prologue based on characteristics of the file. A value of 2 specifies Prologue 2 or Prologue 1, and 3 specifies Prologue 3. The RMS prologues are described in the OpenVMS Record Management Services Reference Manual.

RMS_SEQFILE_WBH (D)

(Alpha only) RMS_SEQFILE_WBH can enable the RMS writebehind feature as a system default for any unshared sequential disk file if the file is opened for image I/O with write access specified. The possible settings are the following:

Setting	Description
0 (default)	Do not enable writebehind feature. Preserve prior behavior of using writebehind only if the user requests it by setting RAB$V_WBH in RAB$L_ROP.
1	Enable writebehind feature as system default, including the allocation of at least two local buffers.

RSRVPAGCNT

RSRVPAGCNT sets the number of pages that are reserved and escrowed for the current process page file.

This special parameter is used by Compaq and is subject to change. Do not change this parameter unless Compaq recommends that you do so.

S0_PAGING

S0_PAGING controls paging of system code:

Setting bit 0 disables paging of all Exec code and data.
Setting bit 1 disables paging of all RMS code and data.

This special parameter is used by Compaq and is subject to change. Do not change this parameter unless Compaq recommends that you do so.

S2_SIZE

(Alpha only) S2_SIZE is the number of megabytes to reserve for S2 space. This value does not include the size required for Extended File Cache (XFC).

SA_APP

SA_APP is a special parameter reserved for Compaq use only.

SAVEDUMP

If the dump file is saved in the page file, SAVEDUMP specifies whether the page file is saved until the dump file is analyzed. The default value 0 specifies that the page file should not be retained. A value of 1 specifies that the dump written to the page file should be retained until either copied or released using the SDA utility.

SBIERRENABLE

(VAX only) This parameter enables (1) SBI error detection and logging.

This special parameter is used by Compaq and is subject to change. Do not change this parameter unless Compaq recommends that you do so.

SCH_CTLFLAGS (D)

(VAX only) This special parameter is used by Compaq and is subject to change. Do not change this parameter unless Compaq recommends that you do so.

The vector scheduling subsystem presently provides an enlarged quantum to processes requiring vector capability. Customer sites can disable vector quantum adjustment by setting bit NO_VEC_QUANTADJ (bit 9) in the system parameter SCH_CTLFLAGS. Setting this bit causes the scheduler to treat the vector processes and scalar processes uniformly. However, doing so results in more frequent vector context switches when the number of vector processes exceeds the number of vector processors in the system.

SCSBUFFCNT (A,F,G)

On VAX systems, SCSBUFFCNT is the number of buffer descriptors configured for all SCA. If an SCA device is not configured on your system, this parameter is ignored. Generally speaking, each data transfer needs a buffer descriptor and thus the number of buffer descriptors can be a limit on the number of possible simultaneous I/Os. Various performance monitors report when a system is out of buffer descriptors for a given workload which is an indication that a larger value for SCSBUFFCNT is worth considering. Note that AUTOGEN provides feedback for this parameter on VAX systems only.

On Alpha systems, the SCS buffers are allocated as needed, and SCSBUFFCNT is reserved for Compaq use only.

SCSCONNCNT

Beginning with OpenVMS Version 7.2, this parameter is obsolete. SCS connections are now allocated and expanded only as needed, up to a limit of 65,000.

SCSFLOWCUSH (D)

Specifies the lower limit for receive buffers at which point SCS starts to notify the remote SCS of new receive buffers. For each connection, SCS tracks the number of receive buffers available. SCS communicates this number to the SCS at the remote end of the connection. However, SCS does not need to do this for each new receive buffer added. Instead, SCS notifies the remote SCS of new receive buffers if the number of receive buffers falls as low as the SCSFLOWCUSH value.

The default value is adequate on most systems. If an SCA port is not configured on your system, this parameter is ignored.

SCSI_NOAUTO (D)

(VAX only) This special parameter is used by Compaq and is subject to change. Do not change this parameter unless Compaq recommends that you do so.

SCSI_NOAUTO prevents the loading of a disk or tape SCSI class driver for any given device ID in a configuration that includes a SCSI third-party device. The SCSI_NOAUTO system parameter stores a bit mask of 32 bits, where the low-order byte corresponds to the first SCSI bus (PKA0), the second byte corresponds to the second SCSI bus (PKB0), and so on, as follows:

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