<:=--=:><:=--=:><:=--=:><:=--=:>\|/<:=--=:><:=--=:><:=--=:><:=--=:> <:=--=:> <:=--=:> <:=--=:> >>>>>=-* Users Guide to VAX/VMS *-=<<<<< <:=--=:> <:=--=:> <:=--=:> <:=--=:> Part II of III <:=--=:> <:=--=:> <:=--=:> <:=--=:> Part C: Using the Utilities <:=--=:> <:=--=:> Part D: Advanced Guide to VAX/VMS <:=--=:> <:=--=:> <:=--=:> <:=--=:> By Black Kat <:=--=:> <:=--=:> <:=--=:> <:=--=:><:=--=:><:=--=:><:=--=:>/|\<:=--=:><:=--=:><:=--=:><:=--=:> Index ~~~~~ Part C contains information on the following topics: o Help Utility o Phone Utility o Backup Utility o Library Utility o Mail Utility o Sort Utility Part D contains information on the following topics: o Subprocesses o DECnet o Attaching to a Process o Proxy Access o Interrupting a Process o Task-to-Task Communication o Batch Processing o Remote Printing o Controlling Batch Jobs o VAXclusters <:=- Part C : Using the Utilities -=:> Help Utility ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The VAX/VMS Help Utility is almost like having a DCL dictionary online. It includes an explanation of each DCL command and can optionally explain valid command parameters. Help also provides information about other VAX/VMS utilities and system services. There are two modes available for the help utility. If you know the DCL command, utility or system service you want more information about, use direct mode. If you don't know the command, use query mode. Query mode can also be used to see which other commands and other subjects are referenced by the help utility. To use query mode, just type HELP at the DCL command level. Help will display an alphabetical listing of all DCL commands and other topics for which information is available and you will be prompted with: "Topic?" You can exit Help by pressing or or or get information by typing in the command or subject name followed by . When you request information on a command, Help will display details including how the command is invoked, what it does and the default values. Most topics will have subtopics available which will be listed alphabetically followed by the prompt: "COMMAND-NAME Subtopic?" You can select subtopic help or press to return to the "Topic?" prompt. If you want to see all the information available on a command, type in "HELP command_name ..." or "HELP command_name *". To use direct mode, enter HELP topic_name . This will bypass the listing of available topic. Additionally, you can enter a valid DCL command with or without qualifiers in this mode. For example, to get information on the DCL SET command /TERMINAL qualifier, you could enter $ HELP SET TERMINAL. The help utility will provide information on the SET/TERMINAL command and prompt you for another subtopic since information on other qualifiers is available. For more information and details on the help utility, you can use: $ HELP HINTS or $ HELP HELP/INSTRUCTIONS. Backup Utility ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The backup utility is usually used by system managers to back up system disks, insuring a recent copy of data should the system disks become unreliable. Generally, the system disks are backed up to magnetic tape or removable disk packs, which are then removed and stored in a save location offline. Users may use the backup utility on files in their own accounts to make copies for safe keeping, transferring to another system, or for offline storage. To use the backup utility, you have to decide what you want to back up, and how you want it done. You have the following options: Selective : Files are backed up according to a specified criteria. Qualifiers (e.g. /DATE) and file specifications (e.g. *.TXT) are used for specifying these criteria. File by File: Individual files or entire file directories are backed up. Directories are created when copying, unlike the copy command. Incremental : Saves file created since the most recent backup. Usually performed by system operators. Physical : An exact duplicate of a volume is saved. All file structures are ignored and the copy is a bit-by-bit duplicate. Image : A functionally equivalent copy of the original volume is created. Typically done on bootable volumes and system disks. To back up files to a subdirectory: $ BACKUP F1.TXT,F2.TXT,*.DAT [BY.JUNK] To copy a directory tree: $ BACKUP [dir...]file_spec [dir...]file_spec To copy disk volumes: $ MOUNT/FOREIGN DJA1: $ BACKUP/IMAGE DUA2: DUA1: To copy to tape: $ INITIALIXE MUA0: TAPE (the first time its used) $ MOUNT/FOREIGH MUA0: MOUNT-I-MOUNTED, TAPE mounted on __MUA0: $ BACKUP [.DRV]MV_DYDRV.MAR MUA0:[]MV_DYDRV.MAR A save set is a single file containing multiple files that have been backed up. To make a save set: $ MOUNT/FOREIGN MUA0: MOUNT-I-MOUNTED, TAPE mounted on __MUA0: $ BACKUP DUB1:[BY.JUNK]*.*;* MUA0:08JUN.BAK/SAVE_SET A single file can be retrieved from a save set by using the /SELECT qualifier. For example, to restore the file LOGIN.COM from the previously backed up save set: $ MOUNT/FOREIGH MUA0: MOUNT-I-MOUNTED, TAPE mounted on __MUA0: $ BACKUP __From: MUA0:08:JUN.BAK/SAVE_SET/SELECT=[BY.JUNK]LOGIN.COM __To: *.* Listing a save set: $ MOUNT/FOREIGN MUA0: MOUNT-I-MOUNTED, TAPE mounted on __MUA0: $ BACKUP/LIST MUA0:08JUN.BAK/SAVE_SET Selective backups: $ BACKUP *.*/SINCE=12-APR-1988 MUA0:08JUN.BAK/SAVE_SET $ BACKUP __From: *.*/SINCE=12-APR-1988/EXCLUDE=[*.TMP,*.LOG] __To: MUA0:08JUN.BAK/SAVE_SET The following is a list of some other qualifiers you'll find useful. Qualifier Function ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ /LOG Writes log message to terminal as each backup file is written. /VERIFY Verifies the copy or save set with the original after copy. /CONFIRM Display each filename and ask for confirmation before copy. /DELETE Deletes source file after destination file written. Mail Utility ~~~~~~~~~~~~ When you receive new mail, a message will be sent to your terminal unless the /NOBROATCAST qualifier has been specified with the SET TERMINAL command. Mail is an interactive utility that understands many commands in a format identical to DCL commands. The utility is invoked by typing "$ MAIL" at the DCL command level. Mail has a built in help feature which works the same way as the VAX/VMS Help Utility. Mail may be sent interactively or directly. Interactive implies the use of the mail utility in conversational mode by invoking mail at the DCL command level. After invoking the mail utility, use the SEND command, and mail will prompt you for the name of the user(s) you want to send the mail to, your name, the subject, and the message text which you will terminate with . When you press the message is sent and you are returned to the mail prompt where you can type EXIT to quit. To send mail in direct mode from the DCL command line, use the following format: $ MAIL file_spec user /SUBJECT="character string" where "file_spec" is a valid VAX/VMS file specification containing the body of your mail message and "user" is the name of a user on your local system or remote node. The /SUBJECT qualifier is optional. To send mail to multiple users (like a mailing list) create a file with a list of the account names of every user you want to receive the message. Then enter @FILENAME at the "To:" prompt and each user listed in the distribution list will receive a copy of your mail. A distribution list may also contain another distribution list by preceeding the second name with an at sign (@). Comments are included by using an exclamation point (!). The following is a sample distribution list: ! VAX.DIS ! ! Staff JONES OPER BYNON ! ! Accounting personnel @ACTLIST To read your mail, just type MAIL and you will be told how many messages you have waiting. Read is the default command, so you can just press to start reading them. To reply to a message, use the REPLY or ANSWER commands and the mail utility will fill out the header information automatically. You can store your mail in folders for later reference. The system has three default folders (MAIL, NEWMAIL, and WASTEBASKET). MAIL is the default mail folder and always exists. It is used to store mail messages after you've read them unless you file these messages in other folders you've created. The NEWMAIL folder stores mail messages before you read them, like a mailbox. They're automatically moved to the MAIL folder after you've read them unless you specify a different destination folder with the MOVE command. The WASTEBASKET folder is a temporary folder used to store messages that have been deleted. These messages remain in the WASTEBASKET folder until you exit the mail utility, at which time they're thrown out permanently. To create new folders, select a message and enter the MOVE command. If you attempt to move a message to a nonexistent folder, you'll be asked if you want to create a new folder. For example: MAIL> 11 MAIL> MOVE MEMOS Folder MEMOS does not exist. Create it (Y/N, default is N)? Y MAIL-NEWFOLDER, folder MEMOS created MAIL> The SELECT command allows you to move from one folder to another. For example, if you type SELECT JUNK at the "MAIL>" prompt, you will be moved to the JUNK folder, and mail will respond with the number of messages contained in the new folder. The DELETE command accepts a message number as a parameter or deletes the current message if a message number is not supplied. To delete a folder, just delete all the messages in that folder with the DELETE qualifier /ALL. To log a mail message to a file, use the EXTRACT qualifier. If the /NOHEADER qualifier is used, the header information will not be included. For example: EXTRACT/NOHEADER MEMO.TXT will save the currently selected message to a file named MEMO.TXT. For more information on the mail utility, use mail's HELP command. Phone Utility ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The VAX/VMS Phone Utility allows you to talk to other users on your system. It simulates a real telephone with such features as call holding, conference calls and telephone directories. The Phone utility only works with VT100, VT200 or compatible terminals. To call someone with the phone utility, enter "$ PHONE username" where username is the person you want to talk to. Your screen will split horizontally in half and indicate that the phone utility is ringing the other person. Your half of the conversation will be displayed on the top of the screen and the other person's will appear on the lower half. The phone utility may also be used interactively by entering "$ PHONE", and you will now be given the phone prompt (%). You can enter commands directly now (e.g. "% DIRECTORY"). The phone utility has an online help facility just like the mail utility. Library Utility ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sometimes its easier to maintain a single file instead of a group of related files. The VAX/VMS Library Utility lets you create and maintain a specially formatted file called a library in which you can store groups of single files called modules. Predefined libraries include text, help, object, sharable image and macro. Many VAX/VMS utilities such as HELP and LINK are capable of processing library files. Unless you're a programmer or system manager, you'll probably only use text and help libraries. To create a library use the LIBRARY command's /type qualifier and the /CREATE qualifier. The /type qualifiers are: /TEXT, /SHARE, /HELP, /OBJECT, /MACRO. For example to create a text library named BOOK.TLB: $ LIBRARY/TEXT/CREATE BOOK. You may optionally specify a list of files to be included in a library when it is created. For example: $ LIBRARY/TEXT/CREATE BOOK TOC,C1,C2,INDEX To list the names of modules in a library, use the /LIST qualifier: $ LIBRARY/TEXT/LIST BOOK Directory of TEXT library BOOK.TLB;1 on 12-JUN-1989 14:12:07 TOC C1 C2 INDEX You can also display a history of updates made to the library by using the /HISTORY qualifier with the /LIST qualifier. To add modules to an existing library, use the /INSERT qualifier: $ LIBRARY/TEXT/INSERT BOOK CH3 To update a module in a library, do the following: o Extract the module to be updated with the /EXTRACT qualifier. o Make the necessary changes. o Write over the old module with the /REPLACE qualifier. For example: $ LIBRARY/TEXT/EXTRACT BOOK CH2 $ EDIT CHAP2.TXT . . (edit the file) . $ LIBRARY/TEXT/REPLACE BOOK CH2 Sort Utility ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The VAX/VMS Sort Utility will reorganize records within a file. The simplest form of the sort command will organize records in ascending alphabetical order. For example, to sort BOOK.TXT, you could issue the command: $ SORT BOOK.TXT SORTED.TXT The Sort utility sorts on the first character of the field in each record in the input file. If there is more than one field or column in a record, the entire record is ordered, not just the first field. Here's an example of sorting in descending order numerically with multiple fields. The sample data file JUNK.TXT contains two fields of data. The first field contains a name, and the second field, starting in column 9 contains the two-digit number we're sorting by: PAT 47 PAT 47 JIM 09 TOM 23 RICH 43 GARY 02 KURT 13 KEVIN 27 Sort the file: $ SORT/KEY=(POSITION=9,SIZE=2,DESCENDING) JUNK.TXT SORTED.TXT The sorted file (SORTED.TXT) will now look like this: PAT 47 RICH 43 KEVIN 27 TOM 23 KURT 13 JIM 09 GARY 02 <:=- Part D : Advanced Guide to VAX/VMS -=:> Subprocesses ~~~~~~~~~~~~ A major benefit of the VAX/VMS operating system is its support of multi- processing. This is not restricted to multiple users logged into different terminals however. VAX/VMS users may create multiple processes known as subprocesses from within their main processes. The DCL SPAWN command is used to create a subprocess. The SPAWN command will create a subprocess with the attributes (default directory, privileges, memory, etc.) of its parent process unless otherwise specified. For example: $ SPAWN % DCL-S-SPAWNED, process BYNON_1 spawned % DCL-S-ATTACHED, terminal now attached to process BYNON_1 In this case, the parent process is put into hibernation, the subprocess is given control of the keyboard, and we are left at the DCL prompt. You can now enter any DCL commands, utilities, or other programs. To return to the parent process, just $ LOGOUT of the subprocess: $ LOGOUT Process BYNON_1 logged out at 12-JUL-1981 13:04:17.10 $ DCL-S-RETURNED, control returned to process BYNON The SPAWN qualifier /NOLOG can be used to suppress the informational messages generated when a subprocess is created or logged out. DCL Commands, procedures and VAX/VMS images (utilities and programs) may be executed directly with SPAWN by entering the correct syntax for the command or procedure after the SPAWN command. For example: $ SPAWN/NOLOG MAIL If you have a task that can execute without user intervention (e.g. a program compiler), you can spawn a task to run as a background process to your current process. For example: $ SPAWN/NOWAIT FORTRAN VAXBBS The SPAWN qualifier /NOWAIT spawns the task to run concurrently (parallel) to the parent process. Both processes will share the terminal and any messages >from the background task will be displayed at the terminal. To avoid possible conflicts, use the /OUTPUT qualifier: $ SPAWN/NOWAIT/OUTPUT=COMPILE.LOG FORTRAN.VAXBBS When the job in the subprocess is complete it will terminate and be removed >from the system. ATTACHing to a Process ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You can use the DCL ATTACH command to connect your keyboard to any process or subprocess you've created. To exit from BYNON_1 back to BYNON with the ATTACH command, enter "$ ATTACH BYNON" and the subprocess hibernates while you are returned to the parent process. Interrupting a Process ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You can interrupt a process at anytime to create a subprocess by pressing and then using the SPAWN command. When you're done working with the subprocess and have returned to the interrupted process, type CONTINUE to start processing again where you left off. Some VAX/VMS utilities, such as MAIL, support SPAWN intrinsically, so you can spawn a process within these utilities by entering the SPAWN command without pressing first. Batch Processing ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The SUBMIT command was briefly discussed in Part II: Programming the VAX. A batch job is one or more DCL command procedures that execute from a detached process with your privileges and quotas. The controller of the process is the batch queue which accepts jobs via the SUBMIT command. Batch jobs execute without user interaction, permitting you to use your terminal for interactive work while the system executes the batch job (command procedure). Batch jobs are used to execute tasks that take a long time to run, use many system resources, or need to be scheduled to execute at a specific time. The SUBMIT command will enter a command procedure to the default batch queue (SYS$BATCH) if a specific queue is not provided. A command procedure submitted for batch execution is given a job name which defaults to the command procedure name unless otherwise specified. The entry number given to the job is used to control it (delete, rename, etc.) Controlling Batch Jobs ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You can specify a name for a batch job with the /NAME qualifier: $ SUBMIT BACKUP /NAME=DAILY_BACK You may also execute more than one command procedure by separating the procedure names with a comma: $ SUMBIT SORT_DATA,REPORT /NAME=WEEKLY_REPORT To schedule a batch job to execute after a specific time: $ SUMBIT CLEANUP /AFTER=11:40 Job CLEANUP (queue SYS$BATCH, entry 39) holding until 1-JUN-1989 11:40 To hold a job in the queue to be released later: $ SUMBIT REMINDER /HOLD Job REMINDER (queue SYS$BATCH, entry 12) holding $ $ SET QUEUE/ENTRY=32/RELEASE SYS$BATCH To submit a job to a different queue: $ SUBMIT TESTJOB /QUEUE=SLOW To lower the priority (e.g. if it's CPU intensive): $ SUBMIT CRUNCH /PRIORITY=2 To pass parameters: $ SUBMIT COMPILE / PARAMETERS=(WINDOWS,MISC,DISP_IO) To disable the automatic printing of the batch job's log (file instead): $ SUBMIT GOJOB /NOPRINT /LOG_FILE=DUA2:[BYNON] This will create a file DUA2:[BYNON]GOJOB.LOG. If the /NOPRINT qualifier is not specified, the log file will be printed and deleted. To print and keep the log file, use the /KEEP qualifier with the /LOG_FILE qualifier. After you submit a procedure to a batch queue, you can monitor its status and job characteristics by using the SHOW QUEUE command. This will display the name, entry number and status of all the jobs you have in queue. The /ALL qualifier will display all jobs you have enough privilege to see, and the /FULL qualifier provides more information about jobs, such as operating characteristics and submission time. You can use the SET QUEUE/ENTRY command to modify a job's priority (/PRIORITY), name (/NAME), or status (/RELEASE or /AFTER). For example: $ SET QUEUE /ENTRY=217 /PRIORITY=2 SYS$BATCH Use the DELETE /ENTRY command to delete jobs: $ DELETE /ENTRY=18 SYS$BATCH Using DECnet ~~~~~~~~~~~~ DECnet uses the standard VAX/VMS file specifications for remote file access. In addition to a node specification, you may also include access control information (username and password) in quotes. For example: BURG"JONES MYPW"::DUA2:JUNK.TXT | | | | | | | | | +---- Filename.Extension | | | | | | | +---------- Device name | | | | | +------------------ Password | | | +----------------------- Username | +----------------------------- Node name Unless a specific DECnet account exists on the host node, or proxy exists, you must supply access control information to execute a command on a remote system. (e.g. $ TYPE BURG""JONES MYPW"::DUA2:JUNK.TXT) Proxy Access ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Because including access control information in a command string is a security risk, Digital provides proxy access, which works by keeping a database of users and hosts who may gain access to the system via DECnet. The format of the database is: SYSTEM::REMOTE_USERNAME LOCAL_USERNAME. Task-to-Task Communication ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is a feature of DECnet which allows programs on one system to communicate with programs on another (e.g. the DCL TYPE command) To execute a procedure on a remote system, use the TYPE command with the TASK=xxx parameter. For example: $ TYPE VAX1::"TASK=SHOW_USERS" To show the users on a remote system you would write a command procedure something like this: $! Show_Users.Com $! $ IF FMODE() .EQS. "NETWORK" THEN GOTO NETWORK $ SHOW USERS $ EXIT $ NETWORK: $ DEFINE/USER_MODE SYS$OUTPUT SYS$NET $ SHOW USERS $ EXIT Since SYS$OUTPUT is redirected to SYS$NET, the output is redirected to your terminal over DECnet. Task-to-Task communication can be simple (like Show_Users) or complicated (like programs passing data back and forth). Remote Printing ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If your DECnet network contains a LAN such as Ethernet, you'll probably have to share printers with other nodes on the network. The easiest way to print a file is to copy it directly to the print device. This works fine as long as the device is spooled and set up with world write privileges. For example: $ COPY JUNK.TXT BURG::LCA0: will copy the file JUNK.TXT to the device LCA0: on node BURG. Another way to print is to use the DCL PRINT/REMOTE command. However, the file must be located on the remote system to use this, which is inconvenient if the file you're printing is on the local system. You can still do it though: $ COPY JUNK.TXT BURG::[BYNON] $ PRINT /REMOTE BURG::[BYNON]JUNK.TXT Job JUNK (queue SYS$PRINT, entry 512) started on LCA0 $ DELETE BURG::[BYNON]JUNK.TXT VAXclusters ~~~~~~~~~~~ The main purpose of a VAXcluster is high processor ability, shared resources, and a single security and management area. There are two basic type of VAXclusters, heterogeneous and homogeneous, but a mix of the two is possible. The main difference between these types is how they share resources, specifically the VAX/VMS OS environment. The VAX/VMS OS environment is identical on each cluster in a homogeneous VAXcluster. This is done by using a common system disk for all the nodes. User accounts, system files, queues and storage devices are shared, and all of the computers behave the same way. In a heterogeneous VAXcluster, the environment on each system is different. Each VAX has its own system disk, user accounts and system files. Queues and storage devices may or may not be shared. Users can work in different operating environments, depending on the system they're using. Usually a VAXcluster is accessed by an Ethernet-based terminal server. Using a terminal server, a user can establish a session with any VAXcluster member, and the connection is identical to that of a directly connected terminal. However, terminal sessions can support multiple simultaneous sessions to different nodes. In the unlikely event that a VAXcluster is set up with directly connected terminals and you need to access a different system, you can DECnet via the SET HOST facility. All VAXcluster systems support DECnet within the cluster. VAXcluster members (nodes) often share processing resources through the use of print and batch queues known as cluster-wide queues, which are used the same as a normal queue. The only extra information you need is the queue name. A list of all the queues in a cluster can be called up with the DCL SHOW QUEUE command. If you submit a job to a cluster-wide queue, you must insure that the node on which it resides has access to the file you want to print or the command procedure you want processed.