HPOC flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Access mode order

OpenVMS privilege modes from highest to lowest are Kernel, Executive, Supervisor, and User. Code runs in the mode of its image or the mode granted by the system service it calls.

Process vs kernel thread

A process owns resources such as address space and quotas, while a kernel thread is the schedulable unit of execution. A process has at least one kernel thread.

Logical name tables

File translation searches LNM$PROCESS, LNM$JOB, LNM$GROUP, LNM$SYSTEM, and LNM$FILE_DEV in order. Definitions in earlier tables override later ones for the same name.

Page versus swap file

PAGEFILE.SYS backs virtual memory pages demand-paged from disk. SWAPFILE.SYS holds whole outswapped process working sets when memory pressure forces processes out.

SYSBOOT role

SYSBOOT loads the system image and reads SYSBOOT.DAT parameters. Its prompt allows overrides of parameters such as WSMAX or CLI before SYSINIT continues startup.

Conversational boot

Booting with BOOT /R5:1 or answering NO to the SYSBOOT continue prompt enters the SYSBOOT> prompt, where boot parameters and startup behavior can be changed.

AUTOGEN phases

AUTOGEN runs GETDATA, GENPARAMS, SETPARAMS, GENFILES, SHUTDOWN, and REBOOT phases. It computes parameters from MODPARAMS.DAT and feedback data and records results in AGEN$PARAMS.REPORT.

SYLOGICALS and SYCONFIG

SYLOGICALS.COM defines site logical names; SYCONFIG.COM configures devices and drivers. Both run before SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM during system startup.

Orderly shutdown

SHUTDOWN.COM prompts for minutes-to-shutdown, reboot or halt option, and disk spin-down. It stops processes, dismounts volumes, and halts the node cleanly.

OPCOM classes

OPCOM messages are enabled per terminal with REPLY/ENABLE and classes such as CLUSTER, DEVICE, OPERATOR, and SECURITY. REPLY/DISABLE stops delivery to that terminal.

SDA and ANALYZE/SYSTEM

ANALYZE/SYSTEM inspects the running system. SDA commands include SHOW PROCESS, SHOW SUMMARY, and SHOW CRASH, and CLUE summarizes crash dumps.

Error log location

The error log is SYS$ERRORLOG:ERRLOG.SYS. ANALYZE/ERROR_LOG reads it, with /SINCE and /INCLUDE narrowing the report and /SUMMARY giving counts.

SYSUAF contents

The system user authorization file holds UIC, quotas, privileges, and flags such as CAPTIVE and RESTRICTED. AUTHORIZE adds, modifies, and deletes user records.

Default new account privileges

A newly created account normally receives TMPMBX and NETMBX privileges. Additional privileges such as OPER or SYSPRV must be granted explicitly with AUTHORIZE.

Protection codes

Protection is expressed as System:Owner:Group:World access. Access types are R, W, E, and D, set with SET SECURITY /PROTECTION; ACLs add finer control.

Security audit journal

SET AUDIT /ENABLE activates security auditing. Records go to the security audit journal and are reviewed with ANALYZE/AUDIT.

ODS-2 versus ODS-5

ODS-2 limits names to uppercase 9.3 format. ODS-5 allows long mixed-case names and deeper directory structures and is enabled at volume initialization.

Index file role

INDEXF.SYS stores file headers. A volume's file count is limited by header capacity, which can be extended with INITIALIZE /MAXIMUM_FILES.

Volume sets and shadow sets

MOUNT /BIND presents multiple volumes as one logical volume set. MOUNT /SHADOW creates shadow sets where copies provide redundancy against disk failure.

Disk quotas

SET VOLUME /QUOTA enables per-volume disk quotas. Usage is checked against each user's UAF disk quota, and exceeding it causes an EXQUOTA error.

Process states

Processes appear in states such as LEF, COM, CUR, and wait states like PFW and COL. SHOW PROCESS /ALL displays state, priority, and quotas.

Process quota errors

EXQUOTA indicates a quota limit or page-file limit was reached. Check BIOLM, DIOLM, BYTLM, FILLM, and PQL values with SHOW PROCESS /QUOTA.

Working set parameters

WSDEFAULT is the initial working set, WSQUOTA the guaranteed amount, and WSEXTENT the maximum. AUTOGEN computes values from feedback data.

MONITOR classes

MONITOR collects data by class, including CPU, IO, MEMORY, PAGE, PROCESS, and DISK. MONITOR PROCESSES /TOPCPU ranks the largest CPU consumers.

DECnet Phase IV addressing

Phase IV addresses are area.node, such as 2.5. The local address is set with NCP SET EXECUTOR or SET NETWORK /NODE.

Proxy access

SET PROXY /REMOTE /LOCAL lets a remote user authenticate as a local account without supplying a password, based on the remote node and user name.

TCP/IP configuration

TCPIP$CONFIG configures interfaces, BIND, and servers such as TELNET and FTP. TCPIP$STARTUP starts the services, usually from SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM.

Cluster quorum

A cluster needs a majority of votes to run. Each node contributes votes and a quorum disk adds one, breaking ties in even-numbered configurations.

Cluster alias

SET CLUSTER /ALIAS presents a single network name for the cluster. DECnet and IP aliases are configured separately and require clusterwide coordination.

BACKUP/IMAGE

BACKUP/IMAGE saves a complete volume image, preserving file attributes and placement. Restoring with BACKUP/IMAGE to a target volume recreates the volume.

Incremental backup qualifiers

BACKUP /SINCE=BACKUP selects files changed since the last backup, while /MODIFIED uses a date. /VERIFY reads back the saveset after writing.

ANALYZE/DISK_STRUCTURE

ANALYZE/DISK_STRUCTURE checks file-system consistency. /REPAIR fixes detected errors and /CONFIRM prompts before each repair is applied.