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HP OpenVMS Systems Documentation

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HP OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual


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This parameter applies only to members of the system disk shadow set. All nodes using a particular system disk shadow set should have their SHADOW_SYS_TMO parameter set to the same value once normal operations begin.

The default value is 120 seconds. Change this parameter to a higher value if you want the system to wait more than the 120-second default for all members to join the shadow set. You can set the parameter value to 120 through 65,535 seconds.

SHADOW_SYS_UNIT

Use this parameter for Phase II shadowing only. The SHADOW_SYS_ UNIT parameter is an integer value that contains the virtual unit number of the system disk. The default value is 0. The maximum value allowed is 9999. This parameter is effective only when the SHADOW_SYS_DISK parameter has a value of 1. This parameter should be set to the same value on all nodes booting off a particular system disk shadow set. See HP Volume Shadowing for OpenVMS for more information about setting system parameters for volume shadowing.

SHADOW_SYS_WAIT

The SHADOW_SYS_WAIT parameter extends the time a booting system waits for all current members of a mounted shadowed system disk to become available to this node. The shadow set must already be mounted by at least one other cluster node for this parameter to take effect.

The default value is 480 seconds. Change this parameter to a higher value if you want the system to wait more than the 480-second default for all members to join the shadow set. You can set the parameter value to 1 through 65,535 seconds.

SMCI_FLAGS (D)

(Alpha Galaxy platforms only) The SMCI_FLAGS parameter controls operational aspects of SYS$PBDRIVER, the Galaxy Shared Memory Cluster Interconnect (SMCI).

Bits in the bit mask are the following:

Bit Mask Description
0 0 0 = Do not create local communications channels (SYSGEN default). Local SCS communications are primarily used in test situations and are not needed for normal operations. Not creating local communications saves resources and overhead.
    1 = Create local communications channels.
1 2 0 = Load SYS$PBDRIVER if booting into both a Galaxy and a Cluster (SYSGEN Default).
    1 = Load SYS$PBDRIVER if booting into a Galaxy.
2 4 0 = Minimal console output (SYSGEN default).
    1 = Full console output; SYS$PBDRIVER displays console messages when it creates and tears down communications channels.

SMCI_PORTS

(Alpha Galaxy platforms only) The Shared Memory Cluster Interconnect (SMCI) system parameter SMCI_PORTS controls initial loading of SYS$PBDRIVER. This parameter is a bit mask; bits 0 through 25 each represent a controller letter. If bit 0 is set, which is the default setting, PBAx is loaded (where x represents the Galaxy Partition ID). If bit 1 is set, PBBx is loaded, and so on up to bit 25, which causes PBZx to be loaded. For OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.2 and later versions, HP recommends leaving this parameter at the default value of 1.

Loading additional ports allows multiple paths between Galaxy instances. In the initial release of the Galaxy software, having multiple communications channels is not an advantage because SYS$PBDRIVER does not support fast path. A future release of OpenVMS will provide Fast Path support for SYS$PBDRIVER, when multiple CPUs improve throughput by providing multiple communications channels between instances.

SMP_CPUS

SMP_CPUS identifies which secondary processors, if available, are to be booted into the multiprocessing system at boot time. SMP_CPUS is a 32-bit mask; if the value of a bit in the mask is 1, the processor with the corresponding CPU ID is booted into the multiprocessing system (if it is available). For example, if you want to boot only the CPUs with CPU IDs 0 and 1, specify the value 3 (both bits are on).

The default value of SMP_CPUS, --1, boots all available CPUs into the multiprocessing system.

Note that although a bit in the mask corresponds to the primary processor's CPU ID, the primary processor is always booted. That is, if the mask is set to 0, the primary CPU still boots. Any available secondary processors are not booted into the multiprocessing system.

This parameter is ignored if the MULTIPROCESSING parameter is set to 0.

SMP_CPUSH

SMP_CPUSH is a special parameter reserved for HP use only. HP recommends that you use the default value.

SMP_LNGSPINWAIT

Certain shared resources in a multiprocessing system take longer to become available than allowed by the SMP_SPINWAIT parameter. SMP_LNGSPINWAIT establishes, in 10-microsecond intervals, the length of time a processor in a multiprocessing system waits for these resources. A timeout causes a CPUSPINWAIT bugcheck.

The default value is 3000000 (3 million 10-microsecond intervals or 30 seconds).

SMP_SANITY_CNT

SMP_SANITY_CNT establishes, in 10-millisecond intervals, the timeout period for each CPU in a symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) system. Each CPU in an SMP system monitors the sanity timer of one other CPU in the configuration to detect hardware or software failures. If allowed to go undetected, these failures could cause the cluster to hang. A timeout causes a CPUSANITY bugcheck.

The default value is 300 milliseconds (30 10-millisecond intervals).

SMP_SPINWAIT

SMP_SPINWAIT establishes, in 10-microsecond intervals, the amount of time a CPU in an SMP system normally waits for access to a shared resource. This process is called spinwaiting.

A timeout causes a CPUSPINWAIT bugcheck.

The default value is 100000 (100,000 10-microsecond intervals or 1 second).

SMP_TICK_CNT

SMP_TICK_CNT sets the frequency of sanity timer checks by each CPU in a multiprocessing system.

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

SPTREQ (A)

(VAX only) SPTREQ sets the number of system page table (SPT) entries required for mapping the following components:
Executive image
RMS image
SYSMSG.EXE file
Multiport memory structures
Each MASSBUS adapter
Each UNIBUS adapter
Each DR32 adapter

The number of system page table entries required for all other purposes is automatically computed and added to the value of SPTREQ to yield the actual size of the system page table.

SSINHIBIT

SSINHIBIT controls whether system services are inhibited (1) (on a per-process basis). By default, system services are not inhibited (0).

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

STARTUP_P1--8

The following table describes possible values of STARTUP_P1 through _P8:
STARTUP Value Description
STARTUP_P1 Specifies the type of system boot the system-independent startup procedure is to perform when STARTUP_P1 has one of the following values:
  • " "-- A full boot is performed.
  • "MIN"-- A minimum boot that starts only what is absolutely necessary for the operating system to run.
STARTUP_P2 Controls the setting of verification during the execution of the system-independent startup procedure, STARTUP.COM, when STARTUP_P2 has one of the values described in the lists below.

STARTUP_P2 can be one of the values shown in the following list:

  • F[ALSE], N[O], 0, " "---Verification is not enabled; in other words, NOVERIFY is performed.
  • T[RUE], Y[ES], 1---Verification is enabled; in other words, a SET VERIFY is performed.

Alternatively, STARTUP_P2 can be a string containing one or more of the letters shown in the following list:

  • C---Display various checkpointing messages during startup.
  • D---Log (or Dump) the output from the startup to a file called SYS$SPECIFIC:[SYSEXE]STARTUP.LOG.
  • P---DCL verification is enabled for each component file, but not for the startup driver. If both P and V are used, P is ignored.
  • V---Full DCL verification is enabled; same as TRUE.

Refer to the SYSMAN command STARTUP SET OPTIONS for more information about STARTUP_P2.

STARTUP_P3 Beginning in OpenVMS Version 7.2, if STARTUP_P3 is set to AGEN, the system executes AUTOGEN at the end of the startup sequence.
STARTUP_P4
through
STARTUP_P8
Reserved for future use.

SWP_PRIO

SWP_PRIO sets the priority of I/O transfers initiated by the swapper.

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

SWPALLOCINC

(VAX only) SWPALLOCINC sets the size (in blocks) to use to back up swap file space allocation in the swap or page file. Space in the file is allocated in multiples of this unit (up to WSQUOTA) to guarantee swap space.

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

SWPFAIL

SWPFAIL sets the number of consecutive swap failures allowed before the swap schedule algorithm is changed to ignore the swap quantum protection.

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

SWPFILCNT

On VAX systems, SWPFILCNT defines the maximum number of swap files that can be installed.

Beginning in OpenVMS Version 7.3, this parameter is obsolete on Alpha and I64 systems.

SWPOUTPGCNT (A on VAX,D)

This parameter allows the swapper an alternative mechanism before actually performing swaps.

On VAX systems, SWPOUTPGCNT defines the minimum number of pages to which the swapper should attempt to reduce a process before swapping it out. The pages taken from the process are placed into the free-page list.

On Alpha and I64 systems, SWPOUTPGCNT defines the minimum number of pagelets to which the swapper should attempt to reduce a process before swapping it out. The pagelets taken from the process are placed into the free-page list.

SWPRATE

SWPRATE sets the swapping rate (in 10-millisecond units). This parameter limits the amount of disk bandwidth consumed by swapping.

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

SYSMWCNT (A,G,M)

SYSMWCNT sets the quota for the size of the system working set, which contains the pageable portions of the system, the paged dynamic pool, RMS, and the resident portion of the system message file.

While a high value takes space away from user working sets, a low value can seriously impair system performance. Appropriate values vary, depending on the level of system use. When the system is running at full load, check the rate of system faults with the MONITOR PAGE command of the Monitor utility. An average system page fault rate of between 0 and 3 page faults per second is desirable. If the system page fault rate is high, and especially if the system seems to be slow, you should increase the value of SYSMWCNT. However, do not set this parameter so high that system page faulting never occurs.

SYSPFC

SYSPFC sets the number of pages to be read from disk on each system paging operation.

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

SYSSER_LOGGING (D)

(Alpha and I64) A value of 1 for SYSSER_LOGGING enables logging of system service requests for a process. The default is 1.

SYSTEM_CHECK

SYSTEM_CHECK investigates intermittent system failures by enabling a number of run-time consistency checks on system operation and recording some trace information.

Enabling SYSTEM_CHECK causes the system to behave as if the following system parameter values are set (although the values of the following parameters are not actually changed):

Parameter Value Description
BUGCHECKFATAL 1 Crash the system on nonfatal bugchecks.
POOLCHECK %X616400FF Enable all poolchecking, with an allocated pool pattern of %x61616161 ('aaaa') and deallocated pool pattern of x64646464 ('dddd').
MULTIPROCESSING 2 Enable full synchronization checking.

While SYSTEM_CHECK is enabled, the previous settings of the BUGCHECKFATAL and MULTIPROCESSING parameters are ignored. However, setting the parameter POOLCHECK to a nonzero value overrides the setting imposed by SYSTEM_CHECK.

Setting SYSTEM_CHECK creates certain image files that are capable of the additional system monitoring. These image files are located in SYS$LOADABLE_IMAGES and can be identified by the suffix _MON. For information about the type of data checking performed by SYSTEM_CHECK, see the description of the ACP_DATACHECK parameter. For information about the performance implications of enabling SYSTEM_CHECK, see OpenVMS Performance Management.

On VAX systems, SYSTEM_CHECK is a special parameter, which is subject to change at any time and should be modified only if recommended by HP.

TAPE_ALLOCLASS

TAPE_ALLOCLASS determines the tape allocation class for the system. The tape allocation class creates a unique clusterwide device name for multiple access paths to the same tape.

The TAPE_ALLOCLASS parameter can also be used to generate a unique clusterwide name for tape devices with identical unit numbers.

TAPE_MVTIMEOUT (D)

TAPE_MVTIMEOUT is the time in seconds that a mount verification attempt continues on a given magnetic tape volume. If the mount verification does not recover the volume within that time, the I/O operations outstanding to the volume terminate abnormally.

TBSKIPWSL

TBSKIPWSL specifies the maximum number of working set list entries that may be skipped while scanning for a "good" entry to discard. Setting this parameter to 0 disables skipping.

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

TIME_CONTROL (D)

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

TIME_CONTROL is an SMP bit mask parameter that controls debugging functions. The following bits are defined:

Bit Description
0 Obsolete.
1 (EXE$V_SANITY) Disables the SMP sanity timer support.
2 (EXE$V_NOSPINWAIT) Disables the functional behavior of the SMP spinwait support.

TIMEPROMPTWAIT

TIMEPROMPTWAIT defines the number of seconds that you want a processor to wait for the time and date to be entered when a system boot occurs, if the processor's time-of-year clock does not contain a valid time. (The time unit of micro-fortnights is approximated as seconds in the implementation.) If the time specified by TIMEPROMPTWAIT elapses, the system continues the boot operation, and the date and time are set to the last recorded time that the system booted.

Note

HP recommends that you set the correct system time before allowing the system to run, so that all functions using time-stamping (such as the operator log, the error log, accounting records, file creation dates, and file expiration dates) contain correct time values.

Depending on the value specified for the TIMEPROMPTWAIT parameter, the system acts in one of the following ways:

  • If TIMEPROMPTWAIT is 0, no prompt or wait occurs; the system boots immediately, using the time of the last boot as the system time.
  • If TIMEPROMPTWAIT is a positive number less than 32768, one prompt is issued and the value dictates how many seconds you can take to respond with a time. If you do not provide a time before TIMEPROMPTWAIT elapses, the system boots, using the time of the last boot as the system time.
  • If TIMEPROMPTWAIT is a number in the range of 32768 through 65535, the prompt for the time is issued at intervals starting with 2 and doubling until 256 seconds is reached. If no response is received, the prompts restart, with the 2-second interval. This prompting process repeats indefinitely, until you specify a time.

TIMVCFAIL (D)

TIMVCFAIL specifies the time required for an adapter or virtual circuit failure to be detected. HP recommends that the default value be used. HP also recommends that this value be lowered only in OpenVMS Cluster of three CPUs or less, that the same value be used on each computer in the cluster, and that dedicated LAN segments be used for cluster I/O.

TMSCP_LOAD (A)

TMSCP_LOAD allows the loading of the tape mass storage control protocol server software. The TMSCP_LOAD parameter also sets locally connected tapes served. Refer to HP OpenVMS Cluster Systems for information about setting the TMSCP_LOAD parameter.

Setting TMSCP_LOAD to 0 inhibits the loading of the tape server and the serving of local tapes. Setting TMSCP to 1 loads the tape server into memory at the time the system is booted and makes all directly connected tape drives available clusterwide. The following table describes the two states of the TMSCP_LOAD parameter:

State Function
0 Do not load the TMSCP tape server. Do not serve any local tape devices clusterwide. This is the default value.
1 Load the TMSCP tape server. Serve all local TMSCP tape devices clusterwide.

TMSCP_SERVE_ALL

TMSCP_SERVE_ALL is a bit mask that controls the serving of tapes. The settings take effect when the system boots. You cannot change the settings when the system is running.

Starting with OpenVMS Version 7.2, the serving types are implemented as a bit mask. To specify the type of serving your system will perform, locate the type you want in the following table and specify its value. For some systems, you may want to specify two serving types, such as serving all tapes except those whose allocation class does not match. To specify such a combination, add the values of each type, and specify the sum.

In a mixed-version cluster that includes any systems running OpenVMS Version 7.1-x or earlier, serving all available tapes is restricted to serving all tapes except those whose allocation class does not match the system's allocation class (pre-Version 7.2 meaning). To specify this type of serving, use the value 9, which sets bit 0 and bit 3. The following table describes the serving type controlled by each bit and its decimal value:

Bit Value When Set Description
Bit 0 1 Serve all available tapes (locally attached and those connected to HS x and DSSI controllers). Tapes with allocation classes that differ from the system's allocation class (set by the ALLOCLASS parameter) are also served if bit 3 is not set.
Bit 1 2 Serve locally attached (non-HS x and non-DSSI) tapes.
Bit 2 N/A Reserved.
Bit 3 8 Restrict the serving specified by bit 0. All tapes except those with allocation classes that differ from the system's allocation class (set by the ALLOCLASS parameter) are served.

This is pre-Version 7.2 behavior. If your cluster includes systems running OpenVMS Version 7.1- x or earlier, and you want to serve all available tapes, you must specify 9, the result of setting this bit and bit 0.

Although the serving types are now implemented as a bit mask, the values of 0, 1, and 2, specified by bit 0 and bit 1, retain their original meanings:

  • 0 --- Do not serve any tapes (the default for earlier versions of OpenVMS).
  • 1 --- Serve all available tapes.
  • 2 --- Serve only locally attached (non-HSx and non-DSSI) tapes.

If the TMSCP_LOAD system parameter is 0, TMSCP_SERVE_ALL is ignored.

TTY_ALTALARM

TTY_ALTALARM sets the size of the alternate type-ahead buffer alarm. This value indicates at what point an XOFF should be sent to terminals that use the alternate type-ahead buffers with the size specified by the TTY_ALTYPAHD parameter.

TTY_ALTYPAHD

TTY_ALTYPAHD sets the size of the alternate type-ahead buffer. Use this parameter to allow the block mode terminals and communications lines to operate more efficiently.

The default value is usually adequate. Do not exceed the maximum value of 32767 when setting this parameter.

TTY_AUTOCHAR (D)

TTY_AUTOCHAR sets the character the terminal driver echoes when the job controller has been notified.

TTY_BUF

TTY_BUF sets the default line width for terminals.

TTY_CLASSNAME

TTY_CLASSNAME provides the 2-character prefix for the terminal class driver name that is required when booting. Changing the prefix can be useful when debugging a new terminal driver.

TTY_DEFCHAR

TTY_DEFCHAR sets the default characteristics for terminals, using a code derived by summing the following hexadecimal values:
Characteristic Value (Hex) Function
PASSALL 1 Passall.
NOECHO 2 Noecho mode.
NOTYPEAHEAD 1 4 No type-ahead buffer.
ESCAPE 8 Escape sequence processing.
HOSTSYNC 10 Host can send XON and XOFF.
TTSYNC 20 Terminal can send XON and XOFF.
SCRIPT 40 Internal use only.
LOWER 80 Lowercase.
MECHTAB 100 Mechanical tabs.
WRAP 200 Wraparound at end of line.
CRFILL 1 400 Perform carriage return fill.
LFFILL 1 800 Perform line feed fill.
SCOPE 1000 Terminal is a scope.
REMOTE 2000 Internal use only.
EIGHTBIT 8000 Eight-bit terminal.
MBXDSABL 10000 Disable mailbox.
NOBRDCST 20000 Prohibit broadcast.
READSYNC 40000 XON and XOFF on reads.
MECHFORM 80000 Mechanical form feeds.
HALFDUP 100000 Set for half-duplex operation.
MODEM 200000 Set for modem signals.
PAGE FF000000 Page size. Default is 24.

1Do not set this characteristic as the default in TTY_DEFCHAR.

Where a condition is false, the value is 0.

The upper byte is the page length. The default characteristics are 24 lines per page, terminal synchronization, wraparound, lowercase, scope, and full-duplex.

TTY_DEFCHAR2

TTY_DEFCHAR2 sets a second longword of default terminal characteristics. The default characteristics are represented as a code that is derived by summing the following hexadecimal values:
Characteristic Value (Hex) Function
LOCALECHO 1 Enable local echo terminal logic; use with the TTY_DEFCHAR NOECHO characteristic.
AUTOBAUD 2 Enable autobaud detection.
HANGUP 4 Hang up on logout.
MODHANGUP 8 Allow modification of HANGUP without privileges.
BRDCSTMBX 10 Allow sending of broadcasts to mailboxes.
XON 20 (No effect in this parameter.)
DMA 40 (No effect in this parameter.)
ALTYPEAHD 80 Use the alternate type-ahead parameters.
SETSPEED 100 Clear to allow setting of speed without privileges.
DCL_MAILBX 200 Function reserved for HP use only.
DECCRT4 400 Terminal is DIGITAL CRT Level 4.
COMMSYNC 800 Enable flow control using modem signals.
EDITING 1000 Line editing allowed.
INSERT 2000 Sets default mode for insert.
FALLBACK 4000 Do not set this bit with SYSGEN. Refer to the OpenVMS Terminal Fallback Utility Manual 1 for information about setting the FALLBACK terminal characteristic using the Terminal Fallback utility.
DIALUP 8000 Terminal is a dialup line.
SECURE 10000 Guarantees that no process is connected to terminal after Break key is pressed.
DISCONNECT 20000 Allows terminal disconnect when a hangup occurs.
PASTHRU 40000 Terminal is in PASTHRU mode.
SYSPWD 80000 Log in with system password only.
SIXEL 100000 Sixel graphics.
DRCS 200000 Terminal supports loadable character fonts.
PRINTER 400000 Terminal has printer port.
APP_KEYPAD 800000 Notifies application programs of state to set keypad on exit.
ANSICRT 1000000 Terminal conforms to ANSI CRT programming standards.
REGIS 2000000 Terminal has REGIS CRT capabilities.
BLOCK 4000000 Block mode terminal.
AVO 8000000 Terminal has advanced video.
EDIT 10000000 Terminal has local edit capabilities.
DECCRT 20000000 Terminal is a DIGITAL CRT.
DECCRT2 40000000 Terminal is a DIGITAL CRT Level 2.
DECCRT3 80000000 Terminal is a DIGITAL CRT Level 3.

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