Alternative Method of Initialization

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HP OpenVMS Version 8.2 Upgrade and Installation...

Alternative Ways to Initialize the System Disk

Removing the Diagnostic Partition File (OpenVMS I64 Only)

Alternative Method of Initialization

Use the following initialization method to avoid use of the /LIMIT qualifier, or for OpenVMS I64, to prevent creation of the diagnostic partition.

When you initialize your target disk using the following method, you must use the PRESERVE option during the installation of OpenVMS on the disk. If you use the INITIALIZE option, the disk will be reinitialized using the defaults.

After booting the operating system CD or DVD, and before installing the operating system, select option 7 ("Execute DCL commands and procedures") from the main menu.

Initialize the intended target disk with the following command:
```
$ INITIALIZE /SYSTEM /HEADERS=150000 /STRUCTURE=ods-level target-disk target-label
```
where:

ods-level is 2 (for ODS-2) or 5 (for ODS-5¹)

target-disk is the device for the target disk (such as DKA100:)

target-label is the label for the target disk (you can change the label later)

If you specified ODS-5, and you want support for hard links, include the /VOLUME_CHARACTERISTICS=HARDLINKS qualifier with the INITIALIZE command.

If you are using this alternate method of initialization to prevent creation of a diagnostic partition, and you do not intend to mount the disk on an OpenVMS system prior to version 7.2, include the /LIMIT qualifier with the INITIALIZE command. If you do not use the /LIMIT qualifier, your new system disk might be initialized with a relatively large minimum allocation size. This can cause small files to use more space than necessary.

If you are installing OpenVMS I64 and you want the diagnostics partition created (as recommended by HP), perform the following steps; otherwise, skip to step 4.
1. Check if the required directory is present by entering the following command:
```
$ DIRECTORY target-disk:[VMS$COMMON]SYSMAINT.DIR
```
  If the directory file is not found, create it with the following command:
```
$ CREATE/DIRECTORY target-disk:[VMS$COMMON.SYSMAINT]
```
2. Check if the diagnostic partition file is present in the directory:
```
$ DIRECTORY target-disk:[VMS$COMMON.SYSMAINT]SYS$DIAGNOSTICS.SYS
```
  If the file is not found, create it with the following commands.
```
$ DEFINE/NOLOG/USER DIAG$FILE - 
_$ target-disk:[VMS$COMMON.SYSMAINT]SYS$DIAGNOSTICS.SYS
$ RUN SYS$SYSTEM:EFI$CP
EFI$CP> /INIT /CREATE /SIZE=600000 /CONTIGUOUS /DEVICE_ALIAS=alias: DIAG$FILE
EFI$CP> EXIT
```
3. Set the file to disable movefile operations:
```
$ SET FILE/NOMOVE target-disk:[VMS$COMMON.SYSMAINT]SYS$DIAGNOSTICS.SYS
```
4. Now proceed to step 4.

Exit DCL (log off), and then select option 1 ("Upgrade, install or reconfigure OpenVMS") from the main menu.

When you are asked whether to initialize or preserve the target disk, choose PRESERVE (the default).

Continue with the installation.

Footnotes

1
If this disk will be mounted on an OpenVMS Alpha system prior to Version 7.2, do not specify ODS-5. ODS-5 was introduced with Version 7.2.

( Number takes you back )

Removing the Diagnostic Partition File (OpenVMS I64 Only)