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HP OpenVMS DCL Dictionary


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RUN (Process)

Creates a subprocess or a detached process to run an image and deletes the process when the image completes execution. A subprocess is created if any of the qualifiers except the /UIC or the /DETACHED qualifier is specified. A detached process is created if the /UIC or the /DETACHED qualifier is specified and you have the IMPERSONATE user privilege.

Format

RUN filespec


Parameter

filespec

Specifies the file name of an executable image to be executed in a separate process. The default file type is .EXE. The asterisk (*) and the percent sign (%) wildcard characters are not allowed in the file specification.

Description

The RUN command creates a process to execute the specified image. If you specify the /UIC or the /DETACHED qualifier, the RUN command creates a detached process; otherwise, the RUN command creates a subprocess.

When you specify any qualifiers with the RUN command, the RUN command creates a process and displays the process identification (PID) code in SYS$OUTPUT. The newly created process executes the image named in the file specification. When the image has finished executing, the system deletes the process that was running that image.

By default, the RUN command creates a subprocess with the same user identification code (UIC), current disk and directory defaults, privileges, and priority as the current process.

If the detached process terminates unexpectedly and you want to find out why, you can use the Accounting utility to display the final exit status of the process. For more information, see the HP OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual.

Both the /DETACHED and the /UIC qualifiers request the RUN command to create a detached process. You must have the user privilege IMPERSONATE or CMKRNL to create a detached process with a different UIC. When you create a detached process, the resource quotas are established as follows:

  • If you do not specify a value for a particular quota, that quota is given the value of the corresponding PQL_D* (default) system parameter.
  • If you specify a value for a particular quota, that value is compared with the quotas for the creator process (maximum) and the system parameters PQL_M* (minimum). If the value you specify is within the allowed range, it is used for the new process. If you specify a value greater than the creator process's quota, the creator process's quota is used. If the specified value is less than the corresponding system parameter, the system parameter value is substituted.

However, if you have the IMPERSONATE or CMKRNL privilege, you can specify any quotas for the detached process.

Input, Output, and Error Streams

Use the following qualifiers to assign equivalence names for the logical names SYS$INPUT, SYS$OUTPUT, and SYS$ERROR for the process:

/INPUT
/OUTPUT
/ERROR

The equivalence names you specify for these process-permanent files are interpreted within the context of the process you are creating. For example, file type defaults, and logical name use and translation are image- and language-dependent.

Defining Process Attributes

Use the following qualifiers to override the default attributes for a process:

/ACCOUNTING
/DUMP
/PRIORITY
/PRIVILEGES
/PROCESS_NAME
/SERVICE_FAILURE
/SWAPPING

Assigning Resource Quotas

When you enter a RUN command to create a process, you can define quotas to restrict the amount of various system resources available to the process. The following resource quota is deductible when you create a subprocess; that is, the value you specify is subtracted from your current quota and given to the subprocess:

Qualifier Quota
/TIME_LIMIT CPUTIME

The quota amount is returned to your current process when the subprocess is deleted.

The system defines minimum values for each specifiable quota. If you specify a quota that is below the minimum, or if you specify a deductible quota that reduces your current quota below the minimum, the RUN command cannot create the process. To determine your current quotas, enter the SHOW PROCESS/QUOTAS command.

You can also specify limits for nondeductible quotas. Nondeductible quotas are established and maintained separately for each process and subprocess. The following qualifiers specify nondeductible quotas:

Qualifier Quota
/AST_LIMIT ASTLM
/EXTENT WSEXTENT
/IO_BUFFERED BIOLM
/IO_DIRECT DIOLM
/MAXIMUM_WORKING_SET WSQUOTA
/WORKING_SET WSDEFAULT

A third type of quota treatment is pooling. Pooled quotas are established when a detached process is created. They are shared by that process and all its descendent subprocesses. Charges against pooled quota values are subtracted from the current available totals as they are used and are added back to the total when they are not being used. The following qualifiers specify pooled quotas:

Qualifier Quota
/BUFFER_LIMIT BYTLM
/ENQUEUE_LIMIT ENQLM
/FILE_LIMIT FILLM
/PAGE_FILE PGFLQUOTA
/QUEUE_LIMIT TQELM
/SUBPROCESS_LIMIT PRCLM

Hibernation and Scheduled Wakeup Requests

Use the following qualifiers to schedule execution of the image:

/DELAY
/INTERVAL
/SCHEDULE

If you specify any of these qualifiers, the RUN command creates the process and places it in hibernation. The process cannot execute the image until it is awakened. Time values specified with these three qualifiers control when the process is awakened to execute the specified image.

You can schedule wakeup requests for a specified delta time (/DELAY qualifier) or absolute time (/SCHEDULE qualifier). You can also schedule wakeup requests for recurrent intervals with the /INTERVAL qualifier. If you specify an interval time, the created process is awakened to execute the specified image at fixed time intervals. If the image terminates normally (for example, by a RET instruction), the process returns to a state of hibernation, awaiting the next scheduled wakeup time and user-mode exit handlers are not called. At the next wakeup time, the image is recalled at its entry point; the image is not reactivated. If the image terminates abnormally, or by an $EXIT command, or by a $FORCEX command, the process does not return to hibernation, further scheduling requests are terminated, user-mode exit handlers are called, the image exits, and the created process is deleted.

Use the /PROCESS_NAME qualifier to give the created process a name. You can use this process name in a subsequent STOP or CANCEL command. A STOP command terminates execution of the image in the process and causes the process to be deleted. The CANCEL command cancels wakeup requests that are scheduled but have not yet been delivered.


Qualifiers

/ACCOUNTING (default)

/NOACCOUNTING

Requires ACNT (accounting) privilege to use the /NOACCOUNTING qualifier.

The /NOACCOUNTING qualifier stops the current accounting file tracking the resources used by the created process.

The /ACCOUNTING qualifier (the default) has no effect.

/AST_LIMIT=quota

Specifies the maximum number of asynchronous system traps (ASTs) that the created process can have outstanding.

If you do specify an AST limit quota, the default quota established at system generation time is used. The minimum required for any process to execute is 2.

The AST limit quota is nondeductible.

/AUTHORIZE

/NOAUTHORIZE (default)

Requires IMPERSONATE privilege.

When the image to be executed is the system login image (LOGINOUT.EXE), this qualifier searches the user authorization file (UAF) to validate a detached process. The /NOAUTHORIZE qualifier creates a detached process that runs under the control of the command interpreter.

When you specify the /AUTHORIZE qualifier, quotas are derived from the user authorization file (UAF) record of the process' owner. Any qualifiers to the RUN command that specify other quotas are ignored in favor of the UAF quotas.

When you specify the /NOAUTHORIZE qualifier, quotas are derived from the system parameters that set process quota default limits (parameters prefixed with PQL_D).

Specify the /AUTHORIZE qualifier if you want the login image to check the UAF whenever a detached process is created. The process-permanent files specified by the /INPUT and /OUTPUT qualifiers are made available to the command interpreter for input and output.

/BUFFER_LIMIT=quota

Specifies the maximum amount of memory, in bytes, that the process can use for buffered I/O operations or for temporary mailbox creation.

If you do not specify a buffered I/O quota, the default value established at system generation time is used. The minimum amount required for any process to execute is 1024 bytes.

The buffer limit quota is pooled.

/DELAY=delta-time

Places the created process in hibernation and awakens it after a specified time interval.

Specify the delta time according to the rules described for entering delta times in the OpenVMS User's Manual or the online help topic Date.

If you specify both the /DELAY and /INTERVAL qualifiers, the first wakeup request occurs at the time specified by the /DELAY qualifier. All subsequent wakeup requests occur at the interval specified by the /INTERVAL qualifier.

/DETACHED

Creates a detached process with the same user identification code (UIC) as the current process. (To create a detached process with a different UIC, use the /UIC qualifier.) By default, the created process is not a detached process.

By default, resource quotas for the detached process are limited by the quotas of the creator process (maximum) and the system parameters PQL_M* (minimum). The IMPERSONATE or CMKRNL privilege allows you to specify any quotas for the detached process that exceed the normal range. Unless you have the IMPERSONATE or CMKRNL privilege, the maximum number of detached processes that you can create is limited to the quota defined by MAX_DETACH in your UAF.

/DUMP

/NODUMP (default)

When an image terminates because of an unhandled error, the /DUMP qualifier causes the contents of the address space to be written to the file named image-name.DMP in the process's default device and directory. You can then use the Analyze/Process_Dump utility to analyze the dump.

/ENQUEUE_LIMIT=quota

Specifies the maximum number of locks that a process can have outstanding at any one time.

The default quota is that established at system generation time. The minimum required for any process to operate is 2.

/ERROR=filespec

Defines an equivalence name string of 1 to 63 alphanumeric characters for the logical device name SYS$ERROR. The logical name and equivalence name are placed in the process logical name table for the created process. (The /ERROR qualifier is ignored if you are running SYS$SYSTEM:LOGINOUT.)

/EXTENT=quota

Specifies the maximum size to which the image being executed in the process can increase its physical memory size.

The default quota is that established at system generation time. The minimum value required for any process to execute is 10 pages.

Specify the value of n as a number of 512-byte pagelets on Alpha or 512-byte pages on VAX. Note that the operating system rounds up this value to the nearest CPU-specific page so that actual amount of physical memory allowed may be larger than the specified amount on Alpha.

The extent quota is nondeductible.

/FILE_LIMIT=quota

Specifies the maximum number of files that a process can have open at any one time.

The default quota is the quota established at system generation time. The minimum amount required for any process to execute is 2.

The file limit quota is pooled.

/INPUT=filespec

Defines an equivalence name string of 1 to 63 characters for SYS$INPUT. The logical name and equivalence name are placed in the process logical name table for the created process.

/INTERVAL=delta-time

Requests that the created process be placed in hibernation and be awakened at regularly scheduled intervals.

Specify the delta time according to the rules described in the OpenVMS User's Manual or the online help topic Date.

If you specify the /DELAY or the /SCHEDULE qualifier with the /INTERVAL qualifier, the first wakeup request occurs at the time specified by the /DELAY or the /SCHEDULE qualifier; all subsequent wakeup requests occur at intervals specified by the /INTERVAL qualifier. If you specify neither the /DELAY nor the /SCHEDULE qualifier with the /INTERVAL qualifier, the first wakeup request occurs immediately by default.

/IO_BUFFERED=quota

Specifies the maximum number of system-buffered I/O operations that the created process can have outstanding at any one time.

The default quota is the quota established at system generation time. The minimum required for any process to execute is 2.

The buffered I/O quota is nondeductible.

/IO_DIRECT=quota

Specifies the maximum number of direct I/O operations that the created process can have outstanding at any one time.

The default quota is the quota established at system generation time. The minimum required for any process to execute is 2.

The direct I/O quota is nondeductible.

/JOB_TABLE_QUOTA=quota

Allows you to specify a quota for a detached process's jobwide logical name table.

A value of 0 has a special meaning. It means that the table, for all practical purposes, has infinite quota because its quota is pooled with that of its parent table, the system directory table.

Note that the /JOB_TABLE_QUOTA qualifier is relevant only for detached processes. If the /JOB_TABLE_QUOTA qualifier is specified in a RUN command that results in the creation of a subprocess, it is ignored.

/MAILBOX=unit

Specifies the unit number of a mailbox to receive a termination message when the created process is deleted. If no mailbox is specified, the creating process receives no notification when the subprocess or detached process has been deleted.

/MAXIMUM_WORKING_SET=quota

Specifies the maximum size (up to 64K pages) to which the image being executed in the process can increase its working set size. An image can increase its working set size by calling the $ADJWSL (Adjust Working Set Limit) system service.

The default quota is the quota established at system generation time. The minimum value required for any process to execute is 10 pages.

The maximum working set quota is nondeductible.

/ON=node_name

Specifies an OpenVMS Cluster node on which a detached process is to be created. Quotas are determined by comparing the values you specify with the RUN command with the quotas of the creator process (maximum) and the PQL_M* system parameters on the target node (minimum). To specify quotas outside that range, you must have IMPERSONATE or CMKRNL privilege. Omitted quota values default to the values of the PQL_D* system parameters on the target node.

The qualifier value node_name is a 1- to 6-character string containing the SCS node name of the requested node.

For example, to create a process named BAR on node FOO that runs MY_PROG.EXE, enter the following command:


$ RUN $10$DKB100:[SMITH]MY_PROG.EXE /DETACH /ON="FOO"/PROCESS_NAME="BAR"

Note that the disk containing the image must be mounted on the specified node. Because the disk might not be mounted on the node on which the command is entered, the RUN command processor does not check whether the image exists. Consequently, the command can complete without error even though the created process aborts immediately because the image file cannot be found.

/OUTPUT=filespec

Defines an equivalence name string of 1 to 63 characters for the logical device name SYS$OUTPUT. Both the equivalence name and the logical name are placed in the process logical name table for the created process.

/PAGE_FILE=quota

Specifies the maximum number of pages that can be allocated in the paging file for the process. The paging file quota is the amount of secondary storage available during execution of the image.

The default quota is the quota established at system generation time. The minimum value required for a process to execute is 256 pages. The paging file quota is pooled.

/PRIORITY=n

Requires ALTPRI (alter priority) privilege to set the priority higher than your current process.

Specifies the base priority at which the created process executes.

On Alpha, the value of parameter n is a decimal 0 to 63, where 63 is the highest priority and zero is the lowest. Normal priorities range from 0 to 15; real-time priorities range from 16 to 63.

On VAX, the value of parameter n is a decimal 0 to 31, where 31 is the highest priority and zero is the lowest. Normal priorities range from 0 to 15; real-time priorities range from 16 to 31.

The default priority is that of the current process.

/PRIVILEGES=(privilege[,...])

Requires SETPRV (set privilege) privilege to specify privileges that you do not have.

Defines user privileges for the created process. You can extend any privilege you possess to a process you create. By default, the created process has the same privileges as its creator. If you specify only one privilege, you can omit the parentheses.

For a list of process privileges, see the HP OpenVMS Guide to System Security.

You can also use the keyword NOSAME as the privilege parameter. If you specify /PRIVILEGES=NOSAME, the created process has no privileges.

/PROCESS_NAME=process-name

Specifies a name of 1 to 15 characters for the created process. The process name is implicitly qualified by the group number of the process's user identification code (UIC). By default, the name is null.

/QUEUE_LIMIT=quota

Specifies the maximum number of timer queue entries that the created process can have outstanding at any one time. This number includes timer requests and scheduled wakeup requests.

The default quota is the quota established at system generation time. A process does not require any timer queue quota in order to execute.

The timer queue entry quota is pooled.

/RESOURCE_WAIT (default)

/NORESOURCE_WAIT

Places the created process in a wait state when a resource required for a particular function is not available.

If you specify the /NORESOURCE_WAIT qualifier, the process receives an error status code when a resource is unavailable.

/SCHEDULE=absolute-time

Places the created process in hibernation and awakens it at the specified time.

Specify the absolute time value according to the rules given for entering absolute time values in the OpenVMS User's Manual or the online help topic Date.

/SERVICE_FAILURE

/NOSERVICE_FAILURE (default)

Enables or disables an exception condition notification if an error occurs during a system service request. By default, an error status code is returned to the process.

If you specify the /SERVICE_FAILURE qualifier and an error occurs during a system service request, the process encounters an exception condition.

/SSLOG_ENABLE[=COUNT=n] [,FLAGS=[NO]ARG]

Valid on Alpha and I64 systems only.

Requires CMEXEC, CMKRNL, or SETPRV privilege to log argument values. The SYSGEN parameter SYSSER_LOGGING must be enabled or the command will fail.

Creates a process with system service logging enabled.

Keywords are as follows:

Keyword Explanation
COUNT= n Specifies how many P2-space buffers to log. (Default: 2)
FLAGS=[NO]ARG Specifies whether or not service argument values are to be logged. The default is ARG, which requires privileges. If the value is ARG but you lack privilege, no argument values are logged.

When enabling SSLOG for a process, you can specify the number of buffers to be used for logging. Buffers are allocated in P2 space and are charged against the process's paging file quota. Each buffer is 65,02410 bytes or FE0016 bytes. The buffer space remains allocated and the quota charged until the process is deleted.

Before you delete the process, stop the logging and close the log file by executing the SET PROCESS/SSLOG=STATE=UNLOAD command. The log file does not close automatically.

To analyze the log file, use the DCL command ANALYZE/SSLOG, which is described in online help and in the System Service Logging chapter of the HP OpenVMS System Analysis Tools Manual.

/SUBPROCESS_LIMIT=quota

Specifies the maximum number of subprocesses that the created process is allowed to create.

The default quota is the quota established at system generation time. A process does not require any subprocess quota in order to execute.

The subprocess limit quota is pooled.

/SWAPPING (default)

/NOSWAPPING

Requires PSWAPM (process swap mode) privilege to inhibit process swapping.

Permits the process to be swapped. The default allows a process to be swapped from the balance set in physical memory to allow other processes to execute.

With /NOSWAPPING in effect, the process is not swapped out of the balance set when it is in a wait state. By default, a process may be swapped out of the balance set whenever it is in a wait state.

/TIME_LIMIT=limit

Specifies the maximum amount of CPU time (in delta time) a created process can use. CPU time is allocated to the created process in units of 10 milliseconds. When it has exhausted its CPU time limit quota, the created process is deleted.

If this quota is not specified and the created process is a detached process, the detached process receives a default value of zero, that is, unlimited CPU time.

If this quota is not specified and the created process is a subprocess, the subprocess receives half the CPU time limit quota of the creating process.

If this quota is specified as zero, the created process has unlimited CPU time providing that the creating process also has unlimited CPU time. If, however, the creating process does not have unlimited CPU time, the created process receives half the CPU time limit quota of the creating process.

The CPU time limit quota is a consumable quota; that is, the amount of CPU time used by the created process is not returned to the creating process when the created process is deleted.

If you restrict CPU time for a process, specify the time limit according to the rules for specifying delta time values, as described in the OpenVMS User's Manual or the online help topic Date.

/TRUSTED

Specifies that the created process is part of the Trusted Computing Base (TCB) and performs its own auditing. The /DETACH qualifier is required as well as the IMPERSONATE privilege.

/UIC=uic

Specifies that the created process be a detached process and assigns it a user identification code (UIC). Specify the UIC by using standard UIC format as described in the HP OpenVMS Guide to System Security.

/WORKING_SET=default

Specifies the number of pages in the working set of the created process.

The default working set size is the size established at system generation time. The minimum number of pages required for a process to execute is 10 pages. The value specified cannot be greater than the quota specified with /MAXIMUM_WORKING_SET.

The maximum working set quota is nondeductible.


Examples

#1

$ RUN/PROCESS_NAME=SUBA   SCANLINE
%RUN-S-PROC_ID, identification of created process is 00010044.

      

In this example, the RUN command creates a subprocess named SUBA to run the image SCANLINE.EXE. The system gives the subprocess an identification number of 00010044.

#2

$ RUN/DELAY=3:30/OUTPUT=BALANCE.OUT BALANCE
      

In this example, the RUN command creates a subprocess to run the image BALANCE.EXE 3 hours and 30 minutes from now; output is written to the file BALANCE.OUT.

#3

$ RUN/INTERVAL=1:40/PROCESS_NAME=STAT   STATCHK
%RUN-S-PROC_ID, identification of created process is 00050023
   .
   .
   .
$ CANCEL STAT

      

In this example, the RUN command creates a subprocess named STAT to execute the image STATCHK.EXE. The process is scheduled to execute the image at intervals of 1 hour and 40 minutes. The process hibernates; however, because neither the /DELAY nor the /SCHEDULE qualifier is specified, the first wakeup request occurs immediately.

The CANCEL command subsequently cancels the wakeup requests posted by the /INTERVAL qualifier. If the process is currently executing the image, it completes the execution and hibernates.

#4

$ RUN/PROCESS_NAME=LYRA  LYRA -
_$/OUTPUT=_TTB3: -
_$/ERROR=_TTB3:
%RUN-S-PROC_ID, identification of created process is 000A002F

      

In this example, the RUN command creates a subprocess named LYRA to execute the image LYRA.EXE. The /OUTPUT and /ERROR qualifiers assign equivalences to the logical names SYS$OUTPUT and SYS$ERROR for the subprocess. Any messages the subprocess writes to its default output devices are displayed on the terminal TTB3.

#5

$ RUN/UIC=[100,4]/PRIVILEGES=(SAME,NOPSWAPM) -
_$/NORESOURCE_WAIT   OVERSEER
%RUN-S-PROC_ID, identification of created process is 0001002C

      

In this example, the RUN command creates a detached process to execute under the UIC [100,4]. The image OVERSEER.EXE is executed. The RUN command gives the process all the privileges of the current process, except the ability to alter its swap mode. The /NORESOURCE_WAIT qualifier disables resource wait mode for the process.


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