DEC VMS

Installation

By cloning

init dka100: OVMSVAXSYS      ! for VAX-VMS
mount/foreign dka100:
BACK/IMAGE/IGNORE=(INTERLOCK,NOBACKUP) dka0: dka100:

mcr writeboot
Target system device (and boot file if not VMB.EXE): dka0:[VMS$COMMON.SYSEXE]VMB.EXE
Enter VBN of boot file code (default is 1) :
Enter load address of primary bootstrap in HEX (default is 200):

From scratch: 7.3[-x] (hobbyist)

• hobbyist kit from DECUS
• hobbyist licenses from montagar
• OpenVMS VAX Version 7.3 Upgrade and Installation Manual (html) (pdf)

1. boot from CD-ROM.
   • VAX:
     If the VAX' NVRAM/battery is empty, it won't remember its boot disk across power cycles. Thus it is advisable to define it:

     set boot dka0 ! for SCSI disk with ID=0
     

     otherwise the automatic reboot will assume booting via network.
     If the CD-ROM is not an original DEC one, it must support 512 byte sectors, either via block jumper (disabled) or via SCSI commands. I used a Plextor PX-32TSi with the block jumper disabled. To boot VMS off the CD you use on the console e.g. for a CD-ROM with SCSI-Id 4:

     b/r5:10000000 dka400
     

     Several error messages will show up, but can be ignored. When the menu appears, select

     1) Execute DCL commands and procedures
     

     and enter DCL mode ($$$ prompt). Then mount the system disk and restore a backup save-set, e.g. for a target disk with SCSI-Id 0:

     MOUNT/FOREIGN dka0:
     BACKUP/IMAGE/VERIFY dka400:[0,0]VMS073.B/SAVE_SET dka0:
     LOGOUT
     

     then shutdown (menu selection) and reboot the system:

      boot dka0:

     at the console prompt.
   • Alpha:
     probably needs a SCSI CD-ROM,

     set os_type VMS           ! at least for PWS
     boot -flags 0,0 dka400
     

2. Installation will continue, ignore initial error messages, just answer the questions. Accept defaults, you may install just everything. DECnet Phase IV rather than DECnet Plus. At this point the installation takes about 250MB,
   One may register licenses already at this point: VAX-VMS or OPENVMS-ALPHA, UCX-IP-CLIENT, UCX-IP-RT and DW-MOTIF for example. Just follow the prompts and enter the license information (case blind).
   When prompted, choose
   • ODS-5 to allow for UNIX-compatible filenames
   • Motif, DECnet++, TCP/IP V5.3-18
   
   Finally, the system runs the AUTOGEN procedure, shuts down and reboots.
   Proceed with customization.

Customization

• OpenVMS System Manager's Manual, Vol 1 (html) (pdf)
• OpenVMS System Manager's Manual, Vol 2 (html) (pdf)

1. Login as SYSTEM
2. time and date

   SHOW TIME
   SET TIME=dd-mmm-yyyy:hh:mm:ss
   

3. Mount the VMS OS CD (e.g. on SCSI ID=4)

   mount/override=ID dka400:
   

4. If not yet done, register some basic VMS licenses from PAK info:

   license register VAX-VMS ...               ! for VAX 
   license register OPENVMS-ALPHA ...         ! for alpha
   license register DW-MOTIF ...
   license register UCX-IP-CLIENT ...
   license register UCX-IP-RT ...
   license load
   

5. Install further software:

   product install */source=dka400:[*.kit]
   

   select DECwindows, TCPIP (and others provided respective PAKs are already loaded) and follow the instructions. Only one of DECnet and DECnet OSI should be selected. Leave out DECnet if already installed in the previous steps. You should leave out FTAM,OSAK,VT if DECNET_OSI (DECnet Plus) is not installed too.
   On VAX you might be prompted to run

   @sys$update:autogen getdata reboot setparams check_feedback
   

   before. So far the installation takes 400MB disk space.
6. Customize DECwindows
   On VAX:

   RUN SYS$UPDATE:DECW$TAILOR
   

   and answer the questions (take just everything, use CTRL/Z/C/Y to abort)
   Create a startup script:

   copy SYS$MANAGER:DECW$PRIVATE_SERVER_SETUP.TEMPLATE SYS$MANAGER:DECW$PRIVATE_SERVER_SETUP.COM
   

   with appropriate entries:

   DECW$SERVER_DENSITY == "100"
   DECW$SERVER_TRANSPORTS == "DECNET,LOCAL,TCPIP"
   DECW$DEFAULT_KEYBOARD_MAP == "NORTH_AMERICAN_LK401AA"
   

   For security issues consult: DECwindows Motif for OpenVMS (html)
7. Customize TCP/IP.
   Special for VAX:

   RUN SYS$UPDATE:VMSTAILOR      ! network stuff only ...
   RUN SYS$UPDATE:VMSTAILOR      ! ... then the rest
                                 ! special for VS4000:
   edit sys$system:modparams.dat ! MIN_INTSTKPAGES=12
                                 ! and yet another reboot, sigh.  
   @sys$update:autogen getdata reboot check_feedback
   

   Configure TCPIP:

   @SYS$MANAGER:TCPIP$CONFIG
   

   choose options A, then A again. The menus are mostly self-explaining. Configuration settings go into TCPIP$SERVICES.
   Call tcpip to enter local IP addresses, equivalent to /etc/hosts, e.g.

   tcpip> set host t30   /addr=192.168.1.22
   tcpip> set host rs6kf /addr=192.168.1.42
   

   
   For more information consult:
   Compaq TCP/IP services for OpenVMS Installation and Configuration Manual (html)
   To enable TCP/IP for the next boot, in

    
   SYS$STARTUP:SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM: 
   

   enable the line

    
   @SYS$STARTUP:TCPIP$STARTUP
   

8. Reboot.
9. Use ftp and fetch a hobbyist license file, e.g. 20100916_pak_lpp.com, apply it:

   license list              ! in a separate window, CTRL-Z to avoid lock 
   edit 20100916_pak_lpp.com ! Remove already loaded licenses, if not yet done,
                             ! e.g. by outcommenting the LICENSE REGISTER command
   @20100916_pak_lpp.com      
   license load 
   

10. Install remaining layered products from available media
    (see also OpenVMS System Manager's Manual, Vol 1 (html) )

    mount/override=id dka400
    dir dka400:[0,0]         ! what's on CD
    dir dka400:[*.kit]       ! installable stuff 
    
    product install */source=dka400:[*.kit]     ! either this
    @sys$update:VMSINSTAL cc064 dka400:[*.kit]  ! or this, example for C 6.4 
    
    dismount dka400          ! when done
    

11. To make Insert Mode the default: in LOGIN.COM or SYLOGIN.COM

    $ IF F$MODE().EQS."INTERACTIVE" THEN $ SET TERM/INTERACTIVE
    $ IF F$MODE().EQS."INTERACTIVE" THEN $ SET TERM/INSERT
    

12. Check the installation with UETP
    (see also OpenVMS System Manager's Manual, Vol 2 (html) )

    set def sys$system:
    run sys$system:authorize
    UAF> modify systest/password=abcdabcd   ! one-time password
    

    Login systest, then run @uetp.
    Results in SYS$SYSROOT:[SYSTEST]uetp.log
    After completion, disable accounts

    UAF> modify   field/flags=disuser/pwdlifetime=NONE  ! disable, /flags=nodisuser enables
    UAF> modify systest/flags=disuser/pwdlifetime=NONE  ! disable
    

13. Checking disk space and decompressing libraries

    SHOW DEVICE SYS$SYSDEVICE
    @SYS$UPDATE:LIBDECOMP.COM
    

14. Create accounts
    OpenVMS Guide to System Security (pdf)
    OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual (html)
    To add users, login system and proceed as follows e.g.:

    create/directory sys$sysdevice:[uuuuuu]/owner_uic=[1757,1771]     ! group=1007, user=1017
    set def sys$system:
    run sys$system:authorize 
    UAF> add uuuuuu /password=......../uic=[1757,1771] /pwdlifetime=NONE /noexpiration /flags=nodisuser /directory=uuuuuu