OpenVMS VAX Version 7.3 Upgrade and Installation Manual

This document, the "OpenVMS VAX Version 7.3 Upgrade and Installation Manual" (April 2001), serves as a comprehensive step-by-step guide for system administrators responsible for installing or upgrading the Compaq OpenVMS VAX operating system on VAX computers.

The manual outlines two primary procedures:

1. Installation: This process involves initializing and overwriting the system disk, making it suitable for new VAX computers or for completely reinstalling the operating system.
2. Upgrade: This procedure updates an existing OpenVMS VAX operating system (from version 6.1 or later) to Version 7.3, designed to preserve user files and most system customizations. It covers specific considerations for standalone systems and VAXcluster environments, including options for concurrent (full cluster shutdown) and rolling (partial cluster availability) upgrades.

Key areas covered in the manual include:

• Getting Started: Provides an overview of the installation and upgrade processes, defines key terms (e.g., system disk, source/target drive, save sets), and highlights important information, restrictions (e.g., minimum memory, unsupported VAX models/disks), and layered product compatibility (e.g., DECwindows Motif minimum version, DECnet options).

• Preparation: Detailed instructions and checklists for both installation and upgrade, covering essential tasks such as:

  • Verifying hardware and software components.
  • Gathering necessary information (device names, passwords for system accounts, cluster parameters).
  • Preparing disk and tape drives.
  • Backing up the system disk and console media (crucial for upgrades).
  • Checking and adjusting system parameters (e.g., page/swap file sizes, quotas/limits) and ensuring sufficient free disk space.
  • Special considerations for VAXcluster environments, including mixed-version support and quorum management during upgrades.

• Installation/Upgrade Procedures: Step-by-step execution using VMSINSTAL, from booting standalone BACKUP or the full OpenVMS environment, transferring necessary save sets, and configuring core system components like networking products and DECwindows support. The upgrade process is broken down into six phases, detailing file operations, system reboots, and information prompts.

• Post-Installation/Upgrade Tasks: Essential steps to be performed after the main process, including:

  • Verifying system time.
  • Registering licenses for OpenVMS VAX and other System Integrated Products (SIPs) and DECnet.
  • Performing final system backups.
  • Customizing the system and networking software.
  • Testing the system using the User Environment Test Package (UETP).
  • Decompressing system libraries using LIBDECOMP.COM for faster access.
  • Managing disk space by adding or removing optional components and purging unwanted files using VMSTAILOR and DECW$TAILOR.
  • Running AUTOGEN multiple times to optimize system parameters based on workload feedback.
  • Updating console media and restoring site-specific command procedures.

• Customization and Licensing: Dedicated chapters provide in-depth details on customizing DECwindows support software, using VMSTAILOR and DECW$TAILOR for file management, and a supplementary section on license management, including the License Unit Requirement Table (LURT).

• Appendices: Offer specific guidance on booting from [SYSF] during upgrades for various VAX models, lists of save set subclasses, DECwindows components, and strategies for managing small-capacity system disks.

The manual emphasizes reading release-specific documentation, adhering to cautions (especially regarding data loss during installation), and performing comprehensive checks and backups throughout the process to ensure a successful and stable OpenVMS VAX environment.