ULTRIX-32 Guide to System Shutdown and Startup

This document, the "ULTRIX-32 Guide to System Shutdown and Startup" (Version 3.0), is intended for system managers and maintainers of ULTRIX-32 systems.

It provides comprehensive instructions and commands for:

• System Shutdown Procedures: Covers bringing the system to single-user mode, halting the processor, rebooting the system, and shutting down diskless clients using the shutdown and halt commands.
• System Startup Modes: Explains how to boot the system into single-user, multiuser, and conversational modes, detailing what happens in each, the role of fsck for file system integrity, and how to invoke multiuser mode from single-user.
• Processor-Specific Boot Commands: Offers detailed, model-specific boot commands for a wide range of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) VAX processors (e.g., VAXserver, MicroVAX, VAXstation, VAX-11 series, VAX 6000, 8000 series). It describes booting from various sources like the console, TK50 tape, local disks, HSC disks, and the network. This section also includes procedures for building and updating boot command files and EEPROM data using tools like mkconsole.
• The Standalone ULTRIX Environment: Describes this minimal, diskless environment used for ULTRIX installations, system recovery (e.g., repairing file systems with fsck, restoring boot blocks, disk maintenance), and how to extend its capabilities by creating device special files using MAKEDEV and mounting additional file systems.

The guide also includes appendices on device mnemonics and the use of General Purpose Registers (GPRs) by the VMB.EXE bootstrap program.