VAX/VMS Software VMS System Software Handbook

This handbook serves as a comprehensive guide to the VMS operating system and its associated software products from Digital Equipment Corporation, focusing on controlling the distribution and security of computing resources. It is part of a three-volume set, VAX/VMS Software.

The document is structured into seven chapters:

1. Introduction to VAX/VMS Software: Provides an overview of the VAX/VMS Productivity Environment, classifying software into four groups: VMS Core Software (operating system, services, utilities), VAX Program Development Software (programming languages, productivity tools like Code Management System, Module Management System, and Language-Sensitive Editor), VAX Information Management Software (database management systems like CDD, DBMS, Rdb/VMS, and runtime/forms management tools), and Related VAX Software (networking, cross-development tools for PDP-11 and VAX systems). It emphasizes VMS's environmental flexibility, virtual memory management, and event-driven priority scheduling.
2. The Digital Command Language (DCL): Describes DCL as the primary user interface for VMS, detailing its extensive set of commands for program development, file manipulation, interactive and batch processing, resource allocation, and operational control. It covers command format, terminal function keys, and the use of command procedures.
3. System Security: Discusses the importance of system security and the VMS features available to safeguard computing resources. It covers establishing and managing user accounts (User Authorization File - UAF, AUTHORIZE utility), authorizing usage (restricting devices, work times, and operation modes), and protecting information using User Identification Code (UIC)-based protection, Access Control Lists (ACLs), and file encryption. It also provides guidelines for password management.
4. The System Manager: Outlines the responsibilities and tools of the VMS system manager, including initiating system operation (User Environment Test Package - UETP), setting up user accounts, managing public files and volumes (initialization, mounting, backup, known images, logical names), and overall system control through startup procedures (STARTUP.COM, SYSTARTUP.COM), spooling, and queue management (batch, print, terminal). Various system management utilities like BACKUP, SYSGEN, ACCOUNTING, and MOUNT are described.
5. VAXcluster Software: Introduces VAXcluster systems as a method to combine multiple VAX processors and mass storage servers for enhanced computing power, data sharing, and system availability. It highlights benefits like incremental growth, data sharing at various levels, and hardware redundancy with failover capabilities. Key VMS V4.0 components for VAXclusters are explained, including DSA Class and Port Drivers, System Communication Services (SCS), MSCP Server, Connection Manager, Distributed Lock Manager, Distributed File System and RMS, Distributed Job Controller, and the QUORUM algorithm.
6. VAX Networking and Communication Software: Describes Digital's networking products (DECnet-VAX and VAX PSI) that enable VAX/VMS systems to communicate with other Digital and third-party systems in various network environments (communications, resource-sharing, distributed computing). It details the Digital Network Architecture (DNA) and its components, including nodes, DTEs, circuits (DDCMP, CI, Ethernet, X.25), routing, logical links, objects (e.g., File Access Listener, Network Management Listener), logging, and network access control.
7. The MicroVMS Operating System: Presents MicroVMS as a modular version of the VMS operating system tailored for MicroVAX systems. It emphasizes its compatibility with full VMS, ease of installation and maintenance, and modular structure comprising a Base System, Common Utilities, Multiuser Security, Application Development, and Systems Software Development modules. DECnet-VAX support and media availability for MicroVMS are also covered.