Building ULTRIX-32 Systems With Config

This "ULTRIX-32 Programmer's Manual" (Order No. AA-BG60A-TE), published by Digital Equipment Corporation in May 1984, is a technical guide for configuring and building a bootable ULTRIX-32 operating system image.

The document primarily focuses on using the config utility, which simplifies system maintenance by centralizing system dependencies within a single, editable configuration file.

The manual is divided into three main sections and supporting appendices:

1. The Configuration File: Details how to create and edit the system's configuration file. This includes defining global parameters (like machine type, CPU type, system identification, timezone, maximum users, and network options), specifying system image parameters (such as root filesystem location, swap/paging areas, and dump devices), and detailing hardware device specifications (controllers, disks, tapes, and pseudodevices like pty, loop, inet, and ether, including their interconnections and interrupt details).
2. Using config to Build the System: Outlines the practical steps for building a system image. This involves creating a dedicated directory, running the config program on the configuration file, constructing source code dependencies using make depend, and finally compiling and loading the system with make.
3. Sample Configuration Files: Provides complete example configuration files and step-by-step guidance for setting up ULTRIX-32 systems on specific VAX processors (VAX-11/780, VAX-11/750, and VAX-11/730), demonstrating how to tailor the system to different hardware configurations.

Appendices further cover the configuration file grammar, rules for defaulting system devices, and detailed VAX Kernel data structure sizing rules for advanced users.

In essence, this manual serves as a comprehensive resource for system administrators and programmers to customize and generate a functional ULTRIX-32 kernel tailored to their specific VAX hardware and operational needs.