TSS/8 System Manager's Guide for the PDP-8/I Time-Sharing System

Summary

The TSS/8 System Manager's Guide is a technical manual designed for the individual responsible for the operation and maintenance of the TSS/8 software system on a PDP-8 or PDP-8/I computer. The guide is not intended for the general system user.

Key areas covered include:

• System Planning: Provides information on hardware requirements, cabinet space, power specifications, cabling, and environmental considerations for installing a TSS/8 system.
• System Building (Part One): Details the multi-step process for initializing the computer, loading the Monitor, refreshing the disk, building the system library, defining account numbers and passwords, and creating system backups on DECtape.
• System Operation and Maintenance (Part One): Describes routine tasks such as starting and restarting the system, managing account passwords, monitoring disk usage, and controlling system users.
• Monitor Internals (Part Two): Offers a detailed look at the TSS/8 Monitor, including its role as an interrupt handler, its scheduling algorithms, the management of the data base, and how it handles disk storage and file operations.
• Modifying the System: Explains how to perform patches and modifications to system library programs and the Monitor itself, including the use of debugging tools like XDDT and DISKLOOK.
• Technical Appendices: Includes character set tables, step-by-step examples for building a system from paper tape or DECtape, hardware configuration charts, and documentation on necessary hardware modifications.