OpenVMS System Manager's Manual

This document serves as the first part of a task-oriented guide for OpenVMS system managers, encompassing both new and experienced users on OpenVMS AXP and VAX systems. It covers fundamental tasks and concepts essential for day-to-day system management, often referencing other manuals for more detailed information.

Key areas addressed include:

• System Management Utilities and Tools: An introduction to and usage of Digital Command Language (DCL) commands, the System Management Utility (SYSMAN) for centralized management, the Operator Communication Manager (OPCOM) for user communication, and VMSKITBLD.COM for system disk modification.
• Software Installation and System Control: Procedures for installing, upgrading, and updating software products (including layered products), alongside detailed explanations of various system startup and shutdown methods (nonstop, conversational, emergency, and controlled procedures, including the VAX-specific Snapshot facility).
• Operating System Customization: Guidance on tailoring the OpenVMS operating system by adding or deleting optional files, modifying site-specific startup command procedures (such as SYCONFIG.COM, SYLOGICALS.COM, SYPAGSWPFILES.COM, SYSECURITY.COM, and SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM), customizing startup databases, managing the Help Message database, and setting up time zone compensation (for VAX systems).
• User and Device Management: Instructions for managing user accounts (User Authorization File or UAF, passwords, limits, quotas, privileges, and Access Control Lists or ACLs), setting up special accounts like automatic login and network proxy accounts, and managing MAIL accounts. It also covers understanding and managing peripheral devices, including connecting device drivers, configuring terminals, printers, tape drives, and VAX-specific card readers.
• Storage Management and Data Protection: Concepts and tasks related to managing storage media such as disks and magnetic tapes, including allocation, deallocation, initialization, protection, volume sets, ISO 9660 formatted media, mount verification for recovery, and detecting bad blocks.
• Backup and Security: Comprehensive information on using the BACKUP utility for various types of backups (image, incremental) and restoration processes, ensuring data integrity, and understanding critical security considerations like password management, break-in detection mechanisms, and auditing security-relevant events.
• Queue Management: Guidelines for managing batch and print queues, including setting up and starting queue managers, handling queue failovers, and troubleshooting common problems related to the queuing system.