Etos Accounts

Summary

This chapter provides a guide for the system manager on transitioning an ETOS system from a single-user setup to a multi-user environment. It details the structure and management of ETOS user accounts and files.

Key concepts covered include:

• Account Structure: ETOS allows the system manager to allocate specific sections of disk space to individual users, creating an "account" that functions similarly to a personal computer environment. Users should not log into the same account simultaneously to avoid conflicts with temporary files and scratch blocks.

• Account Attributes: Every account is defined by four main attributes:

  • Account Number: A combination of a project number and a programmer number (octal values ranging from 00 to 77).
  • Password: A security measure of 1–8 alphanumeric characters.
  • Protection Code: Determines if an account has "privileged" status (allowing system-wide control) and defines the default amount of virtual memory assigned at login.
  • Creation Date: An immutable attribute assigned automatically.

• Account Management: Accounts are created and managed via the ACCNT program, which records them in the Master File Directory (MFD).

• ETOS File Attributes: User files are organized within a User File Directory (UFD). Files are identified by a specific naming convention that includes the user's account number as a prefix (e.g., [XX,YY]filename.ext). Certain filenames, such as OS8DISK.DSK and COSDISK.RTS, are reserved for specific OS/8 and COS storage functions.