OpenVMS System Manager's Manual 1

This document, "OpenVMS System Manager’s Manual, Volume 1: Essentials" (April 2001, for OpenVMS Alpha and VAX Version 7.3), serves as a comprehensive, task-oriented guide for Compaq OpenVMS system managers. It provides essential information and step-by-step procedures for day-to-day system administration.

Key areas covered in this volume include:

• System Management Utilities and Tools: Introduction to OpenVMS Management Station, DCL commands and procedures, system messages, and core utilities like AUTHORIZE, BACKUP, SYSMAN (for centralized management), OPCOM (for operator communication), and VMSKITBLD (for system disk modification).
• Software Management: Guidance on installing, upgrading, and updating the OpenVMS operating system and layered products using VMSINSTAL.COM or the POLYCENTER Software Installation Utility, covering preparation, execution, and software removal.
• System Operations: Detailed instructions for starting up the system (including various booting methods like nonstop, conversational, and emergency boots) and shutting down the system (orderly and emergency procedures).
• Operating System Customization: Procedures for modifying the system to meet site-specific requirements, such as adding/deleting optional files, adjusting startup/login command procedures, customizing startup databases, managing the Help Message database, and configuring Mail and MIME utilities.
• Resource and Account Management: Comprehensive sections on setting system time (including time zones and Daylight Saving), managing user accounts (User Authorization File, privileges, restrictions, special accounts), configuring peripheral devices (terminals, modems, printers, tape drives, card readers), and managing storage media (initializing, protecting, mounting disks/tapes/volume sets, disk space management, and disk repair utilities).
• Data Protection: In-depth coverage of the BACKUP utility, detailing different backup types, strategies, save sets, file formats, and procedures for backing up and restoring user and system disks, ensuring data integrity, and troubleshooting common issues.
• Queuing System Management: Instructions for setting up and maintaining the OpenVMS batch and print queuing system, including managing the queue manager and its database, creating and controlling various queue types, and troubleshooting queuing problems.
• Security Considerations: An overview of security features, covering password management, intrusion detection mechanisms, protecting system objects with UIC-based protection and Access Control Lists (ACLs), and analyzing audit logs.

This manual is designed to equip system managers with the fundamental knowledge and practical skills required to effectively administer an OpenVMS environment.