DEC-10-MRZA-D Five Series Monitor Installation Guide Jul70

This document is an introductory guide to the Digital Equipment Corporation's 5.01 Monitor software kit for PDP-10 customers, released on July 7, 1970. Its primary purpose is to explain the contents of the software kit and help users understand the accompanying material.

Key aspects of the 5.01 Monitor include:

1. New Level D Disk Service: This is a central feature, described as complex, efficient, and highly configurable. It has been extensively tested with various hardware configurations (drums, fixed-head disks, RP01/RP02 disk packs).
2. Reliability and Efficiency Improvements:
   • The monitor has undergone stringent testing since March 1970, including simulating heavy user loads.
   • Crash rates were reported as low (e.g., 1 crash/shift, decreasing to none on weekends).
   • System capacity with acceptable response increased by approximately 20% over the previous Level C monitor.
   • A new WATCH command allows users to measure program efficiency (real time, CPU time, disk I/O).
   • Level D demonstrates significant performance gains over Level C for disk throughput.
3. New Programs and Utilities:
   • BOOTS and FILEX: New support cusps for loading monitors, dumping dead monitors, and analyzing crash dumps.
   • SCRIPT: A program for generating realistic job loads for testing, along with .SCP test files.
   • DSKC: Interim programs to display remaining free blocks on file structures.
   • FRM's: Examples of software error/fix report forms.
4. Documentation: The release includes new documentation such as LevelD.MEM (introduction to Level D disk service), DSK@16.MEM (detailed Level D description), MONITR.OPR (monitor building and operating instructions), TABLE.TXT (magtape contents), and MONSUP.MAN (supplementary information). Existing documentation like the PDP-10 Software Notebook is updated with Monitor Change Orders (MCOs).
5. Changes and Updates:
   • Modifications to file protection schemes (default changed), command functionalities (LOOKUP, ENTER, RENAME, FILE, DIRECTORY), and system defaults (tape density, memory speed).
   • Information on CRASH.SAV sizing and the renaming of ALCDSK to ALCFIL.
   • Numerous Monitor Change Orders (MCOs) are detailed, outlining specific bug fixes and minor specification changes across various modules.
6. Installation and Future Notes: Instructions are provided for installing the monitor from a magtape distribution. The document also mentions implications for future updates using SOUP and compatibility notes for 10/40 N and 10/40 D monitors.