NETLDR Remote Node Load and Dump Utility Sep80

This document, "NETLDR Remote Node Load and DUMP Utility" (September 1980), describes a software tool developed by Digital Equipment Corporation.

Core Functionality: NETLDR is used to:

1. Downline load software into remote nodes from a DECsystem-10 host.
2. Dump the memory contents of a remote node onto a file on the DECsystem-10 host.

Operational Modes:

• Manual: Users can execute NETLDR from the DECsystem-10 command line, providing file specifications, CPU type, node ID, synchronous line number, and various optional switches.
• Automatic: When a remote node initiates a BOOT request, a detached instance of NETLDR automatically starts on the host. This automatic operation relies on the SYS:NETLDR.INI configuration file.

Key Features and Requirements:

• Prerequisites: To run NETLDR, the user must be logged in with POKE, LOCK, and HPQ privileges.
• NETLDR.INI: This file contains specific command lines that match boot requests from remote nodes (based on node, line, type, serial number) to corresponding dump and load file specifications and switches.
• Switches: Various switches are available to customize operations, such as specifying CPU type (/PDP11, /PDP8), memory dump ranges (/DUMP:x-y), ignoring specific load requests (/IGNORE), setting high priority for the operation (/HPQ), or defining program start addresses (/START). Some switches are exclusively for NETLDR.INI.
• Limitations: NETLDR cannot be scheduled automatically if the SET SCHED 1000 command has been executed on the system.
• Error Handling: Error messages are prefixed with ?NET (fatal) or !NET (nonfatal) followed by a three-character code for debugging.