TOPS-20 V6 System Managers Guide Interim Dec84

This "TOPS-20 System Manager's Guide" (Version 6.0, December 1984) is a comprehensive manual designed for individuals responsible for the setup, maintenance, and policy management of TOPS-20 timesharing and batch processing installations. It focuses on managing system hardware and software for efficient and secure operations.

The guide covers:

1. Initial Setup and Planning: Details documentation requirements, preliminary planning functions, and the process of installing TOPS-20 software, including initial system directories, logical names, tailoring the batch system, and testing software integrity (UETP).
2. Disk and Directory Management: Explains how to set up disk structures, allocate disk space (including swapping space), and create and maintain user and project directories. It also covers directory and file protection codes, establishing user groups for file sharing, and assigning special user capabilities.
3. Accounting and Backup Procedures: Outlines how to set up accounting schemes, create and validate account data files, and implement system backup procedures (full and incremental dumps, system crash tapes). It also describes managing tape storage for file archiving, file migration, tape drive allocation, and tape labeling.
4. System Performance and Access Controls: Discusses mechanisms for tuning system performance, such as the class scheduler (for CPU allocation), bias controls (for favoring interactive vs. compute-bound jobs), improving program startup times, and reinitializing disk packs. Security aspects include access control programs, password encryption, and managing login information.
5. Troubleshooting and Advanced Features: Provides guidance on addressing system problems and crashes, including restoring files and directories. It also introduces the Common File System (CFS) for shared file access among multiple TOPS-20 systems and managing remote diagnostic links (KLINIK).

Overall, the document serves as a critical reference for system managers to establish and maintain a functional, secure, and performant TOPS-20 computing environment.