OVMS V62 ALPHA INSTALL.PDF

This document, the "OpenVMS Alpha Version 6.2 Upgrade and Installation Manual" (May 1995), provides comprehensive step-by-step instructions for installing and upgrading the OpenVMS Alpha operating system on Alpha computers. It also covers essential operational procedures, making it suitable for anyone responsible for system management, startup, shutdown, backup, and licensing.

The manual is organized into several key areas:

• Getting Started (Chapter 1): Introduces key terms, hardware and software components, required PALcode, device naming conventions, and how to navigate the operating system CD-ROM menu for initial setup, layered product management, DCL command execution, and system shutdown.
• Installation (Chapter 2-4): Details the process of installing the OpenVMS Alpha operating system, including preparing for installation (especially for VMScluster environments), step-by-step installation instructions (from CD-ROM or a running system), creating the system disk (INITIALIZE or PRESERVE options), registering licenses, selecting system components, and installing layered products. It also covers post-installation tasks such as creating accounts, backing up the system disk, customizing the system, configuring DECnet, running the User Environment Test Package (UETP), decompressing system libraries, and preparing for OpenVMS Management Station.
• Upgrade (Chapter 5-8): Explains how to prepare for an upgrade, including cautions and restrictions, preparing in a volume shadowing environment, backing up the current system disk, and specific considerations for VMScluster upgrades (concurrent and rolling methods). It then outlines the upgrade procedure itself and subsequent post-upgrade tasks like re-forming shadow sets, registering new licenses, examining AUTOGEN reports, modifying system parameters, and re-running AUTOGEN.
• Halt, Boot, and Shutdown Procedures (Appendix A): Provides detailed instructions for various booting scenarios (from local drive, InfoServer, manually, conversational, minimum startup, emergency modes), configuring boot devices and parameters, and different system shutdown methods.
• Backing Up and Restoring the System Disk (Appendix B): Describes procedures for backing up and restoring the system disk, including alternate methods and important cautions for VMScluster environments.
• License Management Supplement (Appendix C): Offers supplementary information on registering licenses, understanding the License Unit Requirement Table (LURT), and notes and restrictions regarding the License Management Facility (LMF).
• Preparing to Use OpenVMS Management Station (Appendix D): Guides users through setting up their OpenVMS system and PC to run the OpenVMS Management Station server and client software, including file preparation, client software installation, and DECnet node definition.

The document emphasizes thorough preparation through pre-installation and pre-upgrade checklists to ensure a smooth and successful deployment or update of the OpenVMS Alpha Version 6.2 operating system.