SHC011 VMS USERGUIDE FRE.PDF

This document is a user manual for the "System Healthcheck for OpenVMS" utility, distributed on CD-ROM, published by Digital Equipment Corporation in April 1995.

Purpose of the Utility: The System Healthcheck utility provides a comprehensive evaluation of OpenVMS computer systems (both standalone and clustered, supporting OpenVMS VAX versions 5.0-6.2 and OpenVMS AXP versions 1.5-6.2). It collects static and dynamic data on system performance, security, configuration, and accounting.

Service Workflow: The overall service involves a multi-step process:

1. Software Installation: Users install the System Healthcheck utility on their OpenVMS system, ensuring specific prerequisites related to operating system versions, hardware, disk space, system privileges, and processing quotas are met.
2. Data Collection: The utility guides users through gathering system data. This includes inputting client information, completing a questionnaire on site operations, defining data collection parameters (e.g., start time, duration for dynamic data collection, which is recommended for 8 hours during normal load), establishing security rules, providing consent for data use, and selecting specific nodes in a VMScluster. The collection process gathers static data (e.g., account configurations, file security) and dynamic data (e.g., I/O throughput, disk usage, paging information).
3. Data Transfer: After collection, the data is copied to an approved storage medium, typically a TK50 or TK70 tape.
4. Data Submission: The collected data on tape is then sent to a local Digital Customer Service Center (CSC) for analysis.
5. Data Analysis: Digital analyzes the submitted data against system management benchmarks and standards.
6. Reporting and Consultation: Digital provides a report detailing potential issues and observations, often including an easy-to-read analysis card. Following the report, a Digital multi-vendor customer service (MCS) consultant contacts the user to discuss the findings and help define a follow-up action plan.

Manual Structure: The manual is organized into five main chapters covering general information, installation procedures, launching the utility, executing data collection, and error handling. It also includes four appendices that provide an example installation procedure, useful OpenVMS commands for setting up prerequisites, a list of function keys for navigating the user interface, and examples of report extracts.