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ULTRIX

Technical Summary

Order Number: AA-MG63B-TE

ULTRIX

Technical Summary

Order Number: AA-MG63B-TE
June 1990

Product Version:

ULTRIXIULTRIX Worksystem Software Version 4.0 or
higher

This document briefly describes the features of the ULTRIX operating system, including
system and network functionality, documentation, services, and compatibility with other
UNIX operating systems.

digital equipment corporation
maynard, massachusetts

Restricted Rights: Use, duplication, or disclosure by the U.S. Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in
subparagraph (c) (1) (ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause of DFARS 252.227-7013.
© Digital Equipment Corporation 1988, 1990
All rights reserved.

The information in this document is subject to change without notice and should not be construed as a commitment
by Digital Equipment Corporation. Digital Equipment Corporation assumes no responsibility for any errors that may
appear in this document.
The software described in this document is furnished under a license and may be used or copied only in accordance
with the terms of such license.
No responsibility is assumed for the use or reliability of software on equipment that is not supplied by Digital· or its
affiliated companies.

The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation:

ALL-IN-l
CDA
DDIF
DDIS
DEC
DECnet
DEC station

DECUS
DECwindows
DTIF
MASSBUS
MicroVAX
Q-bus
ReGIS
ULTRIX
ULTRIX Mail Connection

ULTRIX Worksystem Software
UNIBUS
VAX
VAXstation
VMS
VMS/ULTRIX Connection
VT
WPS-PLUS
XUI

Ada is a registered trademark of the United States government.
Apple and LaserWriter are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Macintosh is a trademark licensed to
Apple Computer, Inc.
DOCUMENTER'S WORKBENCH and UNIX are registered trademarks of AT&T in the USA and other countries.
IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
Interlan is a trademark of Interlan, Inc.
Modula-2 is a trademark of Interface Technologies Corporation.
Network File System and NFS are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc.
The Open Software Foundation logotype is a trademark of the Open Software Foundation.
PostScript and Display PostScript are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems, Inc.
Tektronix is a trademark of Tektronix, Inc.
Xerox is a registered trademark of Xerox Corporation.
X/Open is a trademark of X/Open Company Ltd.
X Window System version 11, and its derivatives (X, XII, and X version 11) are trademarks of Massachusetts
Institute of Technology.

Contents

About This Document
vii

Audience
Organization

.. .. . .. ... . ... .. .. . . .. . .. . ... .. . ... .. . .. .. .... . ... . .. ... .. . .. . .. ... . .. . .. ... . ..... . .. . .. . . .. .. ... . .. .

Related Documentation

......................................................................................

Conventions

vii
VIII
Vill

ULTRIX Operating System Overview

1.1

Derivation of the ULTRIX Operating System

1-1

1.2

Description of the ULTRIX Operating System

1-2

System Facilities

2.1

General Use
2.1.1
2.1.2
2.1.3
2.1.4

2.2

2.3

..... . ..... . ... ..... . .. . ... .. . .. .. . .. . . .. .. . ... . ..... . .. . . . . . .... ... . ... .. .... .. . ... .. ... . .. .

2-1

Character-Cell Terminals ............................................................... .
Windowing Workstations ............................................................... .
Printers ........................................................................................ .
Command Languages .................................................................... .

2-2
2-2
2-2
2-3

Software Development

2-3

2.2.1
2.2.2
2.2.3
2.2.4
2.2.5
2.2.6
2.2.7

2-3
2-4

Programming Languages ............................................................... .
Associated Development Tools ....................................................... .
Maintenance Tools ........................................................................ .
Compound Document Architecture Support ...................................... .
SQL Support ................................................................................ .
ULTRIX Worksystem Software Programming Environment ............... .
Graphics and Plotting .................................................................... .

System Management
2.3.1

................................................................................ .

Installation and System Generation
2.3.1.1
2.3 .1.2

2-5
2-5
2-5
2-5
2-7
2-7

..................................................

2-7

Installation .........................................................................
System Generation and Modification .... . .. .... ...... .. ... . ... ... .. ... . ...

2-7
2-8

2.3.2

2.3.2.1
2.3.2.2
2.3.3

...................................................................

2-8

File Archiving ....................................................................
ANSI-Compatible Archiving .................................................

2-9
2-9

System Administration

Maintainability

..............................................................................

2-10
2-10

2.4

Addition of Software by Users

Networking Facilities

3.1

Internet Network Access

3-1

3.2

DECnet Network Access

3-2

3.3

Network File System and Yellow Pages

3-2

3.3.1
3.3.2

Network File System ..................................................................... .
Yellow Pages Service .................................................................... .

3-3
3-3

....................................................................... .

3-3

......................................................................................... .

3-4

The ULTRIX Mail Connection ....................................................... .
The mail Facility .......................................................................... .
The MH System ............................................................................ .
The dxmail Program ..................................................................... .

3-4
3-4
3-4
3-4

3.4

VMS/ULTRIX Connection

3.5

Mail Facilities

3.5.1
3.5.2
3.5.3
3.5.4
3.6

uucp Interfaces

3.7

Local Area Transport Support

3.8

Kerberos Authentication

Compatibility and Industry Standards

4.1

Open Software Environments

4.1.1
4.1.2
4.1.3

................................ ................. ................ ... .....................
....................................................................

3-5

............................................................................

3-5

........................................... ..........................

4-1

POSIX ........................................................................................ .
X/Open ....................................................................................... .
Open Software Foundation ............................................................. .

4-2
4-3
4-4

d..............................................................................

4-5

4.2

Network File System

4.3

Berkeley BSD 4.2, 4.3, and 4.3-5

4.4

AT &T System V

4.4.1
4.4.2
4.4.3
4.4.4
4.5

.. .... ......... ........ ................ ... ............ .........

4-5

......................................................................................

4-5

Advanced Utilities Extension ................................ ..........................
Administered System Extension .......................................................
Software Development Extensions ...................................................
Additional System V Information .......................... ..........................

4-6
4-6
4-6
4-7

UNIXV7

ivContents

3-5

4-7

Hardware Requirements

5.1
5.2
5.3

Processors
Console Terminal

5.4

System Disk

5.5
5.6

Software Load Device
Disk Media

Documentation and Documentation Tools

6.1

Printed ULTRIX Documentation

6-1

6.2

Online Documentation

6-4

6.3

Documentation Development and Production

Memory Requirements

6.3.1
6.3.2
6.3.3
6.3.4

............................................................................. .

.................................................................................... .
.............................................................................. .

5-1
5-1
5-2
5-2
5-2
5-3

.............................................. .

Editors ........................................................................................ .
Processors and Formatters .............................................................. .
Compound Document Architecture ................................................. ..
Unsupported To<;>ls ........................................................................ .

6-5
6-5
6-6
6-6
6-7

Software Services

7.1

System Startup Service Packages

7-1

7.2

Support Services

7-1

Licensing and Ordering Information Summary

Software Subsets

Unsupported Software

B.1

Software Included with the ULTRIX Operating System

B-1

B.2

Software Available Through DECUS

B-3

POSIX FIPS 151-1 Modifications

Contents v

Figures
1-1: Components of the ULTRIX Operating System

1-1

1-2: ULTRIX System Derivation

1-2

2-1: XUI Architecture

2-6

...................................................................................... .

3-1: ULTRIX Networking Capabilities

.............................................................. .

5-1: Minimum ULTRIX Hardware Configuration

................................................ .

3-1
5-1

Tables
2-1: ULTRIX Programming Languages

2-4

4-1: Open Software Environments

..................................................................... .

4-2

4-2: X/Open XPG2 Conformance

...................................................................... .

4-3

.................................................... ..

4-4

............................................................. .

4-5

............................................................................. .

6-1

4-3: Open Software Foundation Conformance
4-4: ULTRIX Compatibility with SVID
6-1: ULTRIX Document Set

............................................ ..

6-3

................................................................. .

6-4

6-2: ULTRIX Worksystem Software Document Set
6-3: Online Documentation Facilities

........................................................ ..

6-6

...................................................................... .

A-I

6-4: Special-Purpose Documentation Tools
A-I: Supported Software Subsets

................................................ ..

A-3

............................................................ .

B-1

A-2: Unsupported Software Subset Descriptions
B-1: Unsupported Software Components

vi Contents

About This Document

This document describes Version 4.0 of the ULTRIX operating system and ULTRIX
Worksystem Software (Digital Equipment Corporation's ULTRIX-based windowing
workstation system). You should assume that discussion of the ULTRIX operating
system applies to ULTRIX Worksystem Software as well, except where specific
differences are noted.
This document applies to both the VAX and the RISC implementations of the
software; differences are noted as applicable.

Audience
This document is intended for Digital customers and others who may be considering
the purchase of a UNIX system. It is directed to people who develop the technical
specifications for computer system purchases. This document is also useful to
owners of ULTRIX systems as a compact technical reference. You do not need to be
an expert with UNIX systems to use this document.

Organization
This document has eight chapters and three appendixes:
Chapter 1

ULTRIX Operating System Overview

Chapter 2

System Facilities

Chapter 3

Networking Facilities

Chapter 4

Compatibility and Industry Standards

Chapter 5

Hardware Requirements

Chapter 6

Documentation and Documentation Tools

Chapter 7

Software Services

Chapter 8

Licensing and Ordering Information Summary

Appendix A

Software Subsets

Appendix B

Unsupported Software

Appendix C

POSIX FIPS 151-12 Modifications

Related Documentation
Refer to the following documents for further information about topics discussed in
this manual. These documents are available from your Digital representative:
ULTRIX Software Product Description
ULTRIX W orksystem Software Product Description
ULTRIX Optional Software Cross-Reference Table
Software Source Book, Fourth Edition

Software Product Descriptions for optional products discussed in this document
The following documents from the ULTRIX document set contain additional related
information. (The manual R2000 Architecture is part of the hardware documentation
for RISe systems.)
Reader's Guide and Master Index
Introduction to the ULTRIX Worksystem Software User Environment
Guide to Preparing Software for Distribution on ULTRIX Systems
POSIX 1003.1 Conformance Document
R2000 Architecture

The Software Product Description (SPD) is the precise and legally binding definition
of the software and its functionality.

Conventions
The following typographical conventions are used in this manual:
system output This typeface is used to indicate the exact name of a command,

option, partition, pathname, directory, or file.
macro

In text, bold type is used to introduce new terms.

filename

In examples, syntax descriptions, and function definitions, italics
are used to indicate variable values; and in text, to give references
to other documents.

viii About This Document

ULTRIX Operating System Overview

An operating system is a set of components that work together to provide a solution
to a computing requirement. A simplified illustration of the components that make
up the ULTRIX product is shown in Figure 1-1.
Figure 1-1: Components of the ULTRIX Operating System

The ULTRIX operating system is a native UNIX operating system for Digital
Equipment Corporation' s VAX and reduced instruction set (RISC) families of
computers. The term native means that the software is written in a language that
compiles either to assembly language or directly to the computer's standard machine
representation (object files). Native software is more efficient and runs much faster
than translated or interpreted software; in addition, it can be tailored to make the
most effective use of the machine's resources.

1.1

Derivation of the ULTRIX Operating System
Under license from AT&T, the ULTRIX software is derived from AT&T's UNIX
System V, Release 2, and from the Fourth Berkeley Software Distribution, Version
4.2 (BSD 4.2), of the UNIX Timesharing System. The BSD software was developed
by the Computer Systems Research Group of the Department of Electrical
Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California at Berkeley.
The software also includes enhancements based on the Fourth Berkeley Software
Distribution, Versions 4.3 (BSD 4.3) and 4.3-5. See Figure 1-2 for a simplified
illustration of the development of the ULTRIX operating system.
The optional ULTRIX W orksystem Software component is Digital's implementation
of the MIT X Window System.

Figure 1-2: ULTRIX System Derivation

Digital
Extensions

(utilities, tools,
optional products)

1.2 Description of the ULTRIX Operating System
The ULTRIX operating system is a general-purpose, multiuser, interactive
timesharing operating system that supports Digital' s VAX and RISC families of
32-bit processors. Running on a VAX processor, the software has drivers for all of
Digital's supported peripherals, including VAXBI devices. For RISC processors,
drivers are included for all of the peripherals Digital supports on this family of
processors. Support for Hierarchical Storage Subsystem (HSC) controllers and
Digital's Computer Interconnect (CI) is provided for both VAX and RISC processors.
On systems with multiple CPUs, symmetrical multiprocessing (SMP) support is
provided to enhance system performance.
The ULTRIX operating system includes most of the features of BSD 4.2, including a
hierarchical file system with demountable volumes, compatible device and
interprocess I/O, asynchronous processes, over 200 subsystems, and a high degree of
portability among processors.
The ULTRIX operating system's handling of file systems is generic, such that several
different types of file systems (for example, UFS and NFS) can be mounted
simultaneously.
Along with the functionality of BSD 4.2, Digital has added many significant features
to the ULTRIX operating system. Some of these features are source-level
compatibility with AT&T UNIX System V (see Chapter 4), support for new
processors and devices, new commands and programming languages (see Chapter 2),
and support for Digital's Compound Document Architecture Program (see Chapter
6). Optionally, Digital's DECwindows workstation environment, ULTRIX
Worksystem Software, can be added (see Chapter 2).
The ULTRIX operating system can be installed and configured without being built
from source code, although source licenses are available (see Chapter 8).
Digital has further enhanced the ULTRIX product by providing enhanced and
expanded documentation, both on line and in paper form.
The ULTRIX software includes extended system management and maintainability
features to simplify the tasks associated with its administration.
The ULTRIX product undergoes continual enhancement. Refer to the ULTRIX and
ULTRIX Worksystem Software Product Descriptions (SPD) for descriptions of
features that have been added in the Version 4.0 release.
1-2 ULTRIX Operating System Overview

System Facilities

The ULTRIX operating system provides services and facilities for the following
types of activity:
•

General use
Terminals
Workstations
Printers
Command languages

•

Software development
Programming languages
Associated development tools
Maintenance tools
Compound Document Architecture support
ULTRIX W orksystem Software programming environment
Graphics, including traditional UNIX plotting and graphics and, on VAX
processors only, GKS and ReGIS

•

System management
Installation and system generation
System administration
Maintainability

•

Addition of software by users

The following sections discuss these facilities in detail.

2.1

General Use
General use includes the day-to-day tasks performed by most users, including sending
and receiving mail, editing files, and running applications. The ULTRIX software
supports two basic user interfaces: the traditional character-cell terminal and highresolution windowing workstations. Within each of these environments, users have
access to the common UNIX command languages for communicating with the
system. Additionally, workstation users have the facilities of DECwindows,
Digital's windowing user environment and window management software. Spooled
printing facilities are also provided. The following sections discuss these facilities.

2.1.1

Character-Cell Terminals

[1. . AbCd
. .....l]
C

The base ULTRIX operating system supports most common
hardcopy and video display terminals with either the standard
UNIX V7 terminal driver or the Berkeley terminal driver.
Either driver can be selected and tailored by the user with the
stty command. Terminals of differing capabilities are
supported by the termcap database.

The ULTRIX operating system supports the terminal extensions defined by AT&T's
System V Interface Description (SVID). (See Chapter 4.)

2.1.2

Windowing Workstations
Color and monochrome workstations are supported by
Digital's optional ULTRIX Worksystem Software. The
worksystem environment implements DECwindows, Digital's
X Window System offering. With its intelligent window
manager, DECwindows provides a consistent user interface
under both the ULTRIX and the VMS operating systems.
ULTRIX W orksystem Software can also be installed on a nonworkstation server
system for remote use by Ethernet-connected diskless workstations by means of
Digital's Diskless Management System. Client workstations need not be the same
type of processor as the server; a VAX server can serve DECstations, and a
DECsystem RISC server can serve VAXstations.
The worksystem environment provides network transparent windowing; that is, an
application can run on either the user's local workstation or a remote networked
machine without the user's noticing any difference. Thus, integrated systems can be
implemented so that applications run where they will run most efficiently, while users
interact with them on local workstations. The DECwindows implementation is
optimized for the most usual case, in which the local workstation is also the
application engine. DECwindows is designed to allow easy integration with various
personal computer systems such as those produced by IBM and Apple.
DECwindows is an enhanced implementation of the X Window System as provided
by MIT; it uses improved algorithms, exposes more interfaces, and allows greater
flexibility.
DECwindows is also compatible with other industry standards, such as Adobe's
PostScript page definition language. See Section 2.2.6 for a summary of worksystem
programming information.

2.1.3

Printers
Printers of differing capabilities are supported by the
printcap database. Printer filters are supplied for all of
Digital's standard printers, including PostScript laser printers.
In addition to specific filters, a universal filter and unfiltered
printer access are provided through 1 p f.
ULTRIX printer support includes the standard printer control and monitoring
functions provided by:

2-2 System Facilities

2.1.4

•

1 P r, the standard command to print files

•

lpd, the printer daemon

•

lprm, the command to remove a queued job

•

lpq, which displays information about jobs in the printer queues

Command Languages
The ULTRIX operating system provides several command language interfaces, called
shells:
•

The UNIX standard Bourne shell (sh)

•

The C shell (csh)

•

The System V Bourne shell (sh5)

•

The Korn shell (ksh)

The shells provide simple and effective use of the system's resources, including
command process creation, feeding the output from one process directly into another
without intermediate file manipulation (piping), and the use of standard input and
output files to minimize the need for typing. Users can select the shell best suited to
their needs. Because all three shells are programmable, users can further tailor
features of the environment for most efficient use.
The shells also provide portability among UNIX environments. (See Chapter 4.)

2.2 Software Development
The ULTRIX operating system provides a broad variety of
languages and tools for efficient development and maintenance
throughout the phases of a software system's life cycle,
including:

2.2.1

•

Coding

•

Compiling and application building

•

Debugging

•

Maintenance

Programming Languages
The UNIX operating system is based on the C language. The ULTRIX environment
supports portable C-language programming with the traditional KemighanjRitchie
UNIX C compiler ( e c ).
Also provided for VAX systems are Digital's VAX C compiler (vee) and enhanced
libraries, which together may yield significant performance gains. Similarly,
programmers can use the Berkeley FORTRAN 77 (f77) compiler (optional for
RISC processors) or Digital's optional VAX FORTRAN compiler (fort). VAX
FORTRAN images may run faster than f77 on a VAX system.
VAX C and VAX FORTRAN programs are source compatible between ULTRIX and
VMS systems provided they contain no system-specific dependencies. Programs

System Facilities 2-3

written for the cc and £77 compilers are compatible between ULTRTX and other
UNIX systems provided they contain no system-specific dependencies.
To satisfy the needs of programmers familiar with other languages, Digital provides
the language compilers listed in Table 2-1. Some of these compilers are not Digital
products and are not directly supported by Digital.
In addition to the tools listed in Table 2-1, compilers and assemblers supplied by
other vendors can be integrated into the ULTRIX environment. Refer to the ULTRIX
Software Source Book for more information on vendor-supplied software.

Table 2-1: ULTRIX Programming Languages

2.2.2

Language

Features

Lisp (lisp, lis zt)

For VAX systems only, the ULTRIX operating system
provides support for Lisp with the Berkeley lisp and
liszt (Franz Lisp) compilers, described in the ULTRIX
Supplementary Documents, Volume II: Programmer.

VAX Lisp (vaxlisp)
optional product

The VAX Lisp compiler for the ULTRIX operating system is
a full implementation of Common Lisp, except for complex
numbers and the INSPECT and ED functions. VAX Lisp
produces images that may run significantly faster than 1 i sp
images in a VAX environment.

Modula-2 (mod)

For VAX systems only, the ULTRIX operating system
provides support for Modula-2 with the Berkeley mod
compiler.

Pascal (pc)

For VAX systems only, the ULTRIX Pascal compiler
supports the Berkeley Pascal implementation described in the
ULTRIX Supplementary Documents, Volume II:
Programmer. The ULTRIX operating system also provides
the Berkeley standard pi Pascal interpreter and pix Pascal
interpreter/executor.

Pascal for RISCoptional product

Digital offers an optimized, enhanced Pascal compiler for
RISC systems.

Assemblers

For VAX systems, the ULTRIX operating system provides
the Berkeley VAX/UNIX assembler as described in the
ULTRIX Supplementary Documents, Volume II:
Programmer. On RISC systems, the assembler provided is
the MIPS R2000 UNIX assembler, which is described in
R2000 Architecture.

Associated Development Tools
Besides programming languages, the ULTRIX operating system provides a set of
program development and maintenance tools, including the following:
•

Debuggers:
adb, an interactive object-level debugger

This debugger is provided for VAX systems only; for RISe systems, its
features are built into an enhanced version of dbx.

2-4 System Facilities

etraee, a C program debugger
dbx, an interactive symbolic debugger
dxdb, a windowing debugger that is part of the ULTRIX W orksystem
Software product

•

Linkers and loaders:
1 d, a linking loader
lk, a link editor (VAX systems only)

•

Other common UNIX tools, including:
awk, a pattern scanning and matching language

1 ex, a lexical analysis program generator

lint, a tool for syntactic checking of C programs

sed, a stream editor
yaee, a tool that converts context-free grammars into tables useful to
compilers and parsers

2.2.3

Maintenance Tools
The ULTRIX environment includes the following archiving and source code control
tools for systematic maintenance of software:

2.2.4

•

ar, a library archiver

•

make, a tool for ensuring consistent building of applications

•

sees, the Source Code Control System

Compound Document Architecture Support
The ULTRIX operating system includes the Compound Document Architecture
(CDA) Toolkit, a set of routines for manipulation and transport of compound
document files. See Section 6.3.3 for a description of the Compound Document
Architecture.

2.2.5
""'~1"~\'N

'L-'''~:W.

2.2.6

SQl Support
ULTRIX/SQL is a relational database management system with a Structured Query
Language (SQL) interface. You can use ULTRIX/SQL through ULTRIX/SQL
interactive utilities or with additional software, such as an ULTRIX/SQL
preprocessor for application development, that you order separately.

UlTRIX Worksystem Software Programming Environment
The primary component of the optional ULTRIX W orksystem Software environment
is the MIT X Window System, Version 11, Release 3. The W orksystem product
provides a programming interface (XUI, the X User Interface) to application
programs that is device independent and network transparent. Applications designed
to the X standards can run unchanged on any host with TCP or DECnet connection

System Facilities 2-5

capability between the application host and the system hosting the X server. The X
server need not be the same type of hardware as the client; for example, a VAX X
server can serve DEC station clients, and a DECsystem server can serve VAXstation
clients. For increased portability, DECwindows applications are compatible between
ULTRIX and VMS systems.
The overall architecture of Digital's XUI is shown in Figure 2-1. Applications can
call on services at whatever level of abstraction is required for the most effective
implementation.

Figure 2-1: XUI Architecture

Application

Extensions

I
I

I
XUI Toolkit

I
Xlib

----_1- ____

rL Network Transport .JI

-----1- ----

X11 Protocol

r----------I

Network Transport .J
L ----------

The X server provides capabilities to manage windows and provide graphics and text
output through a window.
The ULTRIX Worksystem Software product includes the following additional
features:

•

The DECwindows window manager ( dxwm)

t6"'·

The window manager is a complete user environment that allows the user
manipulate window applications by moving, resizing, restacking, and circulating
windows, as well as shrinking windows to icons and restoring them.

•

XUI Toolkit programming libraries
These libraries, a widget library and an intrinsics library (building blocks for
constructing widgets), are Digital-implemented supersets of the X Toolkit
libraries, providing major enhancements over the standard XII libraries. They
are shared with the VMS implementation of DECwindows, to provide
application portability.

2-6 System Facilities

•

A set of bundled applications including a calendar, cardfiler, clock, notepad,
paint graphics editor, and others

The DECwindows software also includes extensions to the XII protocol provided by
Display PostScript:

2.2.7

•

A server extension that executes PostScript graphics descriptions and can
display the results in an X Drawable

•

An extension to the client X interface library, Xlib

•

A run-time library of higher-level PostScript functions

•

A facility called pswrap that allows programmers to write PostScript
programs, convert them into C programs, and call them from other C modules

•

A PostScript Previewer application that displays documents written in
PostScript in a workstation window using the PostScript extension.

Graphics and Plotting
In addition to the graphic capabilities provided by ULTRIX
Worksystem Software, the ULTRIX operating system supports
the standard UNIX V7 plot library, accessed through the plot
filter command. The plot command has been enhanced to
support Digital devices, including terminals using the
DEC_CRT2 and DEC_CRT3 supersets of the ANSI protocol,
dot-matrix printers, and ReGIS graphics output devices.
As an optional product, Digital offers a subroutine library to support the ISO/ANSI
standard Graphical Kernel System (GKS) graphics language at Level 2b. Level 2b
provides all GKS functionality except Sample and Event input.

2.3 System Management

2.3.1

The ULTRIX environment includes an extended set of tools
and services for effective system management. These tools
ease many of a system manager's tasks, from initial installation
through day-to-day maintenance and occasional crash recovery.

Installation and System Generation
The ULTRIX operating system includes enhanced facilities for
installation and operating system generation.
The distribution kit is segmented into a base ULTRIX system,
which is always loaded, and optional software segments (called
subsets). See Appendix A for a list of software subsets.

2.3.1.1

Installation - It is not necessary to build the ULTRIX operating system from
sources; subsets contain executable programs and linkable object modules.
Most of the software installation is highly automated. Software subsets are loaded
automatically with the setld utility program. The setld utility loads, unloads, and

System Facilities 2-7

inventories subsets. For installing subsets, the setld utility displays a list of the
subsets available to be installed; the system administrator can select any or all for
installation. The utility can also execute the Installation Verification Programs
(IVPs) for products that have them.
Installation can be made from any supported distribution media to any supported
system disk. Users can also install software over a network by using the Remote
Installation Services (ris).
For installations on standalone systems without tape devices, distribution kits can be
first be installed from any supported media to a system with a removable-media
system disk. The removable-media system disk containing the installation can then
be moved to the standalone system, as long as the system disk media is identical on
both systems.
VAX systems connected to common disks through one of Digital's Hierarchical
Storage Controller (CI/HSC) systems can share the disks for installation purposes.
Distribution media supported for DEC station and DECsystem RISC processors are
Digital's Compactape cartridge tape, reel-to-reel tape, and CDROM compact discs.

2.3.1.2

System Generation and Modification - Operating system generation is handled
by a kernel generation program called doconfig. System generation is interactive
and performs functions such as configuration of devices and optional operating
system features, specification of kernel size and tuning parameters, and automated
kernel building. The doconfig program provides online help for these functions.
Exerciser programs for system testing and verification are located in the
/ u s r / fie 1 d disk area.
Changing system setup in response to configuration changes is convenient. For
example, administrators can set up printer spoolers using an interactive tool called
Iprsetup, which has online help and provides default answers to questions about
modifying the system's printer setup. The uucp facility setup uses a similar tool
called uucpsetup. Local area network setup uses net setup. These tools, and
others, avoid the need for direct editing of terminal, printer, or network control files.

2.3.2

System Administration
The ULTRIX operating system includes the following system administration
facilities:
•

An operator service utility, opser, which helps the system operator to perform
administrative functions such as system startup and shutdown, file system
backups, and file system consistency checks

•

A printer control utility, Ipc, which enables the system administrator to
monitor, start, and stop printer queues

•

File system creation and maintenance utilities:
mk f sand newf s for creating file systems
mount and umount for mounting and un mounting file systems
fsck, dcheck, and ncheck for checking file system integrity

2-8 System Facilities

dump and restore for backing up and restoring file systems
du, df, and quot for monitoring file system usage

•

General system monitoring utilities:
cpu s tat for monitoring CPU usage
i 0 s tat for monitoring disk and CPU usage
vmstat for monitoring memory usage
nfsstat for displaying NFS statistics
ipcs for reporting IPC facilities status
lpstat for monitoring printer status
ps and pstat for monitoring process and system status
arp, ifconfig, netstat, ruptime, and rwho for monitoring
TCP/IP network status
ac, accton, and sa for monitoring login and system accounting

•

CPU control utilities:
start cpu for starting a secondary processor
stopcpu for stopping a·secondary processor

•

2.3.2.1

An automatic remote distribution system, rdist, that automatically updates an
administrator-specified list of files across a network at selected intervals

File Archiving - The tar and cpio utilities save and restore individual files or
selected directory subtrees using magnetic tape or, on VAX
systems, floppy disks. In addition, the tar utility saves and
restores empty directories and special files, and supports
multivolume archives.
The ULTRIX tar utility supports the POSIX-specified
USTAR format.

2.3.2.2

ANSI-Compatible Archiving - The Labeled Tape Facility ( 1 t f) is similar to the
tar utility. However, it writes and reads tape volumes using formats that are
compatible with ANSI Versions 3 and 4, thereby permitting information exchange
with VMS systems and other operating systems whose tape formats comply with the
ANSI standards. The 1 t f utility restricts block sizes to 2048 bytes for writes and
10240 bytes for reads.

System Facilities 2-9

2.3.3

Maintainability
The ULTRIX operating system kernel is enhanced to provide
recovery from many hardware error conditions. The software
includes the following maintainability enhancements to ease
the system administrator's job for tasks such as error logging
and crash recovery:

•

A device and memory error logging system, including:
Kernel and device driver error-gathering scripts
e 1 c s d daemon for error logging
eli command for error logging housekeeping

uerf error log report generator

•

A crash dump facility that can write a crash dump to disk or tape

•

Disk media error support services, including the ability to statically replace bad
blocks and, on VAX systems, drivers that dynamically replace bad blocks

•

Standalone initialization and verification programs

2.4 Addition of Software by Users
Users, vendors, and others producing software for addition to
the ULTRIX operating system can produce kits using the same
tool set used by Digital to build the ULTRIX distribution kit.
The tools can be used to add to, subtract from, or modify the
contents of product kits. Documentation is provided that
describes how to use the setld utility and kit-building tools
to install and maintain user-created software.
Designing kits to use the set 1 d utility ensures the following:
•

Installation security
Each subset is verified immediately after transfer and is recoverable for
reinstallation or in case of damage or deletion.

•

Flexibility
You can use the setld utility to choose subsets at installation, and to delete
and later reinstall subsets.

•

Uniformity
The setld utility is an integral part of the ULTRIX installation architecture.
Producing kits that are compatible with the setld utility ensures compatibility
with future installations. In addition, set 1 d -compatible kits can be installed
on a server machine for network installation with the r is utility.

•

Media support
Kits can be built on any device supported by the setld utility.

2-10 System Facilities

•

Binary- or source-level distribution
Kits can be built containing source code, linkable object files, or binary images.

•

Documentation
The setld utility is described in Section 8 of the ULTRIX Reference Pages.
The tools for building setld-compatible kits are discussed in the Guide to
Preparing Software for Distribution on ULTRIX Systems.

System Facilities 2-11

Networking Facilities

The ULTRIX operating system provides the general networking capabilities shown in
Figure 3-1.

Figure 3-1: ULTRIX Networking Capabilities

These networking capabilities are provided by the following general facilities:
•

Internet network access

•

DECnet network access

•

VMS/ULTRIX Connection

•

Mail facilities

•

The u u ep facility

•

Network File System (NFS) and Yellow Pages (YP)

•

Local Area Transport (LAT) support

•

Kerberos authentication

The following sections discuss these facilities in detail.

3.1

Internet Network Access
The ULTRIX operating system supports Internet
communications using the Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and User Datagram
Protocol/Internet Protocol (UDP/IP) over an Ethernet Local
Area Network (LAN). This support facilitates mail, file
transfer, remote execution, and remote login capabilities.
Supported commands include ftp, rep, rlogin, rsh,
ruptime,rwho,sendmail,talk,telnet,andtftp.
The ULTRIX software supports the FTP, TFTP, Telnet, and SMTP Internet services.

The Berkeley Internet Name Domain (BIND) service is a high-performance host
name and address lookup system for networked systems using the Internet protocol.
The ULTRIX BIND service is based on Berkeley's BSD 4.7.3 version of BIND, with
Digital enhancements. The BIND service caches the host name-address information
it gets and thus can increase throughput over systems not using caching techniques,
and it eliminates the need for a central clearinghouse for the information.
The ULTRIX operating system includes an SNMP (Simple Network Management
Protocol) Agent which allows an ULTRIX host to be managed by a network
manager. SNMP is the Internet standard protocol for exchanging network
management information. The SNMP Agent provides a local or remote network
manager with system information, network interface data, address resolution
information (ARP), information about the routing layer (IP and ICMP), and
information about the transport layer (TCP and UDP). The ULTRIX operating
system also provides a programming interface for a user-written Extended SNMP
Agent to provide management information for objects that are not part of the Internet
standard.

3.2 DECnet Network Access
DECnet software is an optional product for the ULTRIX
operating system. The Digital Network Architecture (DNA)
provides communication across a heterogeneous network. A
DECnet network is organized into a decentralized tree-like
structure containing up to 63 areas, each of which can contain
as many as 1023 processor nodes.
Traffic within and between areas is managed by independent
routing nodes so that end nodes need not know the explicit
routing to other nodes they communicate with.
The ULTRIX operating system runs the DECnet protocol as an end node and serves
as a gateway from ULTRIX and UNIX systems to systems in a DECnet network. The
DECnet access facility includes:
•

Electronic mail

•

Remote login in both directions

•

File transfer in both directions, commanded from either end

Supported DECnet commands are dcat, dcp, dlogin, dIs, drm, and mail.
The use of wildcards is supported for file transfer operations, and file names are
generated automatically on the target system if not specified explicitly.

3.3 Network File System and Yellow Pages
Under license from Sun Microsystems, the ULTRIX operating
system includes the Sun Network File System (NFS), Yellow
Pages, lock manager, and status monitor. These facilities are
designed to promote resource sharing by making information
available to multiple systems connected by an Ethernet LAN.

3-2 Networking Facilities

3.3.1

Network File System
NFS permits file sharing among physically separate systems connected by an
Ethernet. A processor can export file systems to, or import file systems from, other
processors running NFS.
Exporting file systems consists of making available a file that lists directories that
systems have permission to access, together with the parameters controlling access.
Controlling parameters include the names of clients that are permitted access, and
access permissions on the files within the exported file systems. The exporting
system, or server, plays a passive role in the file sharing.
A processor that imports file systems, called a client, can mount those file systems at
any desired point within its local file system. Imported file systems are not copied to
the client's own file systems but are accessed transparently by the use of remote
procedure calls. Imported file systems appear to a user of the client system as nodes
in the client's local file system.

3.3.2

Yellow Pages Service
The Yellow Pages service (YP) implements common databases for infonnation such
as user names and passwords, network domains, and so forth. These databases are
shared among the systems in a network, allowing users to log in to any participating
system with full access to their own files. The service is implemented so that a
single system is the YP server at any given time; if that system fails, another system
takes over the server function.

3.4 VMS/ULTRIX Connection
VMS
Files

The VMS/ULTRIX Connection is an optional product for
Digital's proprietary VMS operating system. It is a Digital
extension that promotes resource sharing between NFS
workstation clients running the ULTRIX operating system or
other UNIX implementations and one or more servers running
the VMS operating system. The server can be one host, a
VAXcluster system, or specific members of a VAXcluster
system. The clients are connected to the server by an Ethernet
LAN. The VMS/ULTRIX Connection software resides
entirely on the VMS system.

The VMS/ULTRIX Connection provides transparent access
from the ULTRIX clients to RMS STREAM_LF files located
on the VMS server. RMS is Digital's Record Management System, one of the file
structures used on VMS systems; STREAM_LF is one sequential record format for
RMS files. Files on the host appear to the clients as BSD standard files and can be
manipulated as if they were local to the client.
In addition to NFS file access, the VMS/ULTRIX Connection allows the VMS
system to support many TCP/lP networking utilities, such as telnet and rlogin.

Networking Facilities 3-3

3.5 Mail Facilities
The ULTRIX system provides extended mail facilities. In
addition to Internet and uucp mailing services, the ULTRIX
5!i5"'0
Mail Connection allows interchange between ULTRIX and the
VMS MAILbus and with gateways into other mail networks.
On a workstation, the DECwindows interface to mail
(dxmail) provides an integrated environment for
transferring, editing, and filing messages. Incoming and
outgoing messages are directed to an appropriate network or addressee by the
message transfer agent sendmail.

QJ
=-

3.5.1

The ULTRIX Mail Connection
The ULTRIX Mail Connection is an optional product providing enhanced mail
services on the ULTRIX operating system. It contains an enhanced version of the
user agent MH and is a gateway between ULTRIX sendmail and the VAX Message
Router (MAILbus), providing mail exchange with ALL-IN-I, XAOO, IBM's PROFS
or SNADS, and Telex. The ULTRIX Mail Connection includes the following
additional function:

3.5.2

•

Converts WPS-PLUS files from ALL-IN-I, as well as DECdx files from IBM
users, into ASCII text.

•

Provides an address look-up facility, allowing users to look up mail addresses in
the Message Router Directory Services database (DDS).

•

Supports sending/receiving complex nested messages and CDA files.

The mail Facility
The mail facility is derived from the BSD. It allows users to transmit and receive
text files in single-node or multinode environments. Themail facility supports
distribution lists, aliases, and message forwarding instructions. The system also
provides notification of new mail either synchronously or asynchronously.

3.5.3

The MH System
The optional Rand MH system is a set of small, powerful single-purpose command
programs for sending, receiving and manipulating mail. Users may choose an editor
or use the one provided. MH supports distribution lists, aliases, filing and retrieval
of mail in customizable folders, the transfer of CDA files and mail notification. (See
Section 6.3.3 for a description of CDA.) Unlike the closed environment of mail
MH allows users to intersperse mail-handling commands freely among other shell
commands.

3.5.4

The dxmail Program
The dxmail program is an intelligent windowing mail handler that is part of the
optional ULTRIX Worksystem Software product. Installation of the MH system
(described in Section 3.5.3) is a prerequisite to using dxmail.

3-4 Networking Facilities

3.6 uucp Interfaces
The u u cp facility is a series of programs that permit
communication between ULTRIX systems or any UNIX u u cp
systems using the standard G protocol. Files can be transferred
and remote commands can be executed over dialup or
hardwired communication lines. Files transferred in this
manner are created in a spool directory for processing by the
uucp daemons. If the transfer includes executable commands,
the commands are executed in batch mode and the command,
data, and work files are deleted from the spool directory.
The uucp facility supports all of Digital's currently supported autodialing modems.
The tip utility establishes a full-duplex connection to another system, providing
virtual terminal access to the remote system. The tip utility also provides ASCII
file transfer.

3.7 Local Area Transport Support
The ULTRIX operating system's Ethernet support includes
Digital's Local Area Transport (LAT) protocol for terminal
connection through DECserver terminal concentrators. LAT
service is activated and controlled by the 1 cp utility.
DEC servers provide a means to connect many terminals or
dialup modems to several different systems on an Ethernet
LAN, serving as a transparent link between a given terminal
and one or more systems to which the terminal can be connected simultaneously.
The user can switch from one session to another by issuing commands to the
DECserver.
Serial printers can also be connected to a DECserver, allowing printer use by all the
systems recognized by the DECserver.

3.8 Kerberos Authentication
In a networked environment with communicating applications
on many machines, authentication through the standard login
procedures provides inadequate security. Kerberos is an
authentication service offered with the ULTRIX operating
system to serve as a single point of trust in a local area
network (LAN). Kerberos does not function in a single-system
environment or across wide area networks.
Kerberos authenticates applications to each other across
machine boundaries in a distributed network. In Kerberos, the
communicating entities are called principals. The application that requests that an
application on another machine be performed on its behalf is called a client. The
requested application is called a server application or a service. ULTRIX Kerberos
supports the authentication of commonly networked applications, such as named and
auditd.

Networking Facilities 3-5

Compatibility and Industry Standards

The ULTRIX operating system is compatible with other UNIX software system
implementations and with several industry standards. This chapter outlines this
compatibility with the following systems and standards:
•

Open software environments
POSIX
X/Open
Open Software Foundation (OSF)

•

Network File System (NFS)

•

Berkeley Standard Distribution (BSD)

•

AT&T System V

•

UNIXV7

Specific implementation or standards information in this chapter is presented in the
same order as in the corresponding standards documents.
Application portability between UNIX systems can best be achieved through
applications that conform to the POSIX, OSF, and X/Open specifications.
Compatibility with BSD, System V, and UNIX V7 is provided for access to existing
applications; development of new applications based on functionality that is unique
to specific system implementations is discouraged.
Note
In this document the words conformance and compliance are used as
defined in the POSIX 1003.3 standard. Conformance is defined as
satisfaction of all requirements of a given specification. Compliance is
defined as satisfaction of all measurable requirements of a given
specification. Compliance is a subset of conformance.

4.1

Open Software Environments
The ULTRIX operating system is a product of Digital's commitment to the concept
of open software environments. Table 4-1 illustrates ULTRIX compliance with
POSIX, X/Open, and OSF standards. Specifics of this compliance are further
discussed in Sections 4.1.1 to 4.1.3.

Table 4-1: Open Software Environments
Environment

Function

Environment Components

NIST Applications
Portability Profile

Data management

SQL,IRDS

Languages

C, COBOL, FORTRAN, Ada, Pascal (COBOL
and Ada on VAX only)

User interface/graphics

X Window System, GKS, CGM, IGES

Operating system

IEEE STD 1003.1-1988 (POSIX) and FIPS 151-1

Network services

NFS

Data interchange

SGML, ODA/ODIF

POSIX

System interface

IEEE STD 1003.1-1988 (POSIX) and FIPS 151-1

X/Open

Data management

ISAM, ANSI SQL

Languages

ANSI C, ISO Pascal, ANSI FORTRAN 77,
ANSI COBOL 85, Ada (COBOL and Ada on
VAX only)

User interface/graphics

X Window System

Operating system

IEEE STD 1003.1-1988 and FIPS 151-1 plus 8bit transparent commands

Network services

XTI

Data management

ANSI SQL Level 2

Languages

C, FORTRAN, Pascal, Ada, COBOL, BASIC,
Common Lisp (Ada, COBOL, BASIC, and Lisp
on VAX only)

User interface/graphics

X Window System, GKS, PRIGS

Operating system

POSIX 1003.1-1988 and FIPS 151-1, X/Open
Base Level

Network services and
applications

TCPIIP (SMTP, FTP, Telnet)

OSF Level 0

4.1.1

POSIX
The ULTRIX operating system is fully conformant with the IEEE Standard 1003.11988 Portable Operating System for Computer Environments (POSIX) specification,
including the extended specifications of the POSIX Federal Information Processing
Standard (FIPS 151-1).
When certification based on the National Institute for Standards and Technology's
POSIX Conformance Test Suite (PCTS) becomes available, the ULTRIX operating
system will be verified by an independent testing organization as a POSIX-compliant
implementation and as compliant with the POSIX FIPS.
Refer to Digital's POSIX 1003.1 Conformance Document for Digital's official
statement of conformance. Refer to IEEE Standard 1003.1-1988 for POSIX
conformance specifics. See Appendix C for a list of federally specified POSIX
amendments to which the ULTRIX operating system conforms.

4-2 Compatibility and Industry Standards

4.1.2

X/Open
The ULTRIX operating system is conformant with the base level specification of the
X/Open Common Applications Environment. Except as noted in Table 4-2, the
ULTRIX operating system environment provides full conformance with the full
Common Applications Environment, as defined by X/Open Portability Guide 2
(XPG2).

Table 4-2: X/Open XPG2 Conformance
Component

Support

System calls and libraries

Included

Commands and utilities

Included

C language

Included

COBOL language

Third party (VAX only)

Pascal language

Not available

FORTRAN language

Optional Digital product

ISAM

Third party (VAX only)

SQL

Third party (VAX only)

Eight-bit transparency (see below)

Included

Terminal interfaces

Included

Window manager

Optional, part of ULTRIX Worksystem Software product

Interprocess communication

Included

Source code transfer

Included

Transport interface

Included

PC interworking

Third party

To support XPG3 8-bit transparency requirements, the ULTRIX operating system
includes the following 8-bit clean commands:
adduser
ar
awk
cat
cc
cd
chgrp
chmod
chown
cmp
comm
cp
cpio
csh

date
diff
echo
ed
egrep
emacs
ex
expr
false
fgrep
find
gencat
grep
head

iconv
kill
ksh
lex
In
login
lp
ls
mkdir
more
mv
pack
pcat
pg

pr
ps
pwd
red
rlogin
rm
rmdir
sed
sed
shS
sleep
sortS
stty
tail

tar
tee
test
tip
tr
true
tty
umask
uname
uniq
unpack
uucp
uulog
uuname

uupick
uustat
uuto
uux
vi
wait
wc
which
who
yacc

Compatibility and Industry Standards 4-3

4.1.3

Open Software Foundation
Open Software

I FOUNDATION I

The ULTRIX operating system meets the Open Software
Foundation (OSF) Level 0 Application Environment
Specification (AES) for the operating system. Except as noted
in Table 4-3, the ULTRIX operating system environment
conforms with aSF level O.

Table 4-3: Open Software Foundation Conformance
Component

Detail

Support

Operating system

POSIX standards: ANSI, ISO, FIPS

Included

X/Open XPG 3, base level

Included

C: ANSI X3J11

Included

FORTRAN: ANSI X3.9-1978; ISO
1539-1980(e); FIPS 069-1

Included (VAX),
Optional product
(RISC)

Pascal: ANSI X3J9, ISO 7185-1983,
FIPS 109

VAX only

Ada

Third Party (VAX)

BASIC

Optional product
(VAX)

COBOL

Third party (VAX)

LISP: Common LISP, ANSI X3J13

Optional product
(VAX)

X Window System, V. 11, ANSI X3H3

Included

X language bindings, ANSI X3H3

Included

GKS, ANSI X3.124-1985, FIPS 120

Included (VAX)

PRIGS, ANSI X3H3.1

Optional product
(VAX)

TCP (MIL-STD-1778)

Included

IP (MIL-STD-1777)

Included

SMTP (MIL-STD-1781)

Included

Telnet (MIL-STD-1782)
FTP (MIL-STD-1780)

Included
Included

SQL

Third party

Languages

User interface/ window
manager
Graphics libraries

Networking services

Database management

4-4 Compatibility and Industry Standards

4.2 Network File System
The ULTRIX operating system includes licensed, fully
conformant support for the Sun Microsystems Network File
System (NFS), Mount, Yellow Pages, lock manager, and status
monitor. These services have been tested and found
compatible with the corresponding services in SunOS Versions
3.0,3.2,3.4, and 4.0.

4.3 Berkeley BSD 4.2, 4.3, and 4.3-5
Because the ULTRIX operating system is based on BSD 4.2 with enhancements from
BSD 4.3 and 4.3-5, there is a high degree of compatibility between these systems:
•

For VAX systems with removable disks, file system formats are interchangeable
provided disk partitions are compatible.

•

Shell script syntax is highly compatible in both the C shell and the Bourne
shell.

•

The ULTRIX C language and run-time libraries are fully compatible with the
corresponding BSD 4.2 libraries.

•

The ULTRIX BIND service is fully compatible with Berkeley BIND Version
4.7.3.

4.4 AT&T System V
The ULTRIX operating system is compatible at the source code level with AT&T's
System V Interface Definition (SVID). Source-level portability allows application
programs written for the System V programming environment to run after being
compiled and linked on an ULTRIX system. The ULTRIX software's compatibility
with System V is based on SVID Issue 2. The degree of compliance with the SVID
is listed in Table 4-4. Where the ULTRIX operating system is not fully compliant
with System V, the differences are described in Sections 4.4.1 to 4.4.4.
Table 4-4: ULTRIX Compatibility with SVID
Volume 1, Part II, Base System
Interface Definition Description

ULTRIX Compatibility

Operating system services
Error conditions
Signals
Other library routines
Header files
Environment variables
System-resident data files
Directory tree structure

Full
Full
Full
Full
Full
Full
Full
Full

Compatibility and Industry Standards 4-5

Table 4-4: (continued)
Volume 1, Part III
Interface Definition Description

ULTRIX Compatibility

Kernel extensions

Full

Volume 2, Parts II, III, IV, V, and VI

4.4.1

Interface Definition Description

ULTRIX Compatibility

Base utilities extension
Advanced utilities extension
Administered system extension
Software development extension
Terminal interface extension

Full
Partial (see Section 4.4.1)
Partial (see Section 4.4.2)
Partial (see Section 4.4.3)

Full

Advanced Utilities Extension
The ULTRIX operating system provides 33 of the 42 utilities and functions described
in Volume 2, Part III of the SVID, Issue 2. The following utilities are not included:
cancel (lp)
dircmp
logname

lpstat
mailx
news

shl
uuto

The cancel, lpstat, mailx, and uuto utilities are excluded because they
conflict with existing BSD-based ULTRIX utilities performing the same or similar
functions.

4.4.2

Administered System Extension
Only the following Administered System Extension commands and utilities are
included in the ULTRIX software:
accton
clri
fsck
init
ipcrm

4.4.3

ipcs
mkfs
mknod
mount
ncheck

nice
sync
umount

Software Development Extensions
The env and sdb utilities and the libg library are not included in the ULTRIX
software. The libld library is included for RISe systems but not for VAX
systems.

4-6 Compatibility and Industry Standards

4.4.4

Additional System V Information
In addition to the utilities, functions, and libraries listed in Sections 4.4.1 to 4.4.3,
this section describes issues of compatibility between the System V and ULTRIX
environments:
•

File systems are not compatible. The ULTRIX operating system uses the BSD
Fast file system structure.

•

Bourne shell scripts are syntax compatible, and are fully compatible if sh5, the
System V shell, is used on the ULTRIX system.

•

C source code programs are compatible if they include no hardware
architectural dependencies.

•

The System V open system call can be invoked with a null pathname. As
required by the POSIX FIPS, the ULTRIX open system call returns an error if
invoked with a null pathname.

•

The System V chown system call can be invoked by any user. As required by
the POSIX FIPS, the ULTRIX chown call is restricted to the superuser.

•

System V truncates a too-long pathname without notification. As required by
the POSIX FIPS, the ULTRIX operating system returns an error if the
_POSIX_NO_TRUNCATE environment variable specifies no truncation.

4.5 UNIX V7
The ULTRIX operating system is derived from BSD 4.2 and BSD 4.3, which are in
tum derived from the UNIX V7 system. Because of this derivation, the ULTRIX
operating system is highly compatible with UNIX V7. Except for the features listed
here, all features of the UNIX V7 system are included and are compatible:
•

Linking of V7 objects is not compatible; that is, removable disk media are not
interchangeable.

•

The following UNIX V7 features are not included in the ULTRIX operating
system:
The BASIC interpreter (bas)
The packet driver and simulator (pkopen )
Multiplexed files
Source files for UNIX documents in nroff format (/usr / doc)
DCII, TCII, RFII, and RS03/04 device drivers
The encryption/decryption routine (crypt)
No form of encryption or decryption is included except the one-way
password encryption algorithm. The crypt routine is included in
Digital's optional ULTRIX Encryption product, which provides encryption
facilities conforming to the National Bureau of Standards Data Encryption
Standard (DES). This optional product is available for customers in the
USA and Canada only.

Compatibility and Industry Standards 4-7

Hardware Requirements

This chapter describes the minimum hardware needed to run the ULTRIX operating
system. Refer to the ULTRIX Software Product Description (SPD) for a complete
listing of maximum configurations and supported hardware.
The minimum configuration required to run the ULTRIX operating system is a
processor with memory, a console tenninal, and a system disk, as shown in Figure
5-1.

Figure 5-1: Minimum ULTRIX Hardware Configuration
Console Terminal

Processor

An Ethernet network connection can be substituted for the system disk.

5.1

Processors
The ULTRIX operating system is fully supported on most
V AX processors, including MicroV AX, V AX, VAXserver, and
V AXstation processors. ULTRIX W orksystem Software is
fully supported on all DEC station and DECsystem RISC
processors. For a current list of supported processors, refer to
the ULTRIX SPD.

5.2 Memory Requirements
The following table illustrates the memory requirements for the ULTRIX operating
system:
Processor Type

Minimum Memory

All multiuser (nonworkstation) VAX processors except the
VAX 3500 and VAX 3600

5 megabytes

All V AXstations except the V AXstation 3500 and
VAXstation 3600

6 megabytes

Processor Type

Minimum Memory

VAX 3500, VAX 3600, VAXstation 3500, and V AXstation
3600

8 megabytes

All DECsystem and DECstation RISC processors

8 megabytes

5.3 Console Terminal
One ASCII console terminal is required. On a VAXstation or
a DECstation, the console terminal can be the workstation's
screen. Terminals that do not accept lowercase characters are
not supported as the console terminal. VT200-series and
newer terminals must be operated in VT 100 emulation mode.

5.4 System Disk
In addition to the system disk space required for the root and
/usr files, additional system disk storage must be allocated
for swap space, based on memory size. Generally, swap space
should be twice the memory size for multiuser systems, and
three times memory size for servers and workstations. On
some RISC systems, the default disk partition layout provides the correct amount of
swap space.
System support is provided for all disk adapters and devices that communicate using
Digital's Mass Storage Control Protocol (MSCP), for some UNIBUS disks, and for
some Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) disks. Not all supported disks are
large enough to store the root and /usr files with sufficient space remaining for
swap space; refer to the ULTRIX SPD for a list of disks that can be used as system
disks.
All the optional subsets included with the ULTRIX kit require approximately 100Mb
of disk storage, but this space need not be on the system disk.

5.5 Software Load Device
The ULTRIX software can be loaded from standard 1600 bpi
9-track reel-to-reel tapes, Digital's Compactape cartridge
devices, or CDROM. Additionally, for VAX systems, the
software can be loaded from certain disk devices. Refer to the
ULTRIX SPD for a complete list of supported software load
devices.

5-2 Hardware Requirements

5.6 Disk Media
Traditionally, UNIX operating systems require all disk media
to be completely free of hard errors. Most implementations
tolerate soft errors. The ULTRIX software supports bad block
replacement and verification for hard errors on most of the
larger disks. In most cases, this support eliminates the need
for error-free media.

Hardware Requirements 5-3

Documentation and Documentation Tools

The ULTRIX operating system includes a comprehensive set of documentation, both
online and in printed form. Also included is a broad set of document preparation
tools.

6.1

Printed ULTRIX Documentation
Documentation for the ULTRIX operating system includes a
broad variety of manuals and user guides, designed to simplify
locating and using the information they contain. Table 6-1
describes the complete ULTRIX document set for timesharing
systems; Table 6-2 describes the complete ULTRIX
W orksystem Software document set.

Table 6-1: ULTRIX Document Set
Document Volume

Contents

ULTRIX General Information Kit,
Volume 1

Technical Summary Reader's Guide and Master
Index
Unsupported Reference Pages

ULTRIX General Information Kit,
Volume 2

The Little Gray Book: An ULTRIX Primer
The Big Gray Book: The Next Step with ULTRIX
Guide to the nawk Utility
Security Guide for Users
Reference Pages Section 7 :Macro Packages and
Conventions

ULTRIX General Information Kit,
Volume 3A

Reference Pages Section 1: Commands A - L

ULTRIX General Information Kit,
Volume 3B

Reference Pages Section 1: Commands M - Z

ULTRIX System and Network
Management Kit, Volume 1

Guide to Software Licensing
Guide to System Environment Setup
Guide to System and Network Setup
Guide to the Location Broker
Security Guide for Administrators
Guide to PrintServer Clients

Table 6-1:

(continued)

Document Volume

Contents

ULTRIX System and Network
Management Kit, Volume 2

Guide to Shutdown and Startup

Guide to Configuration File Maintenance
Guide to Backup and Restore
Guide to Disk Maintenance

ULTRIX System and Network
Management Kit, Volume 3

Guide to System Crash Recovery
Guide to the Error Logger
Guide to System Exercisers
Kernel Messages Reference Manual

ULTRIX System and Network
Management Kit, Volume 4

Introduction to Networking and Distributed System
Services
Guide to Ethernet Communications Servers
Guide to the Network File System
Guide to the BIND/Hesiod Service
Guide to the Yellow Pages Service
Guide to Kerberos
Guide to the uucp Utility
Guide to IBM Terminal Emulation for VAX
Processors

ULTRIX System and Network
Management Kit, Volume 5

Guide to Server Setup
Guide to Diskless Management Services
Guide to Remote Installation Services

ULTRIX System and Network
Management Kit, Volume 6

Reference Pages Section 4: Special Files
Reference Pages Section 5: File Formats

ULTRIX System and Network
Management Kit, Volume 7

Reference Pages Section 8: Maintenance

ULTRIX Software Development
Kit, Volume 1

Guide to Languages and Programming
Guide to Developing International Software
Guide to X/Open curses Screen Handling
Guide to the Source Code Control System
Guide to Preparing Software for Distribution on
ULTRIX Systems
The Packet Filter: An Efficient Mechanism for
User-Level Network Code
POSIX Conformance Document

ULTRIX Software Development
Kit, Volume 2

Guide to VAX C for ULTRIX

ULTRIX Software Development
Kit, Volume 3

Guide to Network Programming
Guide to the X/Open Transport Interface
DECrpc Programming Guide
Guide to the Data Link Interface

6-2 Documentation and Documentation Tools

Table 6-1:

(continued)

Document Volume

Contents

ULTRIX Software Development
Kit, Volume 4

Reference Pages Section 2: System Calls

ULTRIX Software Development
Kit, Volume 5

Reference Pages Section 3: Library Routines

ULTRIX Supplementary
Documents

Volume 1: General User
Volume 2: Programmer
Volume 3: System Manager

Compound Document Architecture
Kit (optional product)

Introduction to the CDA Services
Guide to Creating Compound Documents with the
CDA Toolkit
CDA Reference Manual

ULTRIXjSQL Kit, Volume I

ULTRIXjSQL NET User's Guide
ULTRIXjSQL Database Administrator's Guide
ULTRIXjSQL Operations Guide

ULTRIXjSQL Kit, Volume 2

ULTRIXjSQL Reference Manual

Table 6-2: ULTRIX Worksystem Software Document Set
Document Volume

Contents

DECwindows User Information
Kit, Volume 1

Reader's Guide

Advanced Installation Guide
Introduction to the ULTRIX Worksystem Software
Environment
Reference Pages Sections 1X and 8X
Reference Pages, Unsupported

DECwindows User Information
Kit, Volume 2

DECwindows User's Guide
DECwindows Desktop Applications Guide
Guide to the dxdiff Visual Differences Program

XUI Software Development Kit,
Volume 1

XUI Sty Ie Guide
XUI Programming Overview
Guide to Writing Applications using XUI Toolkit
Widgets
Guide to the XUI User Interface Language Compiler
Guide to Porting Xlib Applications: X Version 10 to
X Version 11
Guide to the dxdb Debugger

XUI Software Development Kit,
Volume 2

Guide to the XUI Toolkit: C Language Binding

Documentation and Documentation Tools 6-3

Table 6-2:

(continued)

Document Volume

Contents

XUI Software Development Kit,
Volume 3

Guide to the X Toolkit Widgets: C Language
Binding
Guide to the XUI Toolkit Intrinsics: C Language
Binding

XUI Software Development Kit,
Volume 4

Guide to the Xlib Library: C Language Binding

XUI Software Development Kit,
Volume 5

X Window System Protocol: X Version 11

XUI Software Development Kit,
Volume 6

Reference Pages Sections 3Dwt, 3Xll, and 3Xt

XUI Software Development Kit,
Volume 7

Guide to Developing Display Applications for the
Display PostScript System
Display PostScript Perspective for Software
Developers
Display PostScript Client Library Reference Manual
Extensions for the Display PostScript System
Color Extensions for the Display PostScript System
Display PostScript pswrap Reference manual

See the Reader's Guide and Master Index in the appropriate document set for part
numbers of individual documents and of orderable kits.

6.2 Online Documentation
The ULTRIX software provides extensive online
documentation, including the entire contents of the ULTRIX
Reference Pages. Table 6-3 describes the facilities that are
available.

Table 6-3: Online Documentation Facilities
Facility

Description

man

Uses tbl, nroff, and col to format and display manual
pages. If /usr /man/ cat n directories are present (see
catman), uses cat instead for improved performance.

catman

Preformats manual pages for /usr /man/ cat n directories,
and creates the database used by ap ropo sand wha tis.
Databases for wha tis and a prop 0 s are created during
base system installation. If you add any subsets that include
manual pages, you must manually run catman to update the
databases.

6-4 Documentation and Documentation Tools

Table 6-3:

(continued)

Facility

Description

xman (unsupported)

Improves the readability of online manual pages by creating a
display that resembles a printed manual page. For use only
on ULTRIX Worksystem Software systems.

apropos

Locates instances of referenced keywords in the manual
pages.

whatis

Displays header lines from manual pages.

In addition to the facilities described in Table 6-3, the DECwindows software
provides a comprehensive online help facility. For most applications, help is
available through a pull-down menu that leads to more specific help information.
Some applications also provide context-sensitive help, displaying information for the
window currently in use.

6.3 Documentation Development and Production
Much of the work performed with computers includes
preparing documents for transmission in mail messages,
presentation in reports, and other similar uses. Document
preparation is supported in the ULTRIX environment by a
broad set of tools.
Many of the tools listed in Chapter 2, such as sees and awk, are useful in the
creation of both program source code and document files. In addition to these tools,
the ULTRIX operating system provides editors and document processors, CDA (see
section 6.3.3), and several unsupported tools.

6.3.1

Editors
The ULTRIX operating system provides the following editors:
•

Interactive line editors (ed and ex)

•

Stream editor ( sed)

•

Screen-oriented interactive editor (vi)

•

Unsupported X Window System Version 11 editor
(xedit) - optional with ULTRIX Worksystem Software

•

Notepad-style editor ( dxnotepad) - optional with
ULTRIX Worksystem Software

The Digital versions of ed, ex, sed, and vi are enhanced to provide support for 8bit files.

Documentation and Documentation Tools 6-5

6.3.2

Processors and Formatters
.FT R
Input file
.sp 2

~
••

Fonnatted

output

The ULTRIX kit includes the common UNIX document
formatting programs nroff and troff. (The troff
formatter is unsupported.)
The optional ULTRIX Documentation Tools product includes
most of the AT&T DOCUMENTER'S WORKBENCH tools
and Digital-enhanced versions of the troff (di troff) and
nroff (dinroff) formatters, together with Digital's rou
macro package and automated tools for creating indexes and
tables of contents. Also provided in this optional product are a
set of PostScript printing support utilities.

The additional utilities li~ted in Table 6-4 are included for special-purpose
documentation needs.

Table 6-4: Special-Purpose Documentation Tools

6.3.3

Utility

Function

tbl

Table fonnatting preprocessor

eqn, neqn (unsupported)

Equation fonnatting preprocessors

-man, -me, -ms

Fonnatting macro packages

Compound Document Architecture

~~
1-

The Compound Document Architecture (CDA) provides a
method for creating, storing, and interchanging files that
contain a number of integrated components, including
proportionally spaced text, synthetic graphics, scanned images,
and external references to other CDA-compliant files that can
be used as part of a given document. These compound
documents can be edited, formatted, or otherwise processed as
a document.

CDA defines formats and content of compound documents. The ULTRIX software
supports the handling of compound documents with tools for manipulating,
displaying, and transferring these files. Support includes provision for mailing
compound documents through ordinary mail systems without the loss of content or
formatting information.
Compound documents are stored in a format called the Digital Document Interchange
Format (DDIF). Files can be translated between DDIF and other formats, such as
ASCII text, with varying degrees of information loss. For example, ASCII files
contain only text, with no implicit formatting information. Converting an ASCII file
to a DDIF file retains all the information in the original file, but converting a DDIF
file to ASCII produces a plain unformatted text file, with loss of any graphics or
images in the original.

6-6 Documentation and Documentation Tools

The ULTRIX operating system system provides facilities for manipulating and
transporting compound document files, including:

6.3.4

•

dxvdoc, a DECwindows application for viewing compound documents (part of
the optional DECwindows environment provided by ULTRIX Worksystem
Software)

•

vdoc, a terminal-oriented application for viewing character-cell representations
of compound documents

•

cdoc, a tool for translating between DDIF and other formats

•

ctod and dtoc, tools for translating between DDIF and Data Object Transport
Format (DOTS), which allows transportation of compound documents by mail

Unsupported Tools
Various other document preparation tools are supplied with the ULTRIX operating
system; among these are bibliographic tools and the GNU EMACS editor. As with
troff, eqn, and so forth, these tools are not supported by Digital.

Documentation and Documentation Tools 6-7

Software Services

Digital provides a full range of software services for the ULTRIX operating system.
The services described in this chapter are not necessarily available in all geographical
areas. For complete information on the services provided by your area, contact your
local Digital sales office.
Digital offers two types of support services:
•

System startup service packages

•

Support services

The following sections briefly describe these services.

7.1

System Startup Service Packages
System startup service packages are available with various levels of service. The
services provided with these packages can include:
•

Installation of the ULTRIX software
Field Service installs the software on the Digital hardware at the customer's
site.

•

Training on the ULTRIX software
Digital works with the customer to determine what training is needed and the
most beneficial way to provide it. Topics covered can vary from how to use
ULTRIX commands to ULTRIX system management.

7.2 Support Services
Digital provides a variety of ULTRIX support services, which can include:
•

Telephone support
Support is provided to resolve problems. If immediate solutions are not
available, Digital provides workarounds until permanent solutions are found,
escalating the problem severity as necessary.

•

On-site remedial support
If the Customer Support Center or remote resources cannot resolve a critical
problem, then a specialist visits the site to determine the solution.

•

Scheduled preventive maintenance
An assigned specialist at Digital's Customer Support Center provides support,
scheduling service delivery, performance reporting, and resolution of critical
problems to maximize the availability of the software.

•

Update Installation Service
An assigned specialist at Digital's Customer Support Center provides preinstallation planning for each new release, installs the software, and verifies the
installation.

•

Access to software information and service deli very networks
The Digital Software Information Network (DSIN) is a database maintained by
Digital that contains descriptions of solutions to software problems. It is
available by dialup connection.

•

Software performance reports (SPRs)
Customers can report ULTRIX software problems through SPRs. Every SPR
receives a response, and solutions are entered into the DSIN database.

•

DISPATCH
The DISPATCH newsletter, which reviews solutions or workarounds to current
SPRs, is available quarterly.

•

Software media and documentation updates for each new release
These updates are covered by a monthly charge and are distributed as kits.

7-2 Software Services

Licensing and Ordering Information
Summary

For complete licensing and ordering information for the ULTRIX operating system,
refer to the ULTRIX Software Product Description, available from any Digital sales
office. The following list provides a brief summary of this information:
•

A Single-Use License grants the right to use the software on a single CPU.
When you purchase a Single-Use License for your first installation, you receive
a distribution kit and documentation.

•

A Right to Copy option allows a customer with multiple CPUs to copy a
revised' version of the software from one CPU to another.

•

Source licenses are available.
Note
Kernels built from source code are not covered by Digital's support
services.

•

Educational discounts on binary licenses and source distributions are available.

•

Digital's licensing agreement with AT&T requires login limits in the following
increments: 2, 8, 16, 32, 64, or an unlimited number of users.
The system considers a user to be an interactive login from a local terminal or a
dialup port, or over the network. The system does not count printer ports and
tip or uucp dialout lines as users.

Documentation is available separately. Support services are available from Digital
(see Chapter 7). You can install the software yourself or purchase the Digital
Installation Service.

Software Subsets

This appendix lists the software subsets that are supplied with the ULTRIX kit.
Table A-I briefly describes the supported software subsets. Some of these subsets
depend on the presence of others; refer to the ULTRIX installation documentation for
specific dependencies.

Table A-1: Supported Software Subsets
Subset

Description

Accounting Software

Programs and data files needed to perform system
accounting. This subset contains log files that grow
automatically. It is intended for users familiar with
ULTRIX system administration. Optional.

Additional DECwindows
Applications
(Worksystem only)

Additional XII/DECwindows client applications
that are optional on systems with sufficient disk
resources.

Adobe Font Metric Files

Font metrics (character bounding box, width, name,
ligature, kerning, and font properties) for PostScript
outline fonts used by text formatting applications in
PostScript output devices. Optional.

Base System

Fundamental utilities and data files for the ULTRIX
operating system. The Base System includes the C
compiler and linker, the editors, and all of the
general-purpose programs. This subset is required
and cannot be removed.

Bisynchronous Communications
(VAX only)

Programs needed to use the 3780 and 2780
emulation features. Optional.

Communications Utilities

Utilities for several types of serial communications
with other systems, including tip, ftp, and
telnet.

DECwindows Server
(Worksystem only)

Xll/DECwindows server support. Required.

Diskless Support Environment

Software for a diskless environment. This subset is
required only for diskless management services.

Document Preparation Software

The nroff text formatter with related data files, as
well as utilities useful for producing documents.
Optional.

Enhanced Security Features

Programs and data that provide enhanced security
features. Optional.

Extended (Berkeley) Mailer

Programs and data that implement the BSD
sendmail facility.

Table A-1:

(continued)

Subset

Description

Internationalization Tools

Tools used for application program support of
languages other than English. Optional.

Kerberos Network Authentication

Programs and data used to implement Kerberos
network authentication.

Kernel Configuration Files

Utility programs and binary files required to
configure ULTRIX kernels. This subset must be
installed during installation but can be deleted
afterwards.

Maintenance Operations Protocol

Software necessary to use your system as a boot
server for Local Area Terminal devices such as the
DECserverlOO. This subset also contains the ris
utility, which lets you use your ULTRIX system as a
server for network installations. Required for DMS.
Optional otherwise.

Network File System Utilities

Programs and data files you need to share file
systems over the network. This subset contains the
files used to implement the Yellow Pages service.
Optional.

Online Manual Pages

Online copies of the manual pages included in the
ULTRIX Reference Pages. These manuals are
stored in a language specific to the nroff text
formatter. Optional.

Pascal Development Package
(VAX only)

The Pascal language compiler and associated
libraries and tools. Optional.

Printer Support Environment

Print services needed to use printers. These include
lpr, lpq, lpd, and PostScript printer support.
Optional.

RAND Mail Handler

Programs that constitute the Rand Corporation MH
mail reader interface. Optional.

RPC Development Environment

Programs and data that implement the Remote
Procedure Call (RPC) development environment.
Optional.

RPC Runtime Environment

Programs and data that implement the Remote
Procedure Call (RPC) runtime environment.
Optional.

Software Development Utilities

Libraries and utilities useful for software
development. These include the libraries for linking
programs to be analyzed with the dbx debugger, the
lint program verifier, and the lex and yacc
parser packages. Optional.

Source Code Control System

Programs that make up the Source Code Control
System. Optional.

System Exerciser Package

Programs that help in diagnosing problems with
your VAX hardware and peripheral devices.
Optional.

TCP/IP Networking Utilities

Programs and data used to implement Internet
networking. Optional.

A-2 Software Subsets

Table A-1:

(continued)

Subset

Description

Unix-to-Unix Copy Facility

Programs and data files needed to let your system
participate in a network of machines using the UNIX
uucp facility to transmit files over serial
communications lines. Optional.

UWS Reference Pages
(Worksystem only)

Online manual pages for the programs and files
contained in the Xll/DECwindows windowing
software. Optional.

VAX C Development Package

VAX C language compiler and associated libraries
and tools. Optional.

VS35XX XIIIDECwindows Fonts
(Worksystem only)

Font files for VAXstation 3520 and 3540 systems.

VS35xx PostScript Previewer

PostScript Previewer for VAXstation 3520 and 3540
systems. Optional.

W orksystem Development
Software
(Worksystem only)

Library and data files needed to produce X Window
System client applications. Includes example
programs demonstrating how to get started.

Xll/DECwindows 75 dpi Fonts
(Worksystem only)

Fonts for Xll/DECwindows.

Xll/DECwindows 100dpi Fonts
(Worksystem only)

Workstation font files for systems using the VR 160
15-inch monitor or other monitors with higher
resolution.

Xll/DECwindows User
Environment
(Worksystem only)

X Window System client programs. Required.

Table A-2 briefly describes the unsupported software subsets. Some of these subsets
depend on the presence of others; refer to the ULTRIX installation documentation for
specific dependencies. See Section B.l for more information on unsupported
software supplied with the ULTRIX operating system.

Table A-2: Unsupported Software Subset Descriptions
Subset

Description

APL Development Package
(VAX only)

User-contributed APL language interpreter and
associated utilities. User-contributed software.

Auxiliary Command Line
Interpreters

The "distributed" shell and a version of the C shell
that features command completion.

Base Extension

Programs and data files that can be useful in some
environments. These include obsolete boot
programs, drivers for unsupported devices, the
t ro f f package with fonts, and miscellaneous
software.

Software Subsets A-3

Table A-2:

(continued)

Subset

Description

Bibliographic Utilities

Programs and data useful in maintaining
bibliographic information. User-contributed
software.

Computer-Aided System Tutor

Software for the learn program, which provides
lessons in aspects of the computing environment.
This subset is useful for persons new to the UNIX
environment.

CP/M 8in Diskette Utility
(VAX only)

Utilities for reading and writing 8-inch diskettes
used with the CP/M operating system.

Franz Lisp Development Package
(VAX only)

Programs that make up the Franz Lisp program
development environment, including interpreter,
libraries, and compiler.

Games and Diversions

Programs used for entertainment.

GNU EMACS

The public-domain GNU EMACS editor and editmacro files.

Hyperchannel Utilities
(VAX only)

The Hyperchannel driver and associated daemons
and utilities.

ICON (Language) Development
Package (VAX only)

Translator and linker for the ICON programming
language.

Miscellaneous User-Contributed
Utilities

Small utilities contributed by the user community.

Modula-2 Development Package
(VAX only)

Modula-2 compiler and libraries.

Notesfiles Package

Software that lets you establish notesfiles on your
ULTRIX system.

Remote Procedure Call Compiler

Modules for producing software using the
COURIER remote procedure call protocol.

Revision Control System

Programs that make up a package similar to the
SCCS facility provided with the supported software
subsets.

Software Project Management
System
(VAX only)

A package useful for managing large software
development efforts.

Supplementary Documentation

Online copies of ULTRIX Supplementary
Documentation.

University Ingres QUEL DBMS
(VAX only)

University INGRES QUEL database management
system.

Unsupported FORTRAN Utilities
(VAX only)

Utilities for developing programs using the UNIX
f77 dialect of FORTRAN.

Unsupported Manual Pages

Online reference pages for unsupported XII
features.

Unsupported Online Manuals

Online manual pages for programs found in the Base
Extension subset.

A-4 Software Subsets

Table A-2:

(continued)

Subset

Description

Unsupported XII Components

Programs and fonts for the X Window System
protocol level 11. Contains applications such as
xterm, xload, and xedit.

USENET News Interface Software

Software needed to participate in the USENET news
network.

XIO to XII Compatibility Tools

Unsupported tools to help the migration from X
Window System protocol level 10 to protocol level
11.

Software Subsets A-5

Unsupported Software

The ULTRIX operating system is enhanced by a variety of unsupported software.
The term unsupported means that Digital does not test the software and does not
warrant its function, performance, or reliability, nor does Digital commit to correct
problems found in it or to develop or upgrade it.
ULTRIX unsupported software comes from two primary sources:

B.1

•

Software included with the ULTRIX operating system

•

Software available through DEeUS

Software Included with the ULTRIX Operating System
The unsupported software that is supplied as part of the ULTRIX software package
can be divided into two types:
•

General programs
These programs consist of tools and utilities developed at Berkeley and by other
users of UNIX systems that have become part of the accepted UNIX
environment.

•

Specialized tools
These programs consist largely of drivers and utilities developed to support
specific hardware configurations and devices. Some of this hardware is made
by Digital, and some is supplied by other system vendors.

The software components listed in Table B-1 are included with the ULTRIX
operating system but are not currently supported by Digital. This software is
supplied in the unsupported subsets listed in Table A-2.

Table 8-1: Unsupported Software Components
Commands
Component

Description

as
diff
efl
eqn
f77
fed

VAX/UNIX assembler
VAX/UNIX file comparing utility
Extended FORTRAN language
Mathematics typesetting preprocessor
Berkeley FORTRAN 77 compiler
Font editor for HP 2648 terminal
Functional Programming Language compiler/interpreter
Print FORTRAN file
Tips on getting started with the ULTRIX system

fp
fpr

help

Table 8-1:

(continued)

Commands
Component

Description

learn
Computer-aided instruction about the ULTRIX system
lisp (VAX only)
Lisp interpreter
liszt (VAX only)
Franz Lisp compiler
lxref (VAX only)
Lisp cross reference program
mod (VAX only)
Modula-2 compiler
msgs
System messages and junk mail program
pti
C/AfT phototypesetter interface
ptoe
Pascal-to-C language translator
ratfor
Rational FORTRAN dialect
res
Revision Control System (similar to SCCS)
struet
Structure FORTRAN programs
sysline
Display system status on status line of a terminal
te
Graphic Systems typesetter simulator for Tektronix 4015
tk
Paginator for Tektronix 4014
tp
Manipulator for tape archives
trman
Translator for V6 manual-formatting macros to V7
troff
Text formatter
units
Unit conversion program
vfontinfo (VAX only) Inspection and information display for UNIX fonts
vgrind
Program listing formatter
vlp (VAX only)
Lisp formatter for typeset printing
vpr
Raster printer/plotter spooler
vtroff
Text formatter for raster plotter
vwidth (VAX only)
Font table-width generator

Special Library Functions
Component

Description

lib2648

Subroutines for HP 2648 terminal

Special Files
Component

Description

ace (VAX only)
ad (VAX only)
bk (VAX only)
ess (VAX only)
et (VAX only)
dh
dn (VAX only)
ee (VAX only)
en (VAX only)
hy (VAX only)
ik (VAX only)
il (VAX only)
imp (VAX only)

ACC LH/DH IMP interfaces
Data Translation A/D converter
Line discipline for intersystem communication (obsolete)
DEC IMP-IIA LH/DH IMP Interface
C/AfT phototypesetter interface
DH-II/DM-II Communications multiplexer
DN-II autocall unit interface
3Com IOMb/s Ethernet interface
Xerox 3Mb/s Ethernet interface
Network Systems Hyperchannel interface
Ikonas frame buffer, graphics device interface
Interlan IOMb/s Ethernet interface
1822 network interface

8-2 Unsupported Software

Table 8-1: (continued)
Special Files
Component

Description

kg (VAXonly)

LK-ll/DL-llw line clock
LPVII parallel line printer
Digital CSS PCL-II B network interface
Evans and Sutherland Picture System 2 device interface
Xerox PIP-I protocol family
TM/II/TE-IO magnetic tape interface
Ungermann-Bass interface
Unibus storage module controller/driver
Digital RX02 floppy disk interface
Unibus TU45 tape drive interface
TU58/DECtape II interface
Benson-Varian interface
Versatec printer/plotter interface
Proteon proNET 10 Mb/s ring interface

lpv
pel (VAX only)
ps (VAXonly)

pup (VAXonly)
tm (VAX only)

un (VAX only)
up (VAX only)
urx (VAX only)
ut (VAX only)
uu (VAX only)
va (VAX only)
vp (VAX only)
vv (VAXonly)

Macro Packages
Component

Description

eqnehar

Special character definitions for eqn

Maintenance Tools
Component

Description

rdt

Reader for diagnostic tapes written by a VMS system

B.2 Software Available Through OECUS
The Digital Equipment Computer D sers' Society (DECDS) is an independent
nonprofit organization. DECDS maintains a large library of contributed software for
all of Digital's operating systems, including the DLTRIX operating system. DECDS
software is not warranted by Digital.

Unsupported Software B-3

POSIX FIPS 151-1 Modifications

This appendix lists Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) modifications to
the IEEE 1003.1-1988 (POSIX) standard, as published in the Federal Register. These
modifications are required in implementations to be procured by United States federal
agencies. The ULTRIX operating system conforms to these requirements; see
Digital's POSIX 1003.1 Conformance Document. Items in the following list are
keyed by letter to the list in the Federal Register.
a.

Inconsistencies with CLK_TCK exist between the IEEE Std 1003.1-1988 and
the referenced ANSI/X3.159-1989 Programming Language C Standard draft 13
May 1988 (X3J11/88-002). This inconsistency shall be resolved in the ratified
C Standard. Until the C Standard is ratified, CLK_TCK is to be treated as a
POSIX-only symbol.

The implementation shall support the option
_POSIX_CHOWN_RESTRICTED.

The implementation shall support the option {NGROUPS_MAX} such that the
value of {NGROUPS_MAX} is greater than or equal to eight (8).

The implementation shall support the setting of the group-ID of a file (when it
is created) to that of its parent directory.

The implementation shall support the functionality associated with the feature
{_POSIX_SAVED_IDS}.

The implementation shall support the functionality associated with the feature
{_POSIX_VDISABLE}.

The implementation shall support the option _POSIX_JOB_CONTROL.

The implementation shall support the functionality associated with the feature
{_POSIX_NO_TRUNC}.

In section 6.4.1.2, the sentence "If a read () is interrupted by a signal after it
has successfully read some data, either it shall return -1 with errno set to
[EINTR], or it shall return the number of bytes read." shall be deleted and
replaced with the sentence' 'If a read () is interrupted by a signal after it has
successfully read some data, it shall return the number of bytes the system has
read."
In section 6.4.2.2, the sentence "If a wr i te () is interrupted by a signal after
it successfully writes some data, either it shall return -1 with errno set to
[EINTR], or it shall return the number of bytes written." shall be deleted and
replaced with the sentence "If a write () is interrupted by a signal after it
successfully writes some data, it shall return the number of bytes the system has
written."

The environment for the login shell shall contain the environment variables
HOME and LOGNAME as defined in section 2.7.

Index

command languages

addition
of software by users, 2-10 to 2-11
administration
See system administration

ALL-IN-l
mail access to, 3-4
ANSI
tape format, 2-9
Apple systems, 2-2
ASCII text files, 6-6
authentication, network, 3-5

See shells

commands, 1-2
unsupported, list of, B-1 t
Common Applications Environment, 4-3
Compatibility with industry standards, 4-1 to 4-7
compatibility with other UNIX systems, 4-1 to 4-7
compliance
defined,4-1
components, 1-1
components ofULTRIX, I-If
Compound Document Architecture, 2-5, 6-6 to 6-7
compound documents, 6-6
Computer Interconnect, 1-2

configuration, system
See system configuration

Berkeley Internet Name Domain, 3-2,4-5
Berkeley Standard Distribution, 1-1
ULTRIX compatibility with, 4-5

conformance

BIND service

console terminal

defined,4-1
See Terminals, console, requirements

See Berkeley Internet Name Domain

Bourne shell

crash dumps, 2-10

See shells

BSD, 1-1
BSD mail facility
See mail

D
DDIF
See Digital Document Interchange Format

debuggers

C shell

DECnet

See tools, software development

See shells

CDA
See Compound Document Architecture

CDROM support, 5-2
CI, 1-2, 2-8

See network access, DECnet

architecture, 3-2
DECserver, 3-5
DEC station
See Workstations

DECwindows

file archiving

applications, bundled, 2-7, 2-2, 2-6, 6-5
derivation of UL TRIX, 1-2f

See tools, archiving

file sharing

Digital Document Interchange Format, 6-6

NFS, 3-3

disks

with VMS, 3-3

media interchangeability with UNIX V7, 4-7

file system, 1-2
formats, 4-5, 4-7

media requirements, 5-3
MSCP, 5-2
SCSI,5-2

generic, 1-2
files

support for, 2-10
system, requirements for, 5-2

unsupported, list of, B-1 t
filters, printer

Unibus, 5-2
Display PostScript, 2-7

See printers, filters for

FIPS

distribution kit

See Federal Information Processing Standard

See installation, distribution kit

document processors and formatters, 6-6

document set
See ULTRIX document set

documentation, 6-1 to 6-7

G protocol for uucp access, 3-5
general use
defined,2-1

development and production, 6-5
drivers, terminal

generation, system
See system generation

See terminals, drivers for

dxnotepad editor, 6-5

GKS

Graphic Kernel System, 2-7

See Graphical Kernel System

graphics, 2-7

editors, 6-5
encryption and decryption, 4-7

enhancements, 1-2
errors

hardware requirements, 5-1 to 5-3

disk,5-3

Hierarchical Storage Subsystem, 1-2

logging and reporting, 2-10

HSC, 1-2, 2-8

recovery from, 2-10
exporting files under NFS, 3-3
IBM systems, 2-2

mail access to, 3-4

facilities
networking, 3-1 to 3-5

IEEE Standard 1003.1
See also POSIX, 4-2

software development, 2-3 to 2-7

importing files under NFS, 3-3

system, 2-1 to 2-11

industry standards

features, 1-2
Federal Information Processing Standard, 4-2, C-l

See compatibility with industry standards

installation
distribution kit, 2-7

Index-2

installation (cont.)
of software, 2-7 to 2-8
by Digital, 7-1
remote, 2-8
installation media
See system load media

Internet
See network access, Internet

I/O, 1-2

M
magnetic tape support, 5-2
mail, 3-4
maintainability, 2-10
manuals, 6-1
Mass Storage Control Protocol, 5-2
memory requirements, 5-1
MH mail system
See mail

MicroVAX processor support, 5-1
minimum hardware configuration, 5-1 f

Kerberos authentication, 3-5

modification, system
See system modification

Korn shell
See shells

native software, 1-1

languages

network access

adding other, 2-4

DECnet, 3-2

C, 2-3, 4-5

commands, 3-2

FORTRAN,2-3

facilities, 3-2
file transfer, wildcards in, 3-2

Lisp,2-4t
Modula-2, 2-4t

Internet, 3-1

Pascal, 2-4t

commands, 3-1

programming, 2-3 to 2-4, 2-4t

protocols, 3-1

unsupported, 2-4

NFS, 32
functions, 3-3

VAX C, 2-3
VAX FORTRAN, 2-3

uucp, 3-5
functions, 3-5

VAX Lisp, 2-4t
LAT

virtual terminal, 3-5
VMSjULTRIX Connection, 3-3

See Local Area Transport
licensing, 8-1

network authentication, 3-5

limits

Network File System

number of users, 8-1
line printers

network transparency, 2-2

See printers

linkers
See tools, software development

loaders

See network access, NFS, 4-5

newsletters, 7-2
NFS
See network access, NFS

NIST,4-2t

See tools, software development
Local Area Transport, 3-5

Index-3

processor support, 5-1

online documentation, 6-4

programming languages
See languages, programming

facilities, 6-4t
open software environments, 4-1, 4-1 t
Open Software Foundation, 4-2t, 4-4
ULTRIX conformance with, 4-4t
organization of UL TRIX, 1-1
OSF
See Open Software Foundation

R
reference pages, 6-4
related documentation, viii
remote distribution service, 2-9
RISC processors, 5-1
RMS files, 3-3

root file storage, 5-2

PC
See personal computers

personal computers
integration with, 2-2
plotting, 2-7
portability
of applications between UNIX systems, 4-1, 1-2
languages, 2-3
shells, 2-3
source level, SYSTEM V, 4-5
windowing applications, 2-5
windowing environment, 2-2
POSIX, 4-2, 4-2t
conformance test suite, 4-2
FIPS modifications, C-l
ULTRIX conformance with, 4-2
USTAR tape format, 2-9
POSIX 1003.1 Conformance Document, 4-2
PostScript
See Display PostScript
See printers, PostScript, 6-6

printcap database, 2-2
printers, 2-2 to 2-3
control and monitoring, 2-2 to 2-3, 2-8
differing capabilities, 2-2
filters for, 2-2
PostScript, 2-2
serial, connecting to DECserver, 3-5
unfiltered access, 2-2
problem resolution, 7-2

s
server
kit installation, 2-10
services
See facilities

services, software, 7-1 to 7-2
shells, 2-1, 2-3, 4-5,4-7
purpose and description of, 2-3
Simple Network Management Protocol, 3-2
SMP
See symmetrical mUltiprocessing

SNMP, 3-2
software
addition of by users, 2-10 to 2-11
software load device, 5-2
Software Product Description, viii, 5-1, 5-2
software services
See services, software

SPD
See Software Product Description

spoolers, 2-1
SQL,2-5
subsets, 2-7, 2-10
optional, storage, 5-2
supported, list of, A-I t
unsupported, list of, A-3t
SUbsystems, 1-2
support services, 7-1
SVID
See SYSTEM V, interface description

Index-4

SVID (cont.)

tools (cont.)
document preparation, 6-5, 6-6

See System V, ULTRIX compatibility with

special-purpose, 6-6

swap space requirements, 5-2
symmetrical multiprocessing, 1-2

unsupported, 6-7

tools for controlling, 2-9

file system, 2-8

system administration, 2-8 to 2-9

image building, 2-5

system configuration. 2-8

object control, 2-5

system disk requirements

printer control, 2-8

See disks, system, requirements for

software development, 2-3, 2-4

system generation, 2-8

software installation, 2-7, 2-10

system load media, 2-8

software kit building, 2-10

system management, 2-7 to 2-10

software maintenance, 2-3, 2-5

system modification, 2-8

source control, 2-5

System V

system administration, 2-8 to 2-9

administered system extension, 4-6

operator service, 2-8

advanced utilities extension, 4-6, 1-1

system maintenance, 2-10

SYSTEM V, 1-2

system management, 2-7 to 2-10

System V

system monitoring, 2-9

ULTRIX compatibility with, 4-5
compatibility, 4-5t

unsupported, list of, B-1 t
training, 7-1

SYSTEM V
interface description, 2-2

System V
software development extensions, 4-6

ULTRIX

SYSTEM V shell

description of, 1-2

See shells

native software, 1-1

system verification, 2-8

UL TRIX, derivation of, 1-1
ULTRIX components, 1-1
ULTRIX document set, 6-1, 6-lt

UL TRIX organization, 1-1

Telex

ULTRIX Software Source Book, 2-4

mail access to, 3-4

UL TRIX Worksystem Software, 2-2

term cap database, 2-2

features, 2-6

terminal concentrators

programming, 2-5 to 2-7

See Local Area Transport

terminals, 2-1, 2-2
character cell, 2-2
console, requirements, 5-2
differing capabilities, 2-2
drivers for, 2-2
tools

server and diskless workstations, 2-2
UNIX V7
ULTRIX compatibility with, 4-7
plot library, 2-7
user
defined for licensing, 8-1
user guides, 6-1

archiving, 2-9
media support, 2-9
compound document handling, 6-6

user interfaces, 2-1
user login limits
See limits, number of users

Index-5

/usr file storage, 5-2

X/Open Portability Guide, 4-3

uucp

XPG2

See network access, uucp

See X/Open Portability Guide

XPG3
See X/Open Portability Guide

v
VAX C language

XUI,2-6
Toolkit, 2-6

See languages, VAX C

VAX FORTRAN language
See languages, VAX FORTRAN

VAX processors, 1-2,5-1
VAXBI,I-2

Yellow Pages service, 32,3-3

VAXserver processor support, 5-1
VAXstation
See Workstations

VAXstation processor support, 5-1
verification, system
See system verification

vi editor, 6-5
VMS, 2-2
VMS/ULTRIX Connection
See network access, VMS/ULTRIX Connection

w
workstations, 2-1, 2-2
color, 2-2
diskless, 2-2
monochrome, 2-2

x
X server
See also xerver, 2-2, 2-6

VAX, 2-2
X User Interface
See XUI, 2-5 to 2-7

X Window System, 2-2, 2-5 to 2-7
enhancement in DECwindows, 2-2
X.400 networks
mail access to, 3-4
xedit editor, 6-5
X/Open, 4-2t, 4-3
ULTRIX conformance with, 4-3t

Index-6

How to Order Additional Documentation

Technical Support
If you need help deciding which documentation best meets your needs, call 800-343-4040 before placing
your electronic, telephone, or direct mail order.

Electronic Orders
To place an order at the Electronic Store, dial 800-234-1998 using a 1200- or 2400-baud modem from
anywhere in the USA, Canada, or Puerto Rico. If you need assistance using the Electronic Store, call
800-DIGITAL (800-344-4825).

Telephone and Direct Mail Orders
Your Location

Call

Contact

Continental USA,
Alaska, or Hawaii

800-DIGITAL

Digital Equipment Corporation
P.O. Box CS2008
Nashua, New Hampshire 03061

Puerto Rico

809-754-7575

Local Digital Subsidiary

Canada

800-267-6215

Digital Equipment of Canada
Attn: DECdirect Operations KA02/2
P.O. Box 13000
100 Herzberg Road
Kanata, Ontario, Canada K2K 2A6

International

Local Digital subsidiary or
approved distributor

Internal*

SSB Order Processing - WMO/E15
or
Software Supply Business
Digital Equipment Corporation
Westminster, Massachusetts 01473

* For internal orders, you must submit an Internal Software Order Form (EN-01740-07).

Reader's Comments

ULTFlIX
Technical Summary
AA-MG63B-TE

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