| A lot happened since this original note and my reply were posted.
Suffice it to say that we worked out a solution to Reuter's issue with
VMS reboots that involved using existing SRM console support to modify
environment variables via UNIX/VMS callbacks coupled with a VMS program
developed explicitly for Reuters to modify boot params at console level
using these callbacks. The program is unofficially available for other
VMS/Rawhide customers that may want it. It has not been qualified on
any other Alpha platform, but should work fine provided the platform's
SRM console SETENV and SAVENV console callbacks work properly.
Attached, you will find some mail between Engineering and the Reuter's
account team along the way to the final implementation/solution.
From: HARMNY::CUMMINS "Bill Cummins, PKO3-2/Q21, 223-4641" 4-MAR-1997 16:53:15.56
To: @DIS$:REUTERS
CC: CUMMINS
Subj: Reuters and OpenVMS reboots on AlphaServers
Hello Sue,
The OpenVMS development group has come up with a way to provide support
for Reuters to get their desired reboot behavior on AlphaServers. The
same basic support exists today (though not officially documented) under
UNIX.
Can you tell me whether your contacts at Reuters feel this would be an
acceptable solution? See mail attachments from OpenVMS development group.
Am hoping Reuters and your account team will take this solution and run
with it (with support from OpenVMS, MCS, etc.) I'm afraid any console-
based change to suit Reuters' needs would:
* Fly in the face of the reason the Digital UNIX, OpenVMS, and SRM
console development groups added the ability to manipulate console
environment variables (EVs) from a running operating system in the
first place. In other words, it would be a hack that would violate /
work around the Alpha SRM.
* Not offer maximum flexibility. With a change as implemented on the
DEC 7000 platform (addition of DEC7000-specific console EV called
BOOTVAX_COMPAT, one gets either VAX-style or Alpha-style reboots,
but not both unless the behavior is known a priori before booting.
* Be slow in coming (FW release cycles) and piece-meal as far as
platform/firmware support is concerned.
Let me know what you think.
Best regards,
BC
Distribution:
nm%chefs::christophers !Emma
nm%chefs::menasche !Andrea
nm%chefs::gledhill_s !Sue
nm%chefs::corfas !Avi
nm%vivian::d_bono !Dave
nm%chefs::mangan_s !Steve
nm%wimpey::caulfield_m !Mike
!Richard Baly
nm%thundr::lipcon !Jesse
From: STAR::JANETOS "VMS Engineering - ZKO3-4/U14 - 381x1532" 26-FEB-1997 15:10:51.99
To: MAY30::CUMMINS
CC: JHUBER, KFOLLIEN, KLEINSORGE, JANETOS
Subj: RE: Just read my voicemail; after seeing your mail..
Bill,
There seems to be general agreement that this approach to the Reuters
reboot problem is reasonable.
What we need to know is if Reuters will go along with it. We are not
issuing any "patch" -- we are sort of acting like software services
and providing a utility program to the system manager.
Reuters would have to modify their shutdown procedure to call the new
program prior to shutdown/reboot. Could you sound out Sue Gledhill on
whether this approach is acceptable to Reuters?
Fred -- is there a generally accepted way to cause a program to be
invoked during shutdown? Do we tell them to edit shutdown.com to call
this program? This is something we need to test here.
- Jim J.
==============================================================
From: MAY30::CUMMINS "Bill Cummins, PKO3-2/Q21, 223-4641" 26-FEB-1997 13:45:37.36
To: STAR::JANETOS
CC:
Subj: Just read my voicemail; after seeing your mail..
Let me know what Hanley et al say.
You know my opinion. I'd rather it be a VMS-wide solution versus a hack
that would become official over time in the console (new platforms
anyway..) Especially considering that more recent versions of UNIX support
callbacks, though I'm not sure BOOT_DEV and BOOTDEF_DEV have been tested..
If you'd prefer being in the loop on mail to Sue Gledhill, no problem here.
Else, if you want me to send her mail and CC you when you've gotten VMS
feedback, that's fine as well. Let me know.
BC
From: STAR::JANETOS "VMS Engineering - ZKO3-4/U14 - 381x1532 26-Feb-1997 1258 -0500" 26-FEB-1997 12:58:00.22
To: HARMNY::CUMMINS
CC: JANETOS
Subj: Bill -- our current thoughts on Reuters/reboot
From: 19584::HIGGINS "Ron Higgins, OpenVMS Kernel Mgr, 381-0007 26-Feb-1997 1147 -0500" 26-FEB-1997 11:47:36.80
To: HANLEY
CC: JANETOS
Subj: A: Bill, any opinions?
From: STAR::JANETOS "VMS Engineering - ZKO3-4/U14 - 381x1532" 26-FEB-1997 10:58:27.87
To: HIGGINS
CC: JHUBER, KLEINSORGE, KFOLLIEN,JANETOS
Subj: Reuters reboot problem
Ron,
We have talked briefly about the Reuters reboot problem. I would like
to fill you in on this and get your opinion on how to proceed.
The problem is that Reuters wants VAX style behaviour in how console
environment variables are used to define the default boot device. On
VAX, on a shutdown/reboot, the system is unconditionally booted from
the default boot device. On Alpha, on a shutdown/reboot, the system
is rebooted from the previous boot device (not necessarily the default
boot device).
The Alpha behaviour is the architecturally correct behaviour. Reuters
originally requested that the RAwhide console be modified to work VAX
style. As we worked with the console developers, we determined that
we could write a simple program to restore the default boot device.
Reuters could add this program to the shutdown path, and the effect
would be to give them VAX behaviour on Alpha. This seemed to be a
better solution than a console hack that would fix the problem on
Rawhide only.
My thinking on this was to give the program source code to the MCS
people that support Reuters. The conditions are
1) this is a programming example that demonstrates how to manipulate
(read/write) console environment variables. You need CMKRNL privilege
to run it. This program restores the BOOTDEF_DEV environment variable
(default boot device) to the value contained in BOOT_DEV (the last
device from which a succcessful boot has been accomplished). The
program has not been exhaustively tested. You are free to modify it
to suit your specific environment
2) we will check the example into SYS$EXAMPLES in V7.2 (or maybe
V7.1-maintenance)
MCS can then work with Reuters to implement a solution to their reboot
problem. We support MCS as necessary until Reuters is happy.
We still have some things we need to do -- more testing and code
review, and a discussion with the MCS/Reuters people.
Does this approach sound reasonable to you?
- Jim J.
|
| From: STAR::JANETOS "VMS Engineering - ZKO3-4/U14 - 381x1532 21-Mar-1997 1516 -0500" 21-MAR-1997 15:24:43.53
To: VIVIAN::D_BONO
CC: JHUBER,KLEINSORGE,HIGGINS,HANLEY,KFOLLIEN,HARMNY::CUMMINS,JANETOS
Subj: Reuters -- program to restore default boot device environment variable
Dave --
I am about to mail you the program that we believe gives Reuters the
desired behaviour of auto-reboots occuring from the default boot
device. We have tested it on Rawhide and verified that we do indeed
copy BOOTDEF_DEV (the default boot device list) to BOOT_DEV (device
list used on all boot attempts that are not initiated by a BOOT
command).
You say:
$ run default_boot
$ reboot
and the reboot will occur using the device list in BOOTDEF_DEV. This
should give Reuters the behaviour they desire -- that shutdown/reboot
invoked from VMS results in a reboot using the device list in BOOTDEF_DEV.
Full documentation on the program is contained in the module header
(its a simple program -- 121 lines of C).
Let me know how the testing goes with Reuters, or if you have any
questions. Also let me know how you want to proceed -- if you would
like us to check the code into SYS$EXAMPLES.
I will mail you the source code and a build file.
Regards,
- Jim Janetos
OpenVMS Systems Group
|
| From: STAR::JANETOS "VMS Engineering - ZKO3-4/U14 - 381x1532" 7-MAY-1997 14:54:57.74
To: HARMNY::CUMMINS
CC: JANETOS
Subj: RE: Do you mind me posting this mail and a couple earlier mails
from me to Sue Gledhill & Co. as a reply to ALPHASERVER_4100 note 455.*
Bill, we never decided whether to check it in. For now, if someone
asks, send them to me. We may decide to stick it in SYS$EXAMPLES for
V7.2, but that won't be available until q3/q4 98.
- JJ
From: HARMNY::CUMMINS "Bill Cummins, PKO3-2/Q21, 223-4641"
To: STAR::JANETOS
CC: CUMMINS
Subj: RE: Do you mind me posting this mail and a couple earlier mails
from me to Sue Gledhill & Co. as a reply to ALPHASERVER_4100 note 455.*
Good news. Thanks, BC
Who should I tell noters to contact if they want the program? or will it
be rolled into VMS programming examples or something similar in a future
release?
From: STAR::JANETOS "VMS Engineering - ZKO3-4/U14 - 381x1532" 7-MAY-1997 14:49:17.53
To: HARMNY::CUMMINS
CC: JANETOS
Subj: RE: Do you mind me posting this mail and a couple earlier mails
from me to Sue Gledhill & Co. as a reply to ALPHASERVER_4100 note 455.*
No problem Bill. Fyi, I heard from them -- they have made some mode
(mods) to the program I sent them, they seem happy, and are trying to
figure out exactly how they want to integrate the program into their
environment.
|