| Review RA0294: Chapter 10: Understanding the user environment
Should we really mention old and outdated hardware, I know that a
VAX/780 is a classic, but would it not be better if we focused on our
latest?
Page 10-8:
"The contents of ROM do not usually change" - Well
that is an understatement! How would you change something
that is Read-Only??
READ/WRITE memory?? Thats a new one. The term RAM would be
better, with a mention of the volatile nature of RAM.
The unit Mb should be mentioned.
Page 10-9:
The background for having more than one bus-type, should be
mentioned. SCSI should me mentioned.
Page 10-10.
Why not drop hardcopy terminals?, and mention PC, Mac's and
X- window terminals instead.
Graphics terminals should be explained.
Page 10-11.
The definition of the different printer types are somewhat
weak. The following would be better:
Lineprinter:
Heavy duty fast printer used for big printjob typically with
low print quallity. Uses a technology where a whole line is
printet at the time.
Letter quallity printer:
Printers used for output from wordprocessors, can use
typewriter technology or be based on print heads using
needles, impacting on a ink-ribbon. The output is high
quallity, but usually the print speed is low. The printers
can usually use different type styles.
Laser printers:
Very high quallity printers using a combination of laser and
photocopy techonology. This enables them to use many
different type faces and do very detalied graphics. The print
speed varies from medium-speed to very high-speed.
Page 10-11:
Why show all these old printers, we have an artlib with pics
of all the latest?
Page 10-12:
The diffrence in speed between the different technologies
should be mentioned.
Page 10-13:
Again Old stuff on the pics.
page 10-14a:
more mention of old hw.
What is a TU58??? What about TK50's
Page 10-17:
A breif mention of SCSI dev. would be nice.
Page 10-18:
VaxStations and DECstations should be mentioned in the
overview of single processors.
Page 10-21:
Frimware, Hardware dianostics should be explained.
The part about multiprocessing are OK.
Page 10-27:
The difference in usage between sync/ansync. comm is weakly
described. Typcial examples should be mentioned, and figures
be put on the terms fast/slow.
Nice part regarding VMS overview!!!, however it would be far
better to put it in a seperate chapter, as it is illogical to
have it here.
Best from JOSS.
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| I think that 5 days (in Holland 4� days) are too short to teach all these theory
and do a lot of exercises.
Symbols, logicals and writing command procedures is neither for the "simple"
application users nor for the operator necessary, so skip it.
Chapter 10 Understanding the user environment
---------------------------------------------
1) Place table 10-2 on page 10-22 after the whole theory about multiple
processing configurations as a summary.
2) I miss a figure about a VAXcluster, especially the CI-cluster with a
star-coupler and at least two HSC's.
3) Doesn't come page 10-32 too late. The student already uses VMS and DCL for
three days.
4) Skip the subject about programs, images and utilities on page 10-33.
It's not necessary to know for a operator.
5) A student will ask for the explanation of a concealed root directory
(page 10-37).
Is it necessary to know for a operator, that SYS$SYSROOT is a concealed root
directory. Please skip this remark.
6) First give the figure 10-15 and later on table 10-3, otherwise the student
will not understand the table 10-3 at that moment.
7) The theory about concealed directories is too vague. A student will not
understand what a concealed root directory will be.
8) Where can I find the MANAGING SYSTEM USERS, see the remark page 10-46.
9) Replace example 10-1 in front of table 10-7.
10) I think this chapter is going too far in a few subject and will take a lot
of time to explain, without exercises and therefore boring for operators,
who need to do a lot of exercises to understand the theory.
Chapter 11 Starting up and shutting down the system
----------------------------------------------------
1) Don't mention old VAX system processors like 11/750, 11/730, 11/780.
Mention the new one like VAX 4000, 6000, 8800, 9000 and the microvaxes.
2) Where can I find Appendix A (page 11-9a).
3) Mention the types of console volumes (page 11-9)
4) Is the explanation of all the startup phases not too far for an "novice"
operator.
5) In the whole chapter I miss anything about the microvax, although a lot of
the student also have to work on microvaxes, especially the microvax 3xxx.
6) How can you give console commands on a microvax (page 11-11).
7) Mention the VAXes which are halted in console mode and which not.
8) Don't mention the old VAXes on page 11-14a.
9) Call the actions that take place in phase 2 (page 11-15a).
10) How many operators do a conversational boot (page 11-17) for changing
parameters? I think only the system operators who are doing almost system
managers work.
11) Explain the characters A, B, C, D in the figure 11-2 on page 11-18.
12) Which operator will change the system parameters MULTIPROCESSING and
SMP_CPUS. Which operator has the privilege CMKRNL for starting CPU's or
stopping CPU's.
13) Give the example 11-3 for another system as the 11/780.
14) In example 11-3 I miss the option save_feedback and the other options for a
system in a cluster.
15) Give the table 11-5 for other systems as the 11/7xx.
Chapter 12 Working with queues.
-------------------------------
1) Put the batch queues at first and after that the print queues. The batch
queues are easier to teach and learn.
2) Why the word OUTPUT instead of print queue?
3) Give on the instructor page more information about the print symbiont, ie.
the function, do you have to write by your own, do you get it from DIGITAL
and when etc.
4) Give some physical attributes on page 12-13, after the command
$ SET PRINTER .... and $ SET TERMINAL ...
5) Explain on the instructor page the qualifiers /PERMANENT
/NOTYPE_AHEAD
/SPEED
/NOBROADCAST
Chapter 13 Working with disk and tap volumes.
--------------------------------------------
1) Please include the MOUNT/FOREIGN command into the figure 13-2, between
NON-DSA disk and ANALYZE/MEDIA.
2) I think most of the student will work on DSA-disk, so why the command
ANALYZE/MEDIA in the example about initializing and mounting.
Give an other example especially for invoking the Badblcok locater utility.
3) On page 13-11a there is mentioned "Do not run the BAD utility on a DSA-disk.
What is the result of doing ANALYZE/MEDIA for DSA-disk?
4) On page 13-15 the cluster-size is mentioned. Where is the explanation of
what the cluster-size is. Maybe as a note.
5) What is the function of INIT/GROUP without the qualifier /NOSHARE.
6)Why is UNKNOWN used in the command on page 11-26, instead of "" MYDISK.
7) On page 10-36 there is a typo $ BACKUP/OMAGE DBA1: -
$DRA2:SAVE.BCK/SAVE_SET
must be:
$ BACKUP/OMAGE DBA1: -
_$ DRA2:SAVE.BCK/SAVE_SET
8) Give an example of creating multiplevolume tape-sets page 13-39.
9) Give an example of standalone backup.
10) How do you restore a standalone backup.
11) I miss the function of standalone backup. Is an image backup and futher
incremental backups also enough for the system disk?
12) Where can I find the best way to restore a disk after a headcrash?
13) Please skip the qualifier /BUFFER on page 13-52, since V5.2 this qualifier
is obsolete.
Chapter 14 Monitoring the system
--------------------------------
1) Typo on page 14-4 objectives: Islolate instead of isolate.
2) The subject "Software Maintenance" is going too far for an operator. This is
pure system managers work and not operators work, so skip it.
3) Skip the subject "Software Problems", also a system managers subject.
4) For the command ANALYZE/ERROR_LOG a user needs the privilege SYSPRV. Which
operator will have this privilege, so my opinion is skip this subject from
this module.
5) Teach the operators to watch the errors-count given in the command show
devices.
6) Skip also the subject system dump facility, also not a operator task in my
opinion.
7) Also skip the subject UETP.
Ed Janssen
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