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General Description

The

...

  1. IDLE
  2. SHUTDOWN
  3. SHUTDOWN_R
  4. SPEEDUP
  5. SLOWDOWN
  6. SLOWDOWN_R
  7. SLOW_TEST

These utilities are located in the "idle_vms_pkg"CHARON Guest Utilities for OpenVMS" (CHARONCP) package contains several utilities for managing virtual tapes, changing the emulator speed and creating useful definitions for that operations.

Usage

This set of utilities is located in the "charoncp013.vdisk" disk file in the "C:\Program Files (x86)\CHARON\Virtual Disk Images\idle_vms_pkg_v2.0" folder. (Windows x64; for Windows x86 the path is: "C:\Program Files \CHARON\Virtual Disk Images\idle_vms_pkg_v2.0").

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Tape utilities package".

Supported OpenVMS versions: OpenVMS 6.1 and above.

(info) In case of OpenVMS upgrade, CHARONCP will have to be re-installed.


Installation

Specify this image in the CHARON

-VAX configuration

configuration file, boot from the system disk and mount the disk with the

following VAX/VMS Back to Table of Contents

following OpenVMS command:

$ MOUNT <device name> /OVERRIDE=IDENTIFICATION


Issue the following commands to install the package:

$ @SYS$UPDATE:VMSINSTAL

* Are you satisfied with the backup of your system disk [YES]? YES
* Where will the distribution volumes be mounted: <device name>:[000000.CHARONCP013.KIT]

Enter the products to be processed from the first distribution volume set.
* Products: CHARONCP013


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In the root of this disk you will see the following executable files and the COM file designed for the VAX/VMS system running on CHARON-VAX:

UtilityDescription
IDLE.EXE 

Significantly reduces the CHARON-VAX/XX host CPU usage whenever a VAX/VMS system running on CHARON-VAX is idle.

To ensure this is automatically started, you may include a call to the IDLE.EXE in the system startup file.

IDLE.EXE stalls the emulated CPU when it detects an OpenVMS idle condition. While IDLE.EXE is running the emulated CPU consumes, on average, less host system CPU time.

It is not recommended to employ IDLE.EXE in real-time process control environments.

Note: IDLE.EXE cannot be used with the VAX 6xx0 emulators.

IDLE_VMS55.EXEIDLE.EXE version for the VMS 5.5-2 and VMS 5.5-2H4 instances.
SHUTDOWN.EXE

Stops the CHARON-VAX emulator 30 seconds after the utility is invoked. These 30 seconds are intended to be used to shutdown the VAX/VMS system running on CHARON-VAX.

SHUTDOWN3.EXEStops CHARON-VAX 3 minutes after the utility is called.
SHUTDOWN5.EXEStops CHARON-VAX/XX 5 minutes after the utility is called.
SHUTDOWN_R.EXECancels a pending request to SHUTDOWN.
SLOWDOWN.EXE

Slows down the CHARON-VAX execution. Repeated execution further slows down the execution.

SLOWDOWN_R.EXERestores the normal CHARON-VAX/XX execution speed.
SPEEDUP.EXE

Raises CHARON-VAX execution speed by a certain amount of steps.

Only works if SLOWDOWN.EXE has been applied.

SLOW_TEST.COM A test that demonstrates the effect of the CHARON slowdown mechanism.
To run any of these utilities issue the following command: 

 

$ RUN <name of the utility>.EXE

or

$ @<name of the utility>.COM
Note

The SHUTDOWNn.EXE routines do not initiate the shutdown of the VAX/VMS system running on CHARON-VAX, only of the emulator itself.

Establish a VMS shutdown procedure that can complete within the specified time


Select all the components included to the package:

Component Selection

Select the CHARONCP components you wish to install from the menu below.
An asterisk appears next to the packages that have already been
selected. You can remove a package from the list by selecting it
again. You may enter more than one selection by separating your
choices with commas.

1. [*] CHARONCP Guest Utility (REQUIRED)
2. [*] Compatability Utilities
3. [*] Install DCL Commands & Help

4. Exit

* Your choice [4]: 4

Proceed with installation using all the default options.

Once the installation is completed, add the following line to the "SYS$STARTUP:SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM" file for the package to be loaded automatically at system startup::

$ @SYS$STARTUP:CHARONCP_STARTUP

After that the package will be loaded automatically on startup.

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Performance optimization

CHARON takes 100% of host CPU even in case of idle state of guest OpenVMS operating system. To get rid of such resources consumption there is a specific option provided by CHARON Guest Utilities - "idle" mode.

CommandDescription
$ CHARONCP SET IDLE /ENABLE

Loads the OpenVMS idle loop detection software. This allows CHARON to detect when the emulated CPU(s) are idle and use the host power saving instructions to reduce power usage.

$ CHARONCP SET IDLE /DISABLEUnloads the OpenVMS idle loop detection software.

Adjusting emulator's speed

CHARON speed can be adjusted using these commands:

CommandDescription
$ CHARONCP SET SPEED /UP=<number of steps>Increase the emulator speed by the specified number of steps.
$ CHARONCP SET SPEED /DOWN=<number of steps>Decrease the emulator speed by the specified number of steps.
$ CHARONCP SET SPEED /RESETRemove all speed stepping restraints.

Emulator's shutdown control

It is possible to schedule CHARON to shutdown directly from OpenVMS:

CommandDescription
$ CHARONCP SET SHUTDOWN /IN=<seconds, 60 is default>

The number of seconds before the CHARON emulator is to shut down.

The value can be between 0 and 65535 (approx. 18 hours).

$ CHARONCP SET SHUTDOWN /RESETClear a scheduled shutdown.

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Virtual tapes management

Specify mapping to tape container in the following way in the CHARON configuration file:

set <adapter name> container[<unit name>] = ".vtape" removable[<unit name>] = true


Warning
  • It is mandatory to set the "removable" parameter to "true"
  • The container name must be ".vtape", no name and path must be specified, only extension.

Example:

set PKA container[600] = ".vtape" removable[600] = true

Once it is done using the following commands it is possible to manage virtual tapes attached to CHARON:

CommandDescription

$ CHARONCP SET MAGTAPE <device> /LOAD="<filename>.vtape"

(warning) The container name specified in the /LOAD parameter must not be more than 255 characters

Create the specified host-file (if it does not already exist) and attach it to the specified virtual tape device.

Example:

$ CHARONCP SET MAGTAPE MKA600: /LOAD="E:\Charon\Tapes\backup_01.vtape"

$ CHARONCP SET MAGTAPE <device> /UNLOAD

Detach any file currently attached to the specified virtual tape device.

Example:

$ CHARONCP SET MAGTAPE MKA600: /UNLOAD

Possible errors:

ErrorDescription
BADFILENAME

The filename specified as a value to the qualifier /LOAD was either too long or does not have a file extension of ".vtape".

DEVNOTDISM

Attempting to execute a SET MAGTAPE/LOAD when a file is already attached.

Perform a SET MAGTAPE/UNLOAD first. If a SET MAGTAPE/LOAD command has not previously been executed, then the CHARON configuration container specification for the tape device may contain a full path. Doing this will create and attach and initial tape container file. To avoid this, remove the file name from the specification (leaving only a file extension of ".vtape" and optional directory).

(info) If some tape container has been already specified in the CHARON configuration file use the command "CHARONCP SET MAGTAPE <device> /UNLOAD" to unload it first.

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Defining keys

It is possible to define certain keys on the terminal keyboard for fast access to the CHARONCP functionality while you are in CHARONCP:

CommandDescription

$ CHARONCP
CHARONCP> DEFINE /KEY <key-name> <equivalence-string>

Defines an equivalence string and a set of attributes with a key on the terminal keyboard.

You can have a set of keys defined automatically for use with the CHARONCP utility by placing DEFINE/KEY commands in the file SYS$LOGIN:CHARONCP_KEYDEFS.INI

Example:

$ CHARONCP
CHARONCP> DEFINE /KEY F1 "SET MAGTAPE MKA600: /UNLOAD"


$ CHARONCP
CHARONCP> SHOW KEY <key-name>

Displays key definitions created with the DEFINE/KEY command. Refer to the DCL help entry for SHOW KEY for further information.

Example:

$ CHARONCP
CHARONCP> SHOW KEY F1
DEFAULT key state definitions:

F1 = "set magtape mka600: /unload"
CHARONCP>


(info) For more information refer to the OpenVMS DCL Dictionary (DEFINE/KEY section).

Displaying version

CommandDescription
$ CHARONCP SHOW VERSION

Displays the CHARONCP package version number and architecture. This can be useful for customers reporting issues with the CHARONCP software.

Example:

$ CHARONCP SHOW VERSION

CHARONCP version id is: V1.3


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