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Prerequisites

This release supports VMS version V6.2-1H3 and higher. Bypass disks can not be used as a boot device in V6.2-1H3, higher versions do not have this restriction.

Make sure that the latest Bypass controller kit has been installed, especially for VMS versions before V7.3-2.

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Installation

  1. Open your VM configuration and attach the virtual disk "ovms_tool.vdisk"  located by default in the "C:\Program Files\CHARON\Virtual Disk Images\OpenVMS tools package" directory:

    set PKA container[400] = "C:\Program Files\CHARON\Virtual Disk Images\OpenVMS tools package\ovms_tools.vdisk"


  2. Run VM, boot guest OpenVMS operating system.
  3. Use the POLYCENTER Software Installation (PCSI) utility to install the Bypass Driver.  The following example demonstrates the "PCSI PRODUCT INSTALL" command to execute and the expected output (the example assumes the utilities virtual disk image is attached as DKA400:):

    PRODUCT INSTALL CHARON_DISK/SOURCE=DKA400:[BYPASS]
    %PCSI-I-CANNOTVAL, cannot validate DKA400:[BYPASS]SRI-AXPVMS-CHARON_DISK-V0104--1.PCSI;1
    -PCSI-I-NOTSIGNED, product kit is not signed and therefore has no manifest file
     
    The following product has been selected:
        SRI AXPVMS CHARON_DISK V1.4 Layered Product
     
    Do you want to continue? [YES] YES
     
    Configuration phase starting ...
     
    You will be asked to choose options, if any, for each selected product and for any products that may be installed to satisfy software dependency requirements.
     
    SRI AXPVMS CHARON_DISK V1.4: Charon disk driver V1.4 for OpenVMS Alpha.
     
        Copyright (C) 1976, 2009 Software Resources International
     
        CHARON_DISK was produced by Software Resources International
     
    * This product does not have any configuration options.
     
    Execution phase starting ...
     
    The following product will be installed to destination:
        SRI AXPVMS CHARON_DISK V1.4 DISK$TARDISSYSTEM:[VMS$COMMON.]
     
    Portion done: 0%...10%...20%...80%...100%
     
    The following product has been installed:
        SRI AXPVMS CHARON_DISK V1.4 Layered Product


...

Example:

load pci_io_bypass DIA


Div
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Note

In AlphaStation 400 configuration use the following syntax for PCI I/O bypass storage loading:

load pci_io_bypass DIA irq_bus = isa


The adapter instance name ("DIA" in the example above) is used then for parametrization, for example:

...

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Configuration parameters

The I/O Bypass controller has the following configuration parameters:

container

N

Example: 

Parameter

container[N]

N is 0..32766 (no more than 64 units)

TypeText string
Value

Possible values of the parameter are strings in one of the following forms:

  • Physical disk
    •  "\\.\PhysicalDrive<X>", where X is 0, 1, … 
      (warning) Be careful not to destroy all the information from the disk dedicated to CHARON VM by mistake. 
      These disks must not be formatted by the host OS. 
      Example:

      set DIA container[0]="\\.\PhysicalDrive1"

      .

  • Physical disk by its WWID 

    • "\\.\PhysicalDrive(DevID=XXX-...-XXXX)"

      (warning) Be careful not to destroy all the information from the disk dedicated to CHARON VM by mistake.

      These disks must not be formatted by the host OS.

      DevID addresses the target physical disk by its WWID (hexadecimal 128-bit identifier assigned to the disk drive by its manufacturer/originator).

      Example:


      Div
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      set DIA container[100]="\\.\PhysicalDrive(DevID=6008-05F3-0005-2950-BF8E-0B86-A0C7-0001)"


      .

  • iSCSI disks
    • "\\.\PhysicalDrive(iScsiTarget = <iSCSI target>, LUN = <LUN number>)"

      iScsiTarget addresses the disk by its iSCSI target name.

      LUN specifies LUN on connected iSCSI disk.

      Example:


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      set DIA container[200]="\\.\PhysicalDrive(iScsiTarget=iqn.2008-04:iscsi.charon-target-test1, LUN= 1)"

      .

    SCSI disk unknown to Windows for direct mapping

    • "\\.\Scsi<N>:<X>:<Y>:<Z>

      "

       


      The values of N, X, Y and Z can be collected using special utility "Host Device Check" included in the CHARON distributive - or manually by investigation of the devices connected to CHARON host in the "Device Manager" applet.

ParameterDescription
A logical number assigned by host operating system (Microsoft Windows) to logical or host’s physical storage resource such as physical SCSI HBA
XAn internal SCSI bus number (usually 0) on host’s physical SCSI HBA
YA SCSI ID of physical SCSI target device attached to host’s physical SCSI HBA
ZA logical unit number inside physical SCSI target device attached to host’s physical SCSI HBA
set DIA container[202]="\\.\Scsi1:0:1:0"

.

  • ISO file for reading distribution CD-ROM image
    • [<drive>":\"<path-name>"\"]<file-name>[".iso”]  
      Mapping may also include the full path (recommended), for example: "C:\My disks\vms_distribution.iso"  

      Example:

      set DIA container[600]="C:\My disks\vms_distribution.iso"

      .

    • File representing a physical disk of the HP Alpha system (disk image)
      • [<drive>":\"<path-name>"\"]<file-name>[".vdisk"] 
        These files can be created from scratch with "MkDisk" utility. Data and OS disks backups are transferred from the original system via tapes or network and restored into these container files.   
        Mapping may also include the full path (recommended), for example: "C:\My disks\my_boot_disk.vdisk"   
        Example: 

        set DIA container[401]="tru64-v51-system.vdisk"


        Warning

        Using compressed folders to store virtual disks and tapes is not supported

        .

    • Other type of drive, for example magneto-optical drive
      • "\\.\<N>:" 
        Example:

        set DIA container[300]="\\.\Z:"


        Warning

        Using compressed folders to store virtual disks and tapes is not supported

        .

    (info) This parameter is initially not set, thus creating NO storage elements on the controller..

    removable

    Parameter

    removable[N]

    N is 0..32766 (no more than 64 units)

    TypeBoolean
    Value

    When set to "true", the removable configuration parameter instructs CHARON VM to report the corresponding virtual disk as removable.

    Note to set this parameter to "true" if this disk storage element is:

    • Mapped to a host removable device
    • Mapped to a disk image located on a host removable device
    • Mapped to a disk image that has to be renamed/moved/deleted right after dismounting it in the guest OS

    By default the removable configuration parameter is set to "false".

    Example:

    set DIA removable[400]=true



    ...

    CHARON-AXP is able to boot from disk images of any OpenVMS/Alpha version.

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    Deinstallation

    1. Do a conversational boot. Please refer to your OpenVMS system administration guide for instructions.
    2. Set the NOAUTOCONFIG system parameter to 1
    3. Boot OpenVMS
    4. Remove the product with the "$ PRODUCT REMOVE CHARON_DISK" command.
    5. Set the NOAUTOCONFIG system parameter to 0 and reboot.   


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