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Table of Contents

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General description

CHARON-AXP provides the following set of utilities:

Used to dedicate a host interface to CHARON-AXP, to release it back to the host and to manage CHARON virtual interfaces (TAPs) to physical tapes.

Utility	Description
mkdskcmd	ncu	Used to create CHARON virtual disk containers of custom or standard types. This utility also may be used to transfer virtual disks of one type to virtual disks of another type .
hasp_srm_view	Used to display the CHARON license contents, to collect the host system fingerprint and to transfer software licenses from one host to another.
hasp_update	Sentinel standard utility used to retrieve Sentinel protection key information, detach a license from a Sentinel SL key and rehost a license from a Sentinel SL key
.
mtd	Used to create CHARON tape images from physical tapes and to write tape images back

All these utilities are invoked from Linux console command line.

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Creating disk images

The "mkdskcmd" utility:

Creates empty disk images of a given standard disk type or a custom disk size
Transfers existing disk images of one type to disk images of another type.

The first step is to obtain the name of the disk that needs to be created:

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This command results in a list of all supported disk types.

Choose the desired disk (for example "RZ22"), then use the "mkdskcmd" command to create the virtual disk image as shown below:

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A disk container "rz22.vdisk" will be created in the current directory.

Info
A file "rz22.avdisk" will also be created. This file helps CHARON accurately recognize a specific disk image type. It is recommended to put the ".avdisk" file in the same directory as the created disk image.

It is also possible to create custom disk images using "--blcount" (blocks count) and "--blsize" (blocks size) switches.

To get all the available parameters please use the "–help"switch:

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The "--avtable" parameter is used to work with an alternative disk specification database (or to point to the standard database ("mkdsk.vtable") if it is in a location other than the current directory).

The "--blcount" (blocks count) and "--blsize" (blocks size) switches are used to create custom disk images.

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Transferring disk images

The "mkdskcmd" utility is able to transfer (copy) disk images of one type to a disk image of another type.

This operation is needed, for example, to obtain more free space on a disk image that already contains data.

Note: it is not possible to add more free space dynamically. CHARON-AXP must be stopped before performing this operation.

Info
If a source disk image is larger than the target disk image, the extra data is lost. If the source disk image is smaller, it will be extended and padded with null bytes ('\0').

An example of the syntax follows:

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where:

<source disk file name> - a file name of the disk image to be transferred
<source disk parameters> - the name of the disk from the list provided by the "mkdskcmd --list" command execution or the disk geometry specification (see below).
--shrink or -k - used in the case where the target disk is transferred to a smaller disk.

Example:

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It is also possible to specify the disk parameters manually with "--blcount / -c" (blocks count) and "--blsize / -z" (blocks size) switches:

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Example:

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Warning
There is a certain delay between the moment when the utility reports that a disk image has been transferred and its actual availability to CHARON. This delay can reach to several minutes in case of very big disks transfers. It happens because the host operating systems needs some time for actual allocation of the enlarged file on HDD.

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The "mtd" utility is used to:

Create a CHARON tape image from a physical tape
Write a tape image to a physical tape.

Usage is the following:

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where the options are:

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Creates an execution log “file name”.

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Directs to ignore bad blocks and continue processing without interruption. It implies "-r 0"

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Enable verbose trace of data transfer (implies "-p")

Example:

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to

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physical

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Example:

$ mtd /charon//tape1vtape /dev/st5

tapes

.

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hasp_srm_view

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The "hasp_srm_view" utility displays content of CHARON-AXP licenses.

Run the utility with one of the following parameters to see the license(-s) details:

"-l" (or without parameters) - CHARON default license details
"-all" - all available CHARON licenses details
"-key <key number>" - specific CHARON license (defined by its "key number") details

The "hasp_srm_view" utility provides the following functionality:

Display the CHARON-AXP licenses details. It is possible to view all available license or some specific one.
Collecting license status information
Collecting host fingerprint information
Managing software license transfer procedure.

Run the utility without any options to display the license details.

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The specific type of CHARON license defines what switches may be used in each case.

Collecting the "c2v" file can be done only from the CHARON host console.

Remote collection of status information

For remote collection of status information it is recommended to use "ssh" as shown in the following examples:

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To see the license text on the console:

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To collect license text to an output file on host server:

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# ssh root@localhost /opt/charon/bin/hasp_srm_view > /opt/charon/bin/hasp_srm_view.txt

The "hasp_srm_view" utility always reports the ID and IP address of the host(s) where active licenses are found.

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The "hasp_update" is a Sentinel standard utility for license management included in CHARON-AXP kit.

To invoke the "hasp_update" utility login as "root" and use the following syntax:

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where:

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Optional path to the C2V file when used with the 'i' option

Uses "stdout" if file name is not specified

Example:

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# hasp_update u license_update.v2c

Info
We recommend to use this tool only for "Update a Sentinel protection key / attach a detached license" function ("u" option). For the rest use "hasp_srm_view" utility.

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Used to display the CHARON license contents, to collect the host system fingerprint and to collect license data required for license updates.
hasp_update	Sentinel standard utility. Used with Charon to install and update licenses.
ncu	Used to dedicate a host interface to CHARON-AXP, to release it back to the host and to manage CHARON virtual interfaces (TAPs

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)

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Dedication of a host physical interface to CHARON

Login as root and enter "ncu". The following menu will appear:

# ncu

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:> 8

The utility lists available network interfaces (both physical and virtual) and indicates whether they are dedicated to the host or to CHARON and whether they are currently in use by host operating system.

"ncu" offers several options:

Dedicate interface to CHARON
Release interface to host
Create a bridge between a chosen physical network interface and the Linux virtual network and create a number of virtual network interfaces
Remove the Linux virtual network and all the created virtual network interfaces
Add VLAN
Remove VLAN
Print status - use it to display status of network interfaces and the menu shown above
Exit

In the example above we see 2 network interfaces - "eth0" and "eth1", both of them are dedicated to host, but host uses only the interface "eth0".

Let's dedicate the interface "eth1" to CHARON-AXP.

Enter "1", then type "eth1" and press Enter:

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Specify the interface to dedicate to CHARON:eth1
Turning off offloading for eth1.. Please wait

select action:
1 - Dedicate to CHARON
2 - Release to host
3 - Create Bridge with TAPs
4 - Remove Bridge
5 - Print status
6 - Exit
:> 5

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Now the interface "eth1" is dedicated to CHARON-AXP:

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Interfaces Dedicated to  State 
---------- ------------  ----- 
eth0       host          connected to host 
eth1       CHARON        disconnected from host 
lo         host          unmanaged from host 
================================================================= 
bridge name bridge id STP enabled interfaces 
========================== VLAN ================================= 
================================================================= 
 
 select action: 
1 - Dedicate to CHARON 
2 - Release to host 
3 - Create Bridge with TAPs 
4 - Remove Bridge 
5 - Add VLAN 
6 - Remove VLAN 
7 - Print status 
8 - Exit

Enter "8" to return to console prompt.

Now "eth1" can be used by CHARON-AXP.

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Release of a host physical interface back to host

Login as root and enter "ncu". The following menu will appear:

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Interfaces   Dedicated to   State 
----------   ------------   ----- 
eth0         host           connected to host 
eth1         CHARON         disconnected from host 
lo           host           unmanaged from host 
================================================================= 
bridge name bridge id STP enabled interfaces 
========================== VLAN ================================= 
================================================================= 
 
 select action: 
1 - Dedicate to CHARON 
2 - Release to host 
3 - Create Bridge with TAPs 
4 - Remove Bridge 
5 - Add VLAN 
6 - Remove VLAN 
7 - Print status 
8 - Exit

:> 2

Let's say that we want to return the interface "eth1" (currently dedicated to CHARON) back to host. To do that enter "2" then "eth1":

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Specify the interface to release to HOST:eth1
Connection successfully activated (D-Bus active path: /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/ActiveConnection/3)

select action:
1 - Dedicate to CHARON
2 - Release to host
3 - Create Bridge with TAPs
4 - Remove Bridge
5 - Print status
6 - Exit
:> 8

Enter "8" to quit the "ncu" utility.

The interface "eth1" is released back to host system now.

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Creation of a virtual network

Login as root and enter "ncu":

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# ncu
CHARON Network Configuration Utility, STROMASYS (c) 2015 Version 1.6

Interfaces Dedicated to State
---------- ------------ ------------
eth0       host         connected to host
eth1       host         connected to host
lo         host         unmanaged from host

==================================================================
bridge name bridge id STP enabled interfaces

select action:
1 - Dedicate to CHARON
2 - Release to host
3 - Create Bridge with TAPs
4 - Destroy Bridge
5 - Print status
6 - Exit
:> 3

Enter "3" to create a bridge between the host physical network adapter and the LINUX virtual network interfaces (TAP) and specify the physical network interface ("eth1" in our example) and the number of virtual network interfaces to be created (2 in our example):

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Specify the interface to be used for BRIDGE:eth1
How many tap should be created:2
Forming the bridge: ..1..2..3..4..5.. addif tap0 .. addif tap1 ..7..8 done!
Formed bridge br0_eth1 attached over eth1...

select action:
1 - Dedicate to CHARON
2 - Release to host
3 - Create Bridge with TAPs
4 - Remove Bridge
5 - Print status
6 - Exit
:> 5

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Now enter "5" to see the created virtual interfaces:

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Interfaces   Dedicated to    State
----------   ------------    ------------
eth0         host            connected to host
eth1         bridge          connected to bridge
lo           host            unmanaged from host
tap0         bridge          connected to bridge
tap1 bridge          connected to bridge
==================================================================
bridge name     bridge id STP enabled        interfaces
br0_eth1        8000.525400698995a no                 tap0
                                                       tap1

select action:
1 - Dedicate to CHARON
2 - Release to host
3 - Create Bridge with TAPs
4 - Remove Bridge
5 - Print status
6 - Exit
:> E

In the example above we see 2 virtual network Interfaces "tap0" and "tap1" connected to the created bridge. The physical network interface "eth1" is used for the bridge to the virtual network interfaces.

The interfaces "tap0" and "tap1" are ready to be used in CHARON configurations - they do not need to be additionally dedicated to CHARON.

Enter "6" to quit "ncu" utility.

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Removal of a virtual network

Login a root. Start "ncu" utility:

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# ncu

Interfaces Dedicated to State ---------- ------------ ------------ eth0 host connected to host eth1 bridge connected to bridge lo host unmanaged from host tap0 bridge connected to bridge tap1 bridge connected to bridge

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select action:

1 - Dedicate to CHARON
2 - Release to host
3 - Create Bridge with TAPs
4 - Remove Bridge
5 - Print status
6 - Exit
:> 4

Enter "4" then enter the interface name that is a bridge to the Linux virtual network on this host ("eth1" in our example):

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Specify the phys interface used for BRIDGE:eth1
Cleanup bridge br0_eth1 with ip over eth1...
Removing the bridge: ..1..2 delif eth1
delif tap0
delif tap1
..5..6..7..8 done!

select action:
1 - Dedicate to CHARON
2 - Release to host
3 - Create Bridge with TAPs
4 - Remove Bridge
5 - Print status
6 - Exit
:> 6

Enter "6" to quit "ncu" utility.

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CHARON Guest Utilities for OpenVMS

Used to manage virtual tapes and CHARON performance.

All these utilities (except for CHARON Guest Utilities for OpenVMS) are invoked from the Linux console command line.

Versions Compared

Old Version 8

New Version Current

Key

Release of a host physical interface back to host

Creation of a virtual network

Removal of a virtual network