Table of Contents
Description
The "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.
This set of utilities is located in the "charoncp013.vdisk" disk file in the "/opt/charon/disks" folder.
Supported OpenVMS versions (depending on platform support): OpenVMS 6.1 and above.
In case of OpenVMS upgrade, CHARONCP will have to be re-installed.
Installation
Specify this image in the CHARON configuration file, boot from the system disk and mount the disk with the following OpenVMS command:
$ MOUNT <device name> /OVERRIDE=IDENTIFICATION |
Issue the following commands to install the package (example given for OpenVMS V8.4):
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Select all the components included to the package:
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Proceed with installation using all the default options.
Once the installation is completed, add the following line to the "SYS$STARTUP:SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM" ("SYS$STARTUP:SYSTARTUP_V5.COM" for VMS 5.5) 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.
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.
$ 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 /DISABLE | Unloads the OpenVMS idle loop detection software. |
Adjusting emulator's speed
CHARON speed can be adjusted using these commands:
$ 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 /RESET | Remove all speed stepping restraints. |
Emulator's shutdown control
It is possible to schedule CHARON to shutdown directly from OpenVMS:
$ 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 /RESET | Clear a scheduled shutdown. |
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 |
It is mandatory to set the "removable" parameter to "true"
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:
$ CHARONCP SET MAGTAPE <device> /LOAD="<filename>.vtape" | Create the specified host-file (if it does not already exist) and attach it to the specified virtual tape device. Example:
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$ CHARONCP SET MAGTAPE <device> /UNLOAD | Detach any file currently attached to te specified virtual tape device. Example:
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Possible errors:
| 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 fileextension of ".vtape" and optional directory). |
If some tape container has been already specified in the CHARON configuratioon file use the command "CHARONCP SET MAGTAPE <device> /UNLOAD" to unload it first.
Defining keys
It is possible to define certain keys on the terminal keyboard for fast access to the CHARONCP functionalilty while you are in CHARONCP:
| 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$LOGIN:CHARONCP_KEYDEFS.INI Example:
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$ CHARONCPCHARONCP> 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:
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For more information refer to the OpenVMS DCL Dictionary (DEFINE/KEY section).
Displaying version
$ CHARONCP SHOW VERSION | Displays the CHARONCP package version number and architecture. This can be useful for customers reporting issues with the CHARONCP software. Example:
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