Disk and Tape Volumes

HP OpenVMS Alpha Version 8.3 and HP OpenVMS Version 8.3-1H1 for Integrity Servers SPD 82.35.13

Record Management Services (RMS)

RMS is a set of I/O services that helps application pro- grams to process and manage ﬁles and records. Al- though it is intended to provide a comprehensive soft- ware interface to mass storage devices, RMS also sup- ports device-independent access to unit-record devices.

RMS supports sequential, relative, and indexed ﬁle or- ganizations in ﬁxed-length or variable-length record for- mats. RMS also supports byte stream formats for se- quential ﬁle organization.

RMS record access modes provide access to records in four ways:

•Sequentially

•Directly by key value

•Directly by relative record number

•Directly by record ﬁle address

RMS also supports block I/O operations for vari- ous performance-critical applications that require user- deﬁned ﬁle organizations and record formats.

RMS promotes safe and efﬁcient ﬁle sharing by pro- viding multiple ﬁle access modes and automatic record locking (where applicable). RMS offers the options of enabling global buffers for buffer sharing by multiple pro- cesses.

RMS utilities aid ﬁle creation and record maintenance. These utilities convert ﬁles from one organization and format to another; restructure indexed ﬁles for storage and access efﬁciency; and reclaim data structures within indexed ﬁles. These utilities also generate appropriate reports.

For systems that have DECnet or DECnet-Plus in- stalled, RMS provides a subset of ﬁle and record man- agement services to remote network nodes. Remote ﬁle operations are generally transparent to user programs.

Commands such as EDIT, CREATE, COPY, TYPE, and PRINT allow users to manipulate RMS records within RMS ﬁles at the DCL command level.

The system manager can organize disk volumes into volume sets. Volume sets can contain a mix of disk device types and can be extended by adding volumes. Within a volume set, ﬁles of any organization type can span multiple volumes. Files can be allocated to the set as a whole (the default) or to speciﬁc volumes within the set. Optionally, the system manager can allocate portions of indexed ﬁles to speciﬁc areas of a single disk or to speciﬁc volumes in a volume set.

The system manager can place quotas on a disk to con- trol the amount of space individual users can allocate. Quota assignment is made by UIC and can be controlled for each individual volume set in the system (or for each individual volume if the volume is not part of a set).

The system manager can cache disk structure infor- mation in memory to reduce the I/O overhead required for ﬁle management services. Although not required to do so, users can preallocate space and control auto- matic allocation. For example, a ﬁle can be extended by a given number of blocks, contiguously or noncon- tiguously, for optimal ﬁle system performance.

The system applies software validity checks and check- sums to critical disk structure information. If a disk is improperly dismounted because of user error or system failure, the system rebuilds the disk’s structure informa- tion automatically the next time the disk is mounted. The system detects bad blocks and prevents their reuse once the ﬁles to which the blocks were allocated are deleted. On DIGITAL Storage Architecture (DSA) disks, the disk controller detects and replaces bad blocks au- tomatically.

The system provides 255 levels of named directories and subdirectories whose contents are alphabetically or- dered. Device and ﬁle speciﬁcations follow HP conven- tions. Users can use logical names to abbreviate the speciﬁcations and to make application programs device and ﬁle name independent. Users can assign a logical name to an entire speciﬁcation, to a portion of a speci- ﬁcation, or to another logical name.

OpenVMS supports multivolume magnetic tape ﬁles with transparent volume switching. Access positioning is done either by ﬁle name or by relative ﬁle position.

E-BUSINESS AND INTEGRATION TECHNOLOGIES

The HP OpenVMS e-Business and Integration Infras- tructure Package provides key Internet, e-business, and integration software technologies that enhance the OpenVMS Alpha and OpenVMS for Integrity servers operating systems and enable the development of e- business and enterprise integration solutions. These technologies are bundled with the OpenVMS Alpha or OpenVMS for Integrity servers operating systems. Sev- eral of the components are additionally bound by an open source software license.

The following components are included on the e- Business and Integration Infrastructure Package on OpenVMS Alpha:

•HP Secure Web Server (SWS), including support for the popular scripting capabilities: mod_PHP, mod_ Perl and Perl, and JavaServer Pages (Tomcat)

•HP Secure Web Browser (SWB)

OpenVMS I64 Operating Systems specifications

HP OpenVMS I64 is a robust operating system originally developed by Digital Equipment Corporation and later acquired by Hewlett-Packard. It stands for "Open Virtual Memory System" and is designed to run on Intel Itanium (I64) architecture, offering high reliability and performance for mission-critical applications.

One of the defining features of OpenVMS is its focus on availability and fault tolerance. It supports clustering, allowing multiple nodes to function together as a single system. This feature ensures that if one node fails, others can continue processing, minimizing downtime. Furthermore, OpenVMS employs a sophisticated method of process management, enabling the efficient handling of multiple tasks and processes simultaneously.

Security is a paramount characteristic of OpenVMS. The system implements a multi-layered security architecture, encompassing user authentication, access controls, and logging features that protect against unauthorized access. It also offers role-based access control, which streamlines permissions and bolsters overall system security.

OpenVMS is compatible with various programming languages and development tools, which makes it a versatile choice for developers. It supports languages like C, C++, COBOL, and Pascal, as well as development environments that facilitate the creation of sophisticated applications. Its comprehensive suite of development and debugging tools enhances productivity and ease of use for software engineers.

Another notable feature is its support for legacy applications. OpenVMS provides compatibility with older systems, allowing organizations to modernize their infrastructure without losing valuable investments in legacy code. This backward compatibility is vital for enterprises that require long-term system integrity and data consistency.

The operating system also features an advanced file system known as the Virtual Memory System (VMS) file system, which supports a variety of file types and efficient data management. The system is designed for high-performance I/O operations, which is crucial for applications that require quick data access and processing.

In terms of networking, OpenVMS supports a range of communication protocols, making it suitable for integration into complex networked environments. Its TCP/IP stack enables seamless connectivity with other platforms, facilitating collaboration in mixed environments.

Overall, HP OpenVMS I64 stands out for its reliability, security, and performance, making it an ideal choice for enterprises demanding a robust operating environment capable of handling their critical workloads. Its combination of advanced features and software support ensures that organizations can continue to innovate while relying on a stable foundation.

HP OpenVMS I64 Operating Systems Disk and Tape Volumes, Business and Integration Technologies

Models: OpenVMS I64 Operating Systems