The boot process brings the newly generated (target) system into operation. The new system can be generated from an existing (host) system which can be any RTEA or RTE6/VM system.
The backup process is one means of preserving the new operating system in case of emergencies. It eliminates the need for regenerating the system in case the new system is destroyed.
Type 6 Program Files
Type 6 program files are produced by the program LINK. These files contain program code in memoryimage format, linked for a specific operating system. Such files are ready to be copied directly into a memory partition for execution.
The system file produced by the generator does not contain any programs because the generator does not relocate programs. It is necessary, however, that some programs be available to the system at boot time so that system operations can begin. These programs are described in Chapter 9.
The Boot Process
Booting is the process of loading an operating system into the computer and executing it. You can load a system from a disk, a cartridge tape drive (CTD), a magnetic tape, a DAT tape or a PROM module. You can also load a system from another computer over an HDLC link with DS or NS or in a local area network (LAN). The system can be booted manually by means of the virtual control panel (VCP) terminal, or automatically at poweron by setting the switches on the processor card of the ASeries computer.
The VCP terminal for a manual boot can be a local terminal or a remote terminal. The remote terminal is connected to the local system through a direct DS link or a LAN. A direct DS link is a distributed system connection with no intervening nodes (computers) on the DS network. Two computer systems so connected are called neighbors on the DS network. Booting over a LAN can be done from any computer system on the LAN; in other words, the system does not have to be a neighbor node.
Specific boot procedures are given in Chapters 9, 10, and 11. Appendix H contains detailed information on the boot parameters and several boot examples.
16 General Information