9.5;spm, revision 9.5, 86/09/25
SPM (SERVER_PROCESS_MANAGER) -- Start Server Process Manager.
usage:  /sys/spm/spm


  The Server Process Manager, SPM, (/SYS/SPM/SPM) allows you to create a process
  on a node remote from your own.  On  a  DOMAIN  Server  Processor  (DSP),  SPM
  starts when the operating system is loaded, and so it runs whenever the DSP is
  on line.  SPM starts the MBX_HELPER program if it is not started on a DSP from
  the  `NODE_DATA/STARTUP.SPM  file.  (Type HELP MBX_HELPER for a description of
  MBX_HELPER.)   Since they  have  no  monitors  or  keyboards,  DSPs  would  be
  unusable without both of these server processes.

  If SPM starts up when a node is booted (i.e., if SPM is running in Process 1),
  it connects its standard streams (standard input and output, and  error  input
  and  output) to the object `NODE_DATA/DEV/SIO.SPM.  This object is generally a
  link which points to one of the SIO lines (for  example,  /DEV/SIO1),  perhaps
  one to which a dumb terminal is connected. The link may, however, point to the
  pathname of an existing log file, in which case SPM messages  are  written  to
  that  file.  If there is any error when SPM opens `NODE_DATA/DEV/SIO.SPM, then
  by default the standard streams are connected to /DEV/NULL.

  Once SPM is started you can:

     o Create processes from a remote node using the Shell command CRP with
       options  similar to the Display Manager's CPO and CPS commands.  The
       process you create may run another server, such as PRSVR or  NETMAN.
       The process can also run a Shell program.

     o Log  in  to  the node for debugging purposes or to maintain servers.
       For example, you might want to use the Shell Command SIGP to stop  a
       process (such as a print server) running on the node.

  Starting and Stopping SPM

  To start SPM on your current node, use the DM command CPS:

    Command: CPS /SYS/SPM/SPM -N SERVER_PROCESS_MANAGER

  The process begins immediately and continues after log out.

  To  start  SPM automatically when a node boots (which is the only way to start
  it on a DSP), remove the '#' (pound sign)  from  the  following  line  in  the
  node's `NODE_DATA/STARTUP[suffix] file:

    CPS /SYS/SPM/SPM -N SERVER_PROCESS_MANAGER

  The  SPM  process  begins  when the node is booted, and continues under normal
  conditions until it is intentionally stopped with the  Shell  command  SHUTSPM
  issued in a process running on the remote node.

  Once    SPM   has   started,   it   searches   for   the   DM   startup   file
  `NODE_DATA/STARTUP.SPM and executes any DM commands found therein. This  is  a
  good place to put commands which create processes to run standard servers such
  as the print server (PRSVR).

  Startup File Operations

  The `NODE_DATA/STARTUP.SPM file may  contain  any  or  all  of  the  following
  commands:

      Command                   Function
      -------                   --------

      CPO pathname [options]    Create background process (quits at logout)
      CPS pathname [options]    Create server process (persists after logout)
      ENV variable [value]      Set environment variables
      NO_STDIN                  Disable input from standard input
      NO_SHUTSPM                Disable SPM shutdown via the SHUTSPM command.

  NO_STDIN  and  NO_SHUTSPM are commands recognized only by SPM; they require no
  arguments or options.  CPO, CPS, and ENV are DM commands; see their individual
  HELP files for more details.


RELATED TOPICS

  More information is available.  Type:

  - HELP SHUTSPM
   for information about stopping SPM.

  - HELP MBX_HELPER
   for details about the mailbox server.