NAME

sysgen − UNIX/32V system generation from the distribution tape

DESCRIPTION

This section explains how to generate an initial UNIX/32V system from the distribution tape.  It assumes that you have some familiarity with the hardware: how to mount and unmount disk packs and magnetic tapes, and how to use the console. 

PREREQUISITES

1VAX-11/780 system with at least 256K bytes of memory
1RP06 disk spindle (unit 0) with controller on MBA 0
1TE16 magnetic tape drive (unit 0) with TM03 formatter on MBA 1
1error-free disk pack for use on the RP06 spindle
1UNIX/32V distribution tape
90minutes of time

OVERVIEW

The distribution tape is recorded at 800 bpi and contains three files.  The first file is in tp(5) format and contains stand-alone utility programs for handling disks, tapes, and the console.  The first file usually contains about 250 blocks of 512 characters each. The second file on the distribution tape is a dd(1) copy of an initial root file system (see filsys(5)). On the tape the file system is 250 blocks of 10240 characters. The third and last file on the tape contains source code, and also object code and miscellaneous data, from the /usr file system.  The last file is in tar(1) format, blocked 10240 characters per tape record, and contains several thousand records. The system generation process has three phases, corresponding to the three files on the distribution tape.  The first phase formats and verifies the disk pack.  The second phase creates the initial root file system on the disk.  The third phase establishes the /usr directory. 

PROCEDURE

Read and understand this entire description before attempting anything else.  Quotation marks “” surround literal character strings which you should type on the console.  The notation “\r” stands for the RETURN key. 

Turn on the VAX-11/780 to LOCAL.  The POWER and ATTN lights should go on; if not, fix your hardware before proceeding. 

Mount an error-free disk pack on the RP06 spindle, unit 0, MBA 0.  Start the drive and set read-write (not write protect).  The START, CONTROL A, and DOOR LOCKED lights should be on.  If the READY light on the drive does not come on within 30 seconds, then fix your hardware before proceeding. 

Mount the UNIX/32V distribution tape on the tape drive, unit 0, MBA 1.  All status lights (PWR, BOT, WRL, SELECT, LOAD, ONLINE) should be on.  If the WRL light is not on, then remove the write ring from the reel and start again.  If the other lights are not on, then fix your hardware before proceeding. 

Enter the commands HALT, UNJAM, INITIALIZE on the console.  These may usually be abbreviated to “H\r”, “U\r”, and “I\r”, respectively. 

Deposit in memory at a high address the absolute tape boot program found in bproc(8). Execute the code you deposited, using the “START” console command. One 512-byte bock (the tp boot program) will be read from the tape into VAX-11 memory beginning at location 0. 

Give the console command “START 0\r”.  This starts the tp boot program, which relocates itself high in memory, rewinds the tape, and then types an equal sign ‘=’ on the console as a prompt. 

Type “rp6fmt\r”.  The tp boot will load the RP06 disk formatting program into memory and transfer control to it. 

Enter the MBA number and unit number (in this case, both “0\r”) in response to the prompts.  The rp6fmt program will then format the disk; this should take approximately 20 minutes.  Error messages may appear on the console if bad spots are found on the disk.  There should not be any (you mounted an error-free pack, remember).  If there are any error messages, sit tight and hope for the best. 

When the rp6fmt program finishes, it will ask to format another pack.  Type “−1\r” to exit.  The equal sign prompt ‘=’ of the tp boot should appear again.  Type “rpread\r”.  This program verifies that the entire disk can be read.  Enter the unit number and starting block number (both “0\r”) in response to the prompts.  Enter “\r” when asked for the number of blocks; this will read the whole pack.  Reading the disk takes 10 minutes.  Messages indicating bad spots may appear on the console.  The bad spots should match those found by the rp6fmt program.  All ECC errors should be correctible.  If there are any errors which are not correctible, you should probably start the whole boot procedure over with a better pack. 

After the rpread program finishes, it will prompt for another read.  Type “−1\r” to exit; another ‘=’ prompt from the tp boot will appear.  Type “tdcopy\r”.  In general, tdcopy copies tape-to-disk.  It is used here to copy an initial root file system from the tape onto the disk beginning at cylinder 0, track 0, sector 0.  Respond to the prompts from tdcopy with “1\r” (tape MBA #), “0\r” (tape unit #), “1\r” (tape file offset), “0\r” (tape block offset), “0\r” (disk MBA #), “0\r” (disk unit), “0\r” (disk block offset), and “250\r” (number of input blocks).  The copy takes 5 minutes. 

You are now ready to boot UNIX (yea!).  The ‘=’ prompt from tp boot should appear again.  Type “rpboot\r”.  The rpboot program should then prompt with “file:”.  Type “unix\r”.  This loads the operating system from disk and executes it.  The system will report the physical memory in your configuration and the memory not used by the operating system.  Then it will type “#”.  This is the super-user prompt for single-user operation of the UNIX system. 

Set the date and time using the date(1) command.

Check the integrity of the root file system with

icheck /dev/rrp0a
dcheck /dev/rrp0a

Create the /usr file system with

/etc/mkfs /dev/rp0g 300000
/etc/mount /dev/rp0g /usr

This takes 5 minutes. 

Extract the remaining files from the distribution tape with

cd /usr
cp /dev/rmt4 /dev/null;: bypasses tp file
cp /dev/rmt4 /dev/null;: bypasses root
tar xbf 20 /dev/rmt0

This takes 20 minutes. 

Check the integrity of the /usr file system with

cd /
/etc/umount /dev/rp0g
icheck /dev/rrp0g

Establish the desired entries in the password file /etc/passwd, using the text editor ed(1).

Set the terminal lines configuration in /etc/ttys using the text editor ed(1).

Edit the reconfiguration file /etc/rc as desired. 

Type EOT (control-D) to start multi-user operation. 

7th Edition  —  UNIX/32V