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How to Create OpenVMS Disk image? |
Cotham
Member
Posts: 5
Joined: 16.05.14 |
| Posted on May 16 2014 05:27 |
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Brief background: I am a chemist by profession and have an instrument whose operating program runs under OpenVMS on a DEC Alphastation 255. I would like to try to get freeAXP up and running on this equipment for added reliability. I have limited OpenVMS experience since I typically only interface with the instrument software. My current problem is how to create an image of the OpenVMS boot disk on the real system so that I can put it on the emulator platform. The Alphastation is on our university network if that is any help. Could someone please reply with some guidelines or instructions in this matter?
Thanks!
Bill |
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RE: How to Create OpenVMS Disk image? |
Bruce Claremont
Moderator
Posts: 623
Joined: 07.01.10 |
| Posted on May 16 2014 12:06 |
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Three steps:
1) Create an image backup of the AlphaStation using BACKUP/IMAGE.
2) Install OpenVMS under FreeAXP in order to create a target system to which you can copy the backup image. The copy can be done using DECnet copy or FTP.
3) Restore the backup image on the FreeAXP system.
Migration Specialties provides fee based porting services for institutions that no longer have VMS resources. |
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| Author |
RE: How to Create OpenVMS Disk image? |
Cotham
Member
Posts: 5
Joined: 16.05.14 |
| Posted on May 19 2014 05:56 |
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Thanks for the Reply Bruce,
I am somewhat familiar with the BACKUP/IMAGE command and have used it to create a backup boot disk for our system. I am not quite sure how to move that image using FTP over to the emulator. Is this done by using the BACKUP command over FTP?
I understand Migration Specialties provides this service but we are an educational institution with limited funding for such things. Any further details that could be provided would be appreciated.
Bill |
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| Author |
RE: How to Create OpenVMS Disk image? |
Bruce Claremont
Moderator
Posts: 623
Joined: 07.01.10 |
| Posted on May 20 2014 08:24 |
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FreeAXP is essentially a brand new Alpha system with no O/S installed. Treat it like new Alpha hardware. You need to build a VMS instance from CD on the emulator, then transfer the image from your legacy Alpha system. |
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| Author |
RE: How to Create OpenVMS Disk image? |
Cotham
Member
Posts: 5
Joined: 16.05.14 |
| Posted on May 23 2014 14:03 |
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Success. I was able to boot into a standalone instance of Gentoo linux and use SSH and the dd command to copy the vms system disk to a Mac mini platform; from there just copied the image over to the FreeAXP host PC and it booted perfectly.
Most everything seems to be working except my DECnet connection to our instrument. I will try to post more details in a separate thread.
Bill |
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| Author |
RE: How to Create OpenVMS Disk image? |
Bruce Claremont
Moderator
Posts: 623
Joined: 07.01.10 |
| Posted on May 24 2014 02:34 |
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The NIC type likely changed when you moved to FreeAXP. Shut down TCP/IP services and rerun the DECnet installation procedure (NETCONFIG.COM). Reboot to confirm the settings take. |
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RE: How to Create OpenVMS Disk image? |
Cotham
Member
Posts: 5
Joined: 16.05.14 |
| Posted on June 11 2014 06:38 |
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Ok, have everything working. Thanks so much for your help Bruce. One last thing that would make this setup better. Right now I log into the freeaxp virtual machine and have to do "set display /cr/tra=tcpip/node=ipaddress" to send the graphics to my windows machine that is running an Xserver. Is there a way to have the "set display" command run automatically when I login? If so can someone explain how to do this, IN DETAIL. I am not a vms expert!
Bill |
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| Author |
RE: How to Create OpenVMS Disk image? |
Bruce Claremont
Moderator
Posts: 623
Joined: 07.01.10 |
| Posted on June 12 2014 01:49 |
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Can you not put the SET DISPLAY command in your LOGIN.COM file?
Out of curiosity, which X-windows client are you using? |
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| Author |
RE: How to Create OpenVMS Disk image? |
Cotham
Member
Posts: 5
Joined: 16.05.14 |
| Posted on June 12 2014 07:01 |
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Hi Bruce,
Yes, I think I could put it in LOGIN.COM from what I have read. I just don't know the details (syntax, etc.) of how to do this.
I have been evaluating a couple of X-windows clients. Mostly been using MobaXterm and X-Win32 (trial version).
Bill |
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| Author |
RE: How to Create OpenVMS Disk image? |
Bruce Claremont
Moderator
Posts: 623
Joined: 07.01.10 |
| Posted on June 13 2014 01:56 |
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Xming is also viable. The command used should be the same as the one used interactively. Make it the last command in the LOGIN.COM procedure.
You should also be able to start an X-windows session on your PC, then log into the VMS system. DECwindows should pick up the graphics terminal type and start an X-windows session for you. |
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