[Info-vax] Clustering on VMS 4.7

[Robert Jarratt]

"H Vlems" <hvlems at freenet.de> wrote in message 
news:6e94ff26-8729-4686-a13c-fe2dab35bfd0 at z14g2000yqa.googlegroups.com...
> On 16 apr, 23:42, "Robert Jarratt" <nos... at nosp.am> wrote:
>> "H Vlems" <hvl... at freenet.de> wrote in message
>>
>> news:e6677f72-842d-48d3-a915-91420c163fe8 at f19g2000yqh.googlegroups.com...
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > On 16 apr, 21:10, "Robert Jarratt" <nos... at nosp.am> wrote:
>> >> "H Vlems" <hvl... at freenet.de> wrote in message
>>
>> >>news:d5f99808-85f8-4722-9a19-def78a5a1b97 at o11g2000yql.googlegroups.com...
>>
>> >> > On 16 apr, 19:14, "Robert Jarratt" <nos... at nosp.am> wrote:
>> >> >> I have set up a VMS 4.7 machine on SIMH (using the 3900 emulation) 
>> >> >> but
>> >> >> I
>> >> >> can't see how to set up clustering. The only cluster-related
>> >> >> procedures I
>> >> >> have in SYS$MANAGER are MAKEROOT.COM, BOOT_CONFIG.COM and
>> >> >> SATELLITE_CONFIG.COM. They all tell me "This system disk is not set 
>> >> >> up
>> >> >> as
>> >> >> a
>> >> >> cluster system disk." I cannot see how to get started to make the
>> >> >> system
>> >> >> disk a cluster system disk, can anyone tell me what the first step 
>> >> >> is?
>>
>> >> >> NB For those of you following my MicroVAX II saga, while I wait to 
>> >> >> see
>> >> >> if
>> >> >> I
>> >> >> can get a replacement CPU and memory, I want to get 4.7 going on my
>> >> >> simulated 3900 so that I am 100% sure that the DEQNA is supported 
>> >> >> when
>> >> >> I
>> >> >> try
>> >> >> to net boot off it.
>>
>> >> >> Thanks
>>
>> >> >> Rob
>>
>> >> > When you installed 4.7, did the installation procedure prompt you 
>> >> > with
>> >> > the question whether the system would be part of a cluster?
>> >> > Later VMS versions did do that and since V5.something, even if you
>> >> > answered NO, the system may be converted afterwards as a
>> >> > clustermember.
>> >> > But IIRC this was not so easy in V4.7 and earlier releases. It had 
>> >> > to
>> >> > do with directory backlinks, I'm guessing here.... Anyway, once the
>> >> > question was answered, you were stuck with the result or reinstall.
>> >> > Hans
>>
>> >> No it did not ask me. I saw these prompts when installing 5.4, but I 
>> >> need
>> >> to
>> >> install something prior to 5.4 and the next latest I have is 4.7. I 
>> >> will
>> >> take a look at cluster_config.com on 5.4 to see if that offers some
>> >> clues.
>>
>> >> Regards
>>
>> >> Rob- Tekst uit oorspronkelijk bericht niet weergeven -
>>
>> >> - Tekst uit oorspronkelijk bericht weergeven -
>>
>> > I just installed 4.6 on simh and the question about a cluster member
>> > was asked.
>> > On your 4.7 system, do you have a SYS$SYSDEVICE:[V4COMMON] directory?
>> > It's there on 4.6
>>
>> Now that I think about it I *was* asked and said no. This was because I 
>> was
>> installing 4.6 with a view to updating to 4.7 and my intention had been 
>> to
>> configure the cluster after 4.7 was installed. Is there a way to invoke 
>> that
>> procedure again after installation? Or will I need to start again?
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Rob- Tekst uit oorspronkelijk bericht niet weergeven -
>>
>> - Tekst uit oorspronkelijk bericht weergeven -
>
> Rob, you've seen the difference in the names of the savesets. Even
> numbered releases were distributed as REQUIRED. and LIBRARY. etc.
> The odd releases, like 4.7 came as VMS047.A etc.
> The 4.7 kit didn't really install VMS. It either patches existing
> files or copied entirely new images from the H-kit. Sometimes these
> new images were patched as well. The way VMS is organised on disk is
> not affected by an update release.
> So the answer given during the V4.6 installation is binding. Is there
> a directory [V4CLUSTER] on your SYS$SYSDEVICE: ? (I don't think so...)
> A system disk for a cluster was set up differently than for a stand-
> alone node. Of course, it's all man-made, so possibly with a lot of
> effort a non-cluster disk may be converted to a V4 system disk that
> supports a cluster. Given the speed to install 4.6 and 4.7 on simh,
> I'd recommend reinstalling the OS :-)
> Hans


In fact that is what I did in the end.

I am curious however, back in the 80's if someone had installed VMS 4.6/7 on 
their VAX, had some users using it for some time, and then at a later date 
decided they wanted to cluster it, surely they did not have to re-install 
VMS? I have been unable to locate any clustering docs from the 4.x era 
except for this: 
http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/vax/vms/4.0/AA-Y512A-TE_VMS_4.0_Guide_To_VAXclusters_Sep84.pdf 
which offers no clue and only applies to 4.0.

I have an acquaintance who I know has some old VMS manuals I am going to ask 
him what version and see if he has a clustering manual. This is now only for 
academic interest as I have done what you suggested and reinstalled.

Thanks

Rob