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HP OpenVMS Version 8.3-1H1 for Integrity Servers Upgrade and Installation Manual

Appendix A Configuring OpenVMS I64 Hardware Operation and Boot Operations, and Booting and Shutting Down Your System

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Table of Contents

A.1 Configuration and Management Utilities for HP Integrity Servers
A.1.1 Overview of Utilities and Console Options
A.1.2 Configuration and Management Utilities on Cell-Based Servers
A.1.3 Using the Delete or Backspace Key with Integrity Server Utilities
A.2 Selecting Your OpenVMS Console for the Integrity Server System
A.2.1 Selecting Your OpenVMS Console (Not Applicable to rx2600 Integrity Servers)
A.2.2 Selecting Your OpenVMS Console on rx2600 Integrity Servers
A.3 Overview of Using EFI
A.3.1 General Notes About Using EFI
A.4 Enabling or Disabling Hyper-Threading on Dual-Core Processors
A.5 Configuring and Managing OpenVMS Booting on Integrity Servers
A.5.1 Checking the ACPI Configuration for Booting OpenVMS in an nPartition
A.5.2 Setting Boot Options for Your System Disk
A.5.3 Writing a New Boot Block
A.5.4 Alpha and Equivalent Integrity Server System Boot Commands
A.6 Booting Operations
A.6.1 Overview of Booting on a Cell-Based Server
A.6.2 Booting the OpenVMS I64 OE DVD from the Local Drive
A.6.3 Booting the OpenVMS I64 OE DVD from the InfoServer
A.6.4 Booting an Image of the OpenVMS I64 OE DVD Using HP SIM Provisioning
A.6.5 Booting an Image of the OpenVMS I64 OE DVD Using vMedia
A.6.6 Booting from a Fibre Channel Device
A.6.7 Booting Manually from the Local System Disk
A.6.8 Performing a Conversational (Interactive) Boot
A.6.9 Booting with Minimum Startup
A.6.10 Booting with the XDelta Utility (XDELTA)
A.6.11 Booting from a Different Root Directory
A.6.12 Emergency Booting
A.7 Halt and Shutdown Procedures
A.7.1 Halting the Integrity Server to Recover from Hangs and Crashes
A.7.2 Shutting Down the System
A.8 Troubleshooting Procedures
A.8.1 If the System Does Not Boot
A.8.2 Detecting and Responding to System Problems

This appendix briefly describes the configuration and management tools that might be available on HP Integrity servers, and explains how to set up the system console, configure boot options, boot the OpenVMS I64 operating system, and shut down the operating system. The appendix also includes brief troubleshooting procedures.

Specifically, this appendix contains the following information:

  • Hardware/firmware configuration and management interfaces and their features

  • Setting up your system console

  • Overview of using the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI)

  • Enabling or disabling Hyper-Threading on nPartitions that have dual-core processors that support it

  • Configuring and managing boot operations such as the following:

    • Setting the system for automatic booting

    • Setting and showing boot devices

    • Setting boot parameters

    • Writing a new boot block

  • Booting operations, including the following:

    • Booting the OE DVD

    • Booting the system disk

    • Performing a conversational (interactive) boot

    • Booting with minimum startup

    • Booting with the XDelta utility (XDELTA)

    • Booting from a different root directory

    • Booting in an emergency

  • Halting and shutting down operations

  • Troubleshooting procedures

NOTE: Any information about Integrity server hardware and utilities is provided in this manual for your convenience and is not intended to replace the hardware documentation included with your Integrity server system or the latest documentation available on the Web. HP Integrity servers are available in many different configurations. Hardware, utilities, and certain hardware configuration procedures might differ significantly across models, and even across versions of the same model. Please see your hardware documentation for the most up-to-date information specific to your particular model and version. Note that the hardware documentation includes model-specific illustrations to guide you. The latest version of documentation for your server can be found online at:

http://docs.hp.com/en/hw.html

http://docs.hp.com

http://www.hp.com/support/itaniumservers

A.1 Configuration and Management Utilities for HP Integrity Servers

This section provides a brief overview of the configuration and management utilities that are typically available for your Integrity server system. For more information, see the appropriate hardware documentation.

A.1.1 Overview of Utilities and Console Options

The main interfaces that are typically available for configuring and managing your HP Integrity server environment are the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) and the Management Processor (MP). On entry-class Integrity servers, MP has been replaced by the Integrated Lights Out (iLO) Management Processor, which includes all the functionality of MP plus additional features. On some models, the Baseboard Management Control (BMC) utility is provided. Cell-based servers include additional management tools.

EFI is the main boot and preboot interface; it is the core interface to the system firmware and console commands on all models. BMC is provided on entry-class HP Integrity servers (although on a few systems the interface itself is hidden). BMC provides basic management capabilities and access to EFI. MP (or iLO) is available on most systems; on some systems it is available only if the necessary console hardware has been installed and configured. In addition to providing access to EFI, MP provides advanced management functionality (beyond that which is available through BMC), including remote management, network console and Web-based access, and enhanced diagnostic capabilities. Both BMC and MP (iLO) can operate on standby power—even when the Integrity server’s main power switch is turned to the off position.

EFI is the base console environment. You can either use MP (iLO) or BMC to interact with the capabilities of the console interface.

The OpenVMS I64 installation and upgrade procedures assist you in adding a boot option for your newly installed or upgraded system disk. Before you can boot your OpenVMS system, your console must be configured correctly, as explained in Section A.2.

The following briefly describes some of the main features of EFI, MP, and BMC.

  • Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI)

    EFI is a menu and command-line interface between the operating system and the system firmware. The EFI interface is available only when the operating system is not booted; on cell-based servers, the interface is available from an nPartition console when the nPartition is in an active state but has not booted an operating system. To configure EFI boot options while the operating system is running, OpenVMS provides the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility (SYS$MANAGER:BOOT_OPTIONS.COM). Changes made by this utility do not take effect until the system is rebooted.

    The EFI Boot Manager, like the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager, provides support for operating system loaders and enables you to configure the firmware and control the booting environment for your OpenVMS operating system. A FAT partition on the boot disk stores the system loader. The Boot Configuration menu (or in some versions of EFI, the Boot Option Maintenance Menu) enables you to add or delete a boot option, change the boot order, select the active console, and more. After you power up the server, the EFI boot manager presents different ways to bring up the system, depending on how you have set up the boot options. For example, you can boot to the EFI Shell. When you select the EFI Shell command-line interface option, you can enter commands at the EFI Shell prompt. For more information about EFI options and commands, see Section A.3 and the appropriate hardware documentation.

    NOTE: In some HP documents, you might see the acronym POSSE used in place of or in combination with EFI. EFI is an Intel® specification of an interface between firmware and the operating system. POSSE (Pre-OS System Environment) is the HP implementation of EFI that extends the EFI Shell and EFI Boot Manager to include additional features for managing hardware and system boot options.
  • Management Processor (MP)

    Management Processor (or, on entry-class Integrity servers, iLO) provides both local and remote access for controlling the system console, reset/power management, and transfer of control (TOC) capabilities. It also enables you to monitor tasks and display detailed information about various internal subsystems. On cell-based servers, MP is a complex-wide tool and is always available, even if nPartitions are not configured or booted in the server complex. In contrast, EFI does not operate as a complex-wide tool and is only available when the nPartition is in an active state but has not booted an operating system; each nPartition has its own EFI interface. Using MP, you can select the partition for which you want EFI access. You can access all hardware and nPartitions in the complex. The following is a brief summary of MP’s main features:

    • Console connectivity

      As a console interface, MP enables you to interact with EFI and to power the server on or off; ultimately, it can function as the OPA0: terminal port on OpenVMS.

    • Virtual Front Panel (VFP)

      MP provides a virtual front panel that you can use to monitor the front panel LEDs from a remote location.

    • Command interface

      MP provides an extensive menu system and a command-line interface.

    • Multiple, simultaneous viewers

      Multiple users can access the MP console or a particular nPartition console. Only one user at a time is allowed interactive access. All other users have read-only access. (Output from the interactive user is reflected to the read-only users currently accessing the console.) Access to MP can be restricted by password-protected user accounts.

    • Availability/standby power

      MP is available whenever the system is connected to a power source, even if the server’s main power switch is in the off position.

    • Accessibility

      MP is accessible in several ways, including by direct monitor connection using a terminal, PC, laptop or desktop computer connected to the MP serial port (with certain Integrity servers, you can also use a VGA monitor and USB keyboard and mouse); by modem through an EIA-232 port; or by Telnet or Web browser on the LAN. MP is accessible through Secure Shell (SSH), which is provided by TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS. This method of access is more secure than any of the other methods.

    • Console log

      MP records recent output from the system console. The cl command enables you to view the recorded information.

    • Event logs

      MP includes event logs that include information about system events and booting. The sl command displays the contents of system status logs.

    On some systems, such as the rx1600, MP is optional. For more information about MP options and commands, see the appropriate hardware documentation.

    NOTE: MP provides much more functionality than BMC and might be more appropriate for your needs. On some systems, MP is an optional component and on others it is built into the system.
  • Baseboard Management Controller (BMC)

    BMC is more limited in functionality than MP. BMC enables you to control some management features built into the system board, such as diagnostics, configuration, and hardware management. BMC provides a console connection on some systems. As with MP, BMC enables you to interact with EFI; it can function as the OPA0: terminal port on OpenVMS. BMC also operates on standby power. However, BMC is accessible only through the serial port on the back of the system. BMC commands enable you to control the BMC interface, view logs, get help, display firmware revisions, reset the system, turn the system locator LED on or off, and change the BMC password.BMC is not provided on cell-based Integrity servers. On some systems, such as the rx4640, the BMC user interface is hidden but is still present and functional. For more information about BMC commands, see the appropriate hardware documentation.

A.1.2 Configuration and Management Utilities on Cell-Based Servers

For the more complex environments provided by cell-based Integrity servers, a wider variety of tools is provided. Systems with multiple nPartitions provide a separate EFI interface for each nPartition. MP provides access to, and allows management across, the complex and each nPartition EFI interface.

In addition to MP and EFI (cell-based servers do not provide BMC), these systems offer Partition Manager and other tools that vary from system to system and operating system to operating system. The Partition Manager (parmgr) utility provides a graphical interface for managing nPartitions and complex hardware. It centralizes all nPartition management functions in one place, providing the system manager with the tools to dynamically reconfigure, power on, power off, create, delete, and modify nPartitions to ensure smooth and well-controlled operation. Partition Manager can be run on HP-UX or Microsoft Windows systems. You can use either version of Partition Manager to manage nPartitions for OpenVMS Version 8.3-1H1. Partition Manager is a free product that you can download from the following website (PARMGR must be uppercase as shown):

http://www.docs.hp.com/en/PARMGR2/download.html

For more information about Partition Manager, see the nPartition Administrator's Guide (previously titled HP System Partitions Guide: Administration for nPartitions).

For more information about these and other tools available for configuring or managing Integrity servers, see the appropriate hardware documentation.

A.1.3 Using the Delete or Backspace Key with Integrity Server Utilities

Some versions of the EFI environment and the MP and BMC console interfaces on Integrity server systems still interpret the Delete (or Backspace) key as do UNIX systems, which is different from the way OpenVMS Alpha systems or Microsoft Windows systems interpret it. Whereas the OpenVMS operating system uses the ASCII DEL/RUBOUT character (7F hexadecimal) to delete the last character typed in a command line, these Integrity server facilities use Ctrl/H. When you enter commands for these Integrity servers, if you press Delete at a VTxxx terminal (or press the key you have mapped to send the DEL/RUBOUT character code in your terminal emulator), the last character typed is not deleted.

You can remap a terminal so that the Delete key removes the last character typed by adding the following command to your login command procedure (generally, LOGIN.COM):

$ SET TERMINAL/BACKSPACE=DELETE

This command remaps Ctrl/H to DEL. The driver does not remap these keys if the terminal is in one of the following states:

  • Terminal attribute is set to PASSALL

  • Terminal attribute is set to PASTHRU

  • IO$_READALL

  • IO$_READPBLK

  • Ctrl/V is entered, which tells the driver to pass the next character and skip the remap check.

Alternatively, you can set up your terminal emulator so that the Backspace key deletes the last character typed. However, for the key to work properly on OpenVMS, you must still enter the SET TERMINAL command described earlier.

A.2 Selecting Your OpenVMS Console for the Integrity Server System

You must set up the firmware console as described in the hardware or firmware documentation provided with your Integrity server. When first powered on, Integrity servers interact with the firmware interface and accept input from one or more console devices. These devices include the Integrity iLO MP (or simply MP on some servers; for simplicity, this section refers to MP for both firmware interfaces), serial ports, and if present, local graphics monitor and keyboard. The default console devices enabled for use by the firmware depend on the Integrity server hardware model and associated firmware (see your hardware documentation). The MP port is typically used by the OpenVMS operating system on an Integrity server (recommended by HP). This port provides serial access as well as networked access to the firmware console. If using the serial port, use a VT100–capable terminal or emulator device. On Integrity servers that do not have an MP port, the console serial port (generally on the back of the server) is enabled.

With the exception of some older Integrity server models, such as the HP Integrity rx2600 server, the current firmware available for Integrity servers provides a text menu-based interface by default. The current firmware also includes the concept of console interfaces that are “Primary,”“Secondary,”and “Not Configured.” The Primary console is the console enabled for interacting with the operating system as well as with the firmware. Although the firmware can interact with multiple console devices, OpenVMS uses only one of these devices as its console and requires that one device be selected. You select one device to serve as the Primary console, as explained in Section A.2.1 where more details are also given about the Primary, Secondary, and Not Configured console selections.

When an Integrity server is powered up, the firmware displays information to the Primary and Secondary console devices. If you do not see output within a few seconds of powering up, your console device is probably not selected as a Primary or Secondary device; you will need to connect your console terminal cable to the appropriate device. When connected to the correct device, the firmware displays the EFI Boot Manager screen, from where you can begin to navigate to select the Primary console for use by OpenVMS, as explained later in this section. When using the firmware to boot OpenVMS, if you do not see OpenVMS console output and the system appears hung, your console terminal device might be connected to a Secondary console device instead of the Primary console device.

If you are already using the system console, you can disregard the remainder of this section. If you have ordered a machine with OpenVMS preinstalled, your console selections have been chosen for you, but you might want to change these default console selections. If you have changed your system configuration, or if you are installing OpenVMS on a new (uninstalled) Integrity server, or if you are reinstalling OpenVMS using the INITIALIZE option (removing all the software and data files that were previously installed on the target system disk), you might need to select the correct console. If the correct console is not selected, OpenVMS might use an unexpected device as the console, causing your system to appear to be hanging; or OpenVMS either will fail to boot or will boot with output sent to the wrong location.

You can use MP to establish remote console access, such as through the TELNET utility provided with HP TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS. Alternatively, you can access the MP console interface through the Internet using an Internet browser.If you intend to set up LAN or remote access for an MP console interface, you must initially use the serial port for console operations when you set up the Integrity server for the first time. (See your hardware documentation for instructions on setting LAN or remote access for the MP console interface.)

Your first step is to decide what console to use. Depending on your hardware/firmware configuration, OpenVMS can use one of the following types of consoles:

  • System serial port

  • MP (or iLO MP) serial port

    The MP interface is not visible to OpenVMS unless the MP serial port is selected as the Primary console.

  • Graphics (VGA) device

    Graphics console support is introduced with OpenVMS Version 8.3–1H1. This allows you to use a monitor and a USB keyboard and mouse connected directly to the Integrity server ports available for such purposes. Certain older (legacy) Integrity servers, such as the rx2600, do not support a graphics console because they lack the required firmware capabilities. On some Integrity servers, a VGA device might not be built into the system, in which case a graphics option card is required for VGA console support.

    Most Integrity servers support multiple graphics options; the exceptions are the rx1600 and rx1620 servers. A graphics option consists of a graphics card and a graphics display interface (monitor). When multiple graphics devices are present, you can select only one device for use by the firmware as a console device. The other graphics devices must be set to Not Configured (NC). When DECwindows is used on a system booted using the VGA as the OpenVMS console, DECwindows selects the VGA console as the default screen. When enabling multihead DECwindows graphics operation, the VGA console defaults to screen 0. If no VGA device is configured as a console, DECwindows selects a default screen based on the Integrity server model and device bus ordering. For details about enabling multihead DECwindows graphics operation, see Section 7.7.3.

    Note the following restrictions:

    • OpenVMS supports up to four add-on graphics devices plus any built-in graphics, depending on the Integrity server and available slots. The firmware available on some Integrity servers might limit which devices can be used as a VGA console device. For information about your specific configuration's platform and graphics configuration rules, see your hardware documentation .

    • For correct operation of the VGA console, OpenVMS requires that at least one other non-VGA device be configured as the Secondary console.

    • XDELTA is not available when using the VGA console; it is disabled when requested.

    • Conversational (interactive) boot (SYSBOOT>) is not supported with the VGA console. To change SYSGEN parameters, use SYSGEN from OpenVMS, or boot OpenVMS from a non-VGA console for conversational boot.

    • When using a VGA console and installing from vMedia or a USB DVD drive with the keyboard plugged into a USB hub, the keyboard might not be operational initially. To enable keyboard operation, simply unplug the hub and plug it back in.

For more information, platform-specific details, and the firmware required for VGA support, see the HP OpenVMS Version 8.3-1H1 for Integrity Servers New Features and Release Notes and the hardware documentation for your Integrity server.

The procedure for selecting the correct console varies according to the Integrity server model and firmware. For Integrity servers other than the rx2600, follow the steps in Section A.2.1. For rx2600 Integrity servers and servers for which you cannot obtain the required firmware, follow the steps in Section A.2.2.

NOTE: Make sure your Integrity server has the latest firmware updates installed.

A.2.1 Selecting Your OpenVMS Console (Not Applicable to rx2600 Integrity Servers)

On Integrity servers other than the rx2600 (or on servers with outdated firmware), console devices can be configured as one of the following three types:

  • Primary console—The device enabled as a console for the firmware interface and used as the OpenVMS console (OPA0). If a VGA device (device path) is selected as the Primary console, at least one serial device path must be set as a Secondary console in order to use the VGA device to boot OpenVMS.

  • Secondary console—A device enabled as a console for the firmware but not used as the OpenVMS console during or after booting. The device is configured as a normal serial port device. Note that if you specify an MP port as the Secondary console, it will not be visible to OpenVMS. The MP port is visible to OpenVMS only when selected as a Primary console. If multiple serial ports are available as a console on your Integrity server and you select one for a Secondary console, do not use that console for transmission of binary data.

  • Not Configured—A device that is not enabled as a console for the firmware or operating system.

Your system can be booted from any Primary or Secondary console but OpenVMS output displays only on the primary console. For information about serial devices that can be selected as the console and the serial device port enumeration, see the HP OpenVMS Version 8.3-1H1 for Integrity Servers New Features and Release Notes.

You can select a console in one of two ways:

The examples in the following two subsections show how to select a VGA device for the OpenVMS console.

A.2.1.1 Using the EFI Boot Manager to Select the OpenVMS Console

To select the device for your OpenVMS console using the EFI Boot Manager, follow these steps. Depending on the firmware version and configuration, menu selections displayed on your screen might differ from those seen in the examples . Note that with this EFI firmware, you no longer have to select a console input device, console output device, and console error device. The firmware automatically sets the Primary console device to be the console input, console output, and console error device.

  1. From the EFI Boot Manager screen, use the up or down arrow key to select the Boot Configuration menu and press Enter:

    Boot Manager: Selecting the Boot Configuration menu
  2. From the Boot Configuration menu, select the Console Configuration menu and press Enter:

    Boot Manager: Selecting the Console Configuration menu
  3. If the Console Configuration menu shows that your preferred device is already configured as the Primary console, you need not continue; otherwise, select the device that you want as the OpenVMS Primary console. In the following screen, the VGA device is selected:

    Boot Manager: Selecting the VGA device for a graphics
console
  4. Enter P to configure the selected device as the Primary console. You then see the selected device as the Primary console:

    Boot Manager: Configuring the selected device
as the Primary console
  5. Press the Esc key to return to the previous menu. When prompted whether to save changes to NVRAM, enter Y:

    Boot Manager: Saving the changed console configuration
in NVRAM
  6. When prompted whether to reset the system, enter Y to make the changes take effect:

    Boot Manager: Resetting the system to make changes take
effect

A.2.1.2 Using the EFI Shell to Select the OpenVMS Console

To select the device for your OpenVMS console using the EFI shell, follow these steps:

  1. At the EFI Shell prompt, enter the conconfig command to view the index number for the available console devices, as in the following example (the column titled “Primary” displays how the device is configured (P for Primary, S for Secondary, NC for Not Configured):

    Shell>conconfig
    CONSOLE CONFIGURATION
    
      Index Primary Type      Device Path
      ----- ------- -----     ----------
        1      P    Serial    Acpi (PNP0501,0)
        2      S    Serial    Acpi (HWP0002,700)/Pci (1|1)
        3      S    VGA       Acpi (HWP0002,700)/Pci (2|0) 
  2. If your preferred device is already configured as the Primary console, you need not continue. If your preferred device is not currently configured as the Primary console, enter the conconfig command in the following format:

    conconfig index primary

    where index is the index number of the device preferred for the OpenVMS console. In the following example, the VGA device is selected as the Primary console, and the resulting display reflects the configuration change:

    Shell>conconfig 3 primary
    CONSOLE CONFIGURATION
    
      Index Primary Type      Device Path
      ----- ------- -----     ----------
        1      S    Serial    Acpi (PNP0501,0)
        2      S    Serial    Acpi (HWP0002,700)/Pci (1|1)
        3      P    VGA       Acpi (HWP0002,700)/Pci (2|0) 
  3. Enter the reset command to make the changes active, as in the following example:

    Shell>reset

A.2.2 Selecting Your OpenVMS Console on rx2600 Integrity Servers

This section describes how to select a console on rx2600 Integrity servers or other servers with outdated firmware. On such servers, you must configure a Console Input, Console Output, and Console Error Device for your OpenVMS console. There is no concept of the Primary console that automatically configures these devices for the OpenVMS console. In addition, on such servers OpenVMS does not support graphics consoles.

NOTE: The following instructions assume that OpenVMS is not installed on your Integrity server and that boot options are not defined.
  1. Decide what console you want to use.

  2. Power on the system. If using an MP serial port, log in to MP and access EFI. If you are setting the system serial port as your system console, go to the next step now. If you are setting the MP serial port as your system consoleand you have just powered on your Integrity server, the MP console interface prompts you to log in. (By default, both user name and password are set to Admin. For security purposes, change the password immediately. See your hardware documentation for more information.)

    NOTE: To see the MP login user name and password prompts, you might need to press Enter one or more times on your console keyboard. If this does not work, try pressing Ctrl/B.

    If you see only the MP password prompt, press Enter to get to the MP login prompt.

    If the login prompt still fails to appear, the system might be powered off. (When you powered on the system, you might have pressed the power button twice, which turns it on and then off.)

    If you see a message similar to the following, another user has the console (only one user can write to the console, although multiple users can view it).

    [Read only - use Ctrl-Ecf for console write access]

    To gain control of the console from the other user, press Ctrl/E, release the key combination, and then immediately type the letters cf. Alternatively, you can have the other user log off.

    Note that the system does not work if it is running MP firmware older than version E02.22. For information about updating the MP firmware, see Section 1.3.4.

    When the MP> prompt is displayed, move to the EFI interface by entering the co (console mode) command. If the power or initialization sequence has not completed, you will see that and must wait until the menu reappears, at which point reenter the co command to get to the EFI Boot Manager menu. At the EFI Boot Manager menu, select the EFI Shell interface.

    On Integrity servers without nPartitions, the co command brings you directly to the EFI Boot Manager screen. If you do not enter a command before the EFI countdown timer expires, the EFI Shell prompt is displayed. (On some servers, the countdown timer is 10 seconds by default; on others, such as Server Blades, it might be even less.) Note that when the operating system is running, the co command brings you to the console port of the operating system.

    On cell-based servers, unless you are using a single-partition user account, the co command first brings you to a console menu that lists the available nPartitions. Select the appropriate nPartition to access the EFI Boot Manager console for that nPartition. The following example shows a console menu (menus and displays such as this might vary from system to system):

    Partitions available:
    
        #   Name
       ---   ----
        1)   MIA1
        2)   MIA2
        3)   TESTING
        4)   LAN
        5)   AMYS
        6)   ACCNTS
        Q)   Quit
    
       Please select partition number:

    If the co command results in a screen that is unexpected or difficult to interpret, pressing Enter might help. If you are at an EFI submenu instead of the main menu, navigate to the main menu by exiting from the submenu and any subsequent submenus until you return to the EFI main menu.

    For more information about determining which nPartition to access, see the nPartition Administrator's Guide (previously titled HP System Partitions Guide: Administration for nPartitions) or the appropriate hardware documentation.

  3. Access the EFI Boot Configuration menu. The EFI Boot Manager screen includes a boot menu. The default menu option is highlighted, as shown in the following example:

    NOTE: The appearance of EFI Boot Manager screens and menus differs from version to version of the firmware.
    EFI Boot Menu

    From the EFI boot menu, select the Boot Configuration option (or, in some versions of EFI, the Boot Option Maintenance Menu). To move to an option, use the up or down arrow key. (With some terminal emulators, you might have to use the letter v to scroll down or the caret (^) to scroll up.) Press Enter to toggle the selection. If you do not select an option within the countdown period, EFI moves to the default option—the EFI Shell in the boot menu example, in which case the EFI Shell prompt is displayed. Exit the EFI Shell to return to the Boot Configuration menu. If lines from the preceding screen linger and obscure the EFI Shell prompt, press Enter to bring the EFI Shell prompt into view.

  4. Configure the Console Input, Console Output, and Console Error Devices. If you have the latest EFI firmware, select the Console Configuration option from the Boot Configuration menu to list the console input, console output, and console error device options. Some versions of EFI list the three console device options directly in the Boot Option Maintenance Menu. Configure each console option one at a time, as follows:

    NOTE: With OpenVMS systems, the input, output, and error console all must point to the same serial-line console device. New systems might be shipped with multiple devices selected for each of the console types, so make sure only one device is selected for each. If you see an error message that mentions multiple device-path instances for the console input or output device, perform the following steps to select a single console only.

    On rx2600 Integrity servers and certain other servers with firmware that is not up to date, OpenVMS might not boot using a USB keyboard or a VGA graphics display device. The system might boot with these devices but does not display any indication that the system is booting. You might receive a warning when the system begins to boot. You might also see other errors in later stages of the boot. Additionally, you might lose output that you normally see during booting.

    1. Select the console input device. EFI displays a list of devices (device paths) available for console input. Select only one device from this list, and deselect any unused devices. The following is a sample list of devices, annotated with explanatory text below the list. This example shows the devices for an entry-class Integrity server; the procedure and display differ on cell-based servers. For more information about the EFI paths used for console selection, see the Intel Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) documents available from the Intel website.

      EFI Display of Console Devices for Entry-Class Integrity
server

      System Serial Port

      These four lines indicate any of the valid devices that you can define for the console using the system serial port. Any line that has the notation Uart but not the notation Pci is one of the system serial ports. Notice that the lines are almost identical except for the text following the VenMsg portion indicating the terminal emulation protocol such as VT100. Thus, each of the four entries is the same device with different emulation protocols.

      MP Console

      These four lines appear only on systems that have an MP port. Any lines that include both Uart and Pci are MP serial port devices. As with the serial port devices, these four lines refer to the same device with different emulation protocols.

      VGA Device

      This is the graphic console device. Do not select this. OpenVMS does not support VGA graphics as a console output device for booting on rx2600 Integrity servers.

      Select a device using the protocol appropriate for your terminal emulator (in most cases, VT100+ is the best choice). Select only one device line. OpenVMS does not operate if more than one device is selected.

    2. Save your settings to NVRAM.

    3. Select the console output device. Repeat steps a and b to configure the console output device. Select the same device you selected for the console input device.

    4. Select the console error device. Repeat steps a and b to configure the console error device (also referred to as the standard error device). Select the same device you selected for the console input and output devices.

  5. Perform a cold reset if required. Your system might require a cold reset. Newer versions of EFI do not require a cold reset. For more information, see your hardware documentation.

At this point, you can boot the OpenVMS I64 DVD to install the operating system onto a system disk. Follow the instructions in Chapter 3 (specifics for booting are provided in this appendix).

NOTE: Any time new potential console devices are added to a system, or anytime NVRAM on a system is cleared, review your console selections. When you change serial devices, you must also make changes to the input, output, and error console device options to ensure proper operation.

A.3 Overview of Using EFI

EFI is the basic interface between the operating system and firmware on all Integrity server systems; it is similar to SRM on Alpha systems. EFI provides a boot option menu and the ability to configure boot options. EFI is accessible when the operating system is not booted. On cell-based servers, EFI is available when the nPartition is in an active state but has not booted an operating system. Each nPartition has its own EFI interface and system boot environment that enables you to interact with the nPartition before an operating system has booted on it.

When you first power on a new Integrity server system, you see a series of diagnostic messages followed by the EFI Boot Manager screen (unless MP is available, in which case you see the MP login screen). However, if your Integrity server came with the OpenVMS I64 operating system installed, then the OpenVMS I64 operating system is the first option and it boots automatically.

NOTE: On some systems that include MP, you might first see the MP login screen. In addition, on cell-based servers, you initially must select the console for the nPartition you want to access. As noted previously, the behavior of Integrity server systems can vary significantly from model to model as well as from version to version of the firmware.

To select an option from the EFI Boot Manager menu, use the up or down arrow key to highlight an item (or for some (with some terminal emulators, you might have to use the letter v to scroll down and the caret (^) to scroll up), and then press Enter to activate the selection. You can use EFI to configure numerous options for your Integrity server and OpenVMS operating system.

For the first boot of a system on which OpenVMS is not preinstalled, you probably need to use EFI to get started. When you select the EFI Shell, the console displays much activity before the EFI Shell prompt is displayed. If you do not see the EFI Shell prompt, press Enter. (Note also that the EFI Shell prompt might change, as explained in Section A.3.1.)

The EFI boot menu lists boot options. Each item in the boot options list references a specific boot device and provides a specific set of boot options or arguments to be used when booting the device. You can add boot options to the boot menu. The OpenVMS installation procedure (as well as the upgrade procedure) can assist you in adding and validating a boot option for your newly installed system disk. The procedure uses the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility (SYS$MANAGER:BOOT_OPTIONS.COM) to add and validate boot options. You can use this utility directly at the OpenVMS DCL prompt. HP recommends using either of these methods for configuring boot options rather than using EFI. The OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility is easier to use than EFI and enables you to configure the most pertinent options for your system (while OpenVMS is running), including the following:

  • Display boot options known to the EFI Boot Manager.

  • Add a boot option to the EFI Boot Manager so that your system disk boots automatically when the system is powered on or rebooted.

  • Remove or change the position of a boot option in the EFI Boot Manager list.

  • Validate and fix the boot option list.

  • Change how long EFI pauses before booting or rebooting.

Use of this utility is optional for most devices but is required for configuring boot options on Fibre Channel devices. HP recommends using this utility to add members of a multiple-member shadow set to the boot list and dump device list. (Be sure to add all members to both lists.) For instructions on how to use the utility, see Section A.5. For more information about configuring Fibre Channel devices with this utility, see Appendix D. For information about using the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility to display boot options, see Section A.5.2.2. For information about setting the pause length, see Section A.5.2.3. The OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility also enables you to configure dump off the system disk (DOSD) devices and debug devices; for more information about this, see the HP OpenVMS System Manager's Manual, Volume 2: Tuning, Monitoring, and Complex Systems.

A.3.1 General Notes About Using EFI

Note the following:

  • Using EFI on cell-based servers: On an Integrity server with nPartition support, a separate EFI interface exists for each nPartition. Be sure to access the appropriate nPartition console.

    To determine which nPartition EFI interface you are using, use the info sys command at the EFI Shell prompt. This lists the local nPartition number and details about active cells. For processor details, use the info cpu command. (You can also use MP to provide information about the nPartition you are using, as described in the nPartition Administrator's Guide (previously titled HP System Partitions Guide: Administration for nPartitions).)

    You can use the MP console interface to access any nPartition’s EFI console. Press Ctrl/B to move from EFI (or from your OpenVMS session) to the MP interface. Log in to MP if you are prompted. A menu then displays the names of all available nPartitions. Select from this list the nPartition that you want to access. To gain console write access for an nPartition console, press Ctrl/E and enter the letters cf. You can use the MP pdcommand to set a default nPartition for MP login; this helps to ensure you are brought to the intended nPartition (for example, to help prevent you from accidentally reconfiguring an nPartition you do not own).

    To return to the EFI console (when OpenVMS is not booted), enter the co command at the MP> prompt.

  • Navigating EFI file system directories: To switch to a different file system, enter the file system name. The following example shows how to switch to fs3: from the current location (top level of the EFI Shell):

    Shell> fs3:
    fs3:\>

    Note that the prompt is now fs3:\. The EFI Shell prompt changes to reflect the file system currently accessed. The Shell prompt is displayed again if you reset the system. Also note that the file system number might change when remapped after hardware changes are made to the server (for example, after an I/O drive is added to the server and the nPartition boots or the map -r command is issued).

  • File structure of EFI file systems: The file structure of an fs disk is identical to MS-DOS and the commands to move around the structure are similar to MS-DOS commands. For example, to move to directory efi on disk fs0:, enter the cdcommand:

    fs0:\> cd efi
    fs0:\efi>

    To display the contents of the efi directory, use the dircommand.

  • EFI commands for OpenVMS: Most commands that you issue for OpenVMS purposes at the EFI Shell prompt are issued from \efi\vms on the file system associated with the system disk. You can enter such commands directly from the top level by specifying \efi\vms in the path for subsequent commands, or by first moving to \efi\vms and entering the commands without the path specification. The first example that follows shows how to enter commands from the top level. The second example shows how to move to \efi\vms before entering the commands. The vms_show command displays the equivalent OpenVMS device name for devices mapped by EFI, and the vms_set command can be used to set a debug or dump device. These EFI commands for OpenVMS, known as EFI Utilities for OpenVMS, are usable only when the operating system is not running. To display and set EFI-mapped devices while the operating system is running, use the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility (SYS$MANAGER:BOOT_OPTIONS.COM), as described in Section A.5. The EFI Utilities for OpenVMS are described in the HP OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual.

    Example 1 — From Top Level

    fs0:\> \efi\vms\vms_show device
    .
    .
    .
    fs0:\> \efi\vms\vms_set dump_dev dga3730

    Example 2 — First Moving to \efi\vms

    fs0:\> cd \efi\vms
    fs0:\efi\vms> vms_show device
    .
    .
    .
    fs0:\efi\vms> vms_set dump_dev dga3730
    NOTE: The directory structure and contents of the OpenVMS system disk differs from those of the OpenVMS I64 OE DVD. Note also that the bootstrap on the system disk is located at \efi\vms\vms_loader.efi, while on the DVD it is at \efi\boot\bootia64.efi. (These two files are identical in content.)
  • EFI aliases: You can define aliases for EFI commands that are easier to remember. For example, to define the alias dir for the ls command, use the alias command as follows:

    fs0:\> alias dir "ls"

    To define an alias for the command that boots OpenVMS from fs0:, enter the following command:

    fs0:\> alias bvms "fs0:\efi\vms\vms_loader.efi"
    NOTE: Setting an alias to point to a specific device can lead to unexpected results. For example, if you insert a DVD in the DVD/CD drive, fs0: now points to the DVD/CD drive. HP recommends using the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility to set your system disk as a boot device for EFI, as explained in Section A.5.

    To list the aliases currently defined, enter the alias command:

    fs0:\> alias
          dir   : ls
          bvms  : fs0:\efi\vms\vms_loader.efi
  • Boot device list: Any changes in storage configuration after the system is booted to EFI (such as inserting a DVD into a DVD removable drive or adding SCSI drives on storage enclosures) is not automatically detected by the EFI Shell environment. To have the EFI Shell recognize the device, you must reconnect the device driver (on cell-based servers, use the EFI search command; on other servers, use the EFI reconnect command).

    The EFI shell environment creates default mappings for all the device handles that support a recognized file system. After you change the system configuration or add a new device, you must regenerate these mappings. For information about reconnecting devices and regenerating mappings, see Section A.6.2.1 and your hardware documentation or the website listed at the end of this section.

  • Moving between EFI and MP: To move from MP interface to EFI, type co(for Console) at the MP> prompt. If you are in command mode (at the MP:CM> prompt), first press Ctrl/B to return to the MP> prompt.

    When you move to EFI from MP, confirm that you are at the main EFI main menu. If you are at a submenu, to access the main menu exit from the submenu and any subsequent submenus until you return to the main menu.

    To move from the EFI to MP, press Ctrl/B (this assumes MP is present and configured).

For more information about using EFI, see the documentation provided for your Integrity server. Extensive information can also be found online at:

http://developer.intel.com/technology/efi/help/efidocs.htm

A.4 Enabling or Disabling Hyper-Threading on Dual-Core Processors

Systems that have Intel Itanium® Dual-Core processors can support Hyper-Threading. Hyper-Threading provides the ability for processors to create an additional logical CPU that might allow additional efficiencies of processing. For example, a dual-core processor with Hyper-Threading active provides four logical CPUs, two on each core. The effect that Hyper-Threading has on performance depends heavily on the applications running on your system. HP recommends that you start with Hyper-Threading disabled and experiment later, if you wish.

You can enable or disable Hyper-Threading for a system whose processors support it. To display the Hyper-Threading state for a system, use the EFI info cpu or cpuconfig command. (The display indicates that “CPU threads” are turned on or off.) For example:

Shell> cpuconfig
PROCESSOR MODULE INFORMATION

        # of               L3      L4      Family/
CPU     Logical            Cache   Cache     Model          Processor
Module     CPUs   Speed    Size    Size     (hex.)    Rev   State
-----   -------   ------   ------  ------  ---------  ---   -----
 0           4    1.4 GHz   6 MB   None    20/00      CO    Active

CPU threads are turned on.

To enable or disable Hyper-Threading, use the EFI cpuconfig threads on or cpuconfig threads off command. For more information, enter help cpuconfig at the EFI Shell prompt or see the appropriate hardware documentation. The recent release of the Partition Manager also supports Hyper-Threading.

After enabling or disabling Hyper-Threading, the system must be reset for the change to take effect. Use the EFI Shell reset command. When Hyper-Threading is enabled, it remains active on the next reboot of the system.

A.5 Configuring and Managing OpenVMS Booting on Integrity Servers

This section explains how to configure and manage the booting behavior of your Integrity server. You can use the EFI Boot Manager (while the operating system is not running) or the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager (while the operating system is running) to configure boot options. HP recommends using the latter.

You can configure multiple boot entries for a single operating system. On a cell-based Integrity server running multiple operating systems, you can configure boot options for all currently installed operating systems. On cell-based servers, each nPartition has a local instance of EFI that is specific to that partition. Each partition can be booted and stopped independently of other nPartitions in the system, and each partition executes its own operating system image.

On cell-based servers, to successfully boot an operating system you must first ensure that the ACPI configuration is correct for the operating system being booted, as explained in Section A.5.1. Each nPartition has its own ACPI configuration value.

IMPORTANT: To configure booting on a Fibre Channel storage device, you must use the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility. (For information about configuring Fibre Channel devices, see Appendix D.) HP also recommends using this utility to add members of a multiple-member shadow set to the boot device list and dump device list. Be sure to add all members to both lists.

If you have just completed the initial setup of your Integrity server, perform the following steps before continuing:

  1. Power up your server system, as explained in the hardware documentation for your server. If you use the power button on the front panel, press it only once.

    NOTE: If you see a warning that the BMC system event log (SEL) is full, you can safely continue by following the prompts; OpenVMS processes the contents of the SEL. If you want to clear the SEL manually, see the instructions in the first note of Section A.6.

    HP recommends that you load and use the most current system firmware. For more information about updating the system firmware, see Section 1.3.4.

  2. If you have a cell-based server, check that the ACPI configuration is correct for the OpenVMS operating system. For more information, see Section A.5.1.

  3. At the EFI Boot Manager menu, select the EFI Shell [Built-in] option. You can now boot your OpenVMS I64 system manually, or you can add a new entry to the EFI Boot Manager menu to have your system booted automatically whenever you power on your Integrity server or reboot.

This section discusses the following topics:

  • Checking the ACPI configuration for nPartition booting (Section A.5.1)

  • Setting automatic booting and boot flags for your system disk (Section A.5.2) (also includes how to set automatic booting using EFI commands)

  • Displaying EFI boot entries and mapped OpenVMS devices, using the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility (Section A.5.2.2) (also includes how to display boot entries using EFI commands)

  • Setting the EFI boot option timeout value, using the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility (Section A.5.2.3)

  • Writing a new boot block, using the OpenVMS I64 SET BOOTBLOCK command (Section A.5.3)

  • Comparing Alpha and Integrity server system boot commands (Section A.5.4)

A.5.1 Checking the ACPI Configuration for Booting OpenVMS in an nPartition

To boot your OpenVMS I64 operating system on a cell-based server, the ACPI configuration must be set correctly. The ACPI configuration value determines, among other things, the EFI Path format used when referencing devices. If your Integrity server was factory installed, the ACPI configuration is set correctly. If the nPartition on which you want to boot your OpenVMS system had previously been running a Windows or Linux system, then enter the following command at the EFI Shell prompt to set the partition to boot correctly with OpenVMS:

EFI> acpiconfig default

To make this new value take effect, you must reset the nPartition by using the EFI Shell reset command:

EFI> reset

If the ACPI configuration value is not set properly, when the operating system boots, it fails with bugcheck code INCONSTATE.

You cannot modify the ACPI configuration value for Integrity servers that do not support nPartitions (for example, the rx2600 server).

To display the current configuration value, enter the acpiconfig command with no arguments:

EFI> acpiconfig
Acpiconfig settings: default
NOTE: The acpiconfig command does not necessarily report the setting that was used on the current nPartition boot stage. It reports only the current setting, which is used for the next boot of the nPartition.

A.5.2 Setting Boot Options for Your System Disk

You can establish and manage boot options for your system disk in any of three ways:

  • During installation or upgrade, allowing the OpenVMS I64 installation/upgrade procedure to automatically establish an EFI boot option for your system disk

  • Using the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility (SYS$MANAGER:BOOT_OPTIONS.COM) while the operating system is running

  • Using EFI (after the system disk has been created or updated and only while the operating system is not running)

HP recommends that you allow the OpenVMS I64 installation or upgrade procedure to establish a boot option for your system disk. However, you still have the option of modifying the boot option or adding other boot options for your system disk by using the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility from the OpenVMS DCL prompt (or by using EFI itself).

The OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility is a menu-based utility that enables you to configure EFI boot options for your Integrity server. It is easier to use than EFI. With this OpenVMS utility, you can perform actions such as the following:

  • Add your system disk as an EFI boot option (you can optionally configure it to boot automatically on hardware startup and reboot).

  • Manage multiple system disks.

  • Set boot flags.

  • Display the EFI boot options.

  • Add, move, and remove boot options in the EFI Boot Manager menu.

  • Enable or disable the EFI boot countdown timer (timeout) and set the countdown value.

This section explains how to perform most of these operations (except moving and removing boot options). For more information about the OpenVMS Boot Manager utility, see the HP OpenVMS System Manager's Manual, Volume 1: Essentials. This section also explains how to use EFI to add a boot option for automatic booting.

HP recommends that you configure your system with a boot option for your system disk. You can enable automatic reboot of the system disk by specifying your system disk as the first boot option in the EFI Boot Manager menu. When the EFI timeout (countdown) occurs, your system disk boots automatically.

NOTE: To configure booting on Fibre Channel devices, you must use the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility. (Use of this utility is optional for other devices but mandatory for Fibre Channel devices.) HP also recommends using this utility to add members of a multiple-member shadow set to the boot device list and dump device list. Be sure to add all members to both lists. For more information about the utility, see the HP OpenVMS System Manager's Manual, Volume 1: Essentials. For more information about configuring and booting Fibre Channel devices, see Appendix D.

A.5.2.1 Adding a Boot Option and Setting Boot Flags

To add a boot option and set boot flags using the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility, follow these steps:

  1. At the DCL prompt, enter the following command to start the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility:

    $ @SYS$MANAGER:BOOT_OPTIONS.COM
  2. When the utility starts, the main menu is displayed. To add your system disk as a boot option, enter 1 at the prompt, as in the following example:

      OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager Boot Options List Management Utility
    
      (1) ADD an entry to the Boot Options list
      (2) DISPLAY the Boot Options list
      (3) REMOVE an entry from the Boot Options list
      (4) MOVE the position of an entry in the Boot Options list
      (5) VALIDATE boot options and fix them as necessary
      (6) Modify Boot Options TIMEOUT setting
    
      (B) Set to operate on the Boot Device Options list
      (D) Set to operate on the Dump Device Options list
      (G) Set to operate on the Debug Device Options list
    
      (E) EXIT from the Boot Manager utility
    
      You can also enter Ctrl-Y at any time to abort this utility
    
    Enter your choice: 1
    NOTE: While using this utility, you can change a response made to an earlier prompt by entering the caret (^) character as many times as needed. To end and return to the DCL prompt, press Ctrl/Y.
  3. The utility prompts you for the device name. Enter the system disk device you are using for this installation. In the following example, the device name is DKA0:.

    Enter the device name (enter "?" for a list of devices): DKA0:
  4. The utility prompts you for the position you want your entry to take in the EFI boot option list. To see a list of the current boot options, enter a question mark (?):

    Enter the desired position number (1,2,3,,,) of the entry.
    To display the Boot Options list, enter "?" and press Return.
    Position [1]: ?
  5. The list in the following example includes only one boot option. To add your boot option entry to the top of the list (the default) so that your system disk boots automatically when the server starts or the EFI countdown timer expires, enter 1:

    EFI Boot Options list:     Timeout = 0 secs.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    01. VenHw(d65a6b8c-71e5-4df0-d2f009a9) "EFI Shell [Built-in]"
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    1 entries found.
    
    Enter the desired position number (1,2,3,...) of the entry.
    To display the Boot Options list, enter "?" and press Return.
    Position [1]: 1
  6. The utility prompts you for OpenVMS boot flags. By default, no flags are set. Enter the OpenVMS flags (for example, 0,1), or press Enter to set no flags, as in the following example:

    Enter the value for VMS_FLAGS in the form n,n.
    VMS_FLAGS [NONE]: 

    Optionally, you can use any of the standard OpenVMS boot flags such as the following:

    Flags

    Description

    0,1Enable SYSBOOT to change system parameters; enable conversational booting for debugging purposes.
    0,2Load XDELTA.
    0,4Take the initial EXEC_INIT breakpoint.
    0,20000Print debug messages on boot.
    0,30000Print more debug messages on boot.

  7. The utility prompts you for a description to include with your boot option entry. By default, the device name is used as the description. You can enter more descriptive information as in the following example. This example shows a sample confirmation message (for devices with multiple paths, such as Fibre Channel devices, a separate confirmation message is displayed for each path). EFI$BCFG is the name of the executor file for the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility.

    Enter a short description (do not include quotation marks).
    Description ["DKA0"]: DKA0: OpenVMS V8.3-1H1 for PLMs System
    
    efi$bcfg: DKA0: (BOOT003) Option successfully added
  8. When you have successfully added your boot option, exit the utility by entering E at the prompt:

    Enter your choice: E
    $
A.5.2.1.1 Using EFI to Set Automatic Booting of Your System Disk

HP recommends allowing the OpenVMS installation or upgrade procedure to set your system disk to boot automatically. Or, use the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility (SYS$MANAGER:BOOT_OPTIONS.COM). However, you can use EFI. This section explains how to use EFI to set up your Integrity server firmware to automatically boot your OpenVMS I64 system from your system disk. (HP also recommends using the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility to set boot flags. Optionally, you can use the vms_loader.efi -flags n,n command at the EFI prompt to set any of the standard OpenVMS boot flags, as documented earlier in this appendix.)

Access the EFI Shell and enter the following line at the prompt, where fsn: (such as fs0: or fs1:) is the device associated with the system disk:

Shell> bcfg boot add 1 fsn:\efi\vms\vms_loader.efi "HP OpenVMS I64"

This command adds the OpenVMS I64 operating system to position 1 in the EFI Boot Manager menu. The quoted text in the command line (“HP OpenVMS I64”) is displayed at position 1 in the EFI boot menu. You can enter any text that helps you identify the operating system disk. During system power up, the position 1 item is automatically executed after the countdown.

Alternatively, you can add an EFI boot menu option by using the EFI menu interface:

  1. Select the Boot Configuration option (or in some versions of EFI, the Boot Option Maintenance Menu).

  2. Select Add a Boot Option.

  3. Select the boot device and boot file.

    NOTE: All EFI boot options embed the disk Globally Unique ID (GUID). Therefore, if you reinstall OpenVMS or restore a system disk from an image backup, you must first delete the old boot options and then add a new boot option. To delete a boot option, use the Delete Boot Option(s) option in the Boot Configuration menu (or Boot Option Maintenance Menu).

Still another method to add a boot entry to the EFI Boot Manager menu is to use the EFI Utilities for OpenVMS vms_bcfg command, which accepts OpenVMS device names and also enables you to set flags. However, note that this command has limited capabilities; for example, it cannot handle Fibre Channel paths as can the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility. In the following example, DKA0: is the OpenVMS system disk being added as the first boot option:

   Shell> \efi\vms\vms_bcfg boot add 1 dka0: -fl 0,2 "HP OpenVMS I64"

For more information about EFI utilities for OpenVMS, see the HP OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual.

A.5.2.2 Displaying EFI Boot Entries and Mapped OpenVMS Devices

The Integrity server EFI Boot Manager shows the various paths to the boot device. You can use the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility to display the OpenVMS boot device options known to EFI.

Start the utility at the DCL prompt (@SYS$MANAGER:BOOT_OPTIONS.COM) and select option 2 on the main menu (the main menu is shown in Section A.5.2). The utility displays the following prompt. In this example, the listings for the DQA0: device are requested and displayed.

   To display all entries in the Boot Options list, press Return.
   To display specific entries, enter the entry number or device name.
   (Enter "?" for a list of devices): DQA0

EFI Boot Options list:   Timeout = 20 secs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
04. DQA0 PCI(0|0|2|0) ATA(Primary,Master) "DVD-ROM "
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 entries found.

You can also display all bootable devices mapped by the EFI console and their equivalent OpenVMS device names by using the EFI Utilities for OpenVMS vms_show command at the EFI Shell prompt (from \efi\vms). For more information about EFI utilities for OpenVMS, see the HP OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual.

A.5.2.3 Setting EFI Boot Option Countdown Timer (Timeout)

Whenever the EFI Boot Manager menu displays, it waits for you to select an option. The wait depends on the current setting of the EFI countdown timer. On some servers, the countdown timer is 10 seconds by default; on others, such as Server Blades, it might be even less. After the timer expires, EFI boots the first boot option. If the first option is not available or does not boot, EFI waits the same duration before booting the next option in the list. The OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility (SYS$MANAGER:BOOT_OPTIONS.COM) allows you to change this timeout value and also to disable the countdown (so that there is no wait) and enable it.

Select option 6 on the OpenVMS I64 Boot Options main menu (the main menu is shown in Section A.5.2). The utility displays the following prompt. To change the value, enter YES and then enter the new value. In this example, the timeout value is changed to 20 seconds.

efi$bcfg: Boot Timeout period is 10 secs
    
Would you like to modify the Timeout value? (Yes/No) [NO] YES
Please enter the Timeout value in seconds: 20

 efi$bcfg: Boot Timeout period is 20 secs

To disable the timer so that automatic booting occurs instantaneously, enter 0 as the value, as in the following example:

Please enter the Timeout value in seconds: 0

 efi$bcfg: Boot Timeout is Disabled

A.5.2.4 Saving and Restoring EFI Settings

Certain EFI settings, such as the Hyper-Threading setting supported on Intel Itanium Dual-Core processors, cannot be restored if lost. HP recommends that you write down your customized EFI settings in case they are lost in a system hardware or firmware failure. You can use the EFI info cpu command or the EFI cpuconfig command to display current settings, such as the setting of the Hyper-Threading feature.

You might need to restore boot options, such as if they get lost during a firmware upgrade. You can save and restore your EFI boot path settings on Integrity servers by using the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager (SYS$MANAGER:BOOT_OPTIONS.COM) utility. You can also use the EFI variable -s command to save boot option variables and the variable -r command to restore them. After using the variable command to restore boot options, a reset might be required. Use the EFI Shell reset comand.

You can use the OpenVMS-specific EFI utility vms_bcfg (\efi\vms\vms_bcfg) to set boot options, and the vms_showutility (\efi\vms\vms_show) to display them; however, these utilities are more limited in scope than the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility. For example, they cannot work with Fibre Channel boot paths as can the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility. You can use the EFI variable command to restore the boot options list from a previously saved file.

You could also use the EFI Shell variable command to restore variables such as boot path options; you must have first saved them in a known location by using the variable -save command. For more information, see the service manual provided for your Integrity server.

A.5.3 Writing a New Boot Block

The boot block structures on the system disk contain the size and location of the boot partition and other details relevant to the bootstrap of OpenVMS I64. The size and location of the boot partition stored within the boot block structures must be maintained and must reference the current location of the OpenVMS file SYS$EFI.SYS.

Current versions of BACKUP maintain the boot block structures as well as the size and location of the boot partition during image operations (analogous to the similar BACKUP/IMAGE operations that maintain the boot block on OpenVMS Alpha disks). Older versions of BACKUP do not maintain these structures and do not correctly locate core OpenVMS I64 bootstrap files.

If the boot partition file SYS$EFI.SYS is manually replaced or relocated, you must use the DCL command SET BOOTBLOCK or the SYS$SETBOOT image to rewrite the boot block structures. The SET BOOTBLOCK command and SYS$SETBOOT are analogous to the OpenVMS Alpha Writeboot utility; they provide OpenVMS I64 with the equivalent of what the Writeboot utility provides on OpenVMS Alpha.

NOTE: Do not use the OpenVMS Alpha Writeboot utility to rewrite boot block structures on an OpenVMS I64 system disk.

The SET BOOTBLOCK command enables you to establish the boot block pointers necessary for the EFI console to find and bootstrap an OpenVMS I64 system disk. You must use this command if the target OpenVMS I64 system disk was originally created by one of the following methods:

  • A version of BACKUP that does not support the OpenVMS I64 system disk structure. HP recommends that you do not use these versions of BACKUP for archiving or restoring an OpenVMS I64 system disk.

  • A nonimage backup of an OpenVMS I64 system disk (possibly corrupting the boot block and various directory backlinks that must be manually reset). HP recommends that you do not use nonimage backups.

  • A nonimage restore of an OpenVMS I64 system disk from an image save set. HP recommends that you do not use a nonimage restoration.

NOTE: If the target OpenVMS I64 system disk has an incorrectly-placed [000000]GPT.SYS file, the disk cannot be used reliably as an OpenVMS I64 system disk. Typically, the file gets incorrectly placed due to the use of an older version of BACKUP/IMAGE, a file-based BACKUP disk restoration, or an errant disk defragmentation tool (the file is set with /NOMOVE to disable move operations; defragmentation tools that do not honor this setting will corrupt the file). A correctly-located GPT.SYS file will have at least two file extents, the first beginning at LBN 0 and the last at the disk capacity minus the size of the last extent (an extent is one or more adjacent clusters allocated to a file). The size of each of the two extents varies according to the disk cluster factor on the target disk. The first extent size is currently 34 or more blocks, and the last extent 33 or more blocks. For example:
$  DUMP/HEADER/BLOCK=END=0 SYS$SYSDEVICE:[000000]GPT.SYS ...
Map area
   Retrieval pointers:
        Count:          36    LBN:          0
        Count:          36    LBN:   71132925

This example is from a disk with 71132960 blocks. The placement of the final extent is 71132924, which is calculated by subtracting 36 (the size of the last extent) from the disk capacity (71132960).

You may be able to temporarily recover from this condition and attempt to bootstrap the target OpenVMS I64 system disk by renaming GPT.SYS to GPT.BAD, and then entering the SET BOOTBLOCK command. To correctly recover from this condition, you must INITIALIZE the target disk and then reload the disk contents using a file-based BACKUP restoration or a file-based COPY operation. No supported means exists for adding a GPT.SYS file onto an existing disk nor for adding the file during a BACKUP/IMAGE restoration operation.

To write the boot block structures onto an OpenVMS I64 system disk, enter the SET BOOTBLOCK command using the following format:

$ SET BOOTBLOCK [/PRESERVE=SIGNATURES] [/I64] [boot-partition-name]

You can specify the file name for the boot partition (boot-partition-name). If you do not specify a file or device name, the command defaults to the following file for the boot partition:

SYS$SYSDEVICE:[VMS$COMMON.SYS$LDR]SYS$EFI.SYS

The command also assumes the current architecture. To specify OpenVMS I64, include /I64 in the command line.

Use the /PRESERVE=SIGNATURES qualifier to preserve the existing GUID disk signature value and the associated root aliases. Note that using the OpenVMS Backup utility creates a new disk signature when restoring a bootable disk image.

If you reset the boot block structures, you might need to remove any EFI boot aliases that reference the disk, and then add them back again. You can use the EFI alias command to remove and add aliases; HP recommends using the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility (SYS$MANAGER:BOOT_OPTIONS.COM) to maintain EFI console boot aliases.

NOTE: The boot partition file must be contiguous and movefile operations on the file must be disabled. If the file is not contiguous, use the DCL command COPY/CONTIGUOUS (or equivalent) to re-create a contiguous version of the file. To disable movefile operations, use the DCL command SET FILE/NOMOVE. This prevents bootstrap failures that could result from the normal and expected operations of disk defragmentation tools.

Alternatively, you can write a boot block by entering the following command:

$ RUN SYS$SYSTEM:SYS$SETBOOT

The utility prompts you for the required input (in a way similar to the operation of the OpenVMS Alpha Writeboot utility).

A.5.4 Alpha and Equivalent Integrity Server System Boot Commands

The Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) on Integrity servers performs most of the same functions that the SRM console does on Alpha processors. If you are familiar with the Alpha tool, use the following table to find EFI commands equivalent to the Alpha commands you commonly use on Alpha systems. Note that some of the commands listed might not be available on certain hardware systems.

Table A-1 Alpha and Integrity Server EFI Command Equivalents

TaskAlpha SRM command at P00> promptIntegrity Server EFI command at Shell prompt

Display help information

HELP

help

Display list and version of devices found on the most recently initialized systemSHOW CONFIGURATION or SHOW VERSIONinfo fw
Display devices and controllers in the system, including bootable devices and mappingsSHOW DEVICE
map
vms_show devices(from \efi\vms)[1]
Display all system informationSHOW FRU
info all
pci
info io

Display memory information

SHOW MEMORYinfo mem
Display volume information of the file systemSHOW DEV DKA0vol fs0

Display hardware information about CPU resources

SHOW CONFIGURATION

info cpu

Display power status

SHOW POWER

info all[2]
Set system dump disk

SET DUMP_DEV disk1, disk2...

vms_set dump_dev disk1, disk2, ... (from \efi\vms)[1]

Set boot flagsSET BOOT_OSFLAGS 0,0set vms_flags "0,0"[1]
Set boot behavior to automatic bootSET AUTO_ACTION BOOTbcfg boot add 1 fsx:\efi\vms\vms_loader.efi "I64"[1]
Change the current boot optionSET AUTO_ACTION HALTbcfg boot mv 1 2[1]

[1] Similar functionality is provided by the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility (SYS$MANAGER:BOOT_OPTIONS.COM), launched at the OpenVMS DCL prompt. Regarding the display of devices, BOOT_OPTIONS.COM displays only the boot entries and also a selected dump device for DOSD and a debug device; vms_show can display all devices mapped by the EFI console and their equivalent OpenVMS device names. The map command shows all devices currently mapped on the EFI Shell.

[2] Best source of information about power status is the MP PS command.

 

A.6 Booting Operations

This section describes various methods for booting your OpenVMS I64 operating system.

NOTE: To boot your OpenVMS I64 operating system, you can use a VGA graphics device (except on an rx2600 Integrity server or other servers that lack the firmware capabilities), a serial device, or a network interface for the console. For information about setting up the console on your Integrity server, see Section A.2.

When using a VGA console and installing from vMedia or a USB DVD drive with the keyboard plugged into a USB hub, if the keyboard does not respond, simply unplug the hub and plug it back in.

NOTE: HP Integrity servers maintain a system event log (SEL) within system console storage, and OpenVMS I64 automatically transfers the contents of the SEL into the OpenVMS error log. During a successful boot operation while using a console, you might see a message indicating that the BMC SEL is full. You can safely continue when the BMC SEL is full by following the prompts; OpenVMS processes the contents of the SEL.

HP recommends that the latest system firmware be loaded and used. For more information about updating the system firmware, see Section 1.3.4. For midrange and high-end Integrity servers, contact HP Customer Support to update your firmware.

A.6.1 Overview of Booting on a Cell-Based Server

This section gives an overview of booting the nPartition hardware and booting OpenVMS on an nPartition.

A.6.1.1 Booting the nPartition Hardware

Each nPartition runs its own firmware and has its own system boot environment. You can boot an nPartition independently of any other nPartitions in the same server complex.

The nPartition boot process includes two phases: the cell boot phase and the nPartition boot phase. Note that these phases occur only as part of the hardware boot process, not as part of the operating system boot.

  • Cell boot phase—This phase occurs when cells are powered on or reset. The main activities during this phase are the power-on-self-test activities. During this phase, cells operate independently of other cells in the complex. Cells do not necessarily proceed through this phase at the same pace, because each cell may have a different amount of hardware to discover and test, or cells might be reset or powered on at different times.

  • nPartition boot phase—This phase occurs when an nPartition has been booted, after its cells have completed their self tests. During this phase, “nPartition rendezvous” occurs, in which each cell contacts the other active cells in the nPartition and selects a core cell that is responsible for managing the rest of the nPartition boot process. A processor on the core cell runs the nPartition EFI system boot environment. When the operating system boot process is initiated, the core cell passes control to the operating system loader.

You can view progress of these phases by using the Virtual Front Panel (VFP) to check the nPartition boot state. Access VFP from the MP main menu.

For information about how to boot the nPartition hardware, see your hardware documentation.

A.6.1.2 Booting OpenVMS I64 on an nPartition

CAUTION: To prevent loss of data when booting your OpenVMS I64 operating system, note the following:
  • You must first ensure that the nPartition has its ACPI configuration set to the default (see Section A.5.1).

  • OpenVMS I64 does not support using cell local memory (CLM). The nPartition on which OpenVMS I64 is booted must have all memory configured as interleaved memory (memory that can be mapped across more than one cell). Although you might be able to run OpenVMS I64 on an nPartition that has cell local memory configured, such a configuration is untested and is not supported. To check cell local memory configuration details, use the Partition Manager or the parstatus command. For more information, see the nPartition Administrator's Guide (previously titled HP System Partitions Guide: Administration for nPartitions) or the following website:

    http://docs.hp.com/en/PARMGR2/

    You can also use the EFI Shell info mem command. If the reported “NonInterleaved Memory” is less than 512 MB, the cell is configured completely as interleaved memory (the indicated amount of noninterleaved memory is used by the firmware). If the command reports more than 512 MB of noninterleaved memory, use Partition Manager or the parstatus command to confirm the CLM configuration details.

As with all Integrity servers that run OpenVMS, you can boot OpenVMS I64 either by selecting a boot entry from the EFI Boot Manager or by starting the system loader (VMS_LOADER.EFI) from the EFI Shell. To boot OpenVMS I64, access the nPartition console and use either of these two methods:

  • From the EFI Boot Manager, select the OpenVMS I64 boot entry from the boot options list and press Enter.

  • From the EFI Shell, start the OpenVMS system loader by entering the following command at the EFI Shell prompt, where fsn: (such as fs1:) is the device associated with the OpenVMS I64 system disk:

    Shell> fsn:\efi\vms\vms_loader.efi

    When starting the VMS_LOADER.EFI system loader, you must either specify its full path (as shown in this example) or start it from the \efi\vms directory. For more information, see Section A.3.1.

    For booting the OpenVMS I64 OE DVD, the path is different. Enter the following command instead:

    Shell> fsn:efi\boot\bootia64.efi

NOTE: The nPartition must be at EFI before beginning the OpenVMS I64 boot process. If the nPartition is not at EFI, you can use VFP to check the nPartition boot state. An nPartition might be inactive or cells might be powered off. If VFP indicates that all cells in the nPartition are in the boot-is-blocked (BIB) state, the nPartition is inactive and you must use the MP bo command to boot the nPartition past BIB and make it active. For more information, see your hardware documentation.

A.6.2 Booting the OpenVMS I64 OE DVD from the Local Drive

To boot the OpenVMS I64 OE DVD, follow these steps. To boot the DVD on a cell-based server, a DVD device must be accessible for the nPartition that OpenVMS is being installed on.

  1. Make sure your Integrity server is powered on. If your system has an attached external device, make sure it is turned on and operational.

  2. Insert the DVD into the drive.

  3. Cycle power.

  4. From the main EFI boot menu (for cell-based servers, this must be the EFI boot menu for the nPartition on which OpenVMS is to be booted), select the appropriate item from the boot options list. Note that the EFI boot menu is timed; press any key to stop the countdown timer.

    For some systems, the boot option to select is the Internal Bootable DVD option. If that option is not listed in your EFI boot menu, move to the Boot From a File menu and select the Removable Media Boot option, if present.

    Alternatively (and this method is recommended for cell-based servers), boot the DVD drive from the EFI Shell prompt by entering the command shown in the following example, where fsn: corresponds to the Integrity server DVD drive (such as fs0:). Note that if you have navigated to a particular file system, the EFI Shell prompt would reflect that file system; for example, if the current file system is fs0:, the EFI Shell prompt would be fs0:>.

    Shell> fsn:\efi\boot\bootia64.efi

    To determine which device is the bootable DVD drive, examine the list of mapped devices and look for an fs device listing that includes the text CDROM, as in the following example, where fsn is the file system associated with the drive, which is usually fs0: (instead of fsn, you might see something like V8.3-1H1; instead of Ata, you might see Scsi, depending on the server model):

    fsn : Acpi(HWP0002,400)/Pci(4|1)/Ata(Primary,Master)/CDROM(Entry0)

    Use the vms_show dev command to display the mapping of various EFI device names to OpenVMS device names, as in the following example where fsn is the device you want to check (such as fs0:):

    Shell> fsn:\efi\vms\vms_show dev -fs

    For more information about the vms_show command, see the HP OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual.

    NOTE: By default, certain versions of EFI might interpret the Delete (or Backspace) key differently than do OpenVMS Alpha systems or Microsoft Windows computers. In such cases, press Ctrl/H to delete the last character entered. For more information, see Section A.1.3.

    When the DVD boots properly, the OpenVMS operating system banner is displayed, followed by the operating system menu. You can now install your OpenVMS I64 operating system onto the target disk; see Section 3.3. If the DVD fails to boot properly use the alternate method of booting described in Section A.6.2.1.

    NOTE: When booting OpenVMS from the installation DVD for the first time on any OpenVMS I64 system with a SAN storage device, you might experience a delay in EFI initialization because the entire SAN is scanned. Depending on the size of the SAN, this delay might range from several seconds to several minutes.

A.6.2.1 Alternate Method of Using EFI to Boot the DVD

If the DVD does not boot using the methods described above, follow these steps:

  1. To ensure that EFI can access the DVD, enter the following commands at the EFI Shell prompt of a entry-class or single-cell Integrity server. Enter the commands in the order shown. (The EFI Shell prompt may not necessarily be Shell> as in this example; it could be a prompt that reflects the current file system, such as fs0:>.)

    Shell> reconnect -r
    Shell> map -r

    For a multiple-cell nPartition on a cell-based server, use the search allcommand instead of the reconnect -r command, followed by the map -r command. See your hardware documentation for more information about EFI commands.

    The reconnect -r command discovers any devices added after booting the server. The search all command discovers all devices including any that were not in the boot options list or connected to the core cell’s I/O chassis. (On large server systems, the search all command could take significant time to complete. You can reduce the search time by specifying a more directed search, such as for a specific I/O chassis connected to a cell or a specific PCI card in a chassis. For more information, see the help information provided for the search command.)

    The map -r command remaps and rebuilds the list of known devices that have a bootable EFI system partition. For a multiple-cell nPartition on a cell-based server, if you insert the DVD after EFI is loaded, you must use the search command to allow EFI to detect the inserted DVD; otherwise, EFI would not recognize the DVD in the DVD drive. When EFI detects a valid, bootable DVD in the DVD drive, it maps an fs device to it and lists that device in the mapping table displayed by the map -r command.

  2. To boot the DVD, enter the following command at the EFI Shell prompt, where fsn: is the Integrity server DVD drive (such as fs0:).

    Shell> fsn:\efi\boot\bootia64.efi

    If this command does not work, or if you have doubts about which device maps to the DVD drive, you can use the EFI Boot Manager menu system to boot the OE DVD, as described in the following steps:

    1. From the main EFI boot menu, select the Boot Configuration option (or in some versions of EFI, the Boot Option Maintenance Menu).

    2. From the Boot Configuration menu, select the Boot From a File option.

    3. From the Boot From a File menu, select the menu item that includes the text CDROM, as in the following example, and press Enter.

      NOTE: The contents of the screens shown in the following examples vary according to the firmware and devices installed on your Integrity server.
      EFI Boot from a File Menu
    4. A screen is displayed that shows the top-level directory structure of the DVD, similar to the screen in the following example. Select the efi directory.

      EFI Top-Level
Directory of DVD
    5. The next screen to appear shows the first level of subdirectories below the top level, similar to the following example. Select the boot directory (it contains the boot file).

      EFI First Level of Subdirectories of DVD
    6. The next screen displays the files within the boot directory. Select the file named bootia64.efi.

      EFI Display of Files Within Boot Directory of
DVD

A.6.3 Booting the OpenVMS I64 OE DVD from the InfoServer

To boot from a virtual DVD drive on the LAN using OpenVMS I64 InfoServer software, you must initially perform certain configuration steps (one time only). These steps and the instructions on performing the network boot are described in Appendix B.

A.6.4 Booting an Image of the OpenVMS I64 OE DVD Using HP SIM Provisioning

To use HP SIM provisioning to boot an image of the OpenVMS OE DVD, certain configuration steps are required initially (one time only). For these steps and the booting instructions, see Appendix C. For upgrades, your OpenVMS boot flags must be set to (0,0).

A.6.5 Booting an Image of the OpenVMS I64 OE DVD Using vMedia

To use vMedia to boot an image of the OpenVMS OE DVD, certain configuration steps are required initially (one time only); see Section C.1.4. For instructions on booting with vMedia, see Section C.2.

A.6.6 Booting from a Fibre Channel Device

For instructions on booting from a Fibre Channel (FC) storage device, see Appendix D.

A.6.7 Booting Manually from the Local System Disk

HP recommends setting up your Integrity server EFI console with a boot option for your OpenVMS I64 operating system disk. In this way, booting the system disk simply requires selecting the boot option from the EFI Boot Manager boot options list. You can set the EFI boot option to boot automatically on powering on or rebooting. The OpenVMS installation and upgrade procedures can assist you in adding and validating a boot option for your system disk; you can also use the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility (SYS$MANAGER:BOOT_OPTIONS.COM), as explained in Section A.5.2.

The steps that follow explain how to boot the OpenVMS I64 operating system disk manually. You can also use vMedia to boot an OpenVMS system disk; see Section C.2.

NOTE: If you have recently booted the OpenVMS I64 OE DVD, make sure you remove this DVD before booting the system disk.

On Integrity server systems, the system disk must be mounted locally (on the system you are booting) or on a SAN storage device.

  1. If OpenVMS is not running, skip to the next step. If OpenVMS is running, access the EFI console by shutting down the operating system (see the instructions in Section A.7).

  2. Boot the system disk manually by entering the following command at the EFI Shell prompt, where fsn: (such as fs1:) is the device associated with the system disk:

    Shell> fsn:\efi\vms\vms_loader.efi

    You must either specify the full path (as shown in this example) or start the system loader from the \efi\vms directory. For more information, see Section A.3.1.

A.6.8 Performing a Conversational (Interactive) Boot

A conversational boot is most commonly used in research and development environments and during software upgrades. Perform a conversational boot to stop the boot process before it completes. The boot process stops after it loads SYS$SYSTEM:SYSBOOT.EXE and displays the SYSBOOT> prompt. At the SYSBOOT> prompt, you can enter specific OpenVMS System Generation utility (SYSGEN) commands to do the following:

  • Examine system parameter values

  • Change system parameter values

  • Specify another parameter file

  • Specify another system startup command procedure

  • Select the default system parameter file (IA64VMSSYS.PAR) if you modified system parameters to values that render the system unbootable

  • Specify a minimum startup

There are several ways to perform a conversational boot. The following procedure is the most direct:

IF ... THEN GO TO...

The OpenVMS I64 operating system is running.

Step 1

The OpenVMS I64 operating system is not running.

Step 4

  1. Log in to the SYSTEM account.

  2. Enter the following command:

    $ @SYS$SYSTEM:SHUTDOWN
  3. Answer the questions displayed by the system. When the procedure asks whether an automatic reboot should be performed, press Enter for NO. When the procedure is finished, it displays the following message:

       SYSTEM SHUTDOWN COMPLETE
  4. Halt the system or nPartition. (See Section A.7 for more information about how to halt your Integrity server).

  5. Begin the conversational boot by entering the following command at the EFI Shell prompt, where fsn: is the device (such as fs1:) associated with the system disk:

    Shell> fsn:\efi\vms\vms_loader.efi -flags 0,1
  6. At the SYSBOOT> prompt, you can enter any of the SYSGEN commands listed in Table A-2. For more information about these SYSGEN commands, see the HP OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual: M-Z.

  7. When you finish using the SYSGEN commands, enter the CONTINUE command to complete the boot process.

Table A-2 SYSGEN Commands Used in the SYSBOOT Procedure

Command Description

CONTINUE

Resumes the boot procedure.

DISABLE CHECKS

Inhibits checking of parameter values specified with the SET command.

ENABLE CHECKS

Permits checking of parameter values specified with the SET command.

HELP

Displays a summary of the SYSBOOT commands on the terminal screen.

SET parameter-name

Establishes the value of a system parameter.

SET/STARTUP

Sets the name of the system startup command procedure.

SHOW [parameter]

Displays active, current, default, maximum, and minimum values for specific parameters. (Use qualifiers to display characteristics of parameters grouped by categories.)

USE [file-spec]

Specifies a parameter file to be used as a source of values. You must enter the entire file specification, including device and directory; you cannot specify a logical name.

USE DEFAULT

Specifies that default values be used for all parameters.

 

For examples of conversational booting, see Section A.6.9 and Section A.6.12.

A.6.9 Booting with Minimum Startup

In certain cases, you might want to boot your system without performing the full sequence of startup events. For example, if a startup event prevents you from logging in, you might want to boot the system without executing the startup so that you can log in and fix the problem. You can use the conversational boot to specify a minimum startup.

NOTE: Because this procedure bypasses specific startup operations, it does not autoconfigure the system's peripheral devices.

Boot the system with minimum startup as follows:

  1. Begin the conversational boot by entering the following command at the EFI Shell prompt, where fsn: is the device (such as fs1:) associated with the system disk and the system root is [SYS0...]:

    Shell> fsn:\efi\vms\vms_loader.efi -flags 0,1
  2. Enter the following command:

    SYSBOOT> SET STARTUP_P1 "MIN"
  3. Enter the following command to ensure that the operating system does not record for subsequent system reboots the STARTUP_P1 parameter change you made in step 2:

    SYSBOOT> SET WRITESYSPARAMS 0
  4. Enter the following command to continue booting:

    SYSBOOT> CONTINUE

A.6.10 Booting with the XDelta Utility (XDELTA)

The XDelta utility (XDELTA) is a debugging tool that system programmers use. The procedure for booting all Integrity servers with XDELTA is the same.

The following table describes the valid values you can specify when booting with XDELTA:

ValueSystem Response

0

Normal, nonstop boot (default).

1

Begins a conversational boot and then displays the SYSBOOT prompt.

2

Includes XDELTA but does not take the initial breakpoint.

3

Displays the SYSBOOT prompt and includes XDELTA but does not take the initial breakpoint.

6

Includes XDELTA and takes the initial breakpoint.

7

Includes XDELTA, displays the SYSBOOT prompt, and takes the initial breakpoint at system initialization.

The following is an example of booting with XDELTA from fs1: at the EFI> prompt:

EFI> fs1:\efi\vms\vms_loader.efi -flags 0,7

For more information about using XDELTA, see the HP OpenVMS Delta/XDelta Debugger Manual.

A.6.11 Booting from a Different Root Directory

By default, the OpenVMS I64 operating system is installed in the system root directory [SYS0]. However, if you have created a cluster system disk, you can use the SYS$MANAGER:CLUSTER_CONFIG_LAN.COM procedure to add a copy of the operating system to a different root directory. (For more information about using the SYS$MANAGER:CLUSTER_CONFIG_LAN.COM procedure, see the HP OpenVMS System Manager's Manual .)

To boot from a different root (for example, [SYS3]), enter the following command at the EFI Shell prompt, where fsn: (such as fs1:) is the device associated with the system disk:

Shell> fsn:\efi\vms\vms_loader.efi -flags 3,0

A.6.12 Emergency Booting

If a system problem prevents your system from booting, you might need to perform an emergency boot operation. Table A-3 summarizes these emergency boot operations, and the sections that follow describe each boot operation in more detail.

Table A-3 Emergency Boot Procedures

OperationWhen to Use

Booting with default system parameters

When parameter values in the parameter file have been modified so that the system is unbootable

Booting without startup and login procedures

If an error in the startup or login procedure prevents you from logging in

Booting without the user authorization file

If you have forgotten the password and cannot log in to a privileged account

 

A.6.12.1 Booting with Default System Parameters

If the current values stored in the parameter file have been incorrectly modified, these incorrect values might cause the system to become unbootable. With a conversational boot operation, you can reset the active values for all system parameters to the default value. (In most cases, HP recommends that you use AUTOGEN to modify system parameters. In certain cases, however, you can use a conversational boot to modify a parameter value temporarily. To change a parameter value permanently, you must edit MODPARAMS.DAT and run AUTOGEN. For instructions, see the HP OpenVMS System Manager's Manual, Volume 2: Tuning, Monitoring, and Complex Systems.) The default values allow you to boot the system temporarily so you can correct the problem.

How to Perform This Task
  1. Begin the conversational boot by entering the following command at the EFI Shell prompt, where fsn: (such as fs1:) is the device associated with the system disk:

    Shell> fsn:\efi\vms\vms_loader.efi -flags 0,1
  2. At the SYSBOOT> prompt, enter the following command:

    SYSBOOT> USE DEFAULT

    The USE DEFAULT command specifies that default values should be used for all parameters.

  3. To avoid starting all layered products on a system that is not tuned for them, possibly causing the system to hang, set the STARTUP_P1 system parameter as follows:

    SYSBOOT> SET STARTUP_P1 "MIN"
  4. Enter the following command to ensure that the operating system does not record for subsequent system reboots the STARTUP_P1 parameter change you made in step 3:

    SYSBOOT> SET WRITESYSPARAMS 0
  5. Enter the following command to continue booting:

    SYSBOOT> CONTINUE
  6. When the system finishes booting, determine which changed parameter caused the problem and reset the parameter value. If you specified the value for the parameter in the AUTOGEN parameter file MODPARAMS.DAT, fix the value in that file and run AUTOGEN. For more information, see the HP OpenVMS System Manager's Manual, Volume 2: Tuning, Monitoring, and Complex Systems.

  7. After your system runs for at least 24 hours, run AUTOGEN in feedback mode, following the steps described in Section 7.22. Be sure to examine the AGEN$PARAMS.REPORT, as recommended. If necessary, modify system parameters as instructed in Section 7.23. If you need assistance, contact your software support representative. Once you feel confident that the problem is corrected, and AUTOGEN has been run through the SETPARAMS phase, reboot the system.

Example
SYSBOOT> USE DEFAULT                        
SYSBOOT> SET STARTUP_P1 "MIN"
SYSBOOT> SET WRITESYSPARAMS 0
SYSBOOT> CONTINUE 
Username: SYSTEM
Password:
$ EDIT SYS$SYSTEM:MODPARAMS.DAT
     .
     .
     .
   [Insert line(s) to reset parameter value(s)]
     .
     .
     .

A.6.12.2 Booting Without Startup and Login Procedures

If the system does not complete the startup procedures or does not allow you to log in, you might need to bypass the startup and login procedures. The startup and login procedures provided by HP should always work. However, if you introduce an error when you modify the startup or login procedure, you could accidentally lock yourself out of the system.

How to Perform This Task
  1. Begin the conversational boot by entering the following command at the EFI Shell prompt, where fsn: (such as fs1:) is the device associated with the system disk:

    Shell> fsn:\efi\vms\vms_loader.efi -flags 0,1
  2. Enter the following command at the SYSBOOT> prompt:

    SYSBOOT> SET/STARTUP OPA0:
  3. Enter the following command to ensure that the operating system does not record for subsequent system reboots the STARTUP_P1 parameter change you made in step 2:

    SYSBOOT> SET WRITESYSPARAMS 0
  4. Enter the following command to continue booting:

    SYSBOOT> CONTINUE
  5. When the system is booted, the operator console displays the DCL command prompt ($). You are now logged in.

  6. Enter the following two DCL commands:

    $ SPAWN
    $ SET NOON

    The SPAWN command enables you to stay connected to the console, and the second command instructs the operating system to ignore any errors that might occur. If you do not enter these commands and you invoke an error, the system logs you out. Without the SPAWN command, you are logged out when the startup procedure completes in step 8.

  7. Correct the error condition that caused the login failure. (That is, make the necessary repairs to the startup or login procedure, or to the SYSUAF.DAT file.)

    Use a text editor to correct the startup or login file. Note that some system displays might not support a screen-mode editor. You can also copy a corrected file and delete the incorrect version by using the RENAME and DELETE commands.

  8. Perform a normal startup by entering the following command:

    $ @SYS$SYSTEM:STARTUP
Example

SYSBOOT> SET/STARTUP OPA0:
SYSBOOT> SET WRITESYSPARAMS 0
SYSBOOT> CONTINUE
$ SPAWN
$ SET NOON
$ SET DEFAULT SYS$SYSROOT:[SYSEXE]
$ @SYS$SYSTEM:STARTUP

A.6.12.3 Booting Without a User Authorization File

Ordinarily, the startup and login procedures provided by HP work; however, certain conditions can cause them to fail. A simple way to lock yourself out of the system is to set passwords to login accounts and forget them. Another way to be locked out is if one or more core system Product Authorization Key (PAK) software licenses are unavailable or expired. In such emergencies, perform a conversational emergency boot by performing the steps given in this section.

How to Perform This Task
  1. Halt the system or nPartition. (See Section A.7 for more information about how to halt your Integrity server.)

  2. Begin the conversational boot by entering the following command at the EFI Shell prompt, where fsn: (such as fs1:) is the device associated with the system disk:

    Shell> fsn:\efi\vms\vms_loader.efi -flags 0,1

    You need your hardware system’s password for logging in to the console. By default, both the user name and password are set to Admin. If you do not have this password, contact HP Customer Support to reset the hardware console password.

  3. Enter the following commands at the SYSBOOT> prompt:

    SYSBOOT> SET/STARTUP OPA0:
    SYSBOOT> SET WINDOW_SYSTEM 0
    SYSBOOT> SET WRITESYSPARAMS 0
    SYSBOOT> CONTINUE

    The first three commands request the following:

    • OpenVMS read the system startup commands directly from the system console.

    • The windowing system (if any) not start.

    • OpenVMS not record the parameter changes for subsequent system reboots.

    The last command causes the booting to continue.

  4. At the DCL prompt, the system now accepts startup commands directly from the console. Enter the following two commands. These commands allow a normal system startup while you are left logged in on the console. Without the SPAWN command, you are logged out when the startup completes.

    $ SPAWN
    $ @SYS$SYSTEM:STARTUP
  5. Once you log out of this session, the system completes the startup and can be used normally. Optionally, you can choose to reboot the system.

Example

SYSBOOT> SET/STARTUP OPA0:
SYSBOOT> SET WINDOW_SYSTEM 0
SYSBOOT> SET WRITESYSPARAMS 0
SYSBOOT> CONTINUE
$ SPAWN
$ @SYS$SYSTEM:STARTUP
$
NOTE: Instead of using the SET/STARTUP OPA0: command in emergency conditions, you can set the UAFALTERNATE system parameter to use the alternate authorization file rather than the standard user authorization file. Setting the system parameter UAFALTERNATE defines the logical name SYSUAF to refer to the file SYS$SYSTEM:SYSUAFALT.DAT. If this file is found during a normal login, the system uses it to validate the account and prompts you for the user name and password.

HP does not recommend this method. If an alternate SYSUAFALT.DAT file has been configured on your system, the UAFALTERNATE method will likely fail (assuming you do not know the password for the privileged account stored within the SYSUAFALT.DAT file). In addition, the OPA0: system console is critical to system operations and system security and allows access when the SYSUAF system authorization database is unavailable or corrupted; when core product license PAKs are not registered, are expired, or are disabled; and in various system failures.

A.7 Halt and Shutdown Procedures

The following sections describe halt and shutdown procedures for Integrity servers and OpenVMS I64.

A.7.1 Halting the Integrity Server to Recover from Hangs and Crashes

If your system hangs and you want to force a crash, you can use MP, if available. Use the tccommand. Confirm your intention when prompted. The tc command forces a crash dump. You can reset the machine (without forcing a crash) by using the MP rscommand.

For cell-based servers, when you enter the tc or rs command, you are first prompted to select the partition for which you want the operating system shut down.

Alternatively, when the operating system controls the console, press Ctrl/P. The next step taken by the system depends on whether XDELTA is loaded:

  • If XDELTA is loaded, the system enters XDELTA after you press Ctrl/P. The system displays the instruction pointer and current instructions. You can force a crash from XDELTA by entering ;C, as in the following example:

    $
    Console Brk at 8068AD40
    8068AD40!                  add    r16 = r24, r16 ;; (New IPL = 3)
     ;C
  • If XDELTA is not loaded, pressing Ctrl/P causes the system to enter the IPC facility. Pressing Ctrl/P within the utility brings the “Crash? (Y/N)” prompt. Enter Y to cause the system to crash and to bring you eventually to EFI. If you enter any other character, the system returns back to the IPC facility.

A.7.2 Shutting Down the System

Before you shut down the operating system, decide if you want it to reboot automatically or if you want to enter console-mode commands after the shutdown completes. If you want the system to reboot automatically after the shutdown, first set up automatic booting, as described in Section A.5.2.

You can perform the following two types of shutdown operations, as discussed in the indicated sections:

A.7.2.1 Orderly Shutdown

The SHUTDOWN.COM procedure shuts down the operating system while performing maintenance functions such as disabling future logins, stopping the batch and printer queues, dismounting volumes, and stopping user processes. To use the SHUTDOWN.COM command procedure, log in to the SYSTEM account, enter the following command:

$ @SYS$SYSTEM:SHUTDOWN

For more information about the SHUTDOWN.COM command procedure, see the HP OpenVMS System Manager's Manual, Volume 1: Essentials.

On cell-based Integrity servers, two special types of nPartition reboot are supported: reboot for reconfiguration, which reboots an nPartition and enables cell configuration changes to occur, and shutdown for reconfiguration, which puts an nPartition into an inactive state.

  • To perform a reboot for reconfiguration from OpenVMS I64 running on an nPartition, enter the OpenVMS @SYS$SYSTEM:SHUTDOWN command, and then answer YES to the prompt that asks whether to perform an automatic system reboot.

    On cell-based Integrity servers, an operating system reboot is equivalent to a reboot for reconfiguration. Performing a reboot for reconfiguration enables any cell assignment changes for the nPartition (for example, removing an active cell or activating a newly added cell).

    The reboot for reconfiguration takes all cells assigned to the nPartition through a cell boot phase. The cells with a Yes use-on-next-boot attribute proceed through the nPartition boot phase to become active cells whose resources are available to software running on the nPartition.

  • To perform a shutdown for reconfiguration of an nPartition running OpenVMS I64, first enter the OpenVMS @SYS$SYSTEM:SHUTDOWN command and then answer NO to the prompt asking whether to perform an automatic system reboot. Next, access MP and use the rr command (specify the OpenVMS nPartition to shut down for reconfiguration).

    A shutdown for reconfiguration takes all cells assigned to the nPartition through a cell boot phase and then stops their boot progress at the boot-is-blocked (BIB) state. When all cells assigned to the nPartition are at the BIB state, the nPartition is inactive and no software can run on the nPartition until it is manually booted past BIB.

    To boot an inactive nPartition past BIB, use the MP bo command and specify which nPartition to make active. Booting past the BIB state involves all cells that are assigned to the nPartition and that have a Yes use-on-next-boot attribute. The cells are taken through the nPartition boot phase to become active cells whose resources are available to software running on the nPartition.

For more information about shutting down an Integrity server or an nPartition, see the appropriate hardware documentation.

A.7.2.2 Emergency Shutdown with OPCCRASH.EXE

If you cannot perform an orderly shutdown with the SHUTDOWN.COM procedure, run the OPCCRASH.EXE emergency shutdown program. To run the OPCCRASH.EXE program, log in to the SYSTEM account and enter the following command:

$ RUN SYS$SYSTEM:OPCCRASH

For more information about the OPCCRASH program, see the HP OpenVMS System Manager's Manual, Volume 1: Essentials.

On cell-based Integrity servers, entering the OpenVMS RUN SYS$SYSTEM:OPCCRASH command results in the system dumping memory and then halting at the P00>>> prompt. To reset the nPartition following OPCRASH, access the nPartition console and press any key to reboot.

Using the MP tc command to reset an nPartition results in the system dumping memory and then automatically resetting the nPartition.

A.8 Troubleshooting Procedures

The following sections describe procedures that you can follow if you encounter problems with your system.

A.8.1 If the System Does Not Boot

If the system does not boot because a hardware problem occurs, a question mark (?) usually precedes the error message displayed on the console terminal. An example of a hardware problem is a read error on a disk. Another is a BIB condition in an nPartition on a cell-based server. You can use VFP to check the nPartition boot state. If VFP indicates that all cells in the nPartition are at BIB, the nPartition is inactive and you must use the MP bo command to boot the nPartition past BIB and make it active.

One way to get to the EFI Boot Manager to attempt to reboot is to use the MP rs command.

For more information about using VFP and MP, see your hardware documentation.

A.8.1.1 For Hardware Problems

If you suspect a hardware problem, do the following:

  1. Consult the hardware manual for your Integrity server.

  2. Contact HP Customer Support.

A.8.1.2 For Software Problems

When the operating system is loaded into memory, a message similar to the following is displayed on the terminal screen:

   SYSTEM   job terminated at 27-JUL-2007 15:05:03.17

If the system does not display this message, a software problem has probably occurred. Do the following:

  1. Turn off the system. Turn it back on and try to reboot.

  2. Perform a conversational boot using the default system parameters or try one of the emergency boot procedures described in Section A.6.12.

  3. If the system boots, run the AUTOGEN procedure. For more information about the AUTOGEN procedure, see the HP OpenVMS System Manager's Manual, Volume 2: Tuning, Monitoring, and Complex Systems.

A.8.2 Detecting and Responding to System Problems

If your system exhibits unexpected behavior, note the following:

  • If the system displays a bugcheck message on the console terminal and shuts itself down, it means the system encountered a problem that made further operation impossible or dangerous. If the system does not reboot automatically, reboot the system manually as described in Section A.6.7.

  • If the system stops responding to your commands (that is, if the system hangs), there is a possible failure in a system software or hardware component or a possible power failure.

  • If the system exhibits erratic behavior (it does not respond according to specifications), it indicates a possible failure in a system software or hardware component.

To determine whether the failure is a system problem:

  • Be sure that you did not press F1 (Hold Screen). The Hold Screen light turns on when you press either F1 or Ctrl/S.

  • Press Ctrl/T to check the status of your process. A status line should appear indicating the name of the program that is executing and other information. If the status line does not appear, the program you are executing might be stalled or hanging. (If you have disabled Ctrl/T by entering the command SET NOCONTROL=T, or if you have set the terminal to NOBROADCAST mode by entering the command SET TERMINAL/NOBROADCAST, this procedure does not work.)

  • Make sure the cable connecting the terminal or monitor to the system is secure.

If you determine that you have a system problem, take the following steps:

  1. Force an exit from a stalled or hanging program by pressing Ctrl/Y. Note that pressing Ctrl/Y causes any work performed by the program and not saved on disk to be lost.

  2. If the system is still unresponsive, halt it (see Section A.7.1 for more information.)

  3. Note in detail the sequence of events that caused the problem and notify HP Customer Support.

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