Document revision date: 30 March 2001

## OpenVMS Cluster Systems

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### 1.4.1 System Communications

Figure 1-1 shows the interrelationships between the OpenVMS Cluster components.

Figure 1-1 OpenVMS Cluster System Communications

In Figure 1-1, processes in different nodes exchange information with each other:

- Processes can call the $QIO system service and other system services directly from a program or indirectly using other mechanisms such as OpenVMS Record Management Services (RMS). The $QIO system service initiates all I/O requests.
- A SYSAP on one OpenVMS Cluster node must communicate with a SYSAP on another node. For example, a connection manager on one node must communicate with the connection manager on another node, or a disk class driver on one node must communicate with the MSCP server on another node.
- The following SYSAPs use SCS for cluster communication:
  - Disk and tape class drivers
  - MSCP server
  - TMSCP server
  - DECnet class driver
  - Connection manager
- SCS routines provide services to format and transfer SYSAP messages to a port driver for delivery over a specific interconnect.
- Communications go through the port drivers to OpenVMS Cluster computers and storage controllers. The port driver manages a logical path, called a virtual circuit, between each pair of ports in an OpenVMS Cluster system.

### 1.4.2 Application Communications

Applications running on OpenVMS Cluster systems use DECnet or TCP/IP (transmission control protocol and internet protocol) for application communication. The DECnet and TCP/IP communication services allow processes to locate or start remote servers and then exchange messages.

Note that generic references to DECnet in this document mean either DECnet for OpenVMS or DECnet--Plus (formerly known as DECnet/OSI) software.

### 1.4.3 Cluster Alias

A DECnet feature known as a cluster alias provides a collective name for the nodes in an OpenVMS Cluster system. Application software can connect to a node in the OpenVMS Cluster using the cluster alias name rather than a specific node name. This frees the application from keeping track of individual nodes in the OpenVMS Cluster system and results in design simplification, configuration flexibility, and application availability.

## 1.5 System Management

The OpenVMS Cluster system manager must manage multiple users and resources for maximum productivity and efficiency while maintaining the necessary security.

### 1.5.1 Ease of Management

An OpenVMS Cluster system is easily managed because the multiple members, hardware, and software are designed to cooperate as a single system:

- Smaller configurations usually include only one system disk (or two for an OpenVMS Cluster configuration with both OpenVMS VAX and OpenVMS Alpha operating systems), regardless of the number or location of computers in the configuration.
- Software needs to be installed only once for each operating system (VAX and Alpha), and is accessible by every user and node of the OpenVMS Cluster.
- Users need to be added once to have access to the resources of the entire OpenVMS Cluster.
- Several system management utilities and commands facilitate cluster management.

Figure 1-2 illustrates centralized system management.

Figure 1-2 Single-Point OpenVMS Cluster System Management

### 1.5.2 Tools and Utilities from Compaq

The OpenVMS operating system supports a number of utilities and tools to assist you with the management of the distributed resources in OpenVMS Cluster configurations. Proper management is essential to ensure the availability and performance of OpenVMS Cluster configurations.

OpenVMS and its partners offer a wide selection of tools to meet diverse system management needs. Table 1-1 describes the Compaq products available for cluster management and indicates whether each is supplied with the operating system or is an optional product. Table 1-2 describes some of the most important utilities and tools produced by OpenVMS partners for managing an OpenVMS Cluster configuration.

Table 1-1 System Management Tools
Tool | Supplied or Optional | Function
--- | --- | ---
Accounting
VMS Accounting | Supplied | Tracks how resources are being used.
Configuration and capacity planning
LMF (License Management Facility) | Supplied | Helps the system manager to determine which software products are licensed and installed on a standalone system and on each of the computers in an OpenVMS Cluster system.
RBMS (Remote Bridge Management Software) | Optional | Maintains a database of the setup of a system's complement of network servers, and facilitates automatic loading of the servers upon system initialization.
SYSGEN (System Generation) utility | Supplied | Allows you to tailor your system for a specific hardware and software configuration. Use SYSGEN to modify system parameters, load device drivers, and create additional page and swap files.
CLUSTER_CONFIG.COM | Supplied | Automates the configuration or reconfiguration of an OpenVMS Cluster system and assumes the use of DECnet.
CLUSTER_CONFIG_LAN.COM | Supplied | Automates configuration or reconfiguration of an OpenVMS Cluster system without the use of DECnet.
Compaq Management Agents for OpenVMS | Supplied | Consists of a web server for system management with management agents that allow you to look at devices on your OpenVMS systems.
Compaq Insight Manager XE | Supplied with every Compaq NT server | Centralizes system management in one system to reduce cost, improve operational efficiency and effectiveness, and minimize system down time. You can use Compaq Insight Manager XE on an NT server to monitor every system in an OpenVMS Cluster system. In a configuration of heterogeneous Compaq systems, you can use Compaq Insight Manager XE on an NT server to monitor all systems.
Event and fault tolerance
OPCOM message routing | Supplied | Provides event notification.
REMS (Remote Environment Monitoring Software) | Optional | Collects data on uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs), security systems, and the environment from computer rooms. Also provides quick responses to power, temperature, and water emergencies.
VAXsimPLUS | Supplied (with a Compaq service contract) | Monitors system and device status and predicts failures.
Operations management
Clusterwide process services | Supplied | Allows OpenVMS system management commands, such as SHOW USERS, SHOW SYSTEM, and STOP/ID=, to operate clusterwide.
DECamds | Supplied | Collects and analyzes data from multiple nodes simultaneously, directing all output to a centralized DECwindows display. The analysis detects resource availability problems and suggests corrective actions.
Compaq Availability Manager | Supplied | From either an OpenVMS Alpha or a Windows node, enables you to monitor one or more OpenVMS nodes on an extended local area network (LAN). Availability Manager collects system and process data from multiple OpenVMS nodes simultaneously, then analyzes the data, and displays the output using a native Java GUI.
SCACP (Systems Communications Architecture Control Program) | Supplied | Enables you to monitor and manage switched LAN paths.
DFS (Distributed File Service) | Optional | Allows disks to be served across a LAN or WAN.
DNS (Distributed Name Service) | Optional | Configures certain network nodes as name servers that associate objects with network names.
LATCP (Local Area Transport Control Program) | Supplied | Provides the function to control and obtain information from the LAT port driver.
LANCP (LAN Control Program) | Supplied | Allows the system manager to configure and control the LAN software on OpenVMS systems.
NCP (Network Control Protocol) utility | Optional | Allows the system manager to supply and access information about the DECnet for OpenVMS (Phase IV) network from a configuration database.
NCL (Network Control Language) utility | Optional | Allows the system manager to supply and access information about the DECnet--Plus network from a configuration database.
OpenVMS Management Station | Supplied | Enables system managers to set up and manage accounts and print queues across multiple OpenVMS Cluster systems and OpenVMS nodes. OpenVMS Management Station is a Microsoft Windows and Windows NT based management tool.
POLYCENTER Software Installation Utility (PCSI) | Optional | Provides rapid installations of software products.
Queue Manager | Supplied | Uses OpenVMS Cluster generic and execution queues to feed node-specific queues across the cluster.
Remote System Manager (RSM) | Optional | Automates operating system installations, layered software distribution, file backup and restore operations, and system administration.
DECmcc | Optional | Performs industry standard network and system management functions.
Show Cluster utility | Supplied | Monitors activity and performance in an OpenVMS Cluster configuration, then collects and sends information about that activity to a terminal or other output device.
SDA (System Dump Analyzer) | Supplied | Allows you to inspect the contents of memory as saved in the dump taken at crash time or as it exists in a running system. You can use SDA interactively or in batch mode.
SLS (Storage Library System) | Optional | Gives users the ability to manage collections of removable media, including magnetic tape, cartridge tape, and optical disks, to maintain a record of all information about backup or archived media.
SYSMAN (System Management utility) | Supplied | Enables device and processor control commands to take effect across an OpenVMS Cluster.
VMSINSTAL | Supplied | Provides software installations.
Performance
AUTOGEN utility | Supplied | Optimizes system parameter settings based on usage.
Monitor utility | Supplied | Provides basic performance data.
Security
Authorize utility | Supplied | Modifies user account profiles.
SET ACL command | Supplied | Sets complex protection on many system objects.
SET AUDIT command | Supplied | Facilitates tracking of sensitive system objects.
Storage management
Backup utility | Supplied | Allows OpenVMS Cluster system managers to create backup copies of files and directories from storage media and then restore them. This utility can be used on one node to back up data stored on disks throughout the OpenVMS Cluster system.
DEC File Optimizer for OpenVMS | Optional | Defragments disks by using the OpenVMS movefile subfunction.
Mount utility | Supplied | Enables a disk or tape volume for processing by one computer, a subset of OpenVMS Cluster computers, or all OpenVMS Cluster computers.
Volume Shadowing for OpenVMS | Optional | Replicates disk data across multiple disks to help OpenVMS Cluster systems survive disk failures.

### 1.5.3 System Management Tools from OpenVMS Partners

OpenVMS Partners offer a wide selection of tools to meet diverse system management needs, as shown in Table 1-2. The types of tools are described in the following list:

- Schedule managers
  Enable specific actions to be triggered at determined times, including repetitive and periodic activities, such as nightly backups.
- Event managers
  Monitor a system and report occurrences and events that may require an action or that may indicate a critical or alarming situation, such as low memory or an attempted security breakin.
- Console managers
  Enable a remote connection to and emulation of a system console so that system messages can be displayed and commands can be issued.
- Performance managers
  Monitor system performance by collecting and analyzing data to allow proper tailoring and configuration of system resources. Performance managers may also collect historical data for capacity planning.

Table 1-2 System Management Products from OpenVMS Partners
Business Partner | Product | Type or Function
--- | --- | ---
BMS | Best/1 | Performance manager
| Patrol | Event manager
| Enterprise ControlStation | Console manager
Computer Associates | Advise IT | Performance manager
| Command IT | Console manager
| Schedule IT | Schedule manager
| Watch IT | Event manager
| Unicenter TNG | Package of various products
Fortel | ViewPoint | Performance manager
Global Maintech | VCC | Console manager
Heroix | RoboMon | Event manager
| RoboCentral | Console manager
ISE | Schedule | Schedule manager
Ki NETWORKS | CLIM | Console manager
XL Software | Dollar Universe | Schedule manager
RAXCO | Perfect Cache | Storage performance
| Perfect Disk | Storage management
TDI | Console Works | Console manager

For current information about OpenVMS Partners and the tools they provide, access the OpenVMS web site: `http://www.openvms.compaq.com/.`

### 1.5.4 Other Configuration Aids

In addition to these utilities and partner products, several commands are available that allow the system manager to set parameters on HSC, HSJ, HSD, HSZ, HSG, and RF subsystems to help configure the system. See the appropriate hardware documentation for more information.

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