The operating is responsible for controlling system startup, intervening to control the system, communicating with the user and operating the peripheral devices. System initialization (startup) and system dumps (SLED) can be used exclusively by the operating. There are further SVP commands available for diagnostics and reconfiguration functions which are reserved for the operating at the console.
For the other tasks, the operating uses commands (special operator commands, user or user/system administration commands) whose use are also described in detail in this manual. The following are the principal tasks performed by the operating:
starting and monitoring the data communication system
reconfiguring the hardware components and the connections to the peripherals
providing and allocating external volumes
monitoring and controlling device allocation
controlling resource allocation
monitoring operations
communicating with the users