DIALOG startup enables the operator to control system initialization and select special functions. A detailed dialog takes place, in which messages indicating the permissible operator inputs are displayed on the screen. The operator specifies the desired function by selecting the appropriate entry from those displayed. These functions include:
free choice of IPL disk, input media for the object code corrections (REPs), parameters and programs to be loaded
activation of specific debugging functions or functions for dealing with exceptional situations
Special protection is offered for DIALOG startup because DIALOG startup allows the operator to change the settings (parameters, REPs) made by systems support for system initialization:
As an option, system initialization of BS2000 in DIALOG mode can be restricted to a specific console. This restriction can be imposed and canceled only in DIALOG mode; it always relates to the console currently in use. The mnemonic device name of the console is stored in the home pubset as the authorization (routing) code.
Execution of a DIALOG startup
Execution of DIALOG startup is logged in detail on the IPL console.
In DIALOG mode, message NSI1110 shown below prompts the operator to enter options:
NSI1110 ENTER OPTIONS OR EOT.
REPLY (UNLOCK,TEST,ALLDISK,DRV-SELECT,CREATE-DRV,IPL-CONF)
Any combinations are possible. The meaning of each of the options is given below:
UNLOCK: | Indicates that, in the event of conflicting information regarding the system time, system initialization can be continued or the operator can determine the system time. |
TEST: | Message
Meaning of the test options DUMPTEST: STRTNAME: REPERRIGN: WATCH: ASYNSKPIN: |
ALLDISK: | In the disk configuration used by startup, private disks are also automatically scanned (via an online scan) so that load objects and REP or parameter files can also be read from private disk. If the IPL disk is a private disk, the ALLDISK option is set automatically. Startup inquires the required home pubset with the following message:
The IPL-CONF option IGNORE is set implicitly. This option can only be used if a maximum of 1290 disks are online. In the event of an error, the following message is output:
The online scan is repeated or the system initialization is aborted, depending on your response. |
DRV-SELECT: | This option means that selection of the disk for startup from a DRV disk pair is left to the operator. This is meaningful if, due to a disk error on one DRV disk during startup, the other disk of the DRV disk pair is to be used instead. The IPL-CONF option IGNORE is set implicitly. |
CREATE-DRV: | This option means that, through implicit starting of the DRV subsystem after system initialization a DRV pubset in the DRV-MONO state is created from an SRV home pubset (Single Recording by Volume). |
IPL-CONF: | This option controls the processing of the server-specific partition for the SYSDAT.IPL-CONF.DSKnnn file which is always created on the IPL disk (the meaning of this parameter is also described on "Dynamic partitioning of the IPL-CONF file" in section "General notes on initial program loading"). If this option is not specified, an attempt is made to evaluate the server-specific partition of the file, as in all other startup modes (FAST, AUTOMATIC). When the server-specific partition is processed successfully, the online scan is suppressed. When this option is specified, message
Meaning of the possible replies IGNORE: RESET: SAVE: All combinations except SAVE and RESET are valid. |
Once the options entered have been processed, the startup routine checks the available disk configuration. To this end, either a partition which is present in the SYSDAT.IPL-CONF.DSKnnn file on the IPL disk and is valid is evaluated (unless excluded explicitly using the IGNORE option) or the online scan is executed. If disks with the same VSN are encountered, the disk configuration must be limited to disks with unique VSNs (see also the section "Unique disk configuration" in chapter "General notes on initial program loading").
If several pubsets are available on the system, the operator is requested to define the home pubset (NSI1135). In addition to the home pubset and the CPUs, the date and time of day are also logged. If necessary, the operator is requested to enter a confirmation or to make corrections.
The default file name is always used to load SYSSTART. The operator receives the following prompt to enter the file name only if the default file name is not found in the catalog or if STRTNAME was explicitly specified when the test options were entered:
NSI1190 ENTER STARTUP-FILENAME.
REPLY (FILENAME(,VOL=VSN); EOT (USE STANDARD FILE))
The default file name is used for the SYSSTART REP file. If this file does not exist or the STRTNAME option was selected, the name of the file or input medium is requested by message NSI0050 (see "Notes on the format of REP records" in section "REP records").
The file name and the input medium for the parameter are then requested (see also the chapter "Parameter service"). The following message is then issued:
NSI1190 ENTER BS2000-FILENAME.
REPLY (FILENAME(,VOL=VSN); EOT (USE STANDARD FILE))
The operator can enter the file name of the BS2000 system to be loaded, together with the archive number if the file is on a private disk. If no file name is specified, the parameter file is evaluated. If no file name is entered there either, BS2000 is loaded from the default file SYSPRG.BS2.<ver>.
REP processing then takes place (see "Notes on the format of REP records" in section "REP records"). Then the selected paging disks are logged.
The following message is displayed, requesting the operator to specify the name of the command file. Following “System ready”, the commands contained in the command file are executed automatically.
NSI0077 ENTER AUTOMATIC COMMAND FILE NAME.
REPLY (FILE NAME; N(DO NOT USE); EOT(USE STANDARD))
The following message is displayed, requesting the operator to specify the type of system startup (see "Selecting the startup type and catalog reconfiguration"):
(see also the description of the system parameter STUPTYPE)
NSI6005 SYSTEM PARAMETER STUPTYPE = (&00). SHALL VALUE BE CHANGED?
REPLY ( U(NCHANGED), W(ARM), C(OLD), S(ELECTIVE), Z(IP),
T(SN FILE RESET ONLY), J(OIN AND TSN FILE RESET), EOT=UNCHANGED)
By replying the following message the operator can determine whether and how the user catalog is to be reconstructed (see the description of the system parameter RECONUC).
NSI6010 SYSTEM PARAMETER RECONUC = (&00). SHALL VALUE BE CHANGED?
REPLY ( U(NCHANGED), N(O), B(ACKUP), T(SOSCAT), A(LL), R(ESET),
EOT=UNCHANGED )
The further execution of system initialization is controlled by DSSM (see also the note on "Notes" in section "Overview of the stages of system initialization"). System initialization is complete when the “System Ready” message is displayed.