AB 140 INFORMATION RELEASE
NCR UNIX SVR4 MP-RAS
Release 3-01-00
The above operating system has been released by NCR.
It is being shipped with all new products purchased by EDP.
It is supplied on CD-ROM or tape depending on what is ordered.
SVR4 MP-RAS 3-01-00 contains the following enhancements:-
1. PCI QUAD SCSI Support.
2. PCI DUAL SCSI Support.
3. Standard Management Interface Software.
This provides local and remote management applications with access to products in a system that conforms to the Desktop Management Interface.
4. 9GB Disk Support.
The maximum filing System size still remains at 2GB.
5. Boot Re-Architecture.
A new compression algorithm has been added to the boot loader.
6. Journal File System (JFS) root Support.
The default filing system for root, usr and var is now vxfs.
Roots using vxfs filing system can only be mirrored using Disk Array plus. Volume Manager will not support root mirror incorporating vxfs filing systems.
This improves RAS whilst reducing boot times.
7. Server Management Enablers.
The following has been added to improve Server Management functionality:-
- DMI Service Layer
- DMI server instrumentation
- DMI MIF browser and command line interface
- platform abstraction
- legacy hotplug application support
- diagnostic partition SCSI support
- diagnostic partition Adaptec support
- diagnostic partition installation support
- MP-RAS DMI-SNMP agent
8. Modem Configuration Utility:
The Modem Configuration Utility provides users with the ability to add and configure a pre-defined list of modems through enhanced SYSADM menus.
9. Fastboot Capability:-
-Sleeps are replaced by waitproc
-rc stacks can be executed in parallel rather than serially
-Second reboots after a fsck are eliminated
10. Practical Extraction and Report Language (PERL).
PERL is included in the base package. It is an interpreted language for parsing text files, extracting information and printing reports.
It is used for tasks which would otherwise be done with shell scripts.
11. 3GB Shared Memory.
12. UnixWare 1.1 basic Networking Utilities.
13. Streams Tracker.
Streams Tracker is a tool that maintains a history of every streams message block allocated until it is discarded.
Systems Analysts can view aged histories for message blocks that were never freed to determine which streams module or driver owns the message block.
14. Fast Shared Memory Nailing
15. Mylex DAC960 PL-2 PCI RAID Automatic Rebuild Feature.
This feature has been added to the Mylex DAC960 PL-2 driver support software package.
It provides automatic rebuild of a failed drive in a RAID 1,5 or 6 configuration where there is no standby drive and the failed drive is replaced with a known good drive of the same size.
This feature executes as a daemon which is activated at boot time.
Media Kit
NCR SVR4 MP.RAS 3-01-00 is supplied on the following media:-
CD-ROM
(1) NCR Platform CD-ROM
(2) 2 X boot flex diskettes
(3) 1 X Core CD-ROM
(4) License key Diskette
(5) Compatibility CD-ROM. (Patches).
To enable the installer to `unlock' software from the CD-ROM the relevant license diskette must be available.
TAPE
(1) 3 X boot flex diskettes
(2) 2 X tapes
It would appear that no license diskette is required. This is because the CD-ROM contains all possible software options whilst the tapes will contain only that which has been ordered.
Additional Media
(1)Maintenance Diskette
(2)Reference Diskette / SCU
(3)Micro channel configuration diskette (tape install only) for use with 34XX & 35XX to eliminate the reference diskette.
(4) Flash bios diskette.
(5) User license diskette.
(6) Token Ring Driver.
(7) NIC driver diskette.
Slice Sizes
For O/S 3-01-00 the following Slice Sizes are to be used:-
root150 MB
user 150 MB
var 75 MB
stand 30 MB
Swap - twice memory up to 512 MB then the size of memory.
There is a limit of 512 MB of swap per drive.
Dump - Size of memory no more than 1GB of swap per path to disk.
Installation
3-01-00 has a new installation method called "clone" installation.
Once the initial interactive installation has been completed then a "clone" diskette is created. This means:-
(1)System can be re-loaded without user intervention, with modified defaults.
This includes slicing.
(2)A clone diskette can be used to load other systems. This means that, in a Production environment, a library of disks could be created to be used to load different configurations.
Steps to interactively install 3-01-00 from CD-ROM:
(a) Boot the system from boot flex 1.
(b) When prompted insert boot flex 2 (CR).
(c) When prompted remove boot flex 2.
(d) At the menu select Perform Installation.
(e) At the menu select Interactive Installation.
(f) When prompted enter the system name.
(g) When prompted confirm the system date and time.
(h) You will be prompted to select the install media. Select the relevant source device then insert editor tape 1 or the CD-ROM as applicable.
(i) If loading from tape you will be prompted to insert boot 3.
(j) You will be prompted to include the installation of a compatibility tape, (patch tape), as a part of the installation.
Answer Y (CR).
(k)If there is more than one drive in the configuration being loaded then the system will prompt to select the root drive.
Refer to the On-Site document to select the correct unit.
If there is only one drive in the system then the system will not prompt for this input.
(l) Do not select a secondary drive. The system will examine the root drive and indicate whether it is formatted.
If it is then enter `N' when asked if it is to be initialised.
If it is not formatted then enter `Y'.
(m) The system will display the partition table.
Create a partition, 100% of the disk for use by Unix and make it "active".
Note
4300 systems have a diagnostic partition at the front of the disk. Be careful not to delete this.
If you do, then quit from this installation and re-install the diagnostic partition.
(n) For CD-ROM installation only, install the license floppy when prompted and select the licences relevant to the software being installed.
(o) The system will display packages which can be installed. Referring to the list at the end of this document, select the relevant package set.
Exit and save the selected package list.
(p) The system will display the root disk slice table. Modify the table in accordance with the recommendations made earlier in this document.
If additional slices are to be created such as /unispooler or /charspool then create these now. You can specify both mount points and filing system types during this operation.
When modifications to the slice table are completed, exit and save the changes.
(q) The system will now install the selected package set.
When prompted insert the media containing the compatibility patches.
Note
The one supplied with the initial media may have been superceded. Ensure you install only the latest set of patches.
Post Installation
(a) Edit /dev/ttydefs to defect auto bauding
(b)Tune the system in accordance with published guidelines.
(c)Edit /etc/login/defaults and insert a # before console. This allows any process to log into root.
(d) Create a cpio back up of the system.
(e) Create 2 clone diskettes by:-
Inserting a floppy into the floppy drive
Enter # mkclone (CR)
Once the clone diskette has been created create a second diskette
Copy
Label both diskettes as "Clone diskette" together with the creation date
These are to be kept with the media set.
(f) Update the On-Site document as necessary.
(g)Return all superceded media to Bureau OPS at Beauchief Hall.
Installing Unix 03-01-00 using the clone diskette.
Follow the same procedure as above except select:-
Install using Custom/Clone defaults.
Instead of Interactive Installation, insert the clone diskette when prompted.
Installation Issues
Report any problem encountered when installing 3-01-00 to Technical Services at Milton Keynes.
Package Listing
Base Package Set
Base
RELDEF
acp
async
cacheopt
com port
dfs
ed
face
fmli
lp
madf (34/35XX) only
man
mouse
ncrm
nsu
oum
rpc
sus Errpt
term cap
term inf