[next] [previous] [contents]

  3.1 Installing, Upgrading, and Updating the Operating
          System
  The following sections explain how to install, upgrade, and
  update the OpenVMS operating system. For additional
  information, refer also to the following:

  .
        On VAX systems, see the most recent versions of the
        OpenVMS VAX Upgrade and Installation Manual and
        the upgrade and installation supplement for your VAX
        computer.
  .
        On Alpha systems, see the most recent version of the
        OpenVMS Alpha Upgrade and Installation Manual .

  Understanding Installation, Upgrade, and Update Procedures
  The installation of software can mean a complete installa-
  tion, an upgrade, or an update. The terms have the following
  meanings:

  Installation Used to install a completely new version of the oper-
                        ating system.
  Upgrade Used to make major changes to an existing version of
                        the operating system.
  Update Used to make minor changes to an existing version of
                        the operating system.

  3.1.1 Installing or Upgrading the OpenVMS Alpha
            Operating System
  To install or upgrade the OpenVMS Alpha operating sys-
  tem, boot the OpenVMS Alpha operating system CD-ROM
  from the local drive drive or from a drive connected to an
  InfoServer system. After you enter the appropriate boot com-
  mand, a command procedure displays a menu that lists the
  following options:

  .
        Install or upgrade OpenVMS Alpha, using the
        POLYCENTER Software Installation utility
  .
        List layered product kits that this procedure can install
  .
        Install or upgrade layered products, using the POLYCENTER
        Software Installation utility
  .
        Execute DCL commands and procedures, from which you
        can perform preinstallation or maintenance tasks such as
        mounting or showing devices and backing up or restoring
        files on the system disk
  .
        Shut down this system

  When you choose the install or upgrade OpenVMS Alpha
  option, the system asks whether you want to initialize or
  preserve the system disk. Depending on the option you
  choose, the POLYCENTER Software Installation utility in-
  stalls or upgrades the OpenVMS Alpha operating system. For
  example:

  .
        If you choose to initialize the system disk (INITIALIZE),
        the utility performs these operations:

        - Removes all software and data files that were previ-
            ously on the target disk
        - Installs the OpenVMS Alpha operating system


                                          Caution

        Initializing the target disk erases its contents. For this
        reason, use the installation procedure only on new
        computers or if you are sure you want to replace the
        entire contents of the target disk with new system
        files.

  .
        If you choose to preserve the system disk (PRESERVE)
        and the OpenVMS Alpha operating system is not already
        installed on the target disk, the utility performs these
        operations:

        - Installs the OpenVMS Alpha operating system
        - Retains, or preserves, all other contents of the target
            disk
  .
        If you choose PRESERVE and the OpenVMS Alpha op-
        erating system is installed on the target disk, the utility
        upgrades your system, as follows:

        - Merges and replaces old operating system files and
            new files
        - Retains, or preserves, all other contents of the target
            disk


                                          Caution

        The upgrade procedure does not work correctly
        if you have changed the names of system direc-
        tories on your system disk. Restore the names
        of the original system directories on the system
        disk before attempting an upgrade. (Check the
        DEC-AXPVMS-VMS-
                                          *

                                            -2.PCSI$DESCRIPTION file
        in SYS$SYSDEVICE:[VMS$COMMON] for original
        system directory names.)


  For information about booting the OpenVMS Alpha op-
  erating system CD-ROM and choosing the INITIALIZE
  or PRESERVE options, see the current OpenVMS Alpha
  Upgrade and Installation Manual . .

  3.1.2 Installing or Upgrading from a Running Alpha
            System
  You can install or upgrade from a running OpenVMS
  Alpha system to a target system disk. To do this, use
  AXPVMS$PCSI_INSTALL.COM in SYS$SYSTEM. This
  procedure is the same installation procedure that installs or
  upgrades OpenVMS Alpha from the OpenVMS Alpha oper-
  ating system CD-ROM. (The procedure is similar to using
  VMSKITBLD.COM, which is no longer supported on Alpha
  systems.) Privileges required by the procedure are:

              BYPASS OPER
              CMKRNL SYSPRV
              LOG_IO VOLPRO

  The procedure attempts to turn on these privileges but if it
  cannot, it reports an error and exits. Your original privilege
  settings are restored.

  Use the following command to run the installation or upgrade
  procedure:
  $ @SYS$SYSTEM:AXPVMS$PCSI_INSTALL.COM

  The operation of AXPVMS$PCSI_INSTALL.COM is doc-
  umented in the OpenVMS Alpha Version 6.2 Upgrade and
  Installation Manual . Before you execute this command pro-
  cedure, read the appropriate chapters in that manual. Refer
  to Table 3-1 and Table 3-2.

  3.1.3 Installing the OpenVMS VAX Operating System
  When you install the OpenVMS VAX operating system, the
  installation procedure does the following:

  .
        Initializes the system disk, erasing its contents
  .
        Creates a system directory structure on the new system
        disk
  .
        Transfers system files from the distribution media to the
        new system disk


                                          Caution

        The installation procedure initializes the target disk,
        erasing its contents. For this reason, use the installa-
        tion procedure only on new computers or if you are
        sure you want to replace the entire contents of the
        target disk with new system files.

  You use the installation procedure under the following condi-
  tions:

  .
        If your VAX computer is new; that is, if it has never had
        any version of the operating system running on it.
  .
        If your computer is running a version of the OpenVMS
        VAX operating system and you are sure you are willing
        to destroy the entire contents of the system disk, including
        both system and user files.
  .
        If you are running the OpenVMS VAX operating system,
        but are not able to perform an upgrade. For example,
        if you do not have a standard version of the OpenVMS
        VAX operating system on your system disk, the upgrade
        procedure might not work correctly.
  .
        If you want to run the OpenVMS VAX operating system
        in a C2 security environment.

  To install the OpenVMS VAX operating system, follow the in-
  stallation procedures in the current OpenVMS VAX Upgrade
  and Installation Manual . .

  3.1.4 Upgrading the OpenVMS VAX Operating System
  When you upgrade the operating system, the upgrade proce-
  dure does the following:

  .
        Makes room for the upgrade by purging and deleting
        most system files but leaves some system files and all user
        files intact. The upgrade also leaves most layered prod-
        ucts intact. In some cases, reinstalling layered products
        after you upgrade may be necessary.
  .
        Transfers the system files from the distribution media to
        the system disk.
  .
        Merges old system libraries with new libraries.
  .
        Cleans up files and directories used only during the
        upgrade.

  In most cases, if you are already running a standard version
  of the operating system, you can use the upgrade procedure
  to obtain the next highest version. The upgrade procedure
  does not initialize the system disk.


                                          Caution

        The upgrade procedure does not work correctly if
        you have changed the names of system directories on
        your system disk. Restore the names of the original
        system directories on the system disk before attempt-
        ing an upgrade. (Check the VMSKITBLD.DAT file in
        SYS$UPDATE for original system directory names.)

  To perform an upgrade of the OpenVMS VAX operating sys-
  tem, follow the upgrade procedures in the current OpenVMS
  VAX Upgrade and Installation Manual . .

  3.1.5 Updating the OpenVMS Alpha or OpenVMS VAX
            Operating System
  An update procedure makes minor changes to the operating
  system. When you update the operating system, the update
  procedure replaces some system files and applies patches to
  others (if necessary).

  The two types of updates are:

  .
        A required update you perform after installing or up-
        grading the operating system is referred to as a manda-
        tory update . The directions for an installation or an
        upgrade indicate when to perform a mandatory update.
  .
        Another type of update allows you to apply a special re-
        lease of the operating system, which might include new
        features, support for new hardware, or refinements to
        specific software components. Instructions for applying
        such an update are included with the specific release.


                                          Caution

        The update procedure does not work correctly if you
        have changed the names of system directories on your
        system disk. Restore the names of system directories
        before attempting an update. (On VAX systems, check
        the VMSKITBLD.DAT file in SYS$UPDATE for origi-
        nal system directory names. On Alpha systems, check
        the DEC-AXPVMS-VMS-
                                                *

                                                -2.PCSI$DESCRIPTION
        file in SYS$SYSDEVICE:[VMS$COMMON] for origi-
        nal system directory names.)


  Follow the instructions provided with the update kit. The in-
  structions will indicate whether to use VMSINSTAL.COM or
  the POLYCENTER Software Installation utility.