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TOPS20.DOC TOPS-20 Version 5
COPYRIGHT (C) 1976,1978,1979,1980,1982 BY DIGITAL EQUIPMENT
CORPORATION, MAYNARD, MASS. THE SOFTWARE DESCRIBED IN THIS
DOCUMENT IS FURNISHED UNDER A LICENSE AND MAY BE USED AND
COPIED ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF SUCH LICENSE AND
WITH THE INCLUSION OF THE ABOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICE. THIS
SOFTWARE OR ANY OTHER COPIES THEREOF MAY NOT BE PROVIDED OR
OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE TO ANY OTHER PERSON. NO TITLE TO
AND OWNERSHIP OF THE SOFTWARE IS HEREBY TRANSFERRED.
THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
WITHOUT NOTICE AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT
BY DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION.
DIGITAL ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE USE OR RELIABILITY
OF ITS SOFTWARE ON EQUIPMENT WHICH IS NOT SUPPLIED BY
DIGITAL.
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1.0 SUMMARY
Version 5 is a new release of the TOPS-20 operating system
and its associated utilities. However, the number of
specific new features in this version is less than those in
TOPS-20 Version 4. Many of the changes in Version 5 relate
to minor enhancements which fix problems that were
discovered in Version 4.
The TOPS-20 documentation has been updated in several places
in order to provide complete information on the new features
in Version 5. The following documents are especially
important sources of information relating to Version 5.
1. TOPS-20 KL Model B Installation Guide (New)
Describes the software contents and procedures for
installing the TOPS-20 installation package on a KL
Model B system.
2. TOPS-20 System Manager's Guide (update)
Provides information for the system administrator
for the new and changed features. This update
includes information on the RP07, on the system
directories, and on SPEAR.
3. TOPS-20 Operator's Guide (update)
Provides information for the system operator for
the new devices and procedures. This update
includes information on the RP07, SPEAR, and
RSX-20F changes.
4. TOPS-20 Monitor Calls Reference Manual (revision)
Provides information for the system programmer for
the new and changed JSYSs. The revision includes
information on the extended addressing monitor
calls.
5. TOPS-20 Commands Reference Manual (update)
Provides changes to the TOPS-20 EXEC. This update
includes information on the extended-addressing
switches.
6. TOPS-20 User's Guide (update)
Describes the usage of the system from a user's
point of view. This update includes miscellaneous
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improvements.
7. TOPS-20 Operator Command Language Reference Manual
(update)
Provides reference material for the system operator
for OPR, CTRL-E, and PTYCON commands. This update
includes changes to the CTRL-E and PTYCON commands.
8. TOPS-20 LINK Reference Manual (revision)
Provides information on LINK Version 5 features
including extended-addressing.
9. TOPS-10/20 SPEAR manual and Reference Card (new)
Provides information on the system error reporting
program, SPEAR.
10. TOPS-20 DECnet-20 Programmer's Guide and Operations
manual (update)
Includes installation usage, and checkout
procedures for DECnet-20 Version 2.1. This update
includes information on the SETHOST program.
11. TOPS-20 Monitor Calls User's Guide (revision)
Contains usage ingormation for the TOPS-20 Monitor
calls and a new chapter on extended addressing
usage.
12. TOPS-10/20 DDT Reference Card (new) Contains quick
reference material for DDT V42 and FILDDT commands.
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2.0 NEW FEATURES IN Version 5
Some specific new features in Version 5 are as follows:
2.1 Extended-addressing support
There were some facilities in Version 4 that allowed
programmers to make limited use of the hardware facilities
of extended addressing. These software facilities were not
formally supported, and could only be enabled by patching
the distributed TOPS-20 monitor.
Version 5 contains a full implementation of
extended-addressing support. These facilities are available
currently only to the Macro programmer. Future language
support for these facilities is planned. The facilities
that were available in Version 4 have been expanded and are
now a fully supported portion of the monitor. These
facilities allow programmers to create and manipulate
multi-section address spaces. Please consult the TOPS-20
Monitor Calls Reference Manual, Monitor Calls User's Guide,
and Processor Reference Manual for more information relating
to the monitor support for extended-addressing.
There have been some additional enhancements made in several
programs which give the user greater control over the use of
multi-section programs. These features are contained in the
following products:
a. DDT
A new switch has been added to the DDT command.
The syntax is:
@DDT/USE-SECTION:n
where "n" is the number of the extended section
that DDT is to be loaded into by the EXEC. This
feature allows easier debugging of programs which
are running in a non-zero section.
b. EXEC
A new switch has also been added to the GET and
MERGE commands which is similar in function to the
switch described above. Its syntax is:
@MERGE file.typ/USE-SECTION:n
@GET file.typ/USE-SECTION:n
In addition, the EXEC can now save multi-section
programs in their entirety, or any portion
thereof.
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Refer to the TOPS-20 Commands Reference Manual
Update for information on the /USE-SECTION:
switch.
c. LINK
The LINK program has also been enhanced so that it
can now link multi-section programs. Please
consult the LINK Reference Manual for further
information.
2.2 Homogeneous Network Command Terminals for DECnet-20 V2.1
Version 5 includes support for homogeneous command terminals
through the use of a new SETHOST feature. This feature is
implemented through the use of a program called SETHOST
which enables a timesharing user to establish a logical
DECnet link to another TOPS-20 system which is physically
connected to the user's primary system. All terminal
interactions which this user initiates will subsequently be
processed by the "linked-to" system. This allows a user
whose terminal is physically connected to one system to be
able to log in, issue commands, and run programs on a second
system exactly as if the terminal was physically connected
to that second system. There is an escape character which
allows the connection to be broken and interaction with the
primary system re-established.
Refer to the DECnet-20 Programmer's Guide and Operations
Manual for documentation on the SETHOST program.
2.3 RP07 Disk Drive
The RP07 disk drive is a single spindle, 705 megabyte
(unformatted), fixed media, Winchester technolgy, disk with
Massbus interface. It will now be fully supported for use
with TOPS-20 Version 5. The primary features of this device
are:
1. Internal microdiagnostics
2. rotational position sensing
3. 1.92MB/sec peak transfer rate
4. average seek time of 23 ms.
5. defect skipping
6. static dual-port capability
7. formatted capacity of 216376 pages (499 MByte)
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Unlike the RP20 disk, an RP07 can be used as the public
structure (PS:). However, an RP06 drive is still required
in order to contain the front-end file system.
Refer to the TOPS-20 System Manager's Guide and the TOPS-20
Operator's Guide for information on the RP07.
2.4 SPEAR support
SPEAR is an error reporting and analysis mechanism which is
being released and supported with Version 5. SPEAR replaces
the program SYSERR which was included with TOPS-20 Version
4. There have been many changes within TOPS-20 in order to
actually support the functionality of SPEAR, but most of
these changes are transparent to the user. There is,
however, a change in the directory in which the ERROR.SYS
file resides. It is now PS:<SYSTEM-ERROR>, system logical
name SERR:.
Refer to the SPEAR Manual for complete information on the
use of this product.
2.5 Movement of disk packs
TOPS-20 will support the automatic recognition of disk pack
movement between drives in Version 5. This implies that a
disk pack which is mounted on a particular drive can be
moved to another drive without requiring the pack to be
formally DISMOUNTed and MOUNTed again on the second drive.
The monitor will automatically recognize that the disk pack
has been moved, and will adjust its internal data base so
that all access to the pack will be redirected to the new
drive.
2.6 "Read unrestricted" file mode
A new file access mode has been implemented in Version 5.
This mode is called "read unrestricted" mode and implies
that the file can be opened regardless of its current access
by other users of the file. This mode is indicated by
setting the bit OF%RDU in the OPENF operation. Please
consult the Monitor Calls Reference Manual for more
information.
2.7 Archiving enhancements
The archiving system has been enhanced through the
implementation of a number of new commands and directory
functions. These changes relate primarily to the
introduction of an expiration date for each file, either
online or offline. A general discussion of file archiving
and migration can be found in the System Manager's Guide
update.
The following is a summary list of the new archiving
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features:
1. BUILD command OFFLINE-EXPIRATION-DEFAULT option
ARCHIVE-ONLINE-EXPIRED-FILES option
2. SET FILE EXPIRED
3. SET FILE ON(OFF)LINE-EXPIRATION-DATE
4. SET FILE RESIST
5. SET DIRECTORY ON(OFF)LINE-EXPIRATION-DEFAULT
Please consult the TOPS-20 Commands Reference update for
details of the use of these commands.
2.8 Program data vector
Version 5 supports the creation and manipulation of "program
data vectors". These vectors contain information relating
to the characteristics of the program (for example, starting
and continuation address, etc). These vectors are
manipulated through the use of a new JSYS called PDVOP%.
Refer to the Monitor Calls Reference Manual for details of
this feature.
2.9 Miscellaneous EXEC enhancements
There are several miscellaneous commands that have been
added to the EXEC in Version 5. Please refer to the TOPS-20
Commands Reference Manual update for full details of these
new commands.
One new EXEC command that merits particular attention is
@TERMINAL PAUSE (ON) CHARACTER char (AND UNPAUSE ON) char
This command should be used by all TOPs-20 users, typically
in LOGIN.CMD files, to define their desired pause
characters. Even if you want to continue using S and Q, you
should define them in this manner. The command @INFORMATION
TERMINAL-MODE now displays these settings.
Also, a user logging into TOPS-20 over DECnet will have A as
the default PAUSE and UNPAUSE character; you may use the
@TERMINAL PAUSE CHARACTER command to change them just as you
can on a local terminal, but you may not select S and Q.
In general, users should get out of the habit of using S and
Q because some terminals now and many terminals in the
future will not send these characters.
2.10 System Message Levels
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There are various advisory messages sent by the system to
all terminals. These are divided into two categories: less
important (level 0) and more important (level 1). With
TOPS-20, Version 5, the system administrator can control the
type of messages sent to all user terminals.
The following messages are level 0:
o Swapping space low.
o SPT space low.
o PS: space low.
The following messages are level 1:
o Shutdown messages for a shutdown more than 5 minutes
away.
o PS: automatic expunge.
The following messages are always sent:
o Initial shutdown message and automatic shutdown
announcements for shutdown 5 minutes or less away.
The system administrator can decide to allow only level 0
messages, only level 1 messages, both level 0 and level 1
messages, or neither level 0 or level 1 messages to be sent
to all user terminals. System messages of all levels are
always sent to the Operator's CTY.
Under TOPS-20, Version 5, message level control is available
only through the SMON% JSYS.
2.10.1 Why Suppress Any System Messages
System messages are a very important part of the monitor's
attempt to provide system status information to users and to
the operators. However, system messages can be distracting
and annoying for users, especially when the user is not
directly affected.
Level 0 system messages do not usually deliver any
significant information to users. A message that swapping
space is low may indicate to the proficient user a reason
for degraded response time, but may only confuse and
intimidate the general user population.
Level 1 messages, on the other hand, provide meaningful
information for all users. Knowing that system shutdown is
scheduled in two hours may allow users to make important
scheduling decisions, while warnings of automatic expunge on
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the public structure will allow users to quickly undelete
important files.
With TOPS-20, Version 5, the system administrator can decide
whether the minor annoyance of interruption by system
messages outweighs the importance of the message.
2.10.2 Controlling System Messages
Two new functions have been defined for the SMON% JSYS:
o .SFMS0 (function code 24) for system message level 0
o .SFMS1 (function code 25) for system message level
1.
In addition, flags for these functions have been defined.
Flag SF%MS0 indicates message level 0 turned on; that is,
user terminals will receive all level 0 system messages.
Flag SF%MS1 indicates message level 1 turned on; that is,
user terminals will receive all level 1 system messages.
To set or clear system message levels, use a short MACRO-20
routine or DDT. As with other SMON% functions, WHEEL or
OPERATOR privileges must be enabled.
A separate SMON% call must be issued for each function
setting desired. To use the SMON% JSYS, AC1 must contain
the desired function code, and AC2 must contain the new
value for the specified function.
Refer to the TOPS-20 Monitor Calls Reference Manual for more
information on using the SMON% JSYS.
2.10.3 Determining The Current Settings For System Message
Levels
The current settings for system message levels can be tested
with the TMON% JSYS. The function codes are the same. As
with SMON%, the TMON% JSYS requires a function code in AC1.
The current value of the function specified in AC1 is
returned in AC2.
Refer to the TOPS-20 Monitor Calls Reference Manual for more
information on using the TMON% JSYS.
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3.0 PACKAGING FOR TOPS-20 VERSION 5
There are some minor differences in the packaging of Version
5 in comparison to the packaging of Version 4.
Specifically, the following packaging changes have been
made:
1. The Version 5 Installation tape contains all
supported TOPS-20 monitors. That is, there is no
separate ARPA monitor tape as there was in Version
4. DX20 and RP20 microcode have been shipped on a
separate tape.
2. The <NEW-SYSTEM> and <NEW-SUBSYS> directories have
NOT been duplicated on the Version 5 Installation
and Distribution tapes, as was the case with
Version 4. These directories do NOT appear on the
Version 5 Distribution tape; they are only on the
Installation tape.
3. There is a new saveset on the Version 5
Installation tape called <GALAXY-SUBSYS>. This
directory contains all the Galaxy components, both
in UNV and EXE format. The Galaxy sources remain
in a separate saveset on the Distribution tape.
Note that the Galaxy included on this tape is the
Version 4 Galaxy (i.e., field-image).