Trailing-Edge
-
PDP-10 Archives
-
6.1_emacs_manuals_1er
-
manuals/tops20.bwr
There are 34 other files named tops20.bwr in the archive. Click here to see a list.
TOPS-20 BEWARE FILE
November , 1984
Version 6(6356)
COPYRIGHT (C) DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION 1976, 1984. ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED.
THIS SOFTWARE 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 SOFTWARE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT
NOTICE AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY DIGITAL
EQUIPMENT CORPORATION.
DIGITAL ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBLITY FOR THE USE OR RELIABILITY OF
ITS SOFTWARE ON EQUIPMENT WHICH IS NOT SUPPLIED BY DIGITAL.
Page 2
1.0 FUNCTION OF THIS DOCUMENT
This document supplements the TOPS-20 manuals by pointing out
hints and potential problems discovered at the last minute.
During field test this is a changing document, as we are
generally working on the problems indicated below. Thus OP is
important to read this with each field test update; old
problems will leave the list and new problems will be added.
2.0 CRITICAL LEVEL CAUTIONS (READ THESE CAREFULLY)
2.1 System Shutdown
It is necessary to issue a HALT command to stop the CI20 after
shutting down the system with a SHUT or <ctrl-E>CEASE. This
is particularly important for CFS configurations.
2.2 Executive DDT And MDDT Now Run In Their Own Section.
NOTE
Caution, users executing jsys's in MDDT will use a
global stack pointer and may crash the system, if the
jsys isnt prepared for it.
2.3 Power Fail Restart
Modifications to the Power Fail Restart code must still be
done to deal with systems having a CI. At this time power
fail restart does not work for CI configured systems.
Page 3
2.4 SYSDPY
The Tool SYSDPY has had significant changes to it. It is a
requirement that the SYSDPY that is shipped with Tops-20 v6.0
be run with that version of the monitor, and no other.
Similarly the version of SYSDPY that was shipped with Tops-20
v5.1 will run with ONLY that version of the monitor.
Failure to run the correct version of SYSDPY will CRASH the
system.
2.5 FTS And New KL-Ucode
There is a bad subscript calculation in a BITVECTOR access in
FTS, and this results in a bad (one word global) byte pointer.
Note that the function being performed by the LDB instruction
is insignificant, and thus people would not notice that it
always returned a 0 when run under field image microcode.
New KL-Ucode distributed with Tops-20 v6.0 traps this as a bad
byte-pointer. This means that an FTS patch must be
distributed to systems that are going to be running microcode
350 or later. The binary patch is:
At FTS$ER+70, change:
SUBI 600000
to:
SUBI 300000
This is valid for at least FTS 1(46) and 1(53).
2.6 BASIC And Autopatch
Symptom:
With microcode versions 350 and later, OLD file.ext
gives ?Illegal Memory Read.
Diagnosis:
In module KOLD, routine DOOLD, after the file is read
in, it is closed with the CLOSF% JSYS. To zero ACs 2-4, the
following code sequence was being used.
JSYS2 _ .JSYS3 _ .JSYS4 _ 0;
This generated code to do DPB instructions with bogus
Page 4
byte pointers. The old microcode did not trap these.
Cure:
Don't dot JSYS3 and JSYS4 so that they will be zeroed as
intended. This is reflected in Autopatch Edit 335 (DDT patch follows):
@ENABLE
$GET SYS:BASIC.EXE
@DDT
DDT
DOOLD+52/ DPB J,JSYS4 SETZ JSYS4
DOOLD+53/ DPB J,JSYS3 SETZ JSYS3
DOOLD+161/ DPB J,JSYS4 SETZ JSYS4
DOOLD+162/ DPB J,JSYS3 SETZ JSYS3
<ctrl-Z>
@SAVE SYS:BASIC.EXE 0 120
BASIC.EXE.2 Saved
--------
3.0 LESS CRITICAL PROBLEMS
3.1 New Micro-code And One Word Global Byte Pointers
The microcode shipped for release 6 of the monitor allows One
Word Global Byte Pointers in section zero. User software
which has byte pointers with P fields greater than 44 in
section zero may now fail. Previous to the current microcode
P fields greater than 44 were documented as giving undefined
results.
One word global byte pointers are discussed in the Processor
Reference Manual.
3.2 DECNET And VNP36
The changes in the new KL-Ucode making one word global byte
pointers legal in section zero has uncovered a case of an
illegal byte pointer in the DECNET utility VNP36.
We have included a rebuilt VNP36 on the Tops-20 TOOLS tape and
made an entry in the tools documentation about it.
Page 5
3.3 Password Encryption
In general do not start using password encryption under
Tops-20 v6.0 until you are past the point at which it will be
likely that you would have to backoff to 5.1 level monitors.
Passwords encrypted under v6.0 will have to reset under 5.1.
3.4 Job Numbers
With Tops-20 v6.0 the monitor now considers job numbers to be
a CFS-configuration wide resource, and in particular allocates
blocks of job numbers to the systems in a CFS configuration.
This may result in a particular system assigning job numbers
in ranges in excess of 128, in particular up to 512. Any
programs using/getting job numbers from Tops-20 will thus now
have to be able to deal with the entire number range from
0-512 and be able to deal with a sparse allocation of such
numbers on a particular system.
3.5 Swapping Space
With this release we have greatly increased the use of
extended addressing, This may require some sites to increase
the amount of swapping space over the standard build amount,
depending upon the extended addressing usage at the site.
3.6 New 20F
This kit contains a new version of RSX20F. This version must
be used in conjunction with Tops-20 v6.0.
This new version is NOT compatible with 5.1 (and previous)
level monitors, so any backoff procedures must take this into
account.
3.7 Spurious KLPERR BUGCHKS
Some sites may see KLPERR BUGCHKs with first data field 202
(named buffer error). These may be ignored.
In general KLPERR bugchks are not serious.
Page 6
3.8 PDV And SSAVE% Jsys
The SSAVE Jsys has been changed to save Only those PDV entries
associated with the memory being saved. Previous to this a
SAVE which did not include a piece of memory with a PDV
associated with it would result in a SAVEd image with a PDV
referencing non-existent memory, and could later result in
INFO VERSION commands complaining about bad PDV's.
3.9 MASSBUS Device Designations
Several utilities are being changed to reference disks using
Decimal numbers rather than octal. This is a result of a
change being made as part of rel-6, initiated because of the
following:
1)All Ci designators (node numbers/hsc-disk units numbers) are being
displayed in decimal
2)VMS displays all such designators in decimal.
Given the CI convention we were presented with the prospect of
having some types of disks with decimal unit numbers and some
with octal. It was felt that it was best to have all such
numbers in the same base. Thus it was concluded that all
displays that are oriented towards operators or regular users
should use decimal base for unit/controller/channel
number/etc. This includes Galaxy, utilities
(UNITS/CHANS/...), CHECKD, Monitor startup code, SYSDPY.
Displays at lower levels (not general user oriented) will
continue to show octal format, in particular, BUGxxx
additional data fields and DDT.
Sites with RP20's will be the most affected by this change.
3.10 Non-wheel Access To Bootable Packs
Recent edits to MEXEC and FILINI cause jobs to be started with
no special capabilities. This means that ALL bootable packs
must allow non-wheel access to the file EXEC.EXE and the
directory it resides in.
If you get the NO EXEC message when logging on you can go into
the MX at the CTY and do a GET <SYSTEM>EXEC.EXE (This will
work since MX at the CTY gives you wheel). Use that EXEC to
change the protection of DEFAULT-EXEC: (normally
SYSTEM:EXEC.EXE) to 771212 and the protection of SYSTEM: to
774040. This should do the trick!
Page 7
3.11 Reconstruction Of Index-Table During Startup
When the system is first booted with an old-style PS:, the
system will take some time to reconstruct the index-table so
that it will be able to include the new PPN support. A
message to this effect will occur shortly after the [PS
MOUNTED] message. Do not be alarmed at the duration of this
operation.
3.12 PDVOP% JSYS Call On .PONAM Function Code May Fail.
The PDV definition of the .PVNAM symbol (along with other such
symbols previously described as addresses) are now defined to
be indirect words. Hence, the .PONAM function call of PDVOP%
will not return the name string if the caller is in a nonzero
section and the program is using PDV's where the .PVNAM symbol
is using the old address format. Under the old format, an
address of the form 0,,addr used in a nonzero section would
cause a section relative reference to the PDV name string.
This change will impact you only in the rare event you are
making use of this function code of the PDVOP% JSYS and that
the program is in a nonzero section.
3.13 ARPANET Protocol Changes
Release 6 of the monitor contains support for the TCP/IP
protocols for the ARPANET. The old NCP protocol is no longer
supported by the monitor. In the unlikely event that a site
is still running with the old arpanet support code major
changes will be needed for supporting software subsystems.
3.14 PS: Structure Name And CFS
CFS requires that all structures on systems on the same CI
have different and unique names. In particular, no more than
a SINGLE system can have its public structure name called PS:.
This functionality was available in 5.1. However, it was
never stated that it was of any advantage to call the PS:
disks something other than PS:. CFS now requires that this be
done for at least one of the systems in a dual system CI
configuration.
We highly recommend that policies be established that cause
ALL public structures to have names other than PS:.
Page 8
3.15 Alternate Password Validation Algorithms
Release 6 allows customers to select one of two methods for
handling password validation errors.
The first method, and the one enabled by default, is exactly
that present in previous versions of TOPS-20. That is, each
time an invalid password is entered, the process is blocked
for three seconds and then a JSYS error is produced.
The second method, new to release 6, incorporates some
techniques used by TOPS-20 customers. This technique does not
have a delay when a password is entered incorrectly, but
rather the JSYS error is produced immediately. However, after
a predefined number of incorrect guesses in a predefined time,
all subsequent passwords presented to TOPS-20, be they valid
or invalid, will be rejected. Also, once this threshold is
reached, TOPS-20 issues a BUGINF so that the operator and the
administrator will know that there may be an intruder on the
system.
The specifics of the algorithm are as follows:
The choice of algorithm is made by the resident word PSPNTP.
If this word is zero the old algorithm is used; if it is
non-zero, the new algorithm is used.
The time interval for considering failed passwords is MINTVL
and is set to three minutes. It may be changed by defining a
value in PARAMS.
The maximum number of incorrect passwords allowed in MINTVL is
MXFLCT and this is set to five in the standard monitor. It
may be changed by defining a new value in PARAMS.
Finally, the value MXLOGO, set to ten in the monitor, is the
maximum number of failed or rejected passwords allowed before
the job is logged out. This may be set to infinity if this
"service" is not desired. Setting this to infinity means that
password "guessers" will never know for certain when the
monitor is unconditionally rejecting passwords. If one wishes
"intruders" logged out instead of allowed to present passwords
to be rejected, MXLOGO should be set to the same value as
MXFLCT.
Whereas setting MXLOGO to infinity may be desirable, setting
MINTVL to infinity may unduly penalize poor typists (a common
Page 9
problem). MINTVL should be selected so as to maximize the
likelihood of trapping intruders and minimizing the likelihood
of confounding poor typists. The preset value of three
minutes seems a good compromise.
The BUGINF produced in the second method is called BREAKI and
has two optional data items: the TTY number and the logged in
user number. The second item, the user number, will be zero
for a job that has not yet logged in.
3.16 RUNOFF Command Scanning Problem
RUNOFF under Release 6 has problems parsing abbreviations for
legal switches:
[Recording initiated at Wed 11-Jan-84 16:03:42]
LINK FROM SPEER, TTY 32
TOPS-20 Command processor 6(765)
@RUNOFF
RUNOFF>FC2032.RNO/? one of the following:
/BAckspace /BOld: /CHange-bars:
/COntents: /DEbug: /DOwn:
/Exit /Form-size: /Help
/Index: /Log /Messages:
/NOBold /NOCHange-bars /NOCOntents
/NODEbug /NODOwn /NOIndex
/NOLog /NONspacing-underline: /NOOutput
/NOPause /NORight /NOSEquence
/NOSImulate /NOUnderline-character /Output:
/PAGes: /PAUse /Right:
/SEParate-underline: /SEQuence /SImulate
/Underline-character: /Variant:
RUNOFF>FC2032.RNO/O:<ESC>
?Command line parsing error. Illegal switch or field.
RUNOFF>FC2032.RNO/OUTPUT:FC2032.MEM<CRLF>
?Command line parsing error. Illegal switch or field.
RUNNOFF>fc2032.rno/o<ESC>utput:fc2032.mem ;Completion works OK!
RUNOFF>FC2032.RNO/<ESC>
?Command line parsing error. Illegal switch or field.
RUNOFF>/EX
The following Patch should fix the problem:
!DDT PATCH TO DEC STANDARD RUNOFF VERSION 2(103)
!
$GET SYS:RUNOFF.EXE.1
$DDT
DDT
RNOT20$:
P.AEB/ 3020,,P.AEC 3000,,P.AEC
Page 10
P.AEF/ 3020,,P.AEG 3000,,P.AEG
P.AEI/ 3020,,P.AEJ 3000,,P.AEJ
P.AEN/ 3020,,0 3000,,0
P.AEQ/ 3020,,0 3000,,0
P.AFG/ 3020,,P.AFH 3000,,P.AFH
P.AFK/ 3020,,P.AFL 3000,,P.AFL
P.AFO/ 3020,,P.AFP 3000,,P.AFP
P.AFX/ 3020,,0 3000,,0
P.AGE/ 3020,,0 3000,,0
P.AGI/ 3020,,0 3000,,0
P.AGO/ 3020,,0 3000,,0
<ctrl-Z>
$SAVE SYS:RUNOFF.EXE.2
3.17 MMAILR And The Use Of POBOX:
The tool MMAILR has not been modified to take advantage of the
POBOX: logical name for use by MS:. Therefore, if POBOX: is
redefined to something other than PS:, MMAILR will not work
correctly.
3.18 MAILER
MAILER has been changed to use the logical name POBOX: for
mail delivery. In addition, code that was once in MAILER to
create the TO: and CC: fields has been moved to MAIL.EXE.
This should allow both MS and MAIL to use the same local
MAILER. However, MS must be patched to send its IPCF packet
to MAILER and not MAILEX. If MS is patched in such a way,
there is no need to use MAILEX at all. Otherwise, MAILEX
should continue to be used for local mail sent by MS users.
4.0 BEWARE ENTRIES FOR THE EXEC
1. Setting Terminal Type
Setting terminal type to a video type terminal no longer
makes PAUSE END-OF-PAGE the default, as it was in 5.1
2. New EXEC Commands and Features
Please refer to the TOPS-20 Commands Reference Manual for
details of new EXEC commands. The EXEC.DOC file, in the
documentation saveset on the Distribution Tape, summarizes
the changed and new commands.
Page 11
3. PCL EXEC
The PCL EXEC provided on the tools tape is edit level
6(1014). This EXEC is based on version 6(1012) as
provided on the installation tape but also includes MIC
and PCL features.
4. MIC and autopatch
EXEC's built with tools such as MIC and PCL, because they
are built with non-standard modules, may not be
autopatched.
5. New Abbreviation for LOGOUT
In the version of the EXEC shipping with Tops-20 v6.0, LOG
is taken as the abbreviation for LOGOUT (assuming that you
are LOGged in ) and will LOG you OUT without a warning.
6. LOGOUT "n" and <ctrl-E>CEASE now require confirmation.
7. By default /FAST logins are allowed, if a site wishes to
restrict this, it must use a <ctrl-E>SET NO
FAST-LOGINS-ALLOWED or SETSPD's DISABLE FAST-LOGIN-OPTION.
5.0 BEWARE ENTRIES FOR GALAXY V5.
1. DISMOUNTING disks under a CFS configuration requires
additional steps to the normal procedure. See Operators
Guide for details. Failure to following correct procedure
could result in users/systems becoming hung.
2. MOUNTR.CMD is no longer examined by MOUNTR. All
disk/structure information should be entered once as SET
STRUCTURE commands in OPR. The settings will remain in
effect as long as the DEVICE-STATUS.BIN file remains
intact. Further information can be found in the
documentation.
3. Due to late changes in some displays, some of the examples
found in the documentation regarding disk status,
structure status, and dismount messages are not up to
date. For example, there is an additional field in the
SHOW STATUS STRUCTURE display that contains the open file
count on that structure for this system.
4. Two structures of the same name, online and not mounted
will cause a MOUNTR failure. This is a restriction for
this tape. The correct sequence to examine two structures
each with the same name is to:
Page 12
o Mount the first structure with the second structure
offline.
o Place the second structure online.
o Mount the second structure with an alias.