IGENERAL TEMPORARy REGISTER
SECTION 8 SYSTEM GENERATION
8.1 INTRODUCTION
Master PDP-IS Background/Foreground Monitor systems are supplied to customers in an executable binary form on a single DECtape. The Master system represents an immediately usable system: however, i t is recommended that the user perform a system generation procedure using the Master system, a system generator prograIn, and command inputs to produce a working Background/Foreground Monitor system conforming to the user's specific equipment and software needs. The required system generator program is listed on the Master system under the file name
"BFSGEN SYS".
8.1.1 BFSGEN, Generation and Update Features
The program BFSGEN can perform two optional functions:
1) SYSTEM GENERATION. - This function enables the transfer of a system of selected software from the Master system to some intermediate, file structured, mass storage device (DECtape or Disk). Normally, the transferred system will not conform to the requirements of the installation on which i t is to be used; however, i t is in a form which is easily modified (i.e., updated).
2) SYSTEM UPDATE. - The update function of BFSGEN enables the user to modify both hardware and software parameters of a generated system.
This feature must be used when building the initial system. Update may also be used to modify a previously generated system to meet new hardware or software requirements.
8.2 BFSGEN DEVICE REQUIREMENTS
System generation operations must be performed between two similar I/O devices (e.g., DECtape to DECtape) i dissimilar devices (e.g., DECtape to DISK) cannot be used.
8.2.1 DECtape Masters
Both Disk and DECtape system Masters are supplied on DECtape. For both types of Masters, system generation may be performed directly from the Master DECtape to a system DECtape.
For an installation with a Disk, the user may first transfer the Master system from DEC tape onto a Disk unit, using utility program PIP or RFSAV (refer to
C DK4 +-DT3 (H»)
System generation is then performed between Disk units. The resulting system should be copied onto DECtape for backup purposes, using either PIP or RFSAV
(refer to utility manual) . 8.2.2 Loading BFSGEN
BFSGEN uses the following .DAT slots:
. DAT slot -14 -15
-3 -2
Used for .••
> Input from Master tape
a) Output of a generated system b) Input/Output of system to be
updated.
> Teletype output
> Teletype input
I
Initially, one must run the system supplied on the Master tape since this is the only way the System Generator program can be loaded and run. The following two steps must first be performed:1. If the tape is a Disk Master, the system must be installed onto Disk unit zero from the Master tape by using the utility program RFSAV (refer to the PDP-IS Utility Manual, DEC-lS-YWZA-D) or by performing a COpy using PIP running under the Advanced Monitor System.
2. Then, whether the operating system resides on DECtape or on Disk, follow the procedures in paragraphs 5.2.1 and 5.3.1 to bring in the Monitor and to load IDLE in the Foreground.
The remaining steps indicate how to load the System Generator in the Background.
This is similar to Advanced Monitor System operation.
3. When the Monitor is ready to accept commands on the Background control Teletype, i t prints:
BKMlS V3A
$
4. If the Master tape is on DECtape transport 4 and a scratch tape (onto which a generated system is to be output) is on DECtape transport 5, for example, perform the following:
$ASSIGN DT4 -14
$ASSIGN DTS -15
$BFSGEN
When the System Generator is loaded and running, i t will print out:
B/F-lS SGEN Vxx
8-2
8.3 SYSTEM GENERATION PROCEDURES
The System Generator consists of modular sections of code. The operation of each is discussed individually in the following paragraphs.
8.3.1 Section A -- Initialization Summary:
Operation:
The user is asked if he would like to run in brief mode.
If he answers no, a summary of System Generator rules is typed out.
When the System Generator has been loaded into core and is started, i t will type:
BF-lS SGEN Vnn BRIEF MODE? (YIN)
In the brief mode the System Generator will abridge the messages i t types out. The user must respond by typing
!
(meaning YES) or ~ (meaning NO). If YES, the remainder of Section A is bypassed and processing goes to Section B.If NO, the System Generator types out a summary of
operating rules and from then on all messages are printed in expanded form.
The summary of operating rules is typed out as follows:
.DAT SLOT ASSIGNMENTS:
WHEN GENERATING A NEW SYSTEM, A BIF MASTER MUST BE ON THE DEVICE ASSIGNED TO .DAT SLOT -14. A NEW SYSTEM WILL BE BUILT ON THE DEVICE ASSIGNED TO .DAT SLOT -15.
WHEN UPDATING AN OLD SYSTEM, THAT SYSTEM MUST BE ON THE DEVICE ASSIGNED TO .DAT SLOT -15.
KEY-IN CONVENTIONS:
STATEMENTS THAT REQUIRE A RESPONSE END IN EITHER A QUESTION MARK (?), AN ANGLE BRACKET (», OR A SQUARE BRACKET (]).
QUESTION MARK (?)-- A YES OR NO ANSWER IS REQUIRED. TYPE 'Y' FOR YES OR 'N' FOR NO. IN BRIEF MODE, A QUESTION MARK MAY BE TYPED TO CAUSE THE QUESTION TO BE RESTATED IN AN EXPANDED FORM.
ANGLE BRACKET (»-- A PARAMETER (NAME, SET OF NAMES,
OR A VALUE) IS REQUIRED. TYPE THE PARAMETER AND TERMINATE WITH A CARRIAGE RETURN.
**
SQUARE BRACKET (l) --A PARAMETER HAS BEEN TYPED OUT ENCLOSED IN SQUARE BRACKETS ([ ]). THE PARAMETER MAY BE ACCEPTED AS IS BY TYPING A CARRIAGE RETURN, OR IT MAY BE
RESTART:
TYPING A tP WILL RESTART THE SYSTEM GENERATOR. THIS SHOULD ONLY BE DONE WHILE BFSGEN IS WAITING FOR A TYPE IN.
**
THE PARAMETER IS READ IN lOPS ASCII. I.E., RUB OUT & tu EDITING AND ALTMODE TERMINATION ARE POSSIBLE.8.3.2 Section B -- System Selection & Read-in Summary:
Operation:
The user is asked if this is to be a system generation or an update of a previously generated system. If a new system (generation) is wanted, the requested system is transferred to the output device from the Master system.
The following question is typed:
IS THIS AN UPDATE OF A PREVIOUSLY GENERATED SYSTEM?
If the user types! (for YES), most of Section B is bypassed and processing continues with the reading of information from a previously generated tape (see below) •
If the user types ~ (for NO), the System Generator copies the Master system onto the output device. As this is being done, the System Generator informs the user
SYSTEM BEING TRANSFERRED
When the transfer is complete, BFSGEN reads selected blocks of information from the generated system and enters its update ~:'ase. While this is being done, BFSGEN types:
SYSTEM INFORMATION BEING READ
This information is then presented to the user during the update process as assumed parameter values. For instance, if the system was built for a machine with three Teletypes, one of the parameters will be: