HP 3000 Manuals HP 3000 Manuals
Introducing HPINSTAL/iX for the HP 3000
by Dave Maison & Pankaj Shah
Commercial Systems Division
HPINSTAL/iX is a Hewlett-Packard supplied and supported tool that allows
an HP 3000 MPE/iX system manager to add, update, or distribute
Hewlett-Packard software from CD-ROM.
As of MPE/iX Release 4.0, the operating system supports read-only media
such as CD-ROM as user volumes. The version of HPINSTAL that is
available on the MPE/iX Release 4.5, 5.0, or later CD-ROMs supports users
who want to perform system updates or install additional subsystems from
CD-ROM. It also supports distribution of Hewlett-Packard software in the
form of a CSLT to additional (possibly remote) sites. This means that
users currently running MPE/iX Release 4.0 or later are able to create
CSLTs for updating or distributing MPE/iX Release 4.5, 5.0, or later
software from CD-ROM.
Features and Benefits
The following information describes the features of HPINSTAL/iX:
* Reduced Downtime. A key feature of HPINSTAL/iX is a significant
reduction in downtime required to perform a system update. This
is accomplished by separating the overall Installation/Update
process into two phases. During the first phase, HPINSTAL/iX
creates a Customized System Load Tape (CSLT) while the system is
still servicing users. During this phase, HPINSTAL/iX will
optionally integrate appropriate patches from a PowerPatch tape.
The second phase requires exclusive system access, and involves
performing an UPDATE followed by a RESTORE of the subsystem
program/data files, accounting structure creation, and
installation job (IFILE) streaming.
HPINSTAL/iX limits system downtime required for an update to
between 30 and 120 minutes, depending on the number of subsystems
purchased. Please note that this estimate does not include the
time required for a recommended full backup.
* Distribution Functionality. Another key feature of HPINSTAL/iX is
that it provides an important new function for MPE/iX customers
who operate more than one HP 3000 system. HPINSTAL/iX allows its
user on a central system to create the CSLT for distribution to
additional (possibly remote) systems, without requiring the
central system itself to be updated with the target release. This
resultant tape (DDS or 1/2-inch magnetic tape) may contain all or
any subset of the products purchased for the central system. The
target system simply executes the second phase of the process.
* Ability to Copy CSLTs. Once your CSLT is generated by
HPINSTAL/iX, you will be able to copy it for distribution to other
sites. A tool called SLTCOPY, which is provided with the
HPINSTAL/iX product, will copy from tape to tape (up to nine
copies at a time), or from tape to a disk file. Once that disk
file is made, SLTCOPY can copy its contents back out to tape, up
to nine copies at a time. The copy process can originate from, or
be targetted to, a remote tape drive.
CD-ROM Media Option
By selecting the CD-ROM media option on your support contract you will
receive the following items for each software release/distribution:
* Set of two CD-ROMs
* Product list (product numbers of software applications on your
contract)
* Keyword certificate
* Using CD-ROM to Update Your HP 3000 System Software (B3159-90001)
manual containing detailed instructions to aid you with the
installation process.
The 14-character keyword on the certificate enables HPINSTAL/iX to access
the appropriate subsystem files during the installation. The keyword is
unique for each HP 3000 system, and it enables the user to access only
the subset of files to which they are entitled. HPINSTAL/iX interacts
with the user to manage the access of files from the CD-ROM.
Taking advantage of the 600 MB of storage space available on each CD-ROM,
Hewlett-Packard includes the entire software release (FOS as well as all
of the optional subsystems) on each manufactured set of CD-ROMs. The FOS
products on the release are pre-installed into the System Libraries,
whereas the optionally purchasable subsystems are distributed in a
non-installed form. That is, subsystem object code is not yet installed
in the System Libraries. HPINSTAL/iX interacts with the user to
determine the subsystems to be installed/updated and automates the steps
necessary to insert the subsystem components into the shipped FOS-only
libraries. It also configures the optionally purchasable drivers as
System Programs. In addition, HPINSTAL/iX creates a useful backup of all
the Hewlett-Packard software installed on your system.