Managing the Autoboot Feature

This section deals with managing the autoboot feature after initial configuration. The tasks described are as follows:

using the autoboot toggle
temporarily disabling autoboot
modifying the autoboot file
removing the autoboot feature

Using the autoboot toggle

The autoboot toggle allows you to access the current status of autoboot and turn it on or off.

The autoboot toggle performs reads and writes on stable storage; therefore, restrictions pertaining to stable storage apply to its use. Stable storage has a guaranteed write life of 10,000 times. After 10,000 writes, the values can no longer be guaranteed to be modified successfully. For example, used once per day the stable storage has a lifetime of 27 years.




	NOTE: Autoboot must not be used carelessly.

Accessing the current status of autoboot

To obtain the current status of the autoboot feature, perform the following steps:

Log on to the console as MANAGER.SYS.
Execute the BLDDUMP utility. At the system prompt, enter:
:RUN BLDDUMP.HP36375.TELESUP
Use the LIST command to determine the current status of autoboot. At the BLDDUMP prompt, enter:
(#1) blddump > LIST
The BLDDUMP utility displays the current state of all dump files and the autoboot status:

(#1) blddump > LIST



Autoboot Status                                      OFF

Dump-to-tape if dump-to-disk is not successful?      NO



DUMP FILE NAME      DUMP FILE       CURRENT SIZE    PROTECTED?

 (ID + "MEM")       MAXIMUM SIZE    OF CONTENTS

                    (megabytes)     (megabytes)

--------------      ------------    -------------   ----------

DUMP1MEM               417               0             YES

Toggling the autoboot flag

To toggle the autoboot flag, perform the following steps:

Log on to the console as MANAGER.SYS.
Execute the BLDDUMP utility. At the system prompt, enter:
:RUN BLDDUMP.HP36375.TELESUP
Use the AUTOBOOT xx command to determine the current status of autoboot. At the BLDDUMP prompt, enter:
(#1) blddump > AUTOBOOT xx
Where:
xx
is either on or off. The ON option enables autoboot, and the OFF option disables autoboot.
The following message is displayed:
Autoboot has been enabled.
If autoboot was already set to ON, and the AUTOBOOT ON command was issued, then the following message is displayed:
Autoboot is already enabled.
Similarly, for disabling autoboot, If autoboot was already set to OFF and the AUTOBOOT OFF command was issued, then the following message is displayed:
Autoboot is already disabled.

Displaying autoboot status

To obtain the current status of autoboot, perform the following steps:

Log on to the console as MANAGER.SYS.
Execute the BLDDUMP utility. At the system prompt, enter:
:RUN BLDDUMP.HP36375.TELESUP
Use the LIST command to determine the current status of autoboot. At the BLDDUMP prompt, enter:
(#1) blddump > AUTOBOOT STATUS
or
(#1) blddump > AUTOBOOT Status is the default
The BLDDUMP utility displays a message similar to the following:
Autoboot is enabled.

Temporarily disabling autoboot

There are two ways to temporarily disable the autoboot feature; however, both require operator intervention during the startup sequence. These are as follows:

Override the autoboot sequence at the console.
Get into ISL and disable the autoboot flag.

Both options require an operator's presence during system startup.

If the autoboot feature is configured on your system, it is invoked each time your system is reset. Your system can be reset in either of the following ways:

After a system abort occurs on a system that was started using the -R option of START.
After you perform either a soft reset CtrlBTC or a hard reset CtrlBRS.

If you have interactively performed either a soft or a hard reset, you probably do not want to invoke the DUMP command located in the autoboot file. You must remain at the console after the reset in order to override the autoboot sequence.




	NOTE: Any time that you invoke the ISL commands `UPDATE` or `INSTALL`, the dump-to-disk feature is not functional until after you have restarted your system using the ISL `START -R` command. If a dump occurs during or immediately after a system update or install, dump always defaults to tape. If autoboot is enabled on your system, be sure to disable the autoboot flag prior to update or install. Remember to reenable the autoboot flag after the update or install is complete and before you restart your system. If you do not disable the autoboot flag prior to the install or update, you must override the autoboot sequence after the install or update and before the `DUMP` command located in the autoboot file is invoked.

Overriding the autoboot sequence at startup

If you are at the console, you can override autoboot after you reset the system.

You must repeat the following steps each time the system is restarted. Follow these steps:

Override autoboot by pressing any key within 10 seconds after you see this display on the console:

   Autoboot from primary boot path enabled.

   To override, press any key within 10 seconds.

Respond Y to the Boot from primary path (Y or N)?> prompt.
Respond Y to the Interact with IPL (Y or N)?> prompt.

You are now at the ISL prompt. From here you can invoke ISL commands, including START -R.




	NOTE: Remember to use the `-R` option with `START` if you want the system to restart after the next system abort. If you do not use the `-R` option, the system does not reboot after the next system abort.

Disabling the autoboot flag

You can temporarily disable autoboot by getting into ISL and disabling the autoboot flag. To disable the autoboot flag, follow these steps:

Log on to the console as MANAGER.SYS.
Halt system activity. (Refer to the directions in "Halting System Activity," earlier in this chapter.)

Place the console in control mode by pressing CTRL and B simultaneously.

NOTE: Because the ISL autoboot flag is enabled, the MPE/iX startup sequence attempts to automatically boot from the primary boot path after the system is reset. This should not occur. After resetting the system in the next step, carefully watch console messages and press any key within 10 seconds after you see this display on the console:

   Autoboot from primary boot path enabled.

   To override, press any key within 10 seconds.

Reset the system. At the control mode prompt (CM>), enter:
CM> RS
If your system has autoboot enabled, override the autoboot by pressing any key within 10 seconds after you see this display on the console:
Autoboot from primary boot path enabled. To override, press any key within 10 seconds.
Respond Y to the Boot from primary path (Y or N)?> prompt.
Respond Y to the Interact with IPL (Y or N)?> prompt.
At the ISL prompt, enter:
ISL> AUTOBOOT OFF
Restart your system using the -R option with START if you want your system to reboot after the next system abort (for directions on restarting your system, refer to "Returning the System to a Normal Operating State," earlier in this chapter).

Modifying your autoboot sequence

To modify the sequence of ISL commands in the system autoboot file, replace the contents of the system autoboot file with the modified contents of AUTOOUT.HP36375.TELESUP. This process is similar to the one used to add an autoboot file. You must perform an update to allow the system to write the new autoboot contents to the system autoboot file.

Follow these steps:

Log on to the console as MGR.TELESUP,HP36375.
Purge the file AUTOOUT.HP36375.TELESUP. At the system prompt, enter:
:PURGE AUTOOUT.HP36375.TELESUP
Confirm that the file no longer exists.
Use a text editor either to modify the contents of AUTOIN.HP36375.TELESUP or to purge it and create a new AUTOIN.HP36375.TELESUP containing the list of ISL commands that you want.
Use the FORMAT utility to convert the contents of AUTOIN, and create the autoboot format file AUTOOUT.HP36375.TELESUP. At the system prompt, enter:
:RUN FORMAT.HP36375.TELESUP
Confirm that AUTOOUT.HP36375.TELESUP was created. At the system prompt, enter:
:LISTF AUTOOUT.HP36375.TELESUP
Purge the file AUTOIN.HP36375.TELESUP. At the system prompt, enter:
:PURGE AUTOIN.HP36375.TELESUP
Log on to the console as MANAGER.SYS.
Invoke SYSGEN. At the system prompt, enter:
:SYSGEN
Access the SYSFILE configurator. At the SYSGEN prompt, enter:
sysgen> SYSFILE

At the SYSFILE prompt, enter:

   sysfile> SHOW AUTO

The SYSGEN utility displays:

   DISK AUTOBOOT = AUTOBOOT.MPEXL.SYS

Use the RAUTO command to replace the existing autoboot file with the AutoRestart/iX autoboot format file AUTOOUT.HP36375.TELESUP. The FILE= parameter specifies the autoboot format file. The TYPE=DISK parameter indicates that the autoboot file contents are invoked only during a reboot from disk. At the SYSFILE prompt, enter:
sysfile> RAUTO FILE=AUTOOUT.HP36375.TELESUP TYPE=DISK
Use the SHOW AUTO command to confirm that SYSGEN has temporarily accepted AUTOOUT.HP36375.TELESUP. At the SYSFILE prompt, enter:
sysfile> SHOW AUTO
The SYSGEN utility displays:
DISK AUTOBOOT = AUTOOUT.HP36375.TELESUP
Use the HOLD command to temporarily hold the changes that you made in the SYSFILE configurator. At the SYSFILE prompt, enter:
sysfile> HOLD

Exit the SYSFILE configurator to return to the SYSGEN menu. At the SYSFILE prompt, enter:

   sysfile> EXIT




	NOTE: Do not use the `KEEP` command to save this information to your system configuration. Instead, the system will copy the contents of `AUTOOUT` to the system autoboot file without reestablishing system dependence on the `AUTOOUT` file.

Mount a write-enabled tape on the tape drive. Put the tape drive on-line.
Use the TAPE command at the SYSGEN prompt to generate a customized system load tape (SLT), sometimes called a boot tape, which includes the system autoboot file. Enter:
sysgen> TAPE
Reply to the tape request.
The system tells you that it has completed the tape:
**Boot tape is successfully built**
After all the files are stored, remove the write ring from the tape. This is your system's new SLT. Label the tape in preparation for a configuration update to complete replacement of the autoboot file.
Exit SYSGEN after building the SLT. At the SYSGEN prompt, enter:
sysgen> EXIT
When you exit SYSGEN without keeping the modifications to disk, the system autoboot file AUTOBOOT.MPEXL.SYS remains in SYSGEN (not AUTOOUT.HP36375.TELESUP).

Deleting the autoboot feature

To permanently delete the autoboot feature from your system, you must delete the autoboot file from your system configuration, create a new SLT, then reinstall your system using the ISL INSTALL command.

For more information about deleting the autoboot file and reinstalling your system, refer to the System Startup, Configuration, and Shutdown Reference Manual (32650-90042).