Communicator e3000 MPE/iX Release 7.0 (Software Release C.70.00) > Appendix G HP Stage/iX Reference

Using HP Stage/iX

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This section describes typical HP Stage/iX processes and definitions.

Installing and Initializing HP Stage/iX
Staging Area Handling
Using STAGEISL
Uninstalling HP Stage/iX
Using HP Stage/iX Help

Installing and Initializing HP Stage/iX

HP Stage/iX is automatically installed as part of your Fundamental Operating System (FOS) when you update to the latest version of MPE/iX. It is used in conjunction with HP Patch/iX. Refer to Appendix F "HP Patch/iX Reference" for information about HP Patch/iX. HP Stage/iX only needs to be initialized once, then when you run HP Patch/iX, HP Stage/iX capabilities are included.

To use HP Stage/iX:

Update or install your system software to the latest version of MPE/iX.
Refer to Chapter 2 "Task Checklists" and follow the directions in this manual for updating and/or installing your system software.
Install HP Patch/iX.
This step is required to manage your qualified patches and to use HP Stage/iX.
Follow the directions in this manual for applying staged patches on your system software. Installing HP Patch/iX is included as part of the manage patches by staging area task.
Initialize HP Stage/iX.
Refer to section 4.4, "Initializing HP Stage/iX," for instructions.

Staging Area Handling

This section provides a sample sequence of events for performing selected HP Stage/iX functions through the HP Stage/iX command line.

Obtain the patches either by electronically downloading them or by requesting patch tapes from the Response Center.
If necessary, install and initialize HP Stage/iX. Refer to the previous subsection.
Qualify patches.
Refer to Chapter 4 "Preparing Your System" for directions on using HP Patch/iX to qualify patches.
Create, fill, and validate a staging area.
Typically, this is done using HP Patch/iX. The following HP Stage/iX command line option is available, but should be used by experienced users only!
1. To start HP Stage/iX, type at the MPE/iX prompt:
```
  :STAGEMAN
```
2. Create an empty staging area.
```
  STAGEMAN> CREATE stagename
```
  Where stagename is the name for the new staging area.
3. Change to expert mode.
```
  STAGEMAN> EXPERT ON
```
4. Fill the staging area.
  Refer to the Expert Mode commands stagefile and deletefile.
5. Validate the staging area.
  Refer to the command validate.
Identify the current staging area and next boot staging area.
```
  STAGEMAN> STATUS
```
The following is a sample status command response.
```
  Last booted with: BASE
  Next boot will be with: stage_1
```
Identify available staging areas and next boot staging area.
```
  STAGEMAN> LIST
```
View the list of patches used to fill a specific staging area.
```
  STAGEMAN> LIST stagename ;patches
```
This displays a cumulative list of patches that have been applied to the Base and the staging area.
View the list of files in a specific staging area.
```
  STAGEMAN> LIST stagename ;files
```
Make changes to staging area. This can be a very destructive step, and should be used by experienced users only!
1. Make the changes to the staging area with CHANGE, STAGEFILE, and DELETEFILE.
2. Validate the staging area. After making any changes to a staging area, you must validate the staging area, or it will not be accepted in the set command.
  Refer to the command validate.
Activate a staging area.
```
  STAGEMAN> SET stagename
```
Where stagename is the name for the staging area or Base.
1. Specify base to change the booting location to the Base.
2. Reboot your system.
  This activates the staging area.
Commit a staging area to the Base location.
1. Boot from the staging area to permanently apply it to the Base system software.
2. Execute the COMMIT command.
```
  STAGEMAN> COMMIT
```
  The current staging area becomes the new Base. The staging area itself is removed.

Using STAGEISL

STAGEISL contains a subset of the HP Stage/iX functions. It executes from the ISL prompt and enables you to:

Change the next boot location to either a staging area or the Base.
Check the previous and next boot staging area.
List available staging areas.

The STAGEISL commands and their capabilities are: STATUS, LIST, SET, HELP, and EXIT. Not all STAGEISL commands share the full capabilities of the matching HP Stage/iX command.

To use STAGEISL:

Type from the console, at the ISL prompt.
```
  ISL> STAGEISL
```
Type the commands as needed.
```
  STAGEISL> command
```
Exit STAGEISL.
```
  STAGEISL> EXIT
  ISL>
```

Uninstalling HP Stage/iX

Uninstalling HP Stage/iX deletes all staging areas and any files and directories that HP Stage/iX has built.

WARNING! This activity does not just turn off HP Stage/iX; it completely removes any and all objects that HP Stage/iX created (files, directories, and staging areas).

To uninstall HP Stage/iX:

At the MPE/iX prompt, type:
```
  :STAGEMAN
```
At the STAGEMAN prompt, type:
```
  STAGEMAN> UNINSTALL
```
All files, directories, and data structures created by HP Stage/iX are deleted.
Respond to the prompt.
```
  Are you sure?
```

Using Help

Help is available for all HP Stage/iX Normal mode, Expert mode, and STAGEISL commands. The Help information that displays is specific to the tool and mode.

To use HP Stage/iX Help:

For a list of commands, type HELP at the STAGEMAN prompt.
For help on a specific command, type at the STAGEMAN prompt:
```
  STAGEMAN> HELP command option
```
where:

command

the HP Stage/iX command you want information about.

option

choices:

desc

show the command's description and syntax. (default)

parms

show the command's parameters only.

example

show command usage examples only.

all

show all help text related to the command.

To use STAGEISL Help:

For a list of STAGEISL commands, type HELP at the STAGEisl prompt.
For help on a specific command, type at the STAGEISL prompt:
```
  STAGEISL> HELP command
```

HP Stage/iX Disaster Recovery

When staging area data is unrecoverable from disk, disaster recovery involves reloading the staging areas from backup tapes. This means that you must have a CSLT/STORE tape and backup of the OS version you want to reinstall.

If you do not have a backup of the staging areas, you will have to perform two tasks:

A normal reinstall task to reinstall your operating system. If the OS is also damaged.
A managing patches with staging area task to reinstall your patches and staging areas.

To perform a staging area disaster recovery, using backup tapes:

Identify whether your backup was made:
- After staging area was created, but prior to applying (SET and boot) a staging area.
- After applying (SET and boot) from a staging area.
Identify the staging area condition at the time of the disaster.
- Staging area created but not booted.
- Staging area created and applied (SET and boot) from the staging area.
Perform a reinstall of your current operating system. Refer to the checklist from Chapter 2 "Task Checklists" for directions on performing a reinstall task.
Hewlett-Packard recommends performing the reinstall from the backup made after the staging area was created, but prior to applying (SET and boot) the staging area.
If you need to use the backup made after applying (SET and boot) from the staging area:
1. Perform the normal reinstall process.
2. You will not be able to RECOVER the staging area that the system was booted from. It becomes the new Base. The reinstall from this type of backup is treated as an implied COMMIT to the staging area.
3. RECOVER all other staging areas.

HP Stage/iX Concepts

HP Stage/iX Commands