this is obsolete doc -- see http://doc.nethence.com/ instead

OpenVMS system administration 

(draft) 

Basic commands 

Shut the system down or reboot, 

@sys$system:shutdown

ref http://labs.hoffmanlabs.com/node/1078 

Change directory, for example, 

set default sys$update

list files, 

dir

execute, 

@vmsinstal

One level down, 

set default [-]

Copy, rename, recursive copy, delete 

copy

backup/verify

rename

delete

Create, edit, 

create file.txt

edit file.txt

Fix file permissions, for example, 

set file/protectio=o:rwed filename

Change password, 

set password

Basic administration 

Check the disk space, 

show device sys$sysdevice

Check the memory, 

show memory/full

A few hints 

OpenVMS tailoring, 

run sys$update:vmstailor

DECwindows tailoring, 

run sys$update:decw$tailor

Reset system's password 

Boot the drive in sysboot mode, 

>>> show dev

>>> boot/1 dka200

Note. abreviated commands also work (b/1 ...) 

Either use the uaf console backdoor, 

SYSBOOT> show uafalternate

SYSBOOT> set uafalternate 1

SYSBOOT> continue

or get to the OPA0 console ($) prompt, 

SYSBOOT> set/startup opa0:

SYSBOOT> set window_system 0

SYSBOOT> set writesysparams 0

SYSBOOT> continue

With the UAF method, you can now login as SYSTEM while providing anything you want as password. 

Eventually change the system-wide password, use MODIFY /SYSTEM command in the AUTHORIZE utility. 

When finished, you'll have to retore the defaults. On the former, 

set uafalternate 0

and against the latter, 

set/startup sys$sytem:startup.com

  set writesysparams 1

show window_system

show writesysparams

refs. 

http://hoffmanlabs.org/vmsfaq/vmsfaq_007.html#mgmt5 

http://hoffmanlabs.org/vmsfaq/vmsfaq_007.html#mgmt5a 

http://openvms.deadsystems.com/?p=259 

http://h71000.www7.hp.com/doc/73final/6017/6017pro_009.html 

http://hoffmanlabs.org/vmsfaq/vmsfaq_007.html 

References 

OpenVMS beginner's FAQ 

http://saf.bio.caltech.edu/vms_beginners_faq.html#PROC00 

OpenVMS System Manager's Manual 

http://www.itec.suny.edu/scsys/vms/ovmsdoc073/v73/6017/6017pro_050.html 

OpenVMS HACK FAQ 

http://www.openvms.org/faqs/OpenVMS-Hack-FAQ.html 

VMS Archive, details 

http://blog.deepreflect.net/category/tech/vms/ 

OpenVMS Tips: Conversational Bootstraps and SYSBOOT 

http://labs.hoffmanlabs.com/node/280 

OpenVMS Tips: Conversational Bootstraps; Resetting SYSTEM Password? 

http://labs.hoffmanlabs.com/node/204 

HP OpenVMS Systems Documentation 

The OpenVMS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 

http://h71000.www7.hp.com/faq/vmsfaq_021.html 

Other refs. 

http://h71000.www7.hp.com/doc/83final/9996/9996pro_140.html 

http://h71000.www7.hp.com/doc/84final/ba554_90015/ch03s07.html?btnNext=next%A0%BB 

http://h71000.www7.hp.com/doc/731final/6489/6489pro.html 

http://www.parsec.com/public/OpenVMS_Security_Wayne_2008.pdf 

http://www.itec.suny.edu/scsys/vms/vmsdoc/72final/6346/6346pro_002.html 

http://ist.njit.edu/software/vms.htm 

http://wasd.vsm.com.au/DOC/features/features_0300.html