OpenVMS installation instructions for VMWare Workstation

OpenVMS virtualization: OpenVMS on VirtualBox, VMWare, Hyper-V, KVM, and more.

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OpenVMS installation instructions for VMWare Workstation

Post by mfny » Fri Apr 14, 2023 10:34 am

Hello,

Would anyone be able to provide instructions as to how to set up a VM for OpenVMS in VMware Workstation, I am only able to find VirtualBox instruction at this time.

In particular what configuration should I have for hard drives and serial port ..


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Re: OpenVMS installation instructions for VMWare Workstation

Post by mfny » Mon Apr 17, 2023 2:53 am

I have been following the guide here on what to do regarding installation and set up(including relevant parts of Part 1)

https://raymii.org/s/blog/OpenVMS_9.2_f ... art_2.html

And I have managed to get OpenVMS installed, networking running including OpenSSH and the License Pak's installed.

However there are 2 issues with the instructions of that guide :

First is I am unable to enable autoboot. Entering in AUTOBOOT DKA0 gives the following error "Unknown or Incomplete Command"

Second is I am unable to use the ping command, I was able to to do immediately after following the set up instructions for TCPIP in the guide, but now on subsequent boots I get an error of "%DCL-W-IVVERB, unrecognized command verb - check validity and spelling \PING\" when attempting to run the ping command, networking itself seems to be working fine however on (re)boots.

Anyone know what is going on with these 2 issues and how to fix them ?

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Re: OpenVMS installation instructions for VMWare Workstation

Post by volkerhalle » Mon Apr 17, 2023 3:04 am

BOOTMGR has help - as most OpenVMS related utilities.

The command to use is:

BOOTMGR> AUTOACTION BOOT

PING is not a valid DCL command. You need to invoke @SYS$MANAGER:TCPIP$DEFINE_COMMANDS. This will define a global symbol PING:

VOLKER $ sho symb ping
%DCL-W-UNDSYM, undefined symbol - check validity and spelling
VOLKER $ @tcpip$define_commands
VOLKER $ sho symb ping
PING == "$SYS$SYSTEM:TCPIP$PING.EXE"

It may be best to put the invocation of this procedure into SYLOGIN.COM

Otherwise you can still use $ TCPIP PING ... or even $ UCX PING ... (still available for those, that are around since VMS/VAX times)

Volker.


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Re: OpenVMS installation instructions for VMWare Workstation

Post by mfny » Mon Apr 17, 2023 8:09 am

On shutdown I am getting the following error at the end of the process before the successful message shows


Open user files prevent dismounting host device _OVMS1$DKA0:
Cannot deinstall page/swap file DISK$X86SYS:[SYS0.SYSEXE]PAGEFILE.SYS;1
(index # 254)

is it safe to ignore this or if not how do I fix it ?
Last edited by mfny on Mon Apr 17, 2023 8:09 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: OpenVMS installation instructions for VMWare Workstation

Post by martinv » Mon Apr 17, 2023 8:14 am

Working hard for something we don't care about is called stress;
working hard for something we love is called passion.
(Simon Sinek)


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Re: OpenVMS installation instructions for VMWare Workstation

Post by mfny » Mon Apr 17, 2023 12:14 pm

Trying to log in to the VMS Service Platform to download some additional packages I am getting the following error:

Error 409: Account disabled.

This was working fine a few days ago when I downloaded the installation media and licence paks for OpenVMS.

Who do I contact to resolve this ?
Last edited by mfny on Mon Apr 17, 2023 12:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.


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Re: OpenVMS installation instructions for VMWare Workstation

Post by kerky » Tue Apr 18, 2023 4:03 am

mfny wrote:
Mon Apr 17, 2023 12:14 pm
Trying to log in to the VMS Service Platform to download some additional packages I am getting the following error:

Error 409: Account disabled.

This was working fine a few days ago when I downloaded the installation media and licence paks for OpenVMS.

Who do I contact to resolve this ?
Same issue here. I hope this is something temporary, maybe all the hobbyists downloading the .ISO for X86 (it was sloooow and took some hours) has had a negative impact on paying customers getting access to patches, new installs, etc...(after all, we have to remember that this program is a HUGE favour and concession to all of us nostalgics and hobbyists, and VMSSoftware are a business after all, and their priority is serving their paying customers)

Now that I come to think of it... Maybe they opened the Service Portal for everyone after the announcement, then became aware they had opened for everyone - I am only a member of VMSSoftware Community License since 2021, so not long - and are now moving to a "staged approach as they announced in the mail that everybody got.

Anyways, no worries here. I have my installation Kit and my PAKs, I can wait for layered products to be available again when VMSSoftware decides it's the time to do so. I insist, I am very, very thankful that they have kept the hobbyist program alive and more that they have migrated OpenVMS to commodity X86 Hardware, from what I can see so far with great success. It helps me play around and remember some Good Old Times (a very personal concept, I know...).
Last edited by kerky on Wed Apr 19, 2023 3:48 am, edited 2 times in total.


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Re: OpenVMS installation instructions for VMWare Workstation

Post by mfny » Fri Apr 21, 2023 2:22 pm

And I now have access again, got an email about it today.


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Re: OpenVMS installation instructions for VMWare Workstation

Post by kerky » Tue Apr 25, 2023 10:33 am

mfny wrote:
Fri Apr 21, 2023 2:22 pm
And I now have access again, got an email about it today.
Just curious, since when have you been an Alpha / Integrity community program member? IIRC I have been since 2021, just asking to make an educated guess when I might get access.

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