The AUTOGEN command procedure (SYS$UPDATE:AUTOGEN.COM) sets
appropriate values for system parameters and sizes for system
page, swap, and dump files. AUTOGEN runs automatically when you
install or upgrade the operating system.
In addition, you can use AUTOGEN to reset system parameter
values, system file sizes, or both. The new values and file sizes
take effect the next time the system is booted.
HP recommends that you run AUTOGEN on a weekly basis to
adjust system parameters according to your system's work load.
AUTOGEN executes in phases, with each phase performing a separate
task. You control which tasks AUTOGEN performs by specifying a
start phase and an end phase when you invoke AUTOGEN.
You can add commands to the file SYS$SYSTEM:MODPARAMS.DAT to
control the system parameter values and file sizes that AUTOGEN
sets. AUTOGEN uses the information in this file to determine
final values for system parameters or page, swap or dump file
sizes.
AUTOGEN can improve system performance by using dynamic
information, called feedback, which is gathered from the running
system.
NOTE
When making major configuration changes, do not use
feedback. Specify nofeedback to assure the use of the
initial AUTOGEN settings.
You control how AUTOGEN uses feedback by specifying an execution
mode when you invoke AUTOGEN. To direct AUTOGEN to use feedback
to make its calculations, run AUTOGEN in feedback mode. After
a period of time, you can execute AUTOGEN in feedback mode to
further refine system parameter settings.
1 – When to Run AUTOGEN
HP recommends that you run AUTOGEN in the following
circumstances:
o During a new installation or upgrade.
o Whenever your work load changes significantly.
o When you add an optional (layered) software product. Certain
layered products might require you to execute AUTOGEN to
adjust parameter values and page and swap file sizes. (For
information about using AUTOGEN to modify page and swap files,
refer to the chapter on managing page, swap, and dump files
in the HP OpenVMS System Manager's Manual.) Refer to specific
product documentation for installation requirements.
o When you install images with the /SHARED attribute. The
GBLSECTIONS and GBLPAGES parameters might need to be increased
to accommodate additional use of global pages and global
sections.
o During normal operation, as part of a batch-oriented
command procedure that runs AUTOGEN on a regular basis and
automatically sends a report to an appropriate Mail account.
The recommended procedure is described in the chapter on
managing system parameters in the HP OpenVMS System Manager's
Manual.
After a new operating system installation or upgrade, examine the
results of calculations that AUTOGEN made to determine whether
AUTOGEN has set system parameter values that are appropriate for
your workload requirements.
2 – Feedback
AUTOGEN feedback minimizes the necessity to modify parameter
values or system file sizes. Feedback allows AUTOGEN to
automatically size the operating system based on your actual work
load. Sizing is the process of matching the allocation of system
resources (memory and disk space) with the workload requirements
of your site.
Feedback is information about how various resources are used
by the system's work load. This information is continuously
collected by the operating system executive. Because the
system collects feedback when exception events occur, feedback
collection does not affect system performance.
You control how AUTOGEN uses feedback by specifying an execution
mode when you invoke AUTOGEN. When run in feedback mode, AUTOGEN
analyzes this information and adjusts any related parameter
values.
AUTOGEN collects feedback during the SAVPARAMS phase by executing
the image SYS$SYSTEM:AGEN$FEEDBACK.EXE. AUTOGEN writes feedback
information to the file SYS$SYSTEM:AGEN$FEEDBACK.DAT. This file
is then read during the GETDATA phase.
3 – Phases
Phase Description
SAVPARAMS Saves dynamic feedback from the running system.
GETDATA Collects all data to be used in AUTOGEN
calculations.
GENPARAMS Generates new system parameters; creates the
installed image list.
TESTFILES Displays the system page, swap, and dump file
sizes calculated by AUTOGEN (cannot be used as a
start phase).
GENFILES Generates new system page, swap, and dump files if
appropriate (cannot be used as a start phase).
SETPARAMS Runs SYSMAN to set the new system parameters in
the default parameter file, saves the original
parameters, and generates a new parameter file,
AUTOGEN.PAR.
SHUTDOWN Prepares the system to await a manual reboot.
REBOOT Automatically shuts down and reboots the system.
HELP Displays help information to the screen.
3.1 – SAVPARAMS
The SAVPARAMS phase records feedback in the file
AGEN$FEEDBACK.DAT, which can be used in subsequent AUTOGEN
phases. If you specify NOFEEDBACK as the execution-mode
parameter, the information collected is not used.
The SAVPARAMS phase is valid as a start phase and end phase.
SAVPARAMS requires the SYSPRV and CMKRNL privileges.
NOTE
You can specify the SAVE_FEEDBACK option during an
interactive orderly shutdown with SYS$SYSTEM:SHUTDOWN.COM.
Entering this option in response to the prompt "Shutdown
options:" records feedback collected since the system was
last booted. Using the SAVE_FEEDBACK option creates a new
version of SYS$SYSTEM:AGEN$FEEDBACK.DAT. Run AUTOGEN from
the GETDATA phase after the system reboots to use this new
version of the feedback.
3.2 – GETDATA
The GETDATA phase collects the following information required for
AUTOGEN calculations and places it in the file PARAMS.DAT:
o Hardware configuration data
o HP-supplied data from CLU$PARAMS.DAT
o Feedback from AGEN$FEEDBACK.DAT (if run in feedback mode)
o User-supplied data from MODPARAMS.DAT
The GETDATA phase also attempts to configure devices on the
system, by executing the following procedure and command:
o The command procedure SYS$MANAGER:SYCONFIG.COM. (For more
information about this procedure, refer to the chapter on
managing devices in the HP OpenVMS System Manager's Manual.)
o The SYSGEN command AUTOCONFIGURE ALL (unless the symbol
STARTUP$AUTOCONFIGURE_ALL is set to 0 in SYCONFIG.COM).
The GETDATA phase is valid as a start phase and an end phase.
GETDATA requires the SYSPRV and CMKRNL privileges.
3.3 – GENPARAMS
In the GENPARAMS phase, AUTOGEN calculates the parameter values
based on data stored in PARAMS.DAT and produces SETPARAMS.DAT as
output. AUTOGEN checks to see if feedback is included, and if so,
uses it in the calculations unless the NOFEEDBACK execution mode
was specified when AUTOGEN was invoked. Also during this phase,
AUTOGEN generates the known image file list (VMSIMAGES.DAT).
The GENPARAMS phase is valid as a start phase and an end phase.
GENPARAMS requires the SYSPRV and OPER privileges.
3.4 – TESTFILES
The TESTFILES phase displays system page, swap, and dump file
sizes calculated by AUTOGEN. (This phase does not change the file
sizes.)
File sizes for all currently installed primary and secondary
page and swap files are displayed. The information is directed to
SYS$OUTPUT and the AGEN$PARAMS.REPORT file by default.
Specify the TESTFILES phase to display AUTOGEN's file size
calculations; to generate new sized files, specify the GENFILES
phase. You cannot specify both of these phases when invoking
AUTOGEN. HP recommends that you use TESTFILES to display the
file size changes before actually generating new sized files on
your system.
The TESTFILES phase is valid only as an end phase. TESTFILES
requires the SYSPRV privilege.
3.5 – GENFILES
The GENFILES phase generates the new page, swap, and dump
files on the system. This phase changes the file sizes based
on AUTOGEN's calculations.
The GENFILES phase does not modify a file if the calculated
size change is within ten percent of the existing file size.
The following files are affected: PAGEFILE.SYS, SWAPFILE.SYS,
SYSDUMP.DMP, and all other currently installed page and swap
files. For more information, refer to the chapter on managing
page, swap and dump files in the HP OpenVMS System Manager's Manual.
GENFILES is valid only as an end phase. GENFILES requires the
SYSPRV privilege.
3.6 – SETPARAMS
The SETPARAMS phase uses as its input the SETPARAMS.DAT file
created during the GENPARAMS phase. In this phase, AUTOGEN runs
SYSMAN to update the system parameter values in the default
parameter file.
On VAX systems, the default parameter file is
SYS$SYSTEM:VAXVMSSYS.PAR. AUTOGEN saves the current system
parameters in the file SYS$SYSTEM:VAXVMSSYS.OLD before updating
these parameters in SYS$SYSTEM:VAXVMSSYS.PAR. The new values are
also saved in SYS$SYSTEM:AUTOGEN.PAR.
On Alpha systems, SYS$SYSTEM:ALPHAVMSSYS.PAR is the default
parameter file. AUTOGEN saves the current system parameters
in the file SYS$SYSTEM:ALPHAVMSSYS.OLD before updating these
parameters in SYS$SYSTEM:ALPHAVMSSYS.PAR. The new values are also
saved in SYS$SYSTEM:AUTOGEN.PAR.
On I64 systems, SYS$SYSTEM:IA64VMSSYS.PAR is the default
parameter file. AUTOGEN saves the current system parameters
in the file SYS$SYSTEM:IA64VMSSYS.OLD before updating these
parameters in SYS$SYSTEM:IA64VMSSYS.PAR. The new values are
also saved in SYS$SYSTEM:AUTOGEN.PAR.
The SETPARAMS phase is valid as a start phase and an end phase.
SETPARAMS requires the SYSPRV and OPER privileges.
3.7 – SHUTDOWN
SHUTDOWN shuts down the system and awaits a manual reboot. To
use the new system parameter values generated in the SETPARAMS
phase, specify either SHUTDOWN or REBOOT as the end phase. You
can define the logical name AGEN$SHUTDOWN_TIME (using the DCL
command DEFINE) to specify the number of minutes before shutdown
occurs.
SHUTDOWN requires the SETPRV privilege.
3.8 – REBOOT
REBOOT automatically shuts down and reboots the system, thus
installing the new parameter values. To install the new system
parameter values generated in the SETPARAMS phase, specify either
SHUTDOWN or REBOOT as the end phase. You can define the logical
name AGEN$SHUTDOWN_TIME (using the DCL command DEFINE) to specify
the number of minutes before shutdown occurs.
REBOOT requires the SETPRV privilege.
3.9 – HELP
HELP displays help information about AUTOGEN to the screen.
The HELP phase is only valid as the start phase command line
parameter. When you specify HELP for the start phase, the end
phase and execution mode parameters are ignored.
4 – Execution Modes
Specify an execution mode when you invoke AUTOGEN to control how
AUTOGEN uses feedback. The following table lists the execution-
mode options.
Option Description
FEEDBACK Specifies that AUTOGEN run in feedback mode, using
dynamic feedback collected during the SAVPARAMS
phase to make its calculations.
NOFEEDBACK Specifies that AUTOGEN not use feedback in the
calculations. The feedback from the SAVPARAMS
phase is ignored. Use NOFEEDBACK mode for the
initial system installation or upgrade. NOFEEDBACK
supersedes the execution-mode option INITIAL, which
was used in a previous version of the operating
system.
CHECK_ Specifies that AUTOGEN use feedback in its
FEEDBACK calculations as long as the feedback is valid. If
feedback is suspect, AUTOGEN does not use feedback
in the calculations, but continues through the
specified end phase.
Blank If you do not specify an execution mode, AUTOGEN
uses feedback in the calculations by default.
However, if AUTOGEN determines that the feedback
might be suspect, it performs the calculations,
issues the feedback report, and stops before
modifying any parameters or system files, even if
you specified an end phase of GENFILES, SETPARAMS,
SHUTDOWN or REBOOT.
5 – Syntax
To invoke AUTOGEN, use the following syntax to enter a command at
the DCL command prompt:
$ @SYS$UPDATE:AUTOGEN [start-phase] [end-phase] [execution-mode]
You are returned to DCL level when the command has finished
processing unless you specify SHUTDOWN or REBOOT as the end-phase
parameter.
5.1 – Parameters
start-phase
Specify the phase where AUTOGEN is to begin executing. The phase
specified for start-phase must either precede or be identical to
the phase specified for end-phase. If you do not supply an option
for the start-phase parameter, enter a null argument (that is, ""
). If you do not specify a start phase, GENPARAMS is the default.
end-phase
Specify the phase where AUTOGEN is to complete executing. If you
do not specify an end phase, the end phase has the same value as
the start phase by default.
execution-mode
Specify one of the following execution-mode options to control
how AUTOGEN uses feedback:
o FEEDBACK
o NOFEEDBACK
o CHECK_FEEDBACK
o Blank
See the separate help topic "Execution_Modes" for a description
of each option listed here.
6 – MODPARAMS.DAT
AUTOGEN reads a parameter file named SYS$SYSTEM:MODPARAMS.DAT
during the GETDATA phase. You can add commands to this file to
control the system parameter values and file sizes that AUTOGEN
sets.
The commands you add to MODPARAMS.DAT use the following formats
to define symbols that control parameter values:
Symbol
Operation Format Example
Increment a value ADD_* ADD_GBLPAGES=500
Specify a minimum value MIN_* MIN_PAGEDYN=400000
Specify a maximum value MAX_* MAX_PAGEDYN=400000
Specify an absolute value Parameter SCSNODE="BIGVAX"
name
NOTE
Specify an absolute value only for parameters that AUTOGEN
does not calculate, for example, SCSNODE and SCSSYSTEMID.
For more detailed information, refer to the chapter about
managing system parameters in the HP OpenVMS System Manager's
Manual.