/VOLUME_CHARACTERISTICS=([[NO]HARDLINKS,] [[NO]ACCESS_
       DATES[=delta-time]],[NO]SPECIAL_FILES)

    Applies to Files-11 On-Disk Structure Level 5 (ODS-5) disks only.

    Enables or disables hardlinks and automatic updates of access
    dates on ODS-5 volumes.

    The default value for delta-time is 1 second, chosen to comply
    with the "seconds since EPOCH" time interface required by
    POSIX st_atime. A site can choose a larger delta time to reduce
    overhead if 1-second granularity is not required.

    Note that the NOACCESS_DATES option affects only the node on
    which the command is issued. Other nodes are not affected by the
    change until the next time the volume is mounted.

    See the Guide to OpenVMS File Applications for additional
    information.

    The volume characteristic [SPECIAL_FILES] allows you to disable
    symlinks. This eliminates file access failure audits that may
    occur due to symlinks being enabled for all processes in the
    current implementation.