VMScluster Systems for OpenVMS

This document provides comprehensive procedures and guidelines for configuring and managing VAXcluster and VMScluster systems. It is intended for system managers responsible for maintaining these coupled system environments.

Key topics include:

• Introduction to VMScluster Environments: Explains shared resources (disk, tape, batch, print), interconnect devices (CI, DSSI, LAN), and software components.
• VMScluster Interconnect Configurations: Details various hardware configurations, including CI-based, DSSI-based, Local Area (LAN), and mixed-interconnect clusters, along with guidance on using FDDI.
• Integrity and Security: Covers connection management, the quorum scheme (including quorum disks), and maintaining a single security domain.
• Cluster Operating Environment: Provides steps to prepare common or multiple-environment clusters, including directory structures and coordinate system files.
• Cluster Management: Explains how to set up and manage cluster disks, tapes, and queues.
• Building and Maintaining the Cluster: Details the use of CLUSTER_CONFIG.COM to add/remove nodes, reconfigure clusters after major changes, and general maintenance tasks.
• Troubleshooting: Provides diagnostic procedures for boot/join failures, cluster hangs, and port device issues, including the use of SDA and LAN protocol analysis tools.
• Technical Appendices: Lists system parameters and provides sample programs and subroutines for network failure analysis and NISCA protocol troubleshooting.