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Conference 44.370::system_management

Title:system management communications forum
Moderator:CHEST::THOMPSON
Created:Fri Mar 21 1986
Last Modified:Thu Jul 08 1993
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:490
Total number of notes:2018

218.0. "TESTINSTAL availability" by INCH::SYSTEM () Wed Mar 01 1989 19:22

    VMSINSTAL creates system wide logicals and symbols. If a second
    version were to be invoked at the same time the two processes would
    interfere with each others logicals and/or symbols.
    
    For this reason the TESTINSTAL account will be available for one
    user at a time. Bookings for this can be made via the Calldesk.
    
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218.1But we only wanted to install some programsCURRNT::GREEN_KWell it nearly worksWed Mar 01 1989 19:3923
    It is clearly not practical for a user to book a testinstall account
    for several days and have it to the exclusion of all others. We
    know from our own experience today that occasions will arise when
    a testinstall account is needed by others at short notice.
    
    The system which appears to have evolved during today is that when
    the original 'owner' of Testinstall can spare it for an hour or
    more, they inform the calldesk of the person who is to 'borrow'
    it, and the inform that person of the password. When that person
    has finished with it, they inform the calldesk that they are handing
    it back, and inform the original owner that they have finished.
    Presumably the original owner would then wish to change the password.
    
    Could we have confirmation that this is now the way that things
    should operate.
    
    Our own requirement was a need to install some programs. Would it
    be possible to have one/several accounts available for 'hire' in
    the same way that testinstall is, but with more limited privilages
    sufficient to do things like this ?    
    

    Keith
218.2General privileged accountsINCH::GARLANDHoward GARLAND @UCG, 781-4323Thu Mar 02 1989 12:3016
    I will add my support to the final paragraph of the last note.
    
    i.e. Since we will need privileged accounts for activities other
    than VMSINSTAL, how about the following accounts existing:
    
    	TESTINSTALL - for doing VMSINSTALs, all privileges.
    
    	PRIVILEGED1 - for doing everything else other than VMSINSTAL,
    			all privileges.
    	PRIVILEGED2 - as above
    	PRIVILEGED3 - as above
    
    How about it?
    
    Howard
          
218.3A stickler for accuracy - if nothing else!GROYNE::HAYESIan Hayes, DTN 781 ext 4327Mon Mar 20 1989 16:4222
	TIME OUT
    
    I know I'm being picky and it isn't relevant to the subject of this
    topic, but...
    
    RE: .0
    >    VMSINSTAL creates system wide logicals and symbols. If a second
    >version were to be invoked at the same time the two processes would
    >interfere with each others logicals and/or symbols.

    There is no such thing as a system wide symbol. All symbols are
    process-private. If I remember correctly, the main reason that
    VMSINSTAL trips itself up if it is run more than once at a time
    is because it uses temporary files with a fixed name. Hence when
    the first invocation of VMSINSTAL deletes them, the second gets
    upset because the file it expected to find ain't there no more!
    
    It also gets a bit hairy if two VMSINSTALs try to update the DCL
    tables or the help library at the same time.
    
    Now, back to work.
    Ian.