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Features of The Initial System Loader (ISL)
ISL provides a convenient user interface for loading the utilities used
to create, start, update, and dump the MPE XL operating system. ISL
provides its own online help for ISL commands. It also provides the
ability to load certain MPE XL utilities from the ISL prompt, These
include DISCUTIL, IOMAP, SADPATCH, CLKUTIL, and SAT. These utilities are
used mainly for administering and maintaining the system. For a complete
list of these utilities, refer to System Startup, Configuration and
Shutdown Reference Manual (32650-90045). For more information on each
utility, refer to MPE XL System Utilities Reference Manual (32650-90081).
When loaded, ISL displays its revision number (the number and date may
differ from the following example) and prompts for input:
ISL Revision 2634 August, 1986
ISL>
On tape boots, ISL is loaded directly by the Processor Dependent Code
(PDC). ISL reads a directory of files called the Logical Interface Format
(LIF) directory from tape and uses this directory to find other files on
the tapes.
On disk boots, the PDC and I/O Dependent Code (IODC) routines boot the
utility Main Memory Save (MMSAVE), which in turn boots ISL:
* PDC and IODC read the first record or sector of the boot device,
which is the LIF label. The LIF label contains a pointer to the
MMSAVE boot image.
* PDC reads and launches MMSAVE.
* MMSAVE writes 8 or more megabytes of main memory to the DUMPAREA
file, whose address is found in the LIF Directory. This allows
memory space for the ISL and DUMP utilities to be loaded.
* MMSAVE loads ISL and transfers control to it.
* ISL then uses the LIF Label to find the LIF Directory and reads
it. ISL uses the directory to find other files that it needs.
ISL Commands
ISL commands provide information on, or modify, the configurations for
system startup parameters, nonvolatile memory, and stable storage. These
commands are described in Table 2-2 , below. Do not confuse the ISL
commands with the system load and start utilities that are run at the ISL
prompt, and described in Table 2-4 .
Table 2-2. ISL Commands
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| | |
| COMMAND | FUNCTION |
| | |
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| | |
| HELP | Lists ISL commands and definitions, along with the ISL |
| | utilities available through the selected boot media. |
| | |
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| | |
| ? | The abbreviated command for the HELP facility. Performs the |
| | same function as HELP. |
| | |
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| | |
| LISTF | Lists the ISL utilities available through the selected boot |
| | media. |
| | |
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| | |
| LS | The abbreviated command for LISTF. Performs the same |
| | function as LISTF. |
| | |
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| | |
| AUTOBOOT | Sets or clears the autoboot flag in stable storage. |
| | |
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| | |
| AUTOSEARCH | Sets or clears the autosearch flag in stable storage. |
| | |
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| | |
| PRIMPATH | Modifies the primary boot path in stable storage. |
| | |
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| | |
| ALTPATH | Modifies the alternate boot path in stable storage. |
| | |
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| | |
| CONSPATH | Modifies the system Console path in stable storage. |
| | |
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| | |
| DISPLAY | Displays the current paths in stable storage for the primary |
| | and alternate boot paths, the Console path, and the status |
| | of the autoboot and autosearch flags. |
| | |
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| | |
| READNVM | Displays the contents of one word (four bytes) of |
| | nonvolatile memory (NVM) in standard hexadecimal format. |
| | You may specify the word address in either decimal or |
| | hexadecimal. |
| | |
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| | |
| READSS | Displays the contents of one word (four bytes) of stable |
| | storage. You may specify the word address in either decimal |
| | or hexadecimal. The display will be in standard hexadecimal |
| | format. |
| | |
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For information on using these commands, refer to System Startup,
Configuration and Shutdown Reference Manual (32650-90042)