Using F$Parse to grab a version number

[Rick Dyson]

I thought I understood that F$Parse would return the actual version number of a file. I want to monitor some log files that keep hitting 32767 versions too fast. :(

An test I just did:

$ dir net$server.log

Directory DISK$ICS:[DYSON]

NET$SERVER.LOG;657 NET$SERVER.LOG;656

Total of 2 files.
$ x = f$parse ("NET$SERVER.LOG",,,"VERSION")
$ sho sym x
X = ";"

What am I missing or doing wrong? I wanted to see the string "657". The on-line help suggests to me it should:

field

Specifies a character string containing the name of a field
in a file specification. Specifying the field argument causes
the F$PARSE function to return a specific portion of a file
specification.

Specify one of the following field names (do not abbreviate):

NODE Node name
DEVICE Device name
DIRECTORY Directory name
NAME File name
TYPE File type
VERSION File version number


Thanks,
Rick

[Karl Rohwedder · Accepted solution]

Rick,

try a

$ tmp = F$Search("NET$SERVER.LOG;*")
$ if (tmp.nes."")
$ then
$ vers = F$Parse("''Tmp'",,,"version")-";"
$ if (vers.gt.....)
$ endif

regards Kalle

[Rick Dyson]

Thank you for the idea Karl.

That will provide me with what I am looking for! I guess I just am reading the on-line help wrong for the F$Parse. It see it parses the literal string that is provided and if no version number is provided, it comes up empty. I read it that it takes the filespec and provides you with the version number (and I assumed unless otherwise specified, the current highest number). Apparently not. :)

Thanks!

[Rick Dyson]

I think I just read the on-line help incorrectly. Using a F$search for any/all files in a loop with the F$parse is apparently the approach that was probably intended.

Rick

[Hoff]

You defaulted the version in your original code, and f$parse indicates that with the ; result. DCL is working as intended, in other words.

What problem might you be seeking to address here?

If it's renumbering the versions of the NETSERVER log files lower and/or dealing with the impending ;32767 version, there's an easier way, assuming you can quiesce the environment briefly: http://64.223.189.234/node/456

[Rick Dyson]

Hi Hoff,

it is not netserver, per say. It is actually a problem with Process Software's SSH server. We are seeing as many as 10's of thousands of SSH connections per day tyring brute force password hacks. Each attempt opens a SSHD.LOG file. When the version gets to 32767, it starts doing crazy things, sometimes denying access, other times putting log session contents into data streams that are occurring in the session that does connect, etc.

Netserver (net$server) has caught me in the past, but never over and over again on time scales of a few days. More like once every few years. :)

I wanted a quick way to monitor the current version number and notify me of it approaching some threshold.

I did not fully grasp the description. I think I got it now once I saw an example of how Karl suggested using it.

[Hoff]

If you have the option, consider moving ssh off of port 22, and to another port. This greatly reduces the effects of the brute-force attacks.

I'd definitely ring up Process and see if they can rework sshd some to avoid this situation.

[Steven Schweda]

For a good time, see also a related
comp.os.vms thread:

http://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.vms/browse_thread/thread/4870fa27fc358aaa/8efd1a993fc1a8f9

[John Gillings]

As of V8.2 you can use DIRECTORY to find files nearing version limits:

$ DIRECTORY /SELECT=VERSION=MINIMUM=30000 disk:[000000...]*.*;

Once found, assuming a reasonably quiescent system, you can reset the version numbers with:

$ RENAME file.typ;* file.typ_TMP;
$ RENAME file.typ_TMP; file.typ;

This will take all existing versions of a file and renumber them in the same sequence starting from 1. The trailing semicolon is required.

Here's a procedure either reset a single file, or search for, and reset them:

VERSION_RESET.COM
$ IF F$EXTRACT(0,1,p1).EQS."#"
$ THEN
$ target=p1-"#"
$ GOTO 'target'
$ ENDIF
$
$ files=F$PARSE(";",p1,"SYS$DISK:[000000...]*.*;")
$ lim=p2
$ IF lim.EQS."" THEN lim="30000"
$ PIPE DIRECTORY/NOHEAD/NOTRAIL/SELECT=VERSION=MINIMUM='lim' 'files' | -
@'F$PARSE(";",F$ENVIRONMENT("PROCEDURE"))' #PROCESS SYS$PIPE
$ EXIT
$
$ PROCESS:
$ IF p2.EQS."" THEN p2="SYS$PIPE"
$ OPEN/READ in 'p2'
$ loop: READ/END=EndLoop in line
$ @'F$PARSE(";",F$ENVIRONMENT("PROCEDURE"))' #RESET 'line'
$ GOTO loop
$ EndLoop: CLOSE in
$ EXIT
$
$ RESET:
$ typ=".$"
$ IF F$PARSE(p2,,,"TYPE").EQS.typ THEN typ=".Z"
$ RENAME 'F$PARSE(";*",p2)' 'F$PARSE(";",typ,p2)'
$ RENAME 'F$PARSE(";*",typ,p2)' 'F$PARSE(";",p2)'
$ EXIT

usage:

to search for and reset multiple files

$ @VERSION_RESET filespec [minimum-version]

or for a single file

$ @VERSION_RESET #RESET filespec

[The Brit]

Rick,
If you want a 'one-liner', try

$ X = $f$elem(1,";",f$search("NET$SERVER.LOG",))

Dave