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Re: how to access USB in OpenVMS

 
linuxlover
Occasional Contributor

how to access USB in OpenVMS

hello,

I am using OpenVMS 8.3 version on HP Integrity rx 3600 servers. It has two usb ports on back.
How c an I access usb in OpenVMS ?

Waiting for to say thanks (^_^)
7 REPLIES 7
John Gillings
Honored Contributor

Re: how to access USB in OpenVMS

It depends...

If you want to use "standard" devices (meaning storage, keyboards, mice), make sure you've executed SYS$STARTUP:USB$STARTUP then just plug in the device. In theory a device should appear which you can use.

Note if it's a memory stick formatted as FAT or NTFS, you won't be able to read it from OpenVMS directly. Similarly, if you INITIALIZE one of these devices as an ODS volume, you won't be able to read it from Windows or Linux. Maybe one day this will be built into OpenVMS (there are ways of doing this, in both directions. I'm sure Hoff will elaborate)

OpenVMS recognises a few other devices (basically anything which has been physically sent to the USB engineer accompanied by sufficient beer ;-)

If you have a device which OpenVMS doesn't yet recognise, you can write your own driver. See SYS$COMMON:[SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.USB] for documentation, examples and templates.
A crucible of informative mistakes
Steven Schweda
Honored Contributor

Re: how to access USB in OpenVMS

> How c an I access usb in OpenVMS ?

You might get a more useful answer if you
said something about what you want to do when
you "access usb".
linuxlover
Occasional Contributor

Re: how to access USB in OpenVMS


Thanks John Gillings for your prompt reply.

My intention is to use USB flash drive (memory stick ) .

As you said
if you INITIALIZE one of these devices as an ODS volume, you won't be able to read it from Window or Linux.


So Can I use my USB memory stick to transfer data between rx3600 servers having Openvms 8.3.

How will usb be access and initialize ?
Willem Grooters
Honored Contributor

Re: how to access USB in OpenVMS

Check the OpenVMS FAQ, there may be entries on USB, and Hoff has published on the subject on hist site (http://64.223.189.234/node/168).

for ODS format: there are some tools that allow you to access an ODS-2 formatted device, for Windows and Linux. There is a link for the latter on Hoff's page. (AFAIK, there is no such tool for ODS-5 format (yet)
Willem Grooters
OpenVMS Developer & System Manager
Robert Gezelter
Honored Contributor

Re: how to access USB in OpenVMS

linuxlover,

You will be able to use your stick, it will appear as a disk.

You will have to INITIALIZE it first (see the appropriate HELP text for details of syntax). The INITIALIZE will put the appropriate OpenVMS disk structure information on the stick.

- Bob Gezelter, http://www.rlgsc.com
Steven Schweda
Honored Contributor

Re: how to access USB in OpenVMS

If you're looking for interchange with a
non-VMS system, you might consider mtools,
one VMS port of which is available here:

http://antinode.org/dec/sw/mtools.html

For VMS-VMS use, it behaves the same as any
other disk (or disk-like device).
Simon Mills_1
New Member

Re: how to access USB in OpenVMS

Corrected URL for MTOOLS -

http://antinode.info/dec/sw/mtools.html
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