OpenVMS Registry

[Michael D. Feeney]

Could some one give me a brief synopsis of the OpenVMS Registry? I am trying to research HP Advanced Server as a replacement for NFS and the installation guide mentions the Registry. I would like to understand what that is too, but I can't find any documentation on it. Is there any?

[Ian Miller. · Accepted solution]

See part II of
COM, Registry, and Events for HP OpenVMS Developer's Guide
http://h71000.www7.hp.com/doc/82final/6539/6539pro.html

[Ian Miller.]

See part II of
COM, Registry, and Events for HP OpenVMS Developer's Guide
http://h71000.www7.hp.com/doc/82final/6539/6539pro.html

12.1 What is the Registry?

The Windows Registry is a single, systemwide, hierarchical database of configuration information about hardware and software (both the operating system and applications). The Windows Registry replaced Windows 3.x .ini files, providing a single place for storing application and configuration information.

To allow OpenVMS and Windows to interoperate, HP has provided a registry on OpenVMS. Like the Windows Registry, the OpenVMS Registry is made up of two components: the OpenVMS Registry database and the OpenVMS Registry server. The OpenVMS Registry database is a systemwide or clusterwide hierarchical database of configuration information. This information is stored in a database structure of keys and associated values. The OpenVMS Registry server controls all OpenVMS Registry operations, such as creating and backing up the OpenVMS Registry database, and creating, displaying, modifying, or deleting keys and values.

The OpenVMS Registry includes interfaces (COM APIs and system services) to allow applications to control the OpenVMS Registry server and to read and write to the OpenVMS Registry database. The OpenVMS Registry also includes server management utilities to allow system managers to display and update OpenVMS Registry information from the OpenVMS DCL command line.

[Ian Miller.]

Note there is a freeware implementation of REGEDIT available from
http://www.oooovms.dyndns.org/regedit/

[Michael D. Feeney]

Ian, Thanks for the links.

Is there any use for the OpenVMS Registry? Or is it just something needed for Advanced Server to work?

Is it safe? Do I need to worry about it?

[Ian Miller.]

I have not seen anything but Advanced Server use it.

[Phillip Thayer]

I have seen it used in a particular application (Cerner Millenium) as a way to determine application startup and functionality control. They seem to not have too much problems with it.

Phil

[Klaes-Göran Carlsson]

Why not add the line
"I have not seen anything but Advanced Server use it."
into all documentation talking about registry. Then people don't have to wonder what it is.
I have spent some minuts digging into registry, thought it was some kernel magic.

So, that simple line told me everything I need to know:)

[Ian Miller.]

The registry was implemented as a general purpose facility. I suspect its creation was prompted by Advanced Server code being ported from windows and windows programs often use the registry. So, although it was created for Advanced Server (probably) it can be used by anything. As far as I can see it looks like the windows registry (I know little about MS Windows and am glad to keep it that way :-)

[Michael D. Feeney]

Thanks