VMS Process States

[tongai maramba_1]

Hi I have two unrelated questions:

1. (Schoolboy question), can someone tell me where I can find info on what all the different process states which are listed from $show system command (eg LEF, HIB and the MUTEX ones).

2. Not sure if this is the right place to ask the question, but for TCPIP v5.4 on VMS 7.3-2: I'd like to run a tcptrace to monitor incoming traffic from an external node... but I'd like to run it constantly for an extended period of time (e.g. 48hrs).

The only way I know to do this is: $tcptrace/packet=[some huge number]/port=23

a. is there a better way?
b. what will the tcptrace do to network performance?

Thanks
Tongai

[Ian Miller. · Accepted solution]

there is a list of the processes in the SHOW SYSTEM documentation here
http://h71000.www7.hp.com/doc/732FINAL/9996/9996pro_080.html#brass_126

have a look at HELP TCPDUMP to see of that is more suited to your requirements that TCPIPTRACE

[Ian Miller.]

Tongai, I forgot to say Welcome to the itrc VMS forum - we try an answer any level of techical answer here including schoolboy ones :-)

See
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/helptips.do?#28
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/helptips.do?#overview

[tongai maramba_1]

Hi Ian,

Thanks for the answer and the welcome!

I'm sure you'll be hearing from me a lot :-)

[Andy Bustamante]

I'd be worried about disk space, at least on one of my systems. You may also consider using tcpdump, which is supported under TCPIP 5.4.

Both tcpdump and tcptrace file formats are supported under Ethereal, an open source network monitoring and analysis tool that I highly recommend. If I ever meet the guy who added support for tcptrace files, I'll buy him much beer.

[Jan van den Ende]

Tongai,

maybe besides your question, but at the moment to me _YOU_ are what is interesting!

How did a "schoolboy" get interested in VMS?

I am not sure whether you realise it, but your kind has (alas!) become very rare (but MUCH appreciated!)

Has someone in your personal environment convinced you, or is this "from school"?

Please, tell us more!

Oh, I usually end with
Cheers (in various languages) and
Have one on me.

but, am I allowed that in your case?

Well, you get the intent!


Jan

[labadie_1]

While Ian's answer is absolutely 100 % correct, you can often see some more states that will appear in future Vms versions with

lib/extract=$rsndef/out=rsn.mar sys$library:lib.mlb

will put in rsn.mar the list of states.

[tongai maramba_1]

Hi Jan,
I'm afraid it was only the question that was basic enough for a schoolboy. Its been a long time since I left school!

Consequently I will indeed be having a drink or two!

Cheers
Tongai

[Ian Miller.]

note rsn.mar from above will also contain some process states that are no longer used.

re performance - the performance of other nodes in the network is not affected. On the node running tcpdump each matching ip packet will be copied and written to disk - this will cause additional load dependent on the traffic.

[Jan van den Ende]

Ongai,

no offence meant, but all the more regrettable!
I really would have liked to see some 20- people young blood infusion into the VMS community.

So, have an extra one on me!

Proost.

Jan

[Jeffery D. Urmann]

"I really would have liked to see some 20- people young blood infusion into the VMS community."

I`m only 29.

...in hexadecimal that is...sorry, couldn``t resist.

Enjoy,

--Jeff

[John Gillings]

All good info so far, but since you specifically asked about MUTEX, there's a bit more to the story...

The "real" MUTEX state is used while a process is holding a MUTEX. In that state, it will have a priority of 16 and the code paths are very short. So, the only place you're ever likely to see a "real" one is in a crash dump, and even then, they are extremely rare.

For a long time MUTEX has been "borrowed" to indicate a process is waiting for a pooled quota (BYTLM and/or TQELM). Any MUTEX you see in SHOW SYSTEM is likely to be one of these.

As of V7.3-1 (-2?) the states of these processes in SDA are displayed as WTBYT and WTTQE, but SHOW SYSTEM still displays them as MUTEX.

I also think there's an error in the documentation table.

"MUTEX 1 (Miscellaneous wait)
...
1 MUTEX is output if one of the RW* states cannot be output."

I think that should be "MWAIT" not "MUTEX", but since it's highly unlikely to happen the point is probably moot.

[Wim Van den Wyngaert]

Tongai,

I have an old list that gives a little more info.

Wim

[Antoniov.]

Tongai,

I'm sure you'll be hearing from me a lot :-)

... and we are very happy listen you :-)
Welcome in VMS comunity.

About your first question, just for talking, the most used states are LEF and HIB.

Antonio Vigliotti

[DICTU OpenVMS]

And here is another "boy" of 28, who started with VMS at the age of 23... To bad I won't be able to reach my pension-age with VMS, as they (someone) promised me when I started with VMS ;-)

[Ian Miller.]

"For a long time MUTEX has been "borrowed" to indicate a process is waiting for a pooled quota (BYTLM and/or TQELM). "

I always thought it was a bug in SHOW SYSTEM where it sees a system address in PCB$L_EFM and assumes it is the address of a mutex where most often its the address of the JIB (for a pooled quota wait). Now that SDA is fixed parhaps someone will get around to fixing SHOW SYSTEM.

and for more information than you probably want then read the definitive book
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1555581560/qid=1105694914/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/102-4215251-3752139?v=glance&s=books

[Jan van den Ende]

Menco


To bad I won't be able to reach my pension-age with VMS, as they (someone) promised me when I started with VMS ;-)


... like the professional IT-cristal-ball watchers from Gartner announced in 1995 that VMS would be completely gone by 1998...

I may be somewhat older than you, but __I__ strongly intend to have "OpenVMS specialist" on __MY__ business card by the time I retire.

There is a commitment to the US DoD to support VMS for another 20 years, and the fines in such commitments tend to be unaffordable. Although we must just hope that if it is to be supported, such support will also be available to mere civilians, or foreigners...

Have a nice weekend.

Proost.

Have one on me.

Jan

[DICTU OpenVMS]

Jan,

I would also like to keep "OpenVMS System Manager" on my card till I'm retired. But sadly enough the european (Dutch) market for OpenVMS is shrinking. More and more customers are switching to UX because there's no software for OpenVMS. Most widely used, at sites I know, is the Oracle software. Nowadays you can only get the Oracle database server for OpenVMS. No application server or what so ever.

(sorry for my english, I think you get the point ;-)).

[Jan van den Ende]

Menco,
ik heb bepaald geen moeite met je Engels!

ANd Oracle also has Rdb and DBMS!
I would take Rdb over Oracle-Oracle any time, in DBMS? Nothing I ve ever seen beats that performance! (a bit Spartan on the programmer though!)
But sadly, I have to agree, VMS is dwindling at all but those sites where there is still knowledgebility in the decision-making management ranks.
I think it is up to the likes of us to keep the file burning.
As for advertising: if you ever think you might spot me on the road, there is an easy check: if you see no VMS license plate, it isn't me.

According to my former chief, I should also carry business cards with:
OpenVMS Gospel Preacher

Hey man, it's friday night. I am sitting behind a big glass of Grimbergen Triple right now.

Join me in one of your choice!

(en als je Willem G weer eens ziet, doe hem de groeten!)

Proost.

Have one on me.

Jan

[Jan van den Ende]

Menco,
ik heb bepaald geen moeite met je Engels!

And Oracle also has Rdb and DBMS!
I would take Rdb over Oracle-Oracle any time, and DBMS? Nothing I've ever seen beats that performance! (a bit Spartan on the programmer though!)
But sadly, I have to agree, VMS is dwindling at all but those sites where there is still knowledgability in the decision-making management ranks.
I think it is up to the likes of us to keep the fire burning.
As for advertising: if you ever think you might spot me on the road, there is an easy check: if you see no VMS license plates, it isn't me.

According to my former chief, I should also carry business cards with:
"OpenVMS Gospel Preacher"

Hey man, it's friday night. I am sitting behind a big glass of Grimbergen Triple right now.

Join me in one of your choice!

(en als je Willem G weer eens ziet, doe hem de groeten!)

Proost.

Have one on me.

Jan