Installing Software

Some OpenVMS software products must be installed using then SYS$UPDATE:VMSINSTAL.COM command procedure; others use the POLYCENTER Software Installation Utility (PCSI) via the DCL PRODUCT command. Yet others may have their own installation methods, such as an included command procedure.

Consult your software documentation for details about installing a particular product. Many products come with a sample installation procedure for you to examine before starting. Please note that some products may require that a software license be loaded before the product is installed.

If You're Stuck with Savesets Only

You may sometimes receive software in the form of BACKUP savesets with no additional instructions. In this case, log in as user SYSTEM and use the VMSINSTAL procedure. You must supply the name of the product and the directory that contains the savesets. Let's say you have the savesets for Bells-n-Whistles V2.0 in a directory:

     $ DIRECTORY/SIZE     Directory DKA400:[SOFTWARE_KITS]     BELLS020.A;1      118     BELLS020.B;1     3014     BELLS020.C;1     4417 

The general VMSINSTAL command is

     $ @sys$update:vmsinstal product kit_directory 

In this example, the actual command would be

     $ @SYS$UPDATE:VMSINSTAL BELLS020 DKA400:[SOFTWARE_KITS]             OpenVMS VAX Software Product Installation Procedure V7.3     It is 9-APR-2003 at 18:06.     Enter a question mark (?) at any time for help. 

VMSINSTALL will invoke the installation procedure for the product and ask you a series of questions. The questions asked are entirely dependent on the software product being installed.

After you have answered all the questions, VMSINSTAL will complete the installation of the product.