In its initial concept, OpenVMS (then VAX/VMS) sought to provide the functionality and capabilities of a mainframe-class system at a small fraction of the size and cost, while at the same time providing higher levels of reliability and integrity. These goals were achieved by what has become OpenVMS' hallmark, an
emphasis on integrity and architectural leverage. Note: This is an entry to our OS Contest.
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Member since:2006-07-18
w-ber,
Yes, logical names can point to any point in a directory tree, for example:
$ ASSIGN DISK$USERS:[GEZELTER.KUMQUAT] DATAFILES
means that the open statement using the filename DATAFILES:JUNK.DAT will refer to a file in DISK$USERS:[GEZELTER.KUMQUAT].
As has been aluded to, you can also use the logical name facility to create something akin to *IX mount points. In the OpenVMS case, for the purposes of filename parsing, a (sub)directory appears to be the root of an entirely different directory tree. The logical name facility is more extensively discussed (with some examples) in a series of five columns available from OpenVMS.org at http://www.openvms.org/stories.php?story=02/09/24/5441505
- Bob Gezelter, http://www.rlgsc.com
Member since:2006-07-19
Member since:
2005-08-21
You know, the way you can create aliases for disk drives reminds me of AmigaOS. Can you do that also on a directory basis? AmigaOS assigned several aliases by default, like LIBS: to SYS:Libs/ and SYS: to the boot drive root directory (often DF0: or DH0:).
And now for the childish comment: I found it funny that there are at least two common acronyms used in the OpenVMS world that are also real persons in computer science or a related field: AST and RMS. (Andrew S. Tanenbaum and Richard M. Stallman, resp.)