Administering COHERENT" -- Overview" "
To administer a COHERENT system, you must know how to
do the following:
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- Perform backups, manage archives and purge old files.
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- Set up and manage complex system, such as mail, UUCP,
and the print spooler.
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- Attach peripheral devices, such as terminals, modems,
and printers.
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- Install third-party software.
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- Configure the kernel, and add or configure device
drivers.
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- Act as a resource person for other users.
Overview Lexicon Articles
Many users who have purchased COHERENT for their personal
use will find some of these tasks to be confusing or
daunting. This is especially true if they have had no
previous exposure to UNIX or similar operating systems.
Such a person will find the following Lexicon articles to be
helpful:
- bbaacckkuuppss
- When and how to back up your system, using tape or
floppy disks.
- bboooottiinngg
- How booting works. In particular, it shows how to boot
a kernel other than the default kernel.
- CCDD--RROOMM
- Introduce how to use CD-ROM drives under COHERENT.
- ccoonnssoollee
- This introduces the device /dev/console.
It also lists the many escape sequences with which you can
change the appearance and behavior of the console.
- ddeevviiccee ddrriivveerrss
- The suite of device drivers available under COHERENT.
This article also gives a
- ffllooppppyy ddiisskkss
- Information about floppy disks. This describes the
floppy-disk devices available under COHERENT, how to format
floppy disks, and how to record data on a floppy disk using
a COHERENT file systems, a tar archive, or
an file systems.
- hhaarrdd ddiisskk
- This gives basic information about hard disks. In
particular, it discusses the devices by which hard disks are
accessed, and how to partition a hard disk.
- IIRRQQ
- This article lists the IRQs available on the IBM PC.
- kkeerrnneell
- This introduces the kernel, which is the
master program of COHERENT. It also gives examples of how
to configure and patch the kernel.
- kkeeyybbooaarrdd
- This introduces the suite of keyboard drivers available
for the COHERENT keyboard.
- llppsscchheedd
- This command is the daemon for the lp
print spooler. For an overview of lp and
the other print spoolers, see the Lexicon entry for
printer.
- mmaaiill
- This gives an overview of the COHERENT mail system --
both commands and configuration files.
- mmooddeemm
- This describes how to add a modem to your COHERENT
system. It also introduces the communications programs
available under COHERENT.
- pprriinntteerr
- This describes how to add a printer to your system. It
also gives an overview of the various print spoolers
available with COHERENT, and how to configure each to work
with a variety of printers.
- RRSS--223322
- This presents the design and pin-out of the RS-232
plug, which is the standard plug for serial and parallel
ports on the IBM PC and its clones.
- sseeccuurriittyy
- This article discusses the problem of system security
-- that is, how to let your users but keep the ``crackers''
out.
- ttaappee
- This introduces tape devices. It describes how to
access tape, and goes into some detail on how to manage tape
archives.
- tteerrmmiinnaall
- This describes how to plug a terminal into your system,
and configure it correctly.
- ttbboooott
- The tertiary boot is the program that loads the
COHERENT kernel into memory and launches it. This article
describes it. You probably will never need to work with
tboot-- but you never know.
- vviirrttuuaall ccoonnssoollee
- COHERENT supports virtual consoles, whereby several
console sessions can be run on the same physical device.
This describes how to set up and manage virtual consoles on
your system.
System Files
The COHERENT system is controlled by system files
and daemons. System files contain the
information that controls the minute-to-minute operation of
the COHERENT system. A daemon is a program that the system
runs to manage a peripheral device or perform some other
task that does not require the intervention of a human.
COHERENT's system files and daemons are described in the
following Lexicon articles:
- //uussrr//lliibb//mmaaiill//aalliiaasseess
- This file holds the aliases by which your system is
known to other systems.
- aattrruunn
- This daemon executes other commands at a preset time.
A user can use the command at to spool
another command for execution at a later time.
- //eettcc//bboooottttiimmee
- This file records the date and time your system was
last booted.
- //eettcc//bbrrcc
- COHERENT executes this script when your system enters
single-user mode. It performs maintenance chores.
- //eettcc//cchheecckklliisstt
- This file lists the devices to check with
fsck when you boot COHERENT.
- //uussrr//lliibb//mmaaiill//ccoonnffiigg
- This file performs overall configuration of
smail.
- //uussrr//lliibb//uuuuccpp//ccoonnffiigg
- This file performs overall configuration of UUCP".
- //uussrr//ssppooooll//mmllpp//ccoonnttrroollss
- This file holds the data base for the MLP print
spooler.
- ccoorree
- This Lexicon entry describes the format of a core file
-- that, the file that a program dumps when it fails
catastrophically.
- //eettcc//ccrroonn
- This daemon reads a data base of commands to execute
periodically, and executes each when its time comes round at
last.
- //eettcc//dd__ppaasssswwdd
- This file holds the passwords that control access to
your system via peripheral devices. For example, you can
set an extra password in this file for all users who may
attempt to log in via modem.
- //uussrr//lliibb//uuuuccpp//ddiiaall
- This file holds the information by which UUCP" dials a
modem.
- //eettcc//ddiiaalluuppss
- This file names every peripheral device that requires
an additional password.
- //uussrr//lliibb//mmaaiill//ddiirreeccttoorrss
- Name the director routines that smail
uses, and configure them.
- //eettcc//ddoommaaiinn
- This file names the mail domain to which your system
belongs.
- //eettcc//ddrrvvlldd..aallll
- This file names the loadable drivers to load when you
boot your system.
- $$HHOOMMEE//..ffoorrwwaarrdd
- This File lets you set a forwarding address for mail.
- //eettcc//ggeettttyy
- This daemon initializes a serial port, watches the
port, and assists any user who attempts to log into your
system.
- //eettcc//ggrroouupp
- This file define groups of users on your system.
- //eettcc//hhoossttss
- This file gives the name and address of every host on
your local network.
- //eettcc//hhoossttss..eeqquuiivv
- This file names ``equivalent hosts'' on your local
network -- that is, the hosts that have identical (or nearly
identical) sets of users.
- //eettcc//hhoossttss..llppdd
- This file holds the name and domain of your local host.
- //uussrr//lliibb//hhppdd
- This daemon is a spooler daemon for a laser printer.
- //eettcc//iinneettdd..ccoonnff
- This file configures the Internet daemons.
- //eettcc//iinniitt
- Command helps to bring COHERENT into multi-user mode.
It also helps users to log in.
- $$HHOOMMEE//..kksshhrrcc
- This script configures the Korn shell to suit your
tastes.
- $$HHOOMMEE//..llaassttllooggiinn
- This file records the date and time you last logged in
to your COHERENT system.
- llooggiinn
- This command logs a user in to your COHERENT system.
Its Lexicon article also describes the entire convoluted
process of managing an enabled port and logging a user in.
- //eettcc//ddeeffaauulltt//llooggiinn
- This file sets default values for logging in.
- //uussrr//aaddmm//llooggiinnlloogg
- This file logs failed attempts to log in.
- //eettcc//llooggmmssgg
- This file holds the COHERENT login prompt. If you do
not like the prompt
Coherent 386 login:
-
- and a beep, you can change it by editing this file.
- //uussrr//lliibb//llppdd
- This daemon manages the MLP print spooler.
- //eettcc//ccoonnff//mmddeevviiccee
- This file describes the device drivers currently
available on your system.
- //eettcc//mmnnttttaabb
- This file holds the mount table -- that is, the table
that describes which file systems are mounted, and what
directories they are mounted on.
- //eettcc//mmoottdd
- This file holds the message of the day -- a message
that is printed on each user's terminal when she logs in.
- //eettcc//mmoouunntt..aallll
- This file names the disk devices to mount when your
system enters multi-user mode.
- //eettcc//ccoonnff//mmttuunnee
- This file names the set of variables in the kernel and
its device drivers that you can ``tune,'' to modify the
kernel's behavior.
- //eettcc//nneettwwoorrkkss
- This file describes remote networks that your system
can contact.
- //eettcc//nnoollooggiinn
- This file, if it exists, prevents users from logging
in. It is used during special periods of time, such as when
you wish to shut the system down.
- //eettcc//ppaasssswwdd
- This file describes every user who has permission to
log into your system.
- //uussrr//lliibb//mmaaiill//ppaatthhss
- This file holds the information by which your system
routes mail to other systems.
- //uussrr//lliibb//uuuuccpp//ppoorrtt
- This file describes the serial ports through which
UUCP" can dial out from your system.
- //eettcc//pprrooffiillee
- This script sets up the default environment for each
user on your system.
- $$HHOOMMEE//..pprrooffiillee
- This script holds commands that are executed when a
given user logs in to your COHERENT system.
- //eettcc//pprroottooccoollss
- This file names the Internet protocols that your system
supports.
- //uussrr//bbiinn//rraammddiisskk
- This script lets you build a RAM disk on your system.
- //eettcc//rrcc
- This script is executed when your system enters multi-
user mode. It normally performs standard housekeeping
chores.
- //uussrr//lliibb//mmaaiill//rroouutteerrss
- This file names the routing programs that
smail uses, and configures them.
- //eettcc//ccoonnff//ssddeevviiccee
- This file holds the information by which device drivers
are configured when you build a kernel.
- //eettcc//sseerriiaallnnoo
- This file holds your system's serial number, which you
entered when you first installed COHERENT.
- //eettcc//sseerrvviicceess
- This file lists the Internet services that your system
supports.
- //eettcc//sshhaaddooww
- This file holds each user's password.
- //eettcc//ccoonnff//ssttuunnee
- This file sets the values of tunable kernel variables.
- //uussrr//lliibb//uuuuccpp//ssyyss
- This file describes the remote systems that you can
contact via UUCP", and how to contact them.
- tteerrmm
- This Lexicon article describes the format of a compiled
terminfo file.
- //eettcc//tteerrmmccaapp
- This file holds termcap terminal-
description data base.
- tteerrmmiinnffoo
- This article describes the terminfo
terminal-description language. Its data base is kept in
directory /usr/lib/terminfo.
- //uussrr//lliibb//mmaaiill//ttrraannssppoorrttss
- This file names the transport routines that
smail can use, and configures them.
- //eettcc//ttrruussttmmee
- This file names of trusted users -- that is, users who
can log in even if file /etc/nologin
exists.
- //eettcc//ttttyyss
- This file describes terminal ports -- that is, the
ports via which a user can log in. This includes both
serial ports and pseudo-ttys.
- //eettcc//uuppddaattee
- This daemon periodically flushes all buffered
information to disk.
- //eettcc//uussrrttiimmee
- This file holds the time, day of the week, and terminal
line by which each user can log into your COHERENT system.
- //eettcc//uuttmmpp
- This file notes every login event that has not yet
concluded -- that is, a user has logged in but not logged
out again. You can examine this file to see who is using
your system at this moment.
- //eettcc//uuuuccppnnaammee
- This file sets your system's UUCP" name -- that is, the
name by which it is known to all other systems.
- //eettcc//ddeeffaauulltt//wweellccoommee
- This script is executed whenever a user logs in for the
first time. It gives the new user some basic information
and advice.
- //uussrr//aaddmm//wwttmmpp
- This file notes every login event that has concluded --
that is, a user has logged in and logged out again. You can
examine this file to see who has logged into your system in
the past, and for how long.
Finally, the following header files also hold information on
file formats:
aacccctt..hh Format for process-accounting file
aarr..hh Format for archive files
ccaannoonn..hh Portable layout of binary data
ccooffff..hh Define format of COHERENT 386 objects
ll..oouutt..hh Define format of COHERENT 286 objects
mmttaabb..hh Currently mounted file systems
uuttmmpp..hh Login accounting information
For a fuller description of each file and its contents, see
its entry in the Lexicon.
See Also