Owner`s manual

AM-6000 Computer Owner's Manual, Rev. 00
Chapter 5 - System Administration
"System Operator" is the title we give the person whose job it is to make sure the computer runs
efficiently, and who has access to the files and programs that comprise the system software.
AMOS provides many program tools to support system administration functions. This chapter covers
many of these procedures, including:
•
Backing up your data.
•
Allocating disk accounts.
•
Modifying the system initialization file to add jobs and terminals, change memory allocations,
and define parallel ports.
•
Defining logical devices.
•
Disk diagnostic procedures.
•
Formatting and initializing diskettes.
BACKING UP YOUR DATA
Once you begin using the computer, you will soon find yourself operating it with confidence and ease.
However, no matter how smoothly everything goes, please remember one important thing—you must
keep current copies of the data you are working on! This copy is your "backup."
Computers and data storage devices are very reliable, but nobody can guard against an unforeseen
occurrence like a power outage, spilled cup of coffee, fire, or hardware malfunction. Such disaster can
happen to anyone.
Your data is probably one of your most valuable possessions. How long would it take to re-enter the
entire company payroll, all of your accounts receivable invoices, or your research journal article, if they
were lost? And, what if you could not reconstruct the information no matter how much time you had?
All Alpha Micro computers come with some type of data backup device. Whether your backup
device is a streaming tape or DAT drive, learn to use it!
Develop regular backup procedures and
follow them!
If disaster strikes, you'll be glad you had a little foresight.
You should back up some or all of the data on your computer at regular intervals. How often you need to
back up depends on how often you add or change data. If you add important data every day, you should
back up your computer each night. If the data changes only once a week, back up once a week, etc.
Also, as mentioned in Chapter 2, you should be especially sure to make at least one copy of your
System Disk onto a medium that will let you boot your computer if, for some reason, you cannot
boot from your hard disk. Keep this warm boot media in a safe place in case you need it.
You can use the WRMGEN program to create a warm boot tape. For more information on warm boot
monitors, see the
System Operator's Guide
.