Set STARTUP_P1 to "MIN" - but how?

Hello! VMS Nuub here

I'm experimenting with FreeAXP and OpenVMS via VSI's "OpenVMS Student Package".

This goes straight into booting. Unfortunately, I've added the same mount command twice to the SYS$STARTUP:SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM file and it hangs when attempting to boot.

Looking at page 56 of the FreeAXP manual, it says:

< class='quote'>Errors in SYS$USER_CONFIG.DAT or in the SYSMAN commands could crash
OpenVMS. Be very careful in applying these settings. If VMS will not boot after
modifying SYS$USER_CONFIG.DAT, use a conversational boot with STARTUP_P1
set to "MIN" to regain access to the system and remove the offending
SYS$USER_CONFIG.DAT file.

but I don't see how this is done. I've tried adding it in various places in the .CFG file, but then FreeAXP either fails with an error and refuses to start, or goes ahead and runs the SYS$STARTUP:SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM file on boot anyway.

Thank you in advance.

This is a VMS issue, not a FreeAXP issue. Look in the VMS documentation on how to do a conversational boot from the firmware prompt (&gt;&gt;&gt<img src='../images/smiley/wink.gif' alt='smiley'>.

The following commands are from section A.1.3 and A.1.4 in the Alpha Version 7.2 Upgrade and Installation Manual.

&gt; BOOT -FLAGS 0,1 DKA0
SYSBOOT&gt; SET STARTUP_P1 "MIN"
SYSBOOT&gt; CONTINUE

The will bring the system up directly to the dollar ($) prompt at the console.

Don't forget to clear the STARTUP_P1 parameter before rebooting using the following commands:

$ RUN SYS$SYSTEM:SYSMAN
SYSMAN&gt; PARAMETERS USE CURRENT
SYSMAN&gt; PARAMETERS SET STARTUP_P1 ""
SYSMAN&gt; PARAMETERS WRITE CURRENT
SYSMAN&gt; EXIT

Thanks for the reply.

But FreeAXP just launches straight into booting, so I don't have a chance to enter anything at the boot prompt.

Perhaps the question I should be asking is: how do I stop FreeAXP launching into boot?

FreeAXP emulates AlphaServer 400 hardware, right down to the firmware level. Appendix A in this manual describes the AS400 firmware: manx-docs.org/collections/antonio/dec/MD...1/ALPHA/PCSVAUIA.PDF

VSI's VMS package enables automatic booting of VMS by default. Automatic booting of VMS or Tru64 UNIX is set up in the Alpha firmware. Do a &lt;Ctrl&gt;P to halt the boot, then enter "set auto_action halt" to prevent automatic booting of VMS.