Before You Begin - Digital Equipment 300 Series AXP Reference Manual

Before You Begin

In console mode, the system operates under the control of the
Console Mode
Definition console subsystem, rather than the operating system. All user
input is passed to and interpreted by the console subsystem.
Console mode is in effect when the system is turned on and the
operating system software has not been started, or when the
operating system has been shut down.
You interact directly with the console subsystem under the
When Console
following circumstances:
Mode Is Used
•
•
•
•
The console mode prompt looks like this:
Console
Prompt
>>>
You can enter control characters and console commands at the
console prompt.
Program Mode In program mode, the system and console are under control of
Definition the operating system. All user input is passed to the operating
system. You cannot issue console commands without returning
to console mode.
Program mode is in effect when the system is turned on and
the operating system software has started. In program mode,
the user can manage the system, run software applications, and
perform network tasks.
Program The program mode default prompt usually looks like this:
Prompt
$
Before booting the operating system software
While setting environment variables
When using the Firmware Update Utility
When trying to identify and resolve system problems or
errors (see Chapter 7 )
Before You Begin
4–3