In this section, we will explore the structure and management of directories in OpenVMS. Directories are essential for organizing files and maintaining a structured file system. We will cover the following topics:

1. Understanding Directory Structure
2. Creating and Deleting Directories
3. Navigating Directories
4. Managing Directory Attributes
5. Practical Exercises

OpenVMS uses a hierarchical directory structure similar to other operating systems. The root directory is denoted by [000000], and subdirectories are created within this structure.

• Root Directory: The top-level directory, [000000].
• Subdirectory: A directory within another directory.
• Directory Path: The path to a directory, e.g., [USER.DOCS].

To create a directory, use the CREATE/DIRECTORY command.

This command creates a subdirectory DOCS under the USER directory.

To delete a directory, use the DELETE/DIRECTORY command. Note that the directory must be empty before it can be deleted.

To change the current directory, use the SET DEFAULT command.

To display the current directory, use the SHOW DEFAULT command.

To list the contents of a directory, use the DIRECTORY command.

Directories in OpenVMS have attributes that can be managed using various commands.

To set protection attributes for a directory, use the SET PROTECTION command.

To display the attributes of a directory, use the SHOW PROTECTION command.

1. Create a directory structure [USER.PROJECTS.CODE].
2. Change the current directory to [USER.PROJECTS.CODE].
3. Display the current directory.

Solution:

1. Set the protection of [USER.PROJECTS.CODE] to (S:RWED,O:RWED,G:RE,W:RE).
2. Display the protection attributes of [USER.PROJECTS.CODE].

Solution:

In this section, we covered the basics of directory management in OpenVMS, including creating, deleting, and navigating directories, as well as managing directory attributes. Understanding these concepts is crucial for maintaining an organized file system. In the next section, we will delve into access control and security, which will build on the directory management skills you've learned here.