[comp.os.vms] Squeezing VMS on to small disks/ using standard DEC command procedures.

MACALLSTR@vax1.physics.oxford.ac.UK (07/25/88)

Although it is possible ( and may even be worthwhile under special 
 circumstances ) to tailor VMS as you like by removing all the files you
 determine as 'not used', you are making a massive amount of work for
 yourself the next time your system has to be updated or changed and, if
 anyone else is going to support the system, you will need to document your
 changes very carefully. At the next update you would have to wade through the
 installation procedure by hand to check which files were being updated.
Software installations generally ( through the use of VMSINSTAL ) and cluster
 management ( using BOOT_CONFIG, SATELLITE-CONFIG, etc ) is made relatively
 straightforward for the new system manager : at least a system can be got
 'off the ground' rapidly. Updating of existing systems still requires fairly
 extensive checking to ensure that 'things still work' .
WARNING: if you modify the VMS structure in a non-standard way you may be
 excluding use if all those DEC-supplied labour-saving procedures at a later
 date.
I hope this is useful for new system managers. 'Old hands' probably have
 battle scars from this sort of thing already!
John