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