DEC 4000 600 series, Owner'S Manual, Page: 30 / 242

System Operation: Overview
System Operation: Overview
Two Levels of
Operation The system can run in one of two environments:
• Console mode
• Operating system mode
Console Mode
In console mode, the system and the console terminal operate
under the control of the console subsystem. All user input is
passed to the console subsystem.
The system runs in console mode under two circumstances:
• The system is powered up and operating system software has
not been booted
• Operating system software has been shut down or has
crashed
Chapter 2 describes how to use the system in console mode.
Operating
System Mode
In operating system mode, the system and console terminal are
under control of the operating system. All user input is passed
to the operating system.
The system runs in operating system mode if the system
is powered up and operating system software is running
uninterrupted.
Once you complete the steps described in Starting the System,
your system will be running in operating system mode. Refer
to your operating system documentation for information about
using the system in operating system mode.
1–10 Getting Started