Distributed Name Service (DNS) Management Operations Manual

Important Notes about Individual Commands
The DNSCOM Commands
31258 Tandem Computers Incorporated 7–9
Notes About INFO
Commands (OBEYFORM
Considerations)
Most of the INFO commands have an optional OBEYFORM parameter. This
parameter controls the displayed output of the INFO commands so the syntax of the
SET or ALTER command is displayed correctly. Using OBEYFORM allows you to
obtain a copy of the commands needed to duplicate the definition of a currently
defined name or set of names.
Because of the order in which object names must be defined, the considerations listed
below for using the OBEYFORM parameter apply when creating or altering DNS
name definitions.
All OBEYFORM output produced for a remotely defined name is preceded by a
pair of equal signs (==). If this output is subsequently passed to DNSCOM as
input, it is treated as comments. This treatment is necessary because you cannot
add a remotely defined name using DNSCOM.
All OBEYFORM output produced for aliases that were created as a result of
EXTERNAL ON being specified for their referent is preceded by a pair of equal
signs. Since adding the SSOBJECT with EXTERNAL ON caused the alias to be
created, a duplicate name error would occur if it were to be added again as an
alias.
OBEYFORM output for SSMANAGER and SSOBJECT names, all generated by
SET ALIAS commands, are preceded by a pair of equal signs. This treatment is
necessary because aliases are added as a separate step.
OBEYFORM output for alias and composite names, all generated by ALTER
GROUP, commands are preceded by a pair of equal signs. Since the groups have
not been added yet, it is not possible to add any members to them.
OBEYFORM output for groups that are members of other groups generated by
ALTER GROUP commands are preceded by a pair of equal signs, unless the name
of the parent group collates before the name of the member group. For example, if
group B is a member of group A, the output would be:
ASSUME GROUP
RESET
SET DOMAIN ..
ADD A
== ALTER A, MEMBERS + B
This last line is necessary because B has not been added yet. (B collates after A.)
Further down is:
ASSUME GROUP
RESET
SET DOMAIN ..
ADD B
ALTER A, MEMBERS + B
Below are two examples of using the OBEYFORM parameter. User input is displayed
in boldface type. The second example shows how to use the OBEYFORM parameter
and wild-card symbol with the INFO command. See “Making Inquiries With the