The DOS Shuffle is used when an operation (such as backing up the system) needs to be performed under DOS instead of under CCI Concurrent DOS on a scheduled basis.

The DOS Shuffle requires 5 files to be created or modified:

  1. A LOADER boot text file to load CCI Concurrent DOS (C:\LOADCCI)
  2. A LOADER boot text file to load DOS (C:\LOADDOS)
  3. A batch file executed by the job scheduler under CCI Concurrent DOS (C:\SHUFFLE.BAT)
  4. A batch file to execute the DOS application, executable under DOS (C:\TAPE\TAPE.BAT)
  5. Modifications to the existing AUTOEXEC.BAT

A LOADER text file named C:\LOADCCI used later in AUTOEXEC.BAT to boot CCI Concurrent DOS:

CCPM.SYS C [5] CCI Concurrent DOS

A LOADER text file named C:\LOADDOS used in SHUFFLE.BAT to boot DOS:

CCPM.SYS C CCI Concurrent DOS

The only difference between the two is that there is a time-out parameter included in the LOADCCI file. This is how we can automatically load CCI Concurrent DOS when we reboot the system.

The batch file used by the scheduler sets the system up to boot DOS and then reboots the system. A sample SHUFFLE.BAT would be:

C:
CD \
C:\CDOS\LOADER /U
C:\CDOS\LOADER LOADDOS[5]
;make sure that there are no spaces after the ] above
ECHO Doing backups > C:\DOBACKUP
C:\CDOS\SECURITY\REBOOT

The scheduler can be started in C:\CDOS\SECURITY\CCIBOOT.BAT (if security is enabled and DO-UPON-BOOT UX is included in the C:\CDOS\SECURITY\CONTROL file), or in one of the STARTXXY.BAT files. The SHUFFLE.BAT file also needs to be scheduled, and can be done at the same time. Simply include the following two lines in the desired .BAT file:

JOBMGR
SCHEDULE C:\SHUFFLE.BAT ON 1-? EVERY DAY 0200

There is one caveat with using the scheduler -- one of the consoles MUST be free and at the system prompt [(USER???) C:>]. This means that if security is being used and all ports are being used, one station needs to be logged in before going home. Another option is to define a "phantom" port that has no terminal attached to it and no handshaking used, but is defined as a multiuser terminal port. The "phantom" port must also be excluded from using security by listing it's station number in the CONTROL file under PASSWORD EXCLUDE.

We now modify the AUTOEXEC.BAT file to test for the presence of the DOBACKUP file, and if present execute the tape backup batch file. Insert the following lines into the existing AUTOEXEC.BAT file: