This is a text-only version of the following page on https://raymii.org:
---
Title : Delete a directory on OpenVMS
Author : Remy van Elst
Date : 03-04-2018
URL : https://raymii.org/s/blog/Delete_a_directory_in_OpenVMS.html
Format : Markdown/HTML
---
[![openvms][1]][2]
(You can read all my OpenVMS articles by [clicking the picture above][2])
My OpenVMS adventure continues, in this small item I talk about the removal of
folders on OpenVMS. As you might expect, different than on linux.
I tried to set up SSH public key authentication so that I can use my regular SSH
key instead of typing my password on the DECUServe system. I found [a guide][3]
for that in the HPe documentation. That however required the creation of some
files and folders and I made a typo in the creation of a folder. Of course I
noticed that way too late so there were files in there as well.
As you might have guessed, I went down a different rabbit hole to remove this
folder, SSH public key authentication does not work yet. The [DECUServe][4]
system allows SSH login with a password initially.
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### DIR [.SSH]
The folder I created is named `SSH`, but it should be named `SSH2`. This is
what's in the folder:
$ dir [.SSH]
Directory EISNER$DRA3:[DECUSERVE_USER.EXAMPLE.SSH]
AUTHORIZATION.;3 REMY-GATEWAY.PUB;1
Total of 2 files.
OpenVMS seperates folders with the period (`.`) and they must be enclosed in
square brackets. The first period expands to the current folder.
After creating the correct folder (`CREATE /DIRECTORY [.SSH2]`) and copying the
files over:
$ copy [.SSH]*.*;* [.SSH2]
$
It was time to remove the folder.
### rm -rf [.SSH]?
Let's try to apply some logic here. `CREATE` is the command to create files and
folders. So would `REMOVE` then remove a folder?
$ REMOVE [.SSH]
%DCL-W-IVVERB, unrecognized command verb - check validity and spelling
\REMOVE\
Nope, it doesn't. Let's try what we know from *NIX:
$ RM
_Remote host:
Interrupt
No clue what that does, but it's not removing my folder. ^C gets me out.
But, OpenVMS has a very extensive `HELP` system, lets find out what `RM` does:
RMS
OpenVMS Record Management Services (RMS) are generalized routines
that assist user programs in processing and managing files and
records.
[...]
Okay, nice, but not what I was looking for. `RMDIR` maybe?
$ RMDIR [.SSH]
%DCL-W-IVVERB, unrecognized command verb - check validity and spelling
\RMDIR\
Last resort, the Windows BATCH DEL command:
$ del
_File:
Interrupt
That at least asks for a filename. Let's see if we can get the directory syntax
right:
This all failed, syntax wise not the correct format to specify a folder:
$ DEL [.SSH]
%DELETE-E-DELVER, explicit version number or wild card required
A version number you say? This excellent filesystem has versioning built in.
$ DEL [.SSH];1
%DELETE-W-SEARCHFAIL, error searching for EISNER$DRA3:[DECUSERVE_USER.EXAMPLE.SSH].;1
-RMS-E-FNF, file not found
The version number inside the brackets?
$ DEL [.SSH;1]
%DCL-W-DIRECT, invalid directory syntax - check brackets and other delimiters
The `DIR` command shows me that the folder is named `[.SSH.DIR]`. Lets try that:
$ del [.SSH.DIR];1
%DELETE-W-SEARCHFAIL, error searching for EISNER$DRA3:[DECUSERVE_USER.EXAMPLE.SSH.DIR].;1
-RMS-E-DNF, directory not found
-SYSTEM-W-NOSUCHFILE, no such file
At this point in time I thought that maybe I had to remove all the files first
inside the folder. One by one I tried:
$ DIR [.SSH]
Directory EISNER$DRA3:[DECUSERVE_USER.EXAMPLE.SSH]
AUTHORIZATION.;3 REMY-GATEWAY.PUB;1
Total of 2 files.
$ DEL [.SSH]AUTHORIZATION.;3
$ DEL [.SSH]REMY-GATEWAY.PUB;1
$
Folder is empty now:
$ DIR [.SSH]
%DIRECT-W-NOFILES, no files found
Now I surely must be able to remove the folder, right?
$ DEL [.SSH]
%DELETE-E-DELVER, explicit version number or wild card required
Sadly not. Reading through the [docs][6] I figured out the correct command to
recursively delete all files in a folder:
$ DEL [.SSH]*.*;*
$
The command fails the second time since there are no more files:
$ DEL [.SSH]*.*;*
%DELETE-W-SEARCHFAIL, error searching for EISNER$DRA3:[DECUSERVE_USER.EXAMPLE.SSH]*.*;*
-RMS-E-FNF, file not found
If you happen to have subfolders, add the `/ERASE` flag to recursively delete
everything:
$ DEL /ERASE [.SSH]*.*;*
### Finally the correct DEL syntax, permission error!
Reading the documentation page some more I figured out the correct syntax, no
brackets and no leading perion:
$ DEL SSH.DIR;1
%DELETE-W-FILNOTDEL, error deleting EISNER$DRA3:[DECUSERVE_USER.EXAMPLE]SSH.DIR;1
-RMS-E-PRV, insufficient privilege or file protection violation
Different error message, so we're getting there. The manual states:
> This command requires delete (D) access to the file and write (W) access to
the parent directory.
Reading, again, the excellent [documentation][7] shows me that there is an `ACL`
system and a permission system. For now I tried the permission system first.
I figured out that `SHOW SECURITY` is the command to see the permissions.
Permissions on OpenVMS are very different as well from your standard *NIX
permissions.
$ SHOW SECURITY SSH.DIR;1
EISNER$DRA3:[DECUSERVE_USER.EXAMPLE]SSH.DIR;1 object of class FILE
Owner: [EXAMPLE]
Protection: (System: RWE, Owner: RWE, Group, World)
Access Control List: <empty>
Using the `SET FILE` command we can explicitly add the `D` permission for the
`O` (Owner) , which is for deletion:
$ SET FILE/PROTECTION=O:RWED SSH.DIR;1
$
It did update the permissions:
EISNER$DRA3:[DECUSERVE_USER.EXAMPLE]SSH.DIR;1 object of class FILE
Owner: [EXAMPLE]
Protection: (System: RWE, Owner: RWED, Group, World)
Access Control List: <empty>
Would I now finally be able to remove this directory?
$ DEL SSH.DIR;1
$
Yay! No error message! And no more folder:
$ dir [.SSH]
%DIRECT-E-OPENIN, error opening EISNER$DRA3:[DECUSERVE_USER.EXAMPLE.SSH]*.*;* as input
-RMS-E-DNF, directory not found
-SYSTEM-W-NOSUCHFILE, no such file
### Conclusion
What have we learned today?
* Syntax of the `DIR` command is not the same as for the `DEL` command, the latter does not require brackets and a leading period.
* Directories must be empty before they can be removed
* Removing all files in a folder is possible
* Removing all directories and files recursively is also possible with the `/ERASE` flag
* Deleting a directory requires the explicit `D` (DELETE) permission to be set on that folder
And still no OpenSSH Public key authentication. Enough OpenVMS for this evening,
SSH will be next.
[1]: https://raymii.org/s/inc/img/ovmsdec.png
[2]: https://raymii.org/s/tags/openvms.html
[3]: https://web.archive.org/web/20180403184752/http://h41379.www4.hpe.com/doc/83final/ba548_90007/ch03s08.html
[4]: http://decus.org
[5]: https://www.digitalocean.com/?refcode=7435ae6b8212
[6]: https://web.archive.org/web/20180403191730/http://h41379.www4.hpe.com/doc/84final/9996/9996pro_50.html
[7]: https://web.archive.org/web/20180403192635/http://h41379.www4.hpe.com/doc/84final/ba554_90015/ch04s09.html
---
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