This is geared to OpenVMS Hobbyists.
It is significantly easier to set up additional systems after you have a first system set up.
Most OpenVMS systems can be network booted.
The boot host usually has to be another VMS system or an Infoserver.
An hardware Infoserver can serve readonly and read/write disks and SCSI tape drives.
Recent versions of OpenVMS Alpha and IA64 can host software infoservers. The software Info server can not serve tape drives.
To use an OpenVMS system as a boot host, you need to configure it as a Local Area VMScluster, and then set up a root for it to boot from. Booting a different architecture is possible but requires more careful setup.
Even if you do not set up a VMScluster or a Infoserver, having DECNET setup can speed up the installation.
DECNET is also useful on a standalone node, so I always install Decnet, Usually DECNET Phase IV.
Installing DECWindow Motif is needed if you want to use an X11 to access.
If you are using a non-VMS X-11 Server, such as Cygwin/X or Xming, to display the applications, you will need to set it to a font server. Only OpenVMS Alpha or IA64 can serve fonts.
So even on non-workstation Alpha or Itanium system, you will probably want to install all of the fonts.
And for X-11 to a VAX, you would want an Alpha or Itanium VMS system to serve the fonts.
Some use ful links for installation of VMS:
SimH/VAX in an LXC Container
[OpenVMS_VAX_7_3_Install]
[OpenVMS_VAX_7_3_config_from_decnet]
[VAX_Hobby_Layered_Product_Installs]
Phillip Wherry Running VAX/VMS Under Linux using SIMH
