# start.ss command

The start.ss command starts the spooler
and the phantom scheduler.

## Syntax

```
start.ss {(options}
```

## Parameter(s)

| options | f | Phantoms only |
| --- | --- | --- |
| l | Phantom processes are started using the monitor located on the current (local) directory. | |
| z | Abs and monitor are not the same | |
**For UNIX:** The start.ss command
starts the UNIX processes, which supports the D3 phantom processes,
if they are not connected to the virtual machine already. The monitor
the phantoms use is controlled by the UNIX environment `$path` and the UNIX file /usr/lib/pick/pickname, created
by the installation procedure.

On a configuration where more
than one virtual machine is running, it is important to ensure that
all processes on a given virtual machine run the same version of the
monitor. Normally, when the virtual machine is booted, the start.ss command creates processes running the same monitor,
found on /usr/bin, as the one currently executed by the line 0. This
is ensured by executing a which command, which
shows the monitor version such as:

```
7.3.0.LINUX
```
Monitors are deemed compatible if the first two digits
are similar. If not, then the UNIX variable `$path` is scanned, and a compatible monitor is looked for on the given
directories. If it fails, then start.ss complains
and does not start the spooler nor the phantom scheduler.

The l option instructs start.ss to use the
monitor on the current directory. For this option to work properly,
the system-coldstart macro should be modified as
follows:

```
cd /usr/mydir
start.ss (l
```
When the l option is in effect, the `$path` UNIX variable is not used to find the correct monitor.

**For Windows:** The start.ss command starts
the Windows processes. The monitor the phantoms use is controlled
by the Windows environment.

## See also

- [:background-start command](https://d3codex.com/backgroundphantomprocess/colon-background-start-command/)
- [Background/Phantom process overview](https://d3codex.com/backgroundphantomprocess/background-phantom-process-overview/)
- [phantom-reset command](https://d3codex.com/tcl/phantom-reset-command/)
- [phantom-status command](https://d3codex.com/tcl/phantom-status-command/)
- [startsched command](https://d3codex.com/backgroundphantomprocess/startsched-command/)
- [startspooler command](https://d3codex.com/tcl/startspooler-command/)
- [system-coldstart macro](https://d3codex.com/tcl/system-coldstart-macro/)

---
Source: https://d3codex.com/tcl/start-ss-command/ - part of the D3Codex reference.