Virtual mode and real mode

There are two different partitioned directory access modes: virtual mode and real mode.

In virtual mode, a process accessing a partitioned directory can only see the contents of its label-specific partitioned subdirectory. A partitioned directory is never visible to a process running in virtual mode. A partitioned directory is visible to a process running in real mode. Processes running in real mode can see all real contents of partitioned directories and partitioned subdirectories. For real-mode processes, the system does not perform any redirection.

By default, processes run in virtual mode. Real mode is intended only for file system administration purposes. Use the pdmode command to run commands in a mode other than that of the current process shell or to switch to a shell in a different mode.

Although a real-mode user process can see and manipulate partitioned directories and subdirectories, this type of access and manipulation should be performed with caution. For example, if a regular directory is created or moved into a partitioned directory by a real-mode process, the directory will never be visible to processes running in virtual mode.

Although a partitioned directory looks like a regular directory to a virtual-mode process, there are still some restrictions on the partitioned directory.