[Info-vax] terminal servers etc

[Steven Schweda]

> NCP>connect node srvr3

   Unless you use DECnet-Plus:

ALP $ ncp conn node an1
%NCP-W-SYSMGT, System-specific management function not supported

Use SET HOST/MOP instead of NCP CONNECT.

   For details:
      help set host /mop

which suggests:
      HELP DECnet-Plus DCL_Commands SET HOST /MOP


ALP $ set host /mop an1
%CCR-I-CONNEST, connection established to remote system 08-00-2B-
A1-49-6E
Press CTRL/\ to disconnect, CTRL/] to send break
                        [<--- <Return>]
#                       [<--- "access"]

DECserver 90TL Communications Server V1.1C (BL46-13) - LAT V5.1

(c) Copyright 1996, Digital Equipment Corporation - All Rights
Reserved
[...]

> [...]  (I also have some DECserver 200MC and 250 but I
> assume the 90s are the better choice here.)

   Unless you like bigger/louder/stupider/warmer.  Or:

> [...] you require full modem control [...]

Or you like the 25-pin D connectors more than the RJ45
connectors.

   I have one old, dead (bad power supply) DECserver 200/MC,
but I now use a 90TL.  Lacking an official power supply for
the 90TL, I re-purposed some old Mac serial cable (or
something with the right mini-DIN connector), and spliced it
onto a surplus wall-wart with the right output.

   I have a (very seldom used) modem connected to one port,
but the others all connect to serial console ports on various
(mostly old) systems, to which I connect from the main VMS
Alpha (XP1000) system.

> Is LAT preferable (easier, better) than TCPIP?

   I use LAT, mostly because that was all the old DECserver
200 could do, but it does what I need.  When I replace the
main VMS system with some non-VMS system, then the Telnet
features could become more useful.

> Is the only network connection on the server the BNC coax
> connector?

   It may be on the old stuff.  There's a 90M on Ebay now
which seems to have a twisted-pair port on the front, but I
know nothing about these newer units.  I have an old 10MHz
hub which has a BNC port, and I use that for the 90TL (and
the VAXstation 2000, and anything else on 10Base2).