[Info-vax] Rethinking DECNET ?

[JF Mezei]

On 14-09-04 08:03, Jan-Erik Soderholm wrote:

> My point and question was actualy, "do you realy need DECnet?" :-)

DECnet per say, no. But the embedded functionality yes. (for instance,
edit node::file.name ). Also, SYSMAN makes use of DECNET when you
specify a username/password for the remote nodes. Monitor uses DECNET
(although I think this may have been updated to support IP).

That is why I suggested moving the DECnet objects such as FAL to become
native to IP so that the VMS opertating system could still give the full
functionality given by DECnet without using DECnet for the networking
layers.

Removing DECnet as a networking layer would also reduce the workload for
VSI to support.

Note that Apple has done the same, moving its own protocols such as
Apple File Sharing from Appletalk to IP based. Appletalk is no longer
available with the OS anymore.

However, Apple is now de-emphasizing AFS and going SMB. However if FAL
still gives unique capabilities such as indexed file support which can't
be done in SMB, then perhaps it might be worth moving it to IP so it
survives.