[Info-vax] DECnet documentation, architecture, manuals, strategy

[Neil Rieck]

On Thursday, February 28, 2019 at 12:10:02 PM UTC-5, Dave Froble wrote:
> On 2/28/2019 3:34 AM, David Wade wrote:
> > On 27/02/2019 16:28, Stephen Hoffman wrote:
> >> On 2019-02-27 10:25:36 +0000, David Wade said:
> >>
> >>> Its not OPenVMS that puzzles me, its DECNET. Are there any DECNet
> >>> guides?
> >>
> >> Generally, install and use DECnet Phase IV, unless you really need
> >> DECnet over IP or some OSI-specific feature.
> >>
> >> DECnet is not even remotely secure; not by present-day networking
> >> standards.
> >>
> >> DECnet Phase IV product manuals:
> >> https://www.digiater.nl/openvms/freeware/v50/decnet_phase_iv/
> >>
> >> DECnet Phase IV architecture docs, and semi-related DAP and MOP docs:
> >> http://linux-decnet.sourceforge.net/docs/doc_index.html
> >>
> >> DECnet Phase V / DECnet-Plus / DECnet/OSI manuals should be available
> >> within the previously cited ODL:
> >> http://h30266.www3.hpe.com/ODLIndex.asp
> >>
> >> Digital Technical Journal (which had some articles on DECnet, as well
> >> as many other topics):
> >> http://www.dtjcd.vmsresource.org.uk
> >>
> >> VMS Technical Journal, via Archive.org:
> >> https://web.archive.org/web/20161220125910/http://h41379.www4.hpe.com/openvms/journal/
> >>
> >>
> >> There was a Phase V folklore document around (somewhere) that was a
> >> reasonable introduction to Phase V and OSI, not that i have a pointer
> >> to that available.  Nor can I readily find one.
> >>
> >> See the DEC PRISM and DEC MICA materials for discussions of
> >> overhauling and updating OpenVMS, and for Digital corporate strategy
> >> and related fodder and including references to networking and OSI.
> >> http://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/prism/
> >>
> >> Grumble: DEC sought OSI, as some of the strategy documentation will
> >> make clear.  More than a few DEC engineers and even more folks from
> >> other vendors were also all heavily invested in creating and
> >> supporting OSI. Alas, OSI missed the market.  DEC subsequently and
> >> seemingly only grudgingly and only partially realigned with the
> >> ascendence of and ubiquity of IP.   Alas, OpenVMS still hasn't
> >> particularly integrated IP and distributed and network security into
> >> OpenVMS, a ~quarter-century after Microsoft Windows and other
> >> platforms integrated IP and networking and distributed security into
> >> the base distribution.  But of course OpenVMS can't copy that idea
> >> from Windows.  ¡Pshaw!
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> > Thank you for that!. I think I have a VAX with Phase V installed. any
> > way to go back to IV?
> >
> > Dave
> 
> I don't recall whether both can co-exist.  But you can de-install Phase 
> V, and install phase IV.  Or start with a fresh disk and install everything.
> 
> This means you will need the distribution.  Not hard to find.  You don't 
> mention what version of VMS.
> 
> -- 
> David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
> Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
> DFE Ultralights, Inc.
> 170 Grimplin Road
> Vanderbilt, PA  15486

IIRC, (and many times it does not these days), DECnet Phase IV runs as an application meaning it can be stopped then removed without a reboot. On the other hand DECnet Phase V is hooked into the kernel (think file system) meaning it cannot be updated, removed or installed without a reboot. IIRC.

Neil Rieck
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
http://neilrieck.net