[Info-vax] An alternative history of computing

[chris]

On 07/23/21 19:27, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
> On 7/23/2021 2:15 PM, chris wrote:
>> On 07/23/21 18:02, Robert A. Brooks wrote:
>>> On 7/23/2021 12:36 PM, chris wrote:
>>>> Full decnet was an expensive layered product, from memory, though
>>>> a subset and run time libraries did come with vms.
>>>
>>> I'm not sure what you mean by "run time libraries"; there is
>>> no run-time-only DECnet option for either Phase IV or Phase V.
>>>
>>> DECnet Phase IV was pretty simple -- you had either a routing license
>>> or an end node license. The X.25 stuff (VAX PSI) was separate, but
>>> that's not DECnet per se. The NAS morass was simply a license bundling
>>> mechanism with
>>> other stuff, but did not alter the DECnet functionality.
>>>
>>> DECnet Phase V (known first as DECnet/OSI and now known as DECnet-Plus)
>>> has more moving parts (the optional OSAK, FTAM, VT -- none of which
>>> require an extra license), and its licensing also essentially follows
>>> the routing/end-node paradigm. The X.25 stuff is again separately
>>> licensed.
>>
>> So you are just confirming what I said then, that full decnet was an
>> expensive layered product ?. Thanks for the clarification though.
>>
>> Most people expect networking to be part of the base os these days, as
>> machines are generally useless without it...
>
> I agree that network is necessary.
>
> But DECnet with end-node license instead of routing license
> was still network.
>
> Arne

Probably excellent when it was first released, back in the days
of isdn and X25, but who would choose it now, other than for niche
applications ?...