HP DECnet Phase IV for OpenVMS Alpha and OpenVMS I64, Version 8.3

HP DECnet for OpenVMS Alpha and OpenVMS I64, Version 8.3 SPD 48.48.11
This facility is not supported over asynchronous lines.
Network Command Terminal
The DCL command SET HOST allows a terminal user
on one DECnet node to establish a logical connection to
another DECnet node that uses the Command Terminal
Protocol (CTERM). This connection makes the terminal
appear physically connected to the remote system and
the operator can use all the standard system and net-
work utilities supported by that remote node. This ca-
pability is particularly useful for doing remote program
development and allows the terminal users on smaller
application-oriented systems to use the resources of
larger development-oriented systems.
OpenVMS MAIL Utility
The OpenVMS MAIL utility allows transmission of text
messages between users of a standalone system. The
DECnet for OpenVMS software allows users to send
and receive OpenVMS MAIL to or from users of other
systems that operate within the same DECnet network.
OpenVMS PHONE Utility
The OpenVMS PHONE utility allows users to send and
receive data interactively from one user’s terminal to
another user’s terminal. DECnet increases the scope
of OpenVMS PHONE to allow active users on different
systems in the same network to exchange information.
Cluster Alias
DECnet supports the ability to access some or all nodes
in a VMScluster using a separate alias node address,
while retaining the ability to address each node in the
cluster individually. Not all network objects may be ac-
cessed using this mechanism. More than 64 nodes can
operate within a cluster, but the maximum number of
nodes that are allowed to participate in the cluster alias
is 64. Refer to the VMScluster Software Product De-
scription (SPD 29.78.xx) for relevant restrictions.
DECnet and DECnet-Plus nodes can coexist in the
same cluster. However, DECnet and DECnet-Plus must
have separate system disks, and they cannot share the
same cluster alias.
The DECnet for OpenVMS Alpha cluster alias requires
that at least one node in the VMScluster be licensed as
an Extended Function node.
Refer to the DECnet-Plus documentation for details on
configuring a DECnet-Plus cluster alias.
Network Management
The Network Control Program (NCP) performs three pri-
mary functions: displaying statistical and error informa-
tion, controlling network components, and testing net-
work operation. These functions can be performed lo-
cally or executed at remote Phase IV nodes that sup-
port these functions. NCP allows for planning, build-
ing, tuning, and controlling DECnet networks. NCP can
be used to create and manage networks including local
node operation, remote node operation, circuits, lines,
and objects.
An operator can display the status of DECnet activity
at any Phase IV node in the network. The user can
choose to display statistics related to the node itself or
the communication lines attached to that node, includ-
ing traffic and error data. The local operator can also
perform many network control functions such as start-
ing and stopping lines, activating the local node, and
downline loading systems.
DECnet provides network event logging to a terminal
device or disk file. Any logged event can be used to
monitor, diagnose, and tune a network. The NCP utility
can be used to enable and disable the event logging
facility.
NCP can also be used to test components of the net-
work. NCP enables transmission and reception of test
messages over individual lines either between nodes or
through other controller loopback arrangements. The
messages can then be compared for possible errors.
NCP allows the performance of a logical series of tests
that will aid in isolating network problems.
Integrated Interfaces
DECnet interfaces are standard parts of the OpenVMS
operating system for use on local, standalone systems.
Users can develop programs and procedures based
upon these interfaces for such functions as file access
and task-to-task communication on individual systems.
Since the DECnet interfaces stay the same, the pro-
grams and procedures developed on an individual sys-
tem can be used in a network environment without being
modified.
Communications Options
DECnet for OpenVMS uses Ethernet and FDDI com-
munications controllers to interface with other network
nodes. LAN failover sets are also supported on Alpha.
LAN Failover
DECnet for OpenVMS provides support for OpenVMS
LAN failover sets. LAN failover provides a mechanism
to protect LAN applications against network interface
card (NIC) failures. A LAN failover set is defined by the
system manager and consists of a set of like adapters
(all the same class) that support LAN failover. One
adapter in the failover set is used for LAN traffic; one or
3