Specifications

Distributed Computing Support
3.3 OpenVMS Client/Server Capabilities
• OpenVMS systems
• Other vendor systems that are running the client software
User interfaces on client systems can be character-cell terminals or windowing
desktops.
Client/server configurations permit the enterprise-wide capabilities of OpenVMS
host systems to be integrated with the personal-computing capabilities of desktop
systems.
3.3.2 VMScluster Servers and OpenVMS Clients
In any VMScluster system, users can share computing, disk and tape storage, and
batch and print processing resources. Any node in the cluster can use clusterwide
batch and print queues. VMScluster technology also allows cooperating OpenVMS
systems to share file and print resources over a LAN. This capability provides a
mechanism for offering print and computing services to the network.
In a VMScluster configuration, the mass storage control protocol server and the
tape mass storage control protocol server make locally connected disks and tapes
available across the cluster.
A VMScluster system can serve files and databases to the LAN for use by
cluster members. In addition, databases can be offered over a VMScluster using
Rdb/VMS with Structured Query Language (SQL) Services. These services enable
a client OpenVMS system to issue SQL requests to a VMScluster system that
serves its Rdb/VMS databases to the LAN. The Rdb/VMS request is processed
on the database server and the resulting information is sent to the SQL Services
client.
3.3.3 Client/Server Features of DECwindows Motif
DECwindows Motif, based on industry-standard OSF/MOTIF, lets users access
application programs running on other machines in the network as if the
applications were running locally. With the DECwindows software, multiple
device-independent applications can run simultaneously in various separate
workstation windows. Applications function as clients and the DECwindows
program that responds to the applications is the DECwindows server. (The
DECwindows Motif user interface is described in Section 2.3.)
3.3.4 OpenVMS Servers with PC Clients
The OpenVMS operating system running on a VAX or AXP computer can act as
an application, file, disk, and print server for large groups of personal computer
clients through DECnet and TCP/IP networking connections.
Servers and clients can also be connected using PATHWORKS products. You use
PATHWORKS server software on an OpenVMS system and PATHWORKS client
software on personal computers. PATHWORKS supports a variety of personal
computers including MS–DOS, Windows, OS/2, and the Macintosh operating
system, as illustrated in Figure 3–1. PATHWORKS server software is also
available for ULTRIX, SCO UNIX, and OS/2 operating systems.
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