CONTENTS Title Page Copyright Page Preface 1 Overview of DECnet-VAX Networking 1.1 What Is a DECnet Network? 1.1.1 How Does a DECnet Network Work? 1.1.1.1 How Do Systems Communicate over a Network? 1.1.1.2 How Does the Network Route Messages? 1.1.1.3 How Large Can the Network Be? 1.1.1.4 How Is the DECnet Software Design Structured? 1.1.2 How Does DECnet-VAX Serve as the VMS Network Interface? 1.2 What Does a DECnet Network Look Like? 1.2.1 What Systems Can Communicate over the Network? 1.2.2 What Communications Media Does DECnet Use? 1.2.3 What Kinds of Network Environments Are Supported? 1.2.3.1 Local Area Networks 1.2.3.2 Wide Area Networks 1.2.3.3 Integrated Networks 2 What You Can Do over the Network 2.1 What the General User Can Do over the Network 2.1.1 How to Gain Access to the Network 2.1.2 How to Access Remote Files 2.1.2.1 Remote File Specification Format 2.1.2.2 Remote File Access Controls 2.1.2.3 Logical Names in Remote File Specifications 2.1.2.4 VAXcluster File Specifications 2.1.3 Network File Operations 2.1.3.1 Displaying Remote Directories and Files 2.1.3.2 Copying and Printing Remote Files 2.1.3.3 Creating and Editing Remote Files 2.1.3.4 Deleting and Purging Remote Files 2.1.3.5 Searching, Comparing, and Sorting Remote Files 2.1.3.6 Examining Remote Files and Records 2.1.3.7 Backing Up Files over the Network 2.1.3.8 Error Messages Displayed During Remote File Operations 2.1.4 Using MAIL and PHONE in a Network Environment 2.2 What the Advanced User Can Do over the Network 2.2.1 Remote Command Procedures 2.2.1.1 Accessing Remote Files with Command Procedures 2.2.1.2 Submitting Command Procedures for Remote Execution 2.2.1.3 Using Command Procedures to Run Remote Tasks 2.2.2 Network Applications Using Task-to-Task Communication 2.3 System and Network Manager Responsibilities 3 Getting Started on the Network 3.1 Accessing an Existing VMS Network Node 3.1.1 Logging In to a Network Node 3.1.2 Accessing a Remote Node Interactively 3.2 Preparing to Bring Up Your System as a Node on an Existing Network 3.2.1 Connecting the Communications Hardware on Your System 3.2.2 Preparing Your VMS System for the Network Environment 3.2.2.1 Privileges Required for Network Operations 3.2.2.2 VMS System Tuning 3.2.2.3 Default Access for Your System 3.2.3 Planning the Configuration of Your DECnet-VAX Node 3.3 Installing DECnet-VAX on Your System 3.3.1 Getting a DECnet-VAX License and PAK 3.3.2 Configuring Your DECnet-VAX Node 3.3.2.1 Configuring Your Node Manually 3.3.2.2 Configuring Your Node Automatically 3.3.3 Establishing Asynchronous DECnet Connections to Other Systems 3.3.3.1 Establishing a Static Asynchronous Connection 3.3.3.2 Establishing a Dynamic Asynchronous Connection 3.3.4 Verifying Successful Connection to the Network 3.3.5 Shutting Down and Restarting the Network 3.3.6 Using NCP to Create and Tailor the Configuration Database 3.3.7 Providing Security for Your DECnet-VAX Node 3.3.7.1 Protecting Files and Using Proxy Accounts 3.3.7.2 Controlling Access to Your Node 3.4 Networkwide Considerations 4 Keeping the Network Running 4.1 Monitoring the Network 4.1.1 Using NCP to Display Information About Network Components 4.1.2 Using NCP Counters 4.1.3 Using DECnet Event Logging 4.1.4 Other Monitoring Tools 4.2 Testing the Network 4.2.1 Node-Level Loopback Tests 4.2.2 Circuit-Level Tests 4.3 Common Problems Encountered on the Network 4.3.1 Common Error Messages and Meanings 4.3.2 Problems Related to Network Operation 4.3.2.1 Troubleshooting Techniques Based On DNA Layers 4.3.2.2 Network Problems and Suggested Actions 4.3.3 Asynchronous Connection Problems 4.3.3.1 Problems with Static Asynchronous Connections 4.3.3.2 Problems with Dynamic Asynchronous Connections Glossary access control . . . command node component . . . event class event type . . . logging console logging file . . . node address node name . . . path length permanent database . . . source task state . . . volatile database X.25 . . . X.25 EXAMPLES 2-1 Example of a Nontransparent Communication Program 3-1 Sample NETCONFIG.COM Dialogue 3-2 Sample Commands for a Static Asynchronous Dialup Connection 3-3 Sample Commands for a Dynamic Asynchronous Connection 3-4 Sample Commands to Verify Connection to Another Node FIGURES 1 Sections of the Guide of Interest to General Users of the Network 2 Sections of the Guide of Interest to Advanced Users of the Network 3 Sections of the Guide of Interest to System and Network Managers 1-1 Network Nodes, Circuits and Lines 1-2 DECnet Network Architecture (DNA) Layers and Protocols 1-3 Example of a Small Local Area Network Configuration 1-4 Example of a Large Local Area Network Configuration 1-5 Examples of DDCMP Connections 1-6 Examples of Wide Area Network Connections 1-7 Example of a Large Integrated DECnet Configuration 3-1 Example of a Communications Hookup for a VAXstation II 3-2 Example of a Communications Hookup for a VAXstation 2000 3-3 Example of a Communications Hookup for a Large VAX Computer 3-4 A Typical Static Asynchronous Dialup Connection 3-5 A Typical Dynamic Asynchronous Connection 4-1 DECnet-VAX Design Based On DNA Layers TABLES 3-1 VMS Privileges Required for DECnet-VAX Operations 3-2 DECnet-VAX Device Names 4-1 DECnet Event Classes