
 

Announcing DECnet/OSI V6.0 for OpenVMS VAX and OpenVMS for Alpha 
Systems
 
CONTACTS

U.S. - Judy Cross; DTN 226-5937; LKG
U.S. - Mary Ellen Fortier; DTN 226-5109; LKG
Europe - Richard Smith; DTN 828-5355; VBE
APA - No contact available

HIGHLIGHTS

o  DECnet and OSI applications running over TCP/IP transports

o  Expanded Naming Options

o  Graphical Network Management Interface

CUSTOMER PROBLEM SOLVED

Network managers are trying to consolidate their network backbones 
from multiple network protocols to one or two standard protocols. In 
the past, this move was complicated by the protocol specific 
requirements of a variety of networked applications. Either the 
applications would need to be rewritten for a new protocol or the 
existing protocol would need to continue to be maintained on the 
backbone. 

DECnet/OSI V6.0 now allows DECnet and OSI applications to run over 
DECnet, OSI, and/or TCP/IP transports - without modification. Network 
managers can now consolidate their network backbones without having to 
rewrite their existing applications. 

DECnet/OSI V6.0 is also easier to install and manage than ever before. 

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

DECnet/OSI V6.0 is a major functional release of the network software
based on the Digital Network Architecture. It provides the ability for
network managers to choose their network transport and network naming
service without having to modify their existing network applications.
All licensed DECnet applications, along with user-written and third
party DECnet applications, can be run over NSP (DECnet transport
protocol), CLNS or CONS (OSI transport protocols) or TCP/IP
transports. OSI applications, such as FTAM, VT, X.400 and X.500, can
be run over the OSI protocols or TCP/IP. The ability to run these
applications over TCP/IP is based on an extension to RFC 1006, currently 
available from the IETF as an Internet Draft. Through the use of open 
interfaces, DECnet/OSI V6.0 allows for the use of any TCP/IP protocol 
stack available on OpenVMS systems. 

Name Service choices have also been expanded. DECnet/OSI for OpenVMS
can now access naming information stored in a larger local name
service (now supporting up to 100,000 nodes per system), DECdns,
and/or DNS/bind. 

Finally, NCL is now easy to use through the implementation of 
a Motif-based Graphical Network Management Interface.

DECnet/OSI continues to preserve existing investments in network
hardware and applications. DECnet/OSI is DECnet plus OSI and is
therefore fully compatible with DECnet Phase IV. Because the Phase IV
protocols have been preserved in DECnet/OSI, existing DECnet
applications will run unchanged on a DECnet/OSI system. DECnet/OSI and
DECnet Phase IV systems coexist transparently in a single network. 

NEW FEATURES

DECnet/OSI V6.0 for OpenVMS adds the following features: 

o DECnet and OSI applications over TCP/IP

Existing applications will run unmodified over DECnet, OSI, and/or TCP/IP 
network backbones.

o Expanded Naming Options

Your choice of a Local database containing up to 100,000 nodes, DECdns 
and/or DNS/bind.

o Graphical Network Management Interface

Improved access to network management information and commands. The 
Graphical Interface is an easy to use implementation of NCL that 
allows management of both DECnet/OSI and remote DECnet Phase IV 
systems.

AVAILABILITY AND ORDERING

DECnet/OSI V6.0 for OpenVMS will be available on the Consolidated 
CD-ROM shipping in January 1995. Pricing is unchanged for this release.

A separate TCP/IP protocol stack is required to use the new DECnet 
over IP features. DECnet/OSI V6.0 has been tested with the TCP/IP 
products from Digital Equipment Corporation, Process Software, TGV, 
Inc, and The Wollongong Group. Contact the vendor for the appropriate 
product version.

A DECnet/OSI license gives the owner the right to use either DECnet/OSI or
DECnet Phase IV on Open VMS systems. The DECnet/OSI license is frequently
included as part of VAX and AXP system packages. Customers who
purchase those system packages will receive the new V6.0 license. However, a
DECnet/OSI license is not included with all systems. If this is the case,
customers must purchase new licenses.

The End System license provides the right to use the base DECnet and 
OSI protocol stacks, FTAM, VT, DECdns Clerk, DECdts, X.25 Access, and 
network management. The Extended Function license provides all 
functions in the End System plus the OSI Application Gateways,
Cluster Alias, and, on VAX platforms, the DECdns Server.

Order No.        Description

QL-D04A*-AA      DECnet/OSI for OpenVMS VAX End System license
QL-D05A*-AA      DECnet/OSI for OpenVMS VAX Extended Function license
QL-D09A*-AA      End System to Extended Function Upgrade license

QA-VWJ8A-A8      OpenVMS VAX CD-ROM distribution
QT-VWJ8A-*8      Consolidated Distribution Service
                                         
QL-071A*-AA      Optional X.25 for OpenVMS VAX license

QL-MTFA*-AA	 DECnet/OSI for OpenVMS AXP End System license
QL-MTGA*-AA	 DECnet Extended Function license (DECnet, DECnet/OSI)
QL-MTHA*-AA	 End System to Extended Function Upgrade license

QA-03XAA-H8	 OpenVMS AXP Layered Product CD-ROM
QT-03XAA-*8      Consolidated Distribution Service

QL-0THA*-AA      Optional X.25 for OpenVMS AXP License

Update Licenses

Customers who already own a DECnet/OSI license need an update license to move
to V6.0. An update license can be obtained in the following ways:

o Directly purchase the license (price is about 30% of new license price) 

QL-D04A*-RA        DECnet/OSI for OpenVMS VAX End System update license
QL-D05A*-RA        DECnet/OSI for OpenVMS VAX Extended Function update license
QL-MTFA*-RA        DECnet/OSI for OpenVMS AXP End Systems update license 
QL-MTGA*-RA        DECnet/OSI for OpenVMS AXP Extended Function update license 

o As part of an existing Software Update Subscription license (SUSL) contract.
  (SUSL is an annual contract which gives the owner rights to all new releases
  of software that come out during that year. Normally, the price is about 12%
  of the new license price per year.) 

QT-D04A*-A9        DECnet/OSI for OpenVMS VAX End System SUSL
QT-D05A*-A9        DECnet/OSI for OpenVMS VAX Extended Function SUSL
QT-MTFA*-A9        DECnet/OSI for OpenVMS AXP End Systems SUSL 
QT-MTGA*-A9        DECnet/OSI for OpenVMS AXP Extended Function SUSL 

The SUSL contract is included as part of some System Service contracts, so
customers with these contracts will be authorized to use DECnet/OSI 
V6.0.

All DECnet and DECnet/OSI owners must purchase the update license or receive it
as a part of SUSL to use V6.0. Previous purchase of DECnet or DECnet/OSI does
not convey the right to use new software versions.

Documentation: 

Documentation is provided on the CD-ROM. Hardcopy documents are also 
available. New features for this release have been documented in the 
Release Notes.

TECHNICAL DATA

o  Hardware requirements: any OpenVMS AXP or VAX system 

o  Software requirements: OpenVMS AXP or VAX V6.1 Operating System

Further details are provided in the DECnet/OSI V6.0 for OpenVMS AXP 
Software Product Description (50.45) and the DECnet/OSI V6.0 for OpenVMS 
VAX Software Product Description (25.03).
