[comp.os.vms] Trouble connecting MicroVAX II to MicroVAX 2000

DSBOGARTZ@AMHERST.BITNET (David Bogartz) (03/22/88)

We're having a problem connecting a MicroVAX 2000 to a MicroVAX II
over Ethernet.  If you try to establish a logical DECnet link between
one and the other, the connection is not established and times out
eventually (60 seconds in our case) with the message "remote node
is not currently reachable".  The network looks like this:

  +------+   +-------+  +-------+   +-------------+
  | 2000 |---| DEMPR |--| DELNI |---| MicroVAX II |
  +------+   +-------+  +---+---+   +-------------+
                            |
                          H4000              H4000
|---------------------------|------------------|---------------|
                                               |
                                           +-------+
                                           | DELNI |
                                           +---+---+
                                               |
                                         +-----+-----+
                                         | DECserver |
                                         +-----------+

When DECnet starts on the 2000, the MicroVAX II sees it, because
if the 2000 changes its address, that change is reflected in the
MicroVAX II's database.  We don't suspect the hardware because
the DECserver can reach both the 2000 and the MicroVAX II with no
problems.

Has anyone ever seen this before?  Does anyone have any guesses?

David Bogartz
dsbogartz@amherst.bitnet

thierbac@umbc3.UMD.EDU (Ed Thierbach ) (03/29/88)

If either of your node numbers are greater than 255, make sure that the
MAXIMUM ADDRESS parameter is set appropriately in each DECnet database.
Here's how to set it:

$ RUN SYS$SYSTEM:NCP
NCP> DEFINE EXECUTOR MAXIMUM ADDRESS 1023 (or at least as high as your
                                           highest node number)
NCP> SET EXECUTOR MAXIMUM ADDRESS 1023
NCP> EXIT

You might also want to make sure both nodes are in the same DECnet area;
I seem to remember that inter-area communications require an area router,
even if the nodes are on the same Ethernet.  I'm not sure of that, though;
if you have a full doc set, check the VMS Networking Manual (mine's not
nearby right now).

Hope this helps!

Ed Thierbach
Roy F. Weston, Inc.
(Looking for a few good .signatures...)