merusi@pwa-b.UUCP (Don Merusi) (01/30/88)
able to shed some truth concerning DECnet Phase V supporting Phase IV and Phase III nodes. I have heard some inconclusive information regarding Phase V not supporting Phase III nodes, and providing compatability with Phase IV nodes for a limited period of time. Supposedly, subsequent releases of Phase V and/or Version 5.0 of VMS will not support DECnet connections to RSX11M/M+/S systems. This is most distressing since we have a significant requirement to want to have this support, such as for our DECSA boxes.
LEICHTER@VENUS.YCC.YALE.EDU ("Jerry Leichter ", LEICHTER-JERRY@CS.YALE.EDU) (02/08/88)
[The beginning of this message seems to have gotten cut off, but the meaning is clear]: able to shed some truth concerning DECnet Phase V supporting Phase IV and Phase III nodes. I have heard some inconclusive information regarding Phase V not supporting Phase III nodes, and providing compatability with Phase IV nodes for a limited period of time. Supposedly, subsequent releases of Phase V and/or Version 5.0 of VMS will not support DECnet connections to RSX11M/M+/S systems. This is most distressing since we have a significant requirement to want to have this support, such as for our DECSA boxes. ALL the rumors you list here, with one exception, are FALSE. a) The support commitment for DECnet is that connections between Phase N nodes and Phase N-1 nodes will work. Forever. That does NOT mean the Phase N-1 node can do anything it couldn't do before - Phase III nodes in a Phase IV network can't communicate outside of their own area, for example. Presumably similar things will happen to Phase IV nodes in a Phase V network. b) The flip side of (a) is that connections between Phase N nodes and Phase N-2 nodes are NOT supported. So a Phase III node might not work when connected to a Phase V node. (Presumably, a Phase IV node could act as a gateway between them.) c) As a consequence of (a), whatever the future of RSX and DECSA software, your nodes will continue to work, providing the service they do now - AND NO MORE - at least until a so-far conjectural Phase VI. d) Finally, there is no connection between Phase V of DECnet and Version 5 of VMS - Phase V is considerably further into the future than Version 5. -- Jerry
EWR@SEED.AMS.COM (Betsy Ramsey) (02/08/88)
Quoting from Digital publication "DECnet Digital Network Architecture (Phase V)" (Order No. EK-DNAPV-GD, copyright Sept 1987 by DEC), which describes DNA as developed by DEC, "In keeping with the goals of DNA, a system which implements Phase V is fully able to communicate with a Phase IV system. A Phase IV network can be migrated gradually to Phase V without requiring closely synchronized changes to multiple systems. All of the protocols used in Phase IV are included in Phase V systems, although in many cases they will be used only for communcation with Phase IV systems. To the user of a DECnet network, the change from Phase IV to Phase V will not be apparent, except that the new functions of Phase V will gradually become available." The document doesn't say anything about Phase III, but I assume that Phase III hosts will not be able to communicate directly with a Phase V host, although they should be able to go through a Phase IV host to a Phase V host. -------
IMHW400@INDYVAX.BITNET (02/11/88)
Regarding the anxiety over RSX systems on a Phase V network, I seem to recall a recent announcement that DECnet/RSX has been upgraded to Phase IV. Presumably DECSAs and TOPS-20 MCBs will get the upgraded RSX image before the ax falls.... (It could be worse. DECnet incarnations also exist on RT-11 and OS-8(?), and I haven't heard anything about them lately.) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Mark H. Wood IMHW400@INDYVAX.BITNET (317)274-0749 III U U PPPP U U III Indiana University - Purdue University at Indianapolis I U U P P U U I 799 West Michigan Street, ET 1023 I U U PPPP U U I Indianapolis, IN 46202 USA I U U P U U I [@disclaimer@] III UUU P UUU III