BOB%HOWARD@CC.UTAH.EDU (02/05/88)
This is a summary of my thoughts on RSM (Remote System Manager) from
DEC. We purchased RSM shortly after the announcement and think that it
is a great product. We have an 8650 with 9 VAXstations/MicroVAXes and
we would die without RSM (we did before we got it). The best thing
about RSM is that you can load up a microVAX with the latest version
of VMS just like you want it and then have the server pull the copy
of it off the initial machine and store it. Then you can boot a dead
microVAX or a microVAX that needs the new operating system over the
network with the command
>>> B XQA0
on the console. It is infact the neatest thing you have ever seen
(Especially if you have installed VMS on 9 machines by hand).
The next great feature of RSM is that you load say BLISS on one node
and then you tell the server to make a copy of it. Then to load it
on another node you simply enter the node in a menu type interface
and in a few minutes you get a mail message back saying that it
has been loaded. (Because of RSM we have put most of our favorite
utilities into VMSinstal format which is required for RSM to deal with
it.)
The original network print server system with RSM is really lame. It
isn't what you want at all. (It's just a little better than print/remote
but not much).
We also found that the network backup program was ok but we like the
one that we wrote better. (Someday I should post it to the network but
it will be obsolete in VMS V5.0 when you can do backups across the
net (rumor))
I understand that DEC is adding a new print utility to RSM (or just
requiring you to buy the new Distributed Queueing software). This
will make printing across the net much closer to what one really
wants. (Apparently if you already have RSM you get this stuff free!,
at least we got a letter saying "fill this out quick and get it free.")
If your server node has enough disk space (to hold all the save sets
and the copy of VMS) I see no reason why you should have to worry
about the number of client nodes. (unless you are doing backups of the
clients) Also I think RSM says that it will not run on a VAX 750 (which
upset the boys down the hall who have a 750!) Again I see no reason
why it wouldn't but it is impossible to find the part number for a
750, (the boy's tried).
Also if you do order it make sure you order both parts, the server and
the client software. Ordering the server does not automatically get
you the client software.
If you have more than 2 or 3 microVAXes and or VAXstations that are not
in an NI cluster and you don't have RSM you should look into it. It is
really some of the best software you can get and will pay itself back in
time saved to do real work as opposed to VMSinstal.
Bob Wheeler
Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Salt Lake City
These comments are my own, they are not necessarily the opinions of the
Howard Hughes Medical Institute or of my supervisors.