nagy%warner.hepnet@LBL.ARPA (Frank J. Nagy/VAX Guru) (09/25/87)
>>On the front page of the 14-Sep-87 issue of "Network World" is an >>article that says DEC will announce some new products next month. >>One is called the "VAX Distributed Naming Service" and the other is >>called "Distributed Queuing Service". >>Does anyone know anything more about either of these *new* products? >>Anybody see them at DECWorld? These products are part of "DECnet System Services" and have been announced (at DECWorld) and can be ordered now. DECnet System Services - Combines the best of DECnet and VAX/VMS to extend selected operating system functions to DECnet networks. - DSS is the preferred method of sharing data and system resources in a network environment. The first four DSS products are: - VAX Distributed File Service (V1.0): offers high performance, network-wide file operations. - VAX Distributed Queuing Service (V1.0): provides easy use and management of network printing resources. - VAX Distributed Name Service (V1.0): the network equivalent of VMS logical names. - Remote System Manager (V2.0): provide easy management of networked systems. (Also mentioned is VAX Remote Procedure Call to allow applications to be distributed across the network. RPC seemingly won't be available with the initial set of DSS products). DFS: Provides VMS users with high-speed, transparent access to files stored on remote VMS disks in a DECnet network. [The implication seems to be that DFS allows one to MOUNT a disk across the network.] DFS requires DNS. DQS: Allows VMS users on any node in a DECnet network to use any VMS printer in the network. Compatible with the local VMS Print command and its qualifiers. Supports ALL the management operations associated with VMS queues: not only can users queue print requests, they can also view the status of their jobs, delete jobs from the queue and move jobs between queues. DNS: Needed for DFS V1.0 and RSM V2.0 to provide a consistent, network-wide set of names, called the namespace, which allows users to refer to network resources using the same name from any node in the network. RPC: Program announcement, not yet a product. RPC allows developers to easily develop distributed applications by using standard procedure calls rather than by embeddeding network calls into the application code. VAX RPC is based on the Digital Remote Procedure Call Architecture currently under development. RSM: RSM provides system managers with the ability to automate management of multiple systems in a network: distribution and installation of application software, distribution and installation of operating system software (Initial System Load) and periodic system backup and restore. V2 introduces new features: - Runs over wide-area networks as well as LANs. - Supports multiple operating systems for Clients (VMS and ULTRIX) - Supports multiple servers and more clients than V1 to support large networks. - Supports most VAX processors as clients (except for VAXStation-I, MicroVAX-I, 725 and 730) - Supports clusters and LAVCs as clients. Disclaimer: Most of the above information was extracted from a Digital Sales Update. = Frank J. Nagy "VAX Guru" = Fermilab Research Division EED/Controls = HEPNET: WARNER::NAGY (43198::NAGY) or FNAL::NAGY (43009::NAGY) = BitNet: NAGY@FNAL = USnail: Fermilab POB 500 MS/220 Batavia, IL 60510