[comp.os.vms] Problems with VAX/PSI V4.0

GLOOR@CSGHSG5A.BITNET (05/23/87)

In the following lines I would like to discuss some problems we obtained
concerning VAX-PSI V4.0!

First the topics:

        1) Remote X.29 using a public PAD (ITI) will receive "call cleared"
        2) Calling a NON-DEC host (DTE) requires to SET TERMINAL/NOWRAP
        3) How to handle the parity bit if remote host has set parity on!?!
        4) How to modify terminal / server characteristics for terminals
           connected to a DECserver 200 ???

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1) Remote X.29 using a public PAD (ITI) will receive "call cleared"

   In Switzerland the public PAD's of the PTT offers a service to connect
   X.29 terminals with 75/1200 baud splitted baud rate. It's very common
   to use this PAD type, because the PTT offers a telephone with a built-
   in modem which in fact is the cheapest legal solution (except some new
   IBM-PC boards which cannot be used f.eks.in a RAINBOW) and has the ad-
   vantage that it can be used for VIDEOTEX too.

   Now the VAX-PSI interface will reject any call from this PAD type. I've
   been told by the TELEPAC (Swiss PSDN) engineers that the PAD is sending
   information about the speed which our software probably not will accept.

   There are no problems using the same PAD with 300/300 baud or 1200/1200
   baud.

   Is there any telecommunications expert which can give us some good
   advice?


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2) Calling a NON-DEC host (DTE) requires to SET TERMINAL/NOWRAP

   Whenever we are calling a NON-DEC host (f.eks. COMnet or CompuServe)
   with SET TERMINAL/X28 dte-number we will receive strange wrapped lines.

   If we SET TERMINAL/NOWRAP prior to the call the screen output will be
   o.k.!

   This is not serious problem but maybe has someone a better solution.

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3) How to handle the parity bit if remote host has set parity on?

   Most of the remote hosts we call (f.eks. CompuServe) have parity set
   and if we don't mask out the eighth bit we are not able to read the
   output. One can easily mask out the eighth bit with SET TERM/NOEIGHT
   and setting the terminal to something like 7S.

   Most of our local applications use eight bit so the user needs to
   change his SETUP and terminal characteristic each time which makes
   the usage of data library services and other remote host access not
   very handy.

   One more reason to discuss this matter you will find in the next
   topic.

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4) How to modify terminal characteristics for terminals connected
   to a DECserver?

   Remember topic 3: Most of the remote hosts we call have parity set.

   But some applications like file up/down load requires to change to
   eight bit. Usually the remote X.29 software together with the file
   transfer program (XMODEM, KERMIT, Compuserve-B, HOST) is able to
   setup all participating interfaces in the full path from the remote
   host downto the PC to allow fully transparent eight bit file transfer.

   This will work (maybe with some additional opperation) as long the
   PC is directly connected to the VAX (f.eks. via DMB32/DMF32). If
   the PC is connected via a DECserver 200 it will no longer work be-
   cause PSI is not able to change DECserver port characteristics.
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   I am not shure, but it seems that this kind of problems are not very
   common. Either we are making something wrong or we are very advanced
   in this kind of business.

   Using PSIPAD has become very important to our users and we have to
   find some solutions for the above topics. It's strange that DEC,
   the leader in communications, has not overcome those "small things"
   yet.

   Expecting a "hot" discussion

   Peter

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  Peter Gloor, System Manager   Hochschule St.Gallen
                                Dufourstrasse 50
  BITnet:  GLOOR@CSGHSG5A       CH-9000 St.Gallen
  PSI%022847511002::GLOOR       Switzerland