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DECnet-20 V4.0 Doc File, TOPS-20 V6.1
DECnet-20 Doc File
TOPS-20 V6.1
23 Sep 85
DECnet-20 V4.0, TOPS-20 V6.1(7030)
Revision 2
COPYRIGHT (C) DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION 1985. ALL RIGHTS
RESERVED.
THIS SOFTWARE IS FURNISHED UNDER A LICENSE AND MAY BE USED AND COPIED
ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF SUCH LICENSE AND WITH THE
INCLUSION OF THE ABOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICE. THIS SOFTWARE OR ANY OTHER
COPIES THEREOF MAY NOT BE PROVIDED OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE TO ANY
OTHER PERSON. NO TITLE TO AND OWNERSHIP OF THE SOFTWARE IS HEREBY
TRANSFERRED.
THE INFORMATION IN THIS SOFTWARE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY DIGITAL EQUIPMENT
CORPORATION.
DIGITAL ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE USE OR RELIABILITY OF ITS
SOFTWARE ON EQUIPMENT WHICH IS NOT SUPPLIED BY DIGITAL.
DECnet-20 V4.0 Doc File, TOPS-20 V6.1 Page 2
23 Sep 85
CONTENTS
of the
DECnet-20 V4.0 Doc File, TOPS-20 V6.1
1.0 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.1 Adapative Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.2 Task-to-Task Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.3 Network Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.4 Down-Line System Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.5 Network Command Terminal . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.6 Network Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.7 Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.8 DECnet-20 Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.0 Utility Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.0 Autopatching DECnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4.0 Beware File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
DECnet-20 V4.0 Doc File, TOPS-20 V6.1 Page 3
Description 23 Sep 85
1.0 Description
DECnet-20 allows a suitably configured DECSYSTEM-2060/2065 to
participate as a routing node or nonrouting endnode in Phase III or
Phase IV computer networks. DECnet-20 is a Phase IV network product
and is warranted for use only with supported Phase III and Phase IV
DECnet products supplied by Digital. DECnet-20 V4.0 does not support
communication with DECnet Phase II nodes. DECnet-20 participates as a
Phase IV DECnet node only on links connected by an NIA20 or a CI20.
The DECnet-20 communications front-end is a DECnet Phase III node, so
DECnet-20 participates as a Phase III DECnet node on links which pass
through the communications front-end.
DECnet-20 offers task-to-task communications, network file
transfer, downline system load, upline dump, network management,
network command terminals, and limited network resource sharing
capabilities using DIGITAL Network Architecture (DNA) protocols.
Users access the network through TOPS-20 utilities and tools.
The network functions available to a DECnet-20 user depend, in
part, on the configuration of the rest of the network. Each DECnet
product offers its own functions and its own set of features to the
user. Networks consisting entirely of DECnet-20 Phase IV nodes have
all the functions described in this document. Networks that combine
DECnet-20 nodes with other DECnet products may limit the functions
available to the DECnet-20 user because some DECnet-20 features may
not be supported by all DECnet products.
1.1 Adapative Routing
DECnet-20 nodes can function as routing nodes when multiple lines
are in use. A message received from one node addressed to another
node will be forwarded by intermediate nodes.
DECnet-20 permits the configuration of networks to a over 60000
nodes. To achieve adequate performance, DIGITAL suggests that
significant network analysis be completed prior to any network
implementation. The size limitation of any individual network will
vary based on specific DECnet products and configurations.
1.2 Task-to-Task Communication
Using DECnet-20, a TOPS-20 user program can exchange messages
with other user programs in the network. The two programs can be on
the same node or on any two nodes in the same network. The DECnet
messages sent and received by the two user programs can be in any data
format agreeed upon by the user programs.
DECnet-20 V4.0 Doc File, TOPS-20 V6.1 Page 4
Description 23 Sep 85
1.3 Network Utilities
Using DECnet utilities, a user can transfer sequential ASCII
files between DECnet nodes. The DECnet-20 file transfer program (NFT)
supports sequential file transfers for all DECSYSTEM-20 disk files.
In addition other types of files may be transferred where formats are
compatible between the DECnet nodes.
The DIRECTORY, DELETE, SUBMIT, COPY, PRINT, and TYPE commands are
implemented. Users can request multiple file transfers using the
wildcard capabilities.
1.4 Down-Line System Loading
Initial memory images for DECnet-11s in the network can be stored
on TOPS-20 file system devices and loaded on request into a DECnet-11
node connected to a DN20. Load requests can come from the local
DECnet-20 host or from the remote node. Memory images for DECnet-11
systems to be downline loaded CANNOT be generated on a TOPS-20 System.
Initial memory images and diagnostic images for DECSA and DSRVA
servers can be stored on the TOPS-20 file system and loaded on request
into any such servers on the same NI. Images can also be upline
dumped from these servers to a TOPS-20 system. DECnet-20 can downline
load the DECSA's communications processor microcode in order to run
the DECSA's Remote Console Facility. Load and dump requests can come
from the target node itself across the NI or through Network
management via DECnet.
1.5 Network Command Terminal
DECnet-20 supports Network Command Terminals using either
Digital's CTERM protocol or the TOPS-20 Network Virtual Terminal (NVT)
protocol. This connection makes the user's terminal appear as if it
were physically connected to the remote system and the user can use
the standard system and network utilities supported by that remote
system. The user can make Network Command Terminal connections from a
remote system to a TOPS-20 system, from a TOPS-20 system to a remote
system, or both.
DECnet-20 supports a subset of the CTERM protocol which may not
be completely transparent to the user. It may be inappropriate for
certain applications which use control characters for input.
DECnet-20 V4.0 Doc File, TOPS-20 V6.1 Page 5
Description 23 Sep 85
1.6 Network Management
The Network Control Program (NCP) is a privileged program which
performs three primary functions: displaying statistical and error
information, controlling network components, and testing network
operations. These functions can be performed locally or executed at
remote nodes that support these functions.
An operator can display the status of DECnet activity at any node
in the network that is running Network Management V4.0. The operator
can choose to display statistics related to the node itself or the
communication lines, including traffic and error data. The local
operator can also perform many network control functions such as
starting and stopping lines and down-line loading dependent systems.
DECnet-20 provides network event logging to the system error
file, to OPR, or to remote nodes. NCP commands can be used to control
the event logging facility.
NCP commands can also be used to test components of the network.
NCP commands enable transmission and reception of test messages over
individual lines either between nodes or through other controller
loopback arrangements. The messages are compared for possible errors.
NCP commands provide a logical series of tests that aid in isolating
network problems.
1.7 Communications
DECnet-20 uses the NIA20, CI20, DMR11, DMC11, or KMC11/DUP11
communications controllers to interface with other network nodes.
The NIA20, when used with the H4000 or DELNI transceivers, allows
DECnet-20 to use the Ethernet(tm) as its data transmission medium.
The NIA20 is a DMA device in the KL10 backplane. The CI20, when used
with the SC008, allows DECnet-20 to use the CI as its data
transmission medium. The CI20 is a DMA device in the KL10 backplane.
The DMR11, DMC11, and the KMC11/DUP11 controllers, when used in the
DN20 communications front-end, allow DECnet-20 to use point to point
connections as its data transmission medium. Each of these devices
uses the DIGITAL Data Communications Message Protocol (DDCMP) to
provide full- or half-duplex (DMR only) communication over
point-to-point synchronous lines. The DMC11 and DMR11 are DMA UNIBUS
peripherals which implement line control and error recovery procedures
in microcode. The KMC11/DUP11 is a DMA UNIBUS device which depends on
the software implementation of DDCMP in the DN20 front-end.
DECnet-20 V4.0 Doc File, TOPS-20 V6.1 Page 6
Description 23 Sep 85
1.8 DECnet-20 Operation
DECnet-20 consists of the monitor and front-end components, and
user-mode utilities. DECnet-20 resides within the TOPS-20 monitor.
The DN20 is not required for DECnet communications over the NIA20 and
the CI20.
2.0 Utility Programs
The following utility programs are provided as part of the
DECnet-20 package.
1. KNILDR -- Microcode loader for the NIA20
2. NETGEN -- Network Configuration File Generator for creating
DN20 Front-end.
3. DNMAC --- MACRO-11 Cross-Assembler for compiling DN20
front-end system data bases.
4. TKB36 --- Task builder for building DN20 front-end system.
5. VNP36 --- Virtual Network Processor for building DN20
Front-end systems from data generated by NETGEN.
6. NIPGEN -- Command/Control File Generator for verifying
network installation of DN20.
7. CTERM --- Server. Provides user logged into TOPS-20 system
with ability to become a virtual terminal on a remote system
using CTERM protocol.
8. SETHOST -- Provides user logged into TOPS-20 sytem with
ability to become a virtual terminal on a remote TOPS-20
system using the NVT protocol.
9. NFT/FAL -- Network File Transfer/File Access Listner programs
which provide file transfer between the DECSYSTEM-20 and a
remote system.
3.0 Autopatching DECnet
DECnet is updated via the TOPS-20 Autopatch process. The DECnet
modules that are part of TOPS-20 are updated via the normal TOPS-20
"REL file" replacement mechanism. The front-end MCB *.TSK, *.MAP, and
*.STB files are replaced as necessary by the Autopatch mechanism.
DECnet-20 V4.0 Doc File, TOPS-20 V6.1 Page 7
Autopatching DECnet 23 Sep 85
NMLT20.EXE (the network management program) will be encrypted as
it is delivered on the Autopatch tape. The DECnet Binary tape
contains a file NMLT20.KEY in the <SUBSYS> directory. This key will
by the autopatch process to decrypt NMLT20.
4.0 Beware File
The DECNET.BWR file should be read before installation and use of
DECNET-20. It provides information on limitations which may impact a
specific use as well as other important information. DECnet-20 is
also fully documented in the TOPS-20 Notebooks.