PC'S SIG Message # 244 0 replies Reply to # 42 Left by: VASOS PANAGIOTOPOULOS On 16-Nov-89 At : MCIMAIL 353 6867 Subject: HP EMULATOR FOR PRO 350? I have an HP2621A terminal hooked up to an AMPRO 2210 80186 *MHz PC. n AMPR 221HP2621A term hokked to a s his blasted thing restarte (this restarts line wehn i hit backspace..yujkkk Anyway I have an HP2621A term hooked up to a PC as a device= in config.sys since my machine has no mon or regular kybd the mfg has my modified bios driver at their bbs their voice number is 408 734 2800 I run MEx with an emulaion overlay that makes my pc behave like a c vt50 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 475 0 replies Reply to # 56 Left by: VASOS PANAGIOTOPOULOS On 16-Nov-89 At : TLX 6503536867 Subject: VAX/FORTRAN TO IBM/COBOL Have you ever heard of Cap Gemini Sogetti }]I think they have a conversion packages/servc MIGRATION ISSUES SIG Message # 58 0 replies Left by: VASOS PANAGIOTOPOULOS On 16-Nov-89 At : TLX 650 353 6867 Subject: CMND JSYS IN C TRPTBL Columbia University has taken the old DEC 20 TOPS CMND JSYS and made them into transportable C rouitines for pasrsing in any OS. they are available via 'ftp' I think the addreess is (by memory) ccmd.request@cunixc.xx oops ccmd.request@cunixc.cc.columbia.edu that might also be ccmd or ccmd.info.request sorry - since I finally got them because someone put them on McGrawHill Byte BIX (800 227 2983) I trashed the address VMS SIG Message # 1155 1 replies Reply to # 1149 Left by: PEDRO A. CRESPO On 16-Nov-89 At : (405) 521-5324 Subject: NEW PROCS IN RWMBX STATE Richard, Thank you for taking the time to reply. I will have to go with te third option that you mentioned... (figure it out on my own) for reasons beyond by control... (i.e. no phone support from DEC == $$$) I think I have tried loggin in with the /nocom qualifier, with the same results. So far, I can't identify anything in my SYSLOGIN.COM that would use a mailbox, but I did some checking and the one of the VMS manuals says that this might have to do with non-paged dynamic memory... this is where I'm at right now, checking sysgen parms, and memory (lack of it is not the problem in this case). Thank you again, and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Pedro A. Crespo Oklahoma City University CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 483 1 replies Left by: MARTY JOHNSON On 16-Nov-89 At : (203)666-1737 Subject: LAVC CLUSTER We have a customer who has a LAVC Cluster consisting of one 11/750 with two RA81 disks and a MicroVax II with an RA82 running VMS V5.1. Both system boot off one of the RA81s on the 750. This customer feels that changing the boot disk to the MicroVAX's RA82 will increase Cluster performance. In moving the boot disk, what kind of problems or gotchas can we expect? I assume that we will probably have to change the boot ROM's on the MicroVax. What else should we expect? Thanks, Marty CPU'S SIG Message # 71 1 replies Reply to # 69 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 16-Nov-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: VAX/11/730 What are you getting? You are getting a VAX which runs 3 times slower than a MicroVAX II, comes with a 104MB disk the size of an RA82 (RD54 stores 159MB), and consumes the same amount of power as 5 or so MicroVAX II's. The electric bill alone along with the A/C will take the steam out of that $1200. MicroVAX II's in BA23 cabinets are starting to appear for around $2500. VMS SIG Message # 1157 0 replies Reply to # 1138 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 16-Nov-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: RE: IDENTIFIERS VIA PROGR I recently had the same problem of trying to find out if a process held a particular identifier. My solution, partial listing below, was to use an ACL and pass it to the SYS$CHKPRO service for testing. I eventually converted this code to a function called CHECK_RIGHTS which would be used as: istat = CHECK_RIGHTS("ACCESS") ISTAT will be either SS$_NORMAL or SS$_NOPRIV depending upon whether or not the identifier is held. A partial listing of the BASIC code follows (the identifier being checked for is ACCESS): istat = sys$parse_acl("(IDENTIFIER=ACCESS)",ace,,,) itmlst(1%)::item_code = chp$acl itmlst(1%)::buf_len = 16% itmlst(1%)::buf_addr = loc(ace) itmlst(1%)::relten_addr = 0% itmlst(2%)::item_code = chp$_privused itmlst(2%)::buf_len = 4% itmlst(2%)::buf_addr = loc(privbuf) itmlst(2%)::retlen_addr = 0% itmlst(3%)::terminator = 0% istat = sys$chkpro(itmlst(1%)) if (istat = ss$_nopriv) or (privbuf <> 0%) then print "User does not hold identifier ACCESS" else print "User holds identifier ACCESS" end if The PRIVBUF check compensates for a user with BYPASS privilege. A user with BYPASS privilege will get a normal return for any identifier but PRIVBUF will be non-zero. If the user has the identifier and BYPASS privilege, PRIVBUF will be zero. Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 618 0 replies Reply to # 589 Left by: JOHN STACKLYN On 16-Nov-89 At : 904/487-7701 Subject: CASE TOOLS I have seen a couple of CASE tools demonstrated, but have not had any experience with them. They appear to be pretty good and are well recommended (James Martin speaks highly of the Cortex one, even though he owns a "bunch" of KnowledgeWare!) One is called CorVision or the Application Factory (or maybe both) and is by CorTex. It covers from the analysis and design stages all the way to code generation (MACRO). CorTex is at 617/894-7000 (Waltham, MA). The other one is Software Through Pictures by Interactive Development Environments 415/543-0900. There was a Digital Review article on it from Jully 11, 1988. Both these looked good in demos but as I say, I've no practical experience with either. Hope you find this helpful... VMS SIG Message # 1158 0 replies Reply to # 1152 Left by: RICK MARSH On 16-Nov-89 At : 5036872520 Subject: BROKEN DEBUGGER IN 5.2? I had the same problem on my 750. Your PCS loadable microcode is not current. Field service can fix it for you and also put it on disk so you don't have to have that stupid tu58 cassette in the drive. VMS SIG Message # 1159 0 replies Reply to # 1155 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 16-Nov-89 At : (609) 258-6217 Subject: NEW PROCS IN RWMBX STATE Pedro, I see that you are at a university. If you have access to the internet you might try posting your question to the info-vax mailing list. The address is info-vax@sri.com, subscription requests should be sent to info-vax-request@sri.com or to your nearest BITNET list server if your are on BITNET. Some pretty knowledgable people read that list and one of them might have an answer. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 619 1 replies Left by: SIMON BROWN On 17-Nov-89 At : HERE Subject: FILE LOCKING (OR NOT) Hi - I read in the latest DEC Pro that DISKeeper can defragment a file `with no possibility of file access conflicts'. Does anyone out there know of a way that I can open a file for exclusive use and not cause other users a problem. What I'd like is that if they try to access the same file, they just hang until I'm ready. Sure, I could use locks, but I have to apply this technique to an existing system, and introducing the locking would cause political problems. Also, I have to construct a proposal for an in-house defragmenter, and would be interested in the above technique. Does anyone (Dr. R?) know if DEC will be giving away (naive aren't I) `their' defragmenter with v5.4, or will it mean visiting the bank manager once again? When / if I write a defragmenter, it'll go to DECUS as well. Cheers and thank-you all, Simon Brown, Switzerland. CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 484 0 replies Reply to # 483 Left by: NIK On 17-Nov-89 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: LAVC CLUSTER I assume the LAVc looks like this, and you want this. ----- ------ | ----- ------ |750|---delni---|uVAX| | |750|---delni---|uVAX| ----- ------ | ----- ------ | | | | | | | 81 81 82 | 81 81 82 ^ | ^ |system | |system I don't think a MicroVAX II has boot ROM's, we all know the 11/750 does. The question is whether or not there is a boot ROM for the 11/750 that will allow the Maytag to boot off the Ethernet. If not then I guess you'll have to move the RA82 over to the 11/750. SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 328 0 replies Left by: JAMES SALTER On 17-Nov-89 At : HERE Subject: NETWARE4VMS I would like to hear from anyone that has installed netware4vms,I would like to know about the performance,installation and what kind of support Novell has given them. I would also like any comments about Novell Tech Support in general. Thanks James FORUM - 3RD PARTY SUPPLIERS SIG Message # 117 0 replies Left by: JAMES SALTER On 17-Nov-89 At : HERE Subject: NETWARE4VMS I would like to hear from anyone that has netware4vms,I would really like any comments about the Novell tech support as to the kind of service they give on the product. Thanks James PC'S SIG Message # 245 0 replies Left by: JAMES SALTER On 17-Nov-89 At : HERE Subject: NOVELL SUPPORT I would like any comments anybody might have about the kind of service they have gotten from Novell Tech Support. Thanks James VMS SIG Message # 1160 0 replies Reply to # 1152 Left by: NIK On 17-Nov-89 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: BROKEN DEBUGGER IN 5.2? As for SH U/FUL. In your VMS v5.2 distribution, save set .A, you are given most or all of the *.CLD's. You can, BAC/SEL=*.CLD...and edit SHOW.CLD to make /FULL the default. Then do: $ SET COMMAND/TABLE=SYS$LIBRARY:DCLTABLES - $_ /OUTPUT=SYS$LIBRARY:DCLTABLES SHOW.CLD $INSTALL REPLACE DCLTABLES A) Watch the protection mask after you do this, should be at least W:RE. B) All users should logout and back in, or do, $ SET COMM/TABL=SYS$LIBRARY:DCLTABLES C) After, if you want '/BREIF', do: $ SH U/NOFULL While you're at it you can do: $ SET COMMAND/DELETE=RECOVER/TABLE=SYS$LIBRARY:DCLTABLES - $_ /OUTPUT=SYS$LIBRARY:DCLTABLES This will give you bac the $ REC instead of $ RECA. Of course you won't be able to use RMS Journaling. If you want RMS Journaling, then edit the RECOVER.CLD and change the DEFINE VERB RECOVER to DEFINE VERB JOURNAL, then do $ SET COMM/TAB=...blah/OUTPUT=...blah. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 620 1 replies Left by: DON MCMAHON On 17-Nov-89 At : 212-305-5949 Subject: SCANNING HRDWR&SOFTWR DOES ANYONE HAVE INFORMATION REGARDING VAX-VMS BASED SOFTWARE TO PERFORM CHARACTER RECOGNITION OF SCANNED IMAGES? FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE MS-DOS ENVIRONMENT IMAGES SCANNED WITH AN HP-SCANJET CAN BE CONVERTED INTO ASCII TEXT FILES USING PRODUCTS LIKE 'OMNI-PAGE'. WE SEEK SIMILAR CAPABILITY FOR OUR VAX? HELP, HELP! THE FUTURE OF SCIENCE DEPENDS ON OUR LOCATING THIS. don mcmahon bitnet%"system@cucisa" or 212-305-5949 Center for Clinical Research, Columbia University CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 485 0 replies Left by: NIK On 17-Nov-89 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: FAL MANAGEMENT VMS v5.2 Now that FAL's, File Access Listeners, have their own account. As per SYS$UPDATE:NETCONFIG_UPDATE.COM. We can define a system logical, NETSERVER$SERVERS_FAL$SERVER, to an integer quantity representing the amount of permanent FALs to exist on the system. The logical is used by SYS$SYSTEM:NETSERVER.COM it's actually, NETSERVER$SERVERS_ . Prior to v5.2, this logical had to be used on per user basis. Where used to be the user on the remote node. The FALs sit in LEF state until needed, it greatly improves the occasional $ COPY local::disk:file.ext remote::disk:file.ext. Because the process is already there! They consume just over 200 pages of memory. I have NETSERVER$SERVERS_FAL$SERVER set to 3 and NETSERVER$TIMEOUT defined as "0 00:00:00.03". So now, I can handle the occasional copy and the FALs that are created after the first 3 are used will go away 3 seconds after the file is closed. I used to have NETSERVER$TIMEOUT set to "0 00:00:00". I picked 3 seconds because we use command procedures to compile source code across our network. Sometimes we have a dozen FALs. The first compile/link command will create a FAL for each file opened. when the first compile/link command is done, I have 3 seconds to do a link or another compile using the same FALs else the FALs drop dead after 3 seconds, except for my three permanent FALs. Unfortunately NETSERVER.COM uses .DAT files to keep track of immortal FALs. Since FALs have their own account now, I plan on rewriting NETSERVER.COM to use group logicals instead of: SYS$SPECIFIC:[FAL$SERVER]NETSERVER_FAL$SERVER_n_node.DAT;1 files. At the top of SYLOGIN.COM we can do: $! NETSERVER$VERIFY == 1 ! For debuging NETSERVER.COM $ IF F$USER() .EQS. "FAL$SERVER" THEN EXIT ! Faster startup of FALs. $ IF F$MODE() .EQS. "NETWORK" THEN GOTO NETWORK ! All other network tasks. SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 329 0 replies Reply to # 300 Left by: RICK KAERWER (ICI) On 17-Nov-89 At : HERE ON ARIS Subject: HITMAN PROCESS KILLER We've installed HITMAN on 2 MicroVAX II's here on site. HITMAN kills people real well. It's helped keep our dead weights off the system. Something to consider though, is the "killing" factor. HITMAN kills people -- knocks them off. It doesn't neatly check if they're in EDT or EVE, etc. and close out the file, etc. It basically does a STOP/ID=xxx -- it's as if the computer crashed in the user's eyes. The user will have to EDIT/RECOVER or EDIT/TPU/RECOVER , etc. The editors are the easiest part. Most packages don't have any buffering of input data. In those cases the users will have to re-enter everything they were typing before they were knocked off. We had hoped HITMAN would close out files, but it doesn't. HITMAN is pretty cheap (around $900 for us). If you want freeware, look into DECUS stuff. I haven't tried installing any of it (I have HITMAN), but DECUS stuff seems pretty good, and they do have several idle process killers available. WORD PROCESSING SIG Message # 130 0 replies Left by: RICK KAERWER (ICI) On 17-Nov-89 At : HERE ON ARIS Subject: HELP! FREE WORD PROCESSOR? Does anyone have experience with a GOOD public domain word processor? My company currently has "difficulty" with putting word processors on DEC computers. Of course there's 30 plus people therefore using EDT and EVE. Would like: indenting, auto word wrap (as opposed to manual FILL'ing), page numbering; on screen bold face, underlining. Would like superscript and subscripting. Here's a good clincher for even the most expensive package you can think of: it has to be as self-explanatory as possible!! System: MicroVAX II, VMS 5.2 Thanks for your thoughts. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 621 0 replies Reply to # 620 Left by: PAUL CROARKIN On 17-Nov-89 At : (202) 342-4784 Subject: SCANNING HRDWR&SOFTWR We have an old scanner made by Kurzweil that can be attached to a VAX. It's pretty cumbersome to train, but it is also about 6 years old and Kurzweil has since come out with new products. If you already have text scanning capability on your PCs, why don't you save yourself the price of a new scanner by scanning in on the PC and uploading the ASCII to the VAX via KERMIT? SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 330 0 replies Left by: RICK KAERWER (ICI) On 17-Nov-89 At : CONTACT ME HERE VIA ARIS Subject: HELP! SMALL SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT There are a lot of "supermicros" (like MicroVAX's) out there these days. A lot of people running them have little computer background, forget about ever being managers of a computer group. That's what these folks find themselves to be: one person computer groups. They've got user support, project scheduling, cost estimation, system management, software development, etc. all suddenly put on their shoulders. If they're like me, it's only supposed to be 25% of their jobs! Does anyone know of books, magazines (currently I monitor DEC Prof, Information Center), classes, etc. that can teach the fundamentals to folks like me? Thanks for your thoughts. VMS SIG Message # 1161 0 replies Reply to # 1132 Left by: RICK KAERWER On 17-Nov-89 At : YOU CAN REACH ME HERE VIA ARIS Subject: NEW PROCS IN RWMBX STATE I can't offer you any solutions to your problem, but I'll say that I've got a MicroVAX II with a similar sounding configuration, running VMS 5.2 and I don't have the problem. VMS SIG Message # 1162 0 replies Reply to # 1133 Left by: RICK KAERWER (ICI) On 17-Nov-89 At : CONTACT ME VIA ARIS Subject: BACKUP/LIST/BRIEF Just a reminder, if you're running VMS 5.2 standalone backup, don't use the /LOG qualifier. It'll hang. I just found this out via DEC phone line, and sure enough, they've got the problem logged into DEC's DSIN. VMS SIG Message # 1163 1 replies Left by: RICK KAERER (ICI) On 17-Nov-89 At : VIA ARIS Subject: HELP! LOCK PASSWORDS! I do believe in passwords (contrary to another ARIS conversation I was just reading. I also believe users should be forced to change their passwords and KEEP them the new password for 90 days. Why? I've got folks here who set the function keys on their terminals with their usernames and passwords. It's leaving the system open to hackers that might delete files (even if by mistake). Anyone know of a way to have folks HAVE to change passwords every 90 days (I already do it in AUTHORIZE) and have the password then LOCK in and their not being able to change it? If I'm being overly restrictive, let me know! MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 622 0 replies Reply to # 619 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 17-Nov-89 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: FILE LOCKING (OR NOT) Simon, I believe that the technique you are looking for is or involves something called a "blocking AST". You enable this AST and it will be delivered to your process when another process tries to access the file. I've never used one and can't tell you any more about it. Good luck. VMS SIG Message # 1164 0 replies Reply to # 1143 Left by: Phil Gravel On 17-Nov-89 At : HERE Subject: VMS 5.2 SORT BUG There is an article on DSIN titled "V5.2 SORT: Summary of Known Problems And Correction Announcement". I haven't read it, but its existence would confirm what your sources have told you. Phil CPU'S SIG Message # 72 0 replies Reply to # 70 Left by: BILL STYNE On 17-Nov-89 At : 516-746-2350 Subject: VAX/11/730 LEE, THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY, AND ELABORATION ON THE PROS AND CONS OF ACQUIRING A SYSTEM SUCH AS THE 11/730. I JUST READ AN OLD REVIEW IN DATA DECISIONS, AND WAS SUPRISED WHEN THE ARTICLE STATED THAT THE ENTRY LEVEL PRICING FOR A 730 (AT THE TIME OF RELEASE) WAS $48,000!! YOUR POINTS ARE WELL TAKEN, ESPECIALLY THOSE PERTAINING TO SOFTWARE LIC. I WILL KEEP LOOKING, AS THERE ARE REAL FINDS OUT THERE! BILL CPU'S SIG Message # 73 0 replies Reply to # 71 Left by: BILL STYNE On 17-Nov-89 At : 516-746-2350 Subject: VAX/11/730 BOB, YOUR REPLY IS APPRECIATED. I SHOULDN'T LET THE ENTHUSIASM OF GETTING A REAL VAX IN THE FRONT DOOR CLOUD THE REAL ISSUES. AS A VAX SYSTEMS MGR. I ALWAYS LOOK AT ISSUES REALISTICALLY FOR THE COMPANY'S BENEFIT - THE SAME RULES SHOULD APPLY AT HOME PERHAPS? THANKS AGAIN, BILL VMS SIG Message # 1165 0 replies Reply to # 1163 Left by: KELVIN SMITH On 17-Nov-89 At : (203) 357-0504 Subject: HELP! LOCK PASSWORDS! I don't think the "lock password" ability will really make a difference. I assume you're thinking about that on the assumption that people enter their passwords on the function keys because they have problems remembering what the current password is. In my experience, they do it because they're too lazy to type the extra 6 or 8 or whatever characters; you're not going to get rid of that laziness attitude no matter what you do with password expiration. (A second possible reason for a "lock password" desire is that they change it and immediately change back, but the end result for this discussion is the same.) The only answer is to set a policy, and then go around to users' terminals after hours checking for lapses. When you find them, log into their account, add a warning message that they'll read the next time they log in, and clear out the offending function keys. If your friendly unauthorized visitors know that they'll get to maintain access to the account for 90 days as long as they're not so obvious that a user comes to you to complain and ask for authority to change the password, it'll give them that much more freedom to enjoy the fruits of their illegal activity. WORD PROCESSING SIG Message # 131 0 replies Reply to # 130 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 18-Nov-89 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: HELP! FREE WORD PROCESSOR Rick, I'd like to suggest to you a program called TeX. It is not really a word processing program but rather a typesetting program. With the LaTeX macro package it can be used, with appropriate style files, to produce letters, articles, books, memos, theses, slides or just about any sort of printed text you can imagine. Output pretty much requires a 300dpi laser printer or better. With an appropriate driver program, the output can also be sent to a photo-typesetter. Most word processing programs are of the family known as WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). TeX is a markup language. To set text in {\it italics} you have to include control codes in the text. If the preceding sentence were processed by TeX, the word "italics" would be set in italic. TeX's markup language allows you to specify {\it italics}, {\bf boldface}, and {\sl slanted} type. Sub and superscripts may be easily set in math mode. Tables may also be set with relative ease. TeX and LaTeX are available from the DECUS Library as VAX SP58 for a nominal charge. SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 331 0 replies Reply to # 330 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 18-Nov-89 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: HELP! SMALL SYSTEMS MANAG Rick, DEC offers some very good training. On my own systems, I have two of DEC's CAI courses: Introduction to VMS and Introduction to EDT. These two courses allow a new user to sit down at a terminal and learn survival level skills in VMS and the EDT editor. I also have a Self Paced Instruction (SPI) course: VMS Commands and Utilities. DEC also offers this as a lecture/lab course. VMS System Management is available as either Self Paced Instruction or as a lecture/lab course. This stuff is expensive, of course, but I think that, over the long run, it more than pays for itself. If you have someone available with the expertise to answer questions on the material, the Self Paced Instructions courses are good, otherwise I'd recommend the lecture/lab format. If you have several people who need to be trained, consider sending one person to the lecture/lab course and ordering the SPI materials for the rest. CONTROLLERS/MEMORY SIG Message # 125 0 replies Reply to # 121 Left by: RONALD PHILLIP On 19-Nov-89 At : 407-951-5326 Subject: RQDX1 WITH A KDF11-A CPU I AM BOOTING OFF AN RL01-2 DISK. AT PRESENT I HAVE A BAD BOOT BLOCK ON THE RL DRIVE. ON THE RQDX1 I AM TRYING TO BOOT XXDP+ SO THAT I CAN FORMAT A HARD DISK ON THE RQDX1. I FIGURE AFTER THAT I WILL GET AN OPERATING SYSTEM OF RSX11M ON FLOPPIES AND LOAD IN . THE RSX11M RL01 DISK I HAVE HAS A BAD BOOT BLOCK SO I CANNOT BOOT FROM IT. I WILL READ YOUR MESSAGE TO SEE IF I FORGOT TO WIRE WAP ANY OTHER WIRES ON THE BAXK PLANE THANKS WORD PROCESSING SIG Message # 132 0 replies Reply to # 131 Left by: SIMON BROWN On 20-Nov-89 At : HERE Subject: HELP! FREE WORD PROCESSOR I also recommend TeX - It's excellent, although the error messages can be cryptic at times. It's like a super-dooper bells and whistles all things to all men runoff. It's in heavy use here, and came, as do amny good tools, from DECUS. Here we're producing output for LN03, QMS and LPS40 printers. You'll need the DECUS distribution and a book, LaTeX, A Document Preparation System, Leslie Lamport, Digital Equipment Corporation (who they?). Published by Addison-Wesley. ISBN 0-201-15790-X. Although not a What-you-see... as Richard says, there are previewers for UIC and DECWindows. Any more info you want? There are plenty of LaTeX users here on Aris. Cheers, happy writing, Simon VMS SIG Message # 1166 0 replies Left by: BOB ZISEK On 20-Nov-89 At : 203.798.5240 Subject: TURNING OFF SYS$ANNOUNCE Is there a quick way from DCL, or any other method for that matter, to disable SYS$ANNOUNCE for a SPECIFIC terminal port. We have a dial-in system set up on our MicroVAX II running VMS 5.1. The users dial into an autologin port and choose the DECnet node that they want to get to. The reason I have them dial into the MicroVAX and not into an application port on the DECserver 550, is that I want to maintain a log file of all activity. presently, when the incoming caller makes a connection, they see the SYS$ANNOUNCE of the MicroVAX. This is what I want to eliminate, ONLY for that dial in port. ----------Any thoughts are appreciated------------- Bob Zisek Boehringer Ingelheim Ridgefield, Ct. 06877 VMS SIG Message # 1167 0 replies Left by: BOB ZISEK On 20-Nov-89 At : 203.798.5240 Subject: ACL ON BATCH QUEUE I have a batch queue that I want to explicitly protect from job deletions. The trick here is that the person I want to protect it from is the operator with OPER privilege. I tried putting an ACL on the object that allno access to OPERATOR, however he was still able to delete jobs from the queue. I may be missing something quite obvious here, however I am involved with a trillion things right now, and thought maybe someone could suggest something quickly. ------------Thanks in advance----------------- Bob Zisek Boehringer Ingelheim Ridgefield, Ct. 06877 PC'S SIG Message # 246 2 replies Left by: RAY STONE On 20-Nov-89 At : 805 968 3838 Subject: VT200 KEYBOARD FOR PC I'm trying to locate a vendor of PC keyboards that look like VT220 keyboards. That is, mainly the keypad should have the PF1-PF4 keys over the keypad rather than on the left side. Message 57 asks the same question. But the answer given (in October 86) lists a phone number no longer in service, .. ditto for the number of the person replying. Thanks for any help. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 671 0 replies Left by: JAMES SALTER On 20-Nov-89 At : HERE Subject: NOVELL NETWARE I would like to hear from anyone that has Netware for VMS,what do they think of the product and Novell Tech support. Thanks james CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 486 1 replies Left by: ELVAN KNIGHT On 20-Nov-89 At : 512-828-1341 Subject: VAX-CLUSTER LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON BRINGING A MICRO-VAX II RUNNING VMS 4.7 INTO A VAX-CLUSTERRUNNING 5.0INTO A VAX-CLUSTER I PC'S SIG Message # 247 0 replies Reply to # 246 Left by: DAVID DESROCHES On 20-Nov-89 At : (508) 872-8383 Subject: VT200 KEYBOARD FOR PC Who says those *&^$%# vendor cards never come in handy? In today's mail I received an information packet that included one from KEA Systems Ltd. out of Vancouver B.C. They sell a VT240 Keyboard for the PC. I don't know anything about the company but here is the vital information: KEA Systems LTD. Suite 412 2150 West Broadway VAncouver, B.C. Canada V6K 4L9 (800) 663-8702 Good Luck. PC'S SIG Message # 248 0 replies Reply to # 246 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 20-Nov-89 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: VT200 KEYBOARD FOR PC Would you believe DEC? That's right, Digital Equipment Corporation makes the keyboard you love in a model for PCs and compatibles. Call DECDirect and ask them about the LK250-AA. This keyboard is normally supplied as part of a "network integration kit" but I believe that they will sell them separately. CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 487 0 replies Reply to # 486 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 20-Nov-89 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: VAX-CLUSTER You may or may not be able to bring your machine into the cluster. The key is _which_ VMS V5.0 you are running. If the cluster is running 5.0A, then you can do it. If the cluster upgraded all the way to VMS V5.0 then you will have to bring your MicroVAX to 5.0 also. VMS V5.0A is/was a way station in the upgrade path. You could stop your upgrade at V5.0A and still be able to cluster with VMS V4.7. If you continued with the upgrade, you converted your mail database to a new format and converted SYS$SYSTEM:JBCSYSQUE.DAT to a new format and these won't work in a cluster with a V4.7 system. VMS SIG Message # 1168 0 replies Reply to # 1159 Left by: PEDRO A. CRESPO On 21-Nov-89 At : (405) 521-5324 Subject: NEW PROCS IN RWMBX STATE Richard, Thank you for the info... we're in the process of getting access to BITNET, and I will proceed as you indicated. Thanks again, Pedro A. Crespo Info. Systems Dir. Oklahoma City University VMS SIG Message # 1169 0 replies Reply to # 1161 Left by: PEDRO A. CRESPO On 21-Nov-89 At : (405) 521-5324 Subject: NEW PROCS IN RWMBX STATE Rick, Thanks for the reply to my message... I will be upgrading to VMS 5.x (0,1,2) from 4.7 during the Christmas break. Maybe that will take care of my problem since I can't determine the cause, I'll have to work on the symptoms. Thanks again, Pedro Crespo Oklahoma City University VMS SIG Message # 1170 0 replies Reply to # 1146 Left by: Hunter Goatley on 21-Nov-89 At : 801-224-5306 Subject: LOGIN.MAR Thanks, Rick, for your kind words. I wrote an article on defining DCL keys from a program that appeared in the January 1988 VAXPRO. The routines can be downloaded from ARIS. Hunter Goatley Clyde Digital Systems 371 East 800 South Orem, Utah 84058 801-224-5306 PC'S SIG Message # 249 0 replies Left by: DAN DONOHUE On 21-Nov-89 At : 215 439-3276 Subject: VENTURA PUBLISHER Is there anyone out there who has been using the network version of Xerox Ventura Publisher under PCSA? We used it for months under 2.1, but have been having trouble under 2.2. If anyone has any info they can share, tips, tricks or other kludges (it's such a HOG!) please let me know. Thanks - CPU'S SIG Message # 74 0 replies Left by: SIMON BROWN On 22-Nov-89 At : HERE Subject: VAX 6310 Howdy. `My' company is having severe problems with a clustered pair of 6310s in LONDON (as if that matters). DEC told us that the 6310 will perform as near as makes no difference like a 8530. However, we can't get anything like the same CPU performance - with about 50% the users we're up to 100% CPU usage. The users are moaning - we're buying more CPUs, but I'd like to hear from anyone out there in ARIS land,1) if they've had problems getting the 6310 to provide the goods, 2) what the real performance comparison witha 8530, 8600 or 8700 is, 3) whether any instructions are emulated. We're not bottling out on memory or on i/o. We have up to 50% Kernel mode, for reasons which we/I cannot explai I'll let you know how we go on. Stay tuned. Cheers, Simon MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 623 0 replies Left by: FRAN SHIELDS On 22-Nov-89 At : 215-293-0410 Subject: VAX CONSULTANT I AM INTERESTED IN FINDING A VAX CONSULTANT WHO IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH NETWORKING AND COMMUNICATIONS IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA. PLEASE CONTACT ME DIRECTLY AT THE NUMBER ABOVE. THANKS. RSTS SIG Message # 468 0 replies Left by: MARTIN BAECHTEL On 22-Nov-89 At : ERA 703 521-6522 Subject: 11/73B'S AND FPA Can anyone tell me why the FPA (FPJ11-AB) is not supported on the 11/73B (M8190-BB) under RSTS/E (check the SPD)? APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 376 0 replies Left by: CHRIS KIEFER On 22-Nov-89 At : 717-243-1900 Subject: QUESTION ON BULLETIN BOARD Is MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 274 0 replies Left by: JIM GAARDER On 22-Nov-89 At : 301-785-5300 Subject: 8 MM EXABYTE + TD CNTRLR We recently jumped on the 8MM bandwagon and got an Exabyte 8200 drive with A TD systems Viking Unibus SCSI controller for our 780. Things seem to be going pretty well so far, but we did get a "Device not software enabled" error in the middle of an image backup operation. Using the same tape the next day yielded no problems. Has anyone seen this error, and what other "gotchas" are there in store for us? VMS SIG Message # 1171 0 replies Left by: JACQUES GUERETTE On 22-Nov-89 At : (613) 748-0209 Subject: WHERE IS NET*.* Does anyone know where the file definitions for sys$system:netobject.dat hide? Howz about sys$system:net*.dat? I looked in starlet.mlb & lib.mlb with NO luck. VMS SIG Message # 1172 0 replies Reply to # 1166 Left by: NIK On 22-Nov-89 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: TURNING OFF SYS$ANNOUNCE On a port by port basis: Rewrite LOGINOUT On a system wide level: $ DEASS/SYS SYS$ANNOUNCE I wonder how ARIS does it? Since we get three carriage returns upon login, I guess they deassigned the logical. MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 275 0 replies Left by: JOE VANNELLI On 22-Nov-89 At : (705) 474-7600 Subject: UNATTENDED BACKUP We are running VMS 5.1 and our equipment configuration is: =============================================================Ethernet | |...Local Area VAX cluster...| | | | VAX 8350 MicroVAX II MicroVAX II 32 MB 16 MB 16 MB (3) RA81 * (2) RA81 TU81+ TK50 * Note: The RA81 drives on the MicroVAX II are dual ported to the VAX 8350. We perform incremental backups daily utilizing the TK50 on our MicroVAX II and the TU81 on our VAX 8350. Once a week we perform full backups using our TU81. This is done by shutting down our MicroVAX cluster and making use of the dual porting feature of the RA81 Drives to connect them to our VAX 8350. The problem with our backup strategy is, someone must be available to switch the RA81 drive plugs, change tapes, and reboot our MicroVAX cluster. If we were to add an auxiliary backup device to our VAX 8350 for unattended backup, would it be possible to backup the RA81 disks connected to the MicroVAX II over ethernet? If so, would the backup finish overnight without requiring tape changes? LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 100 0 replies Reply to # 97 Left by: ANDI DURBIN On 22-Nov-89 At : (303)866-0406 Subject: BBS S/W FOR VAX WE USE A BULLETIN BOARD SYSTEM WHICH WE OBTAINED FROM DECUS CALLED BB. IT WAS WRITTEN BY MARK RESMER OF VASSAR COLLEGE. HE CAN BE REACHED AT 914-452-7000. WE HAVE HAD IT ON OUR SYSTEM FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS AND ONLY EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WHEN WE WENT TO 5.1. THE CHANGES IN EVE AFFECTED SOME OF THE THINGS WE WERE DOING - BUT ALL PROBLEMS WERE EASILY CORRECTABLE. YOU CAN FIND THE ORDER NUMBER IN YOUR LATEST DECUS ABSTRACT. GOOD LUCK. VMS SIG Message # 1173 0 replies Reply to # 1167 Left by: NIK On 22-Nov-89 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: ACL ON BATCH QUEUE I've played around with that for a while and came with these 2 solutions. Fuzz'n around with ACL,PRIVS and who has write access to what is enough to drive anybody nuts. I got out of my chair after about half an hour and felt like I had the mental dexterity of a three toed sloth. 1) If the OPERATOR is deleting the jobs by accident, then educate the OPERATOR. In the command procedure do: $ SET PROC/NAME="whatever" so it can be identified easily with $ SH SYS/BAT. The, $ SUBMIT/NAME="whatever", should relate to the process name so even the most casual observer can associate the process name with the batch job/command procedure with $ SH QUE/BAT/FUL... 2) If the OPERATOR is doing this on PURPOSE, then $ REPLY/USER=OPERATOR "YOU'RE FIRED!". I think the education approach will provide better results in the long run. VMS SIG Message # 1174 0 replies Reply to # 1168 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 22-Nov-89 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: NEW PROCS IN RWMBX STATE Pedro, I just learned today, from a message on the info-vax mailing list that RWMBX means that the system is waiting on a FULL mailbox. I still don't know why a process would be writing to a mailbox during login. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 334 0 replies Left by: GRAHAM HARWOOD On 24-Nov-89 At : UK +633 871111 Subject: APPLE LASERWRITER SUPPORT ON VAX It occurs to me that a question I posted in the laser printer SIG might not have been seen by all. I have several Apple laserwriters (mainly II/NTX) connected to a VAX. Currently they only print postscript generated by specialised software. We would like them to print ascii as well (via the normal VMS PRINT mechanism). We have tried DEC Scriptprinter software but this seems to rely on extensions in DEC LN03R printers (POSTSCRIPT is not POSTSCRIPT!). Does anyone know how to get Scriptprinter software to work a Laserwriter? Any help would be greatly appreciated. VMS SIG Message # 1175 0 replies Reply to # 1131 Left by: MARK KUEHN On 25-Nov-89 At : HERE OR (612)646-4501 Subject: 3RD PARTY DISK CLUSTERED The 3100 does support SCSI and does do MSCP. The driver however does need a patch to properly server the disks. It is available from CSC and is required whether you are using DEC or third party disks. I recently put on a CDC Wren IV disk and am not having any problems serving it to the entire cluster. Make sure that you also set the MSCP_SERVEALL (?) parameter to 2 , so that the 3100 will make it's disks known to the rest of the cluster. Mark Kuehn PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 476 0 replies Reply to # 471 Left by: RANDALL C. NEWCOMB On 26-Nov-89 At : 612-778-7216 Subject: VAX C ENVIRONMENT Check the article "Tools & Tips for Software Development" by John Bredesen, in Dec Professional. You can check the cum index (option 44) for more information. Its reference number is 6.12.40 - et al CPU'S SIG Message # 75 0 replies Reply to # 74 Left by: SIMON BROWN MK II On 27-Nov-89 At : HERE Subject: VAX 6310 Replying to my own message, despite what the DEC books say, the 6310 doesn't come close to the 8530 or 8600, because the string and packed instructions are emulated. This has a BIG influence on commercial systems, in particular those using COBOL. Result - A lot of money spent to upgrade the system. Note also the COBOL v4.2 compiler switches for /INSTRUCTION_SET. So if DEC try to sell you a 6310 or any machine with emulated string instructions, beware - the figures for claimed performance are not accurate. The same problem arises using DECcp to model a system - it claims the 8600 to be the same as the 6310. (Well, near as makes no difference). We learn from experience. Simon, Switz 1 236 49 01. Cheers. VMS SIG Message # 1176 0 replies Reply to # 1174 Left by: MIKE MIKOWSKI On 27-Nov-89 At : (313)524-8200 Subject: NEW PROCS IN RWMBX STATE If you are using audit for security each process that logs on sends an audit mailbox that is processed by the OPCOM pocess. If you have other processes running at a higher priority and they are CPU- bound, OPCOM will not be able to process these messages and therefore the logging in process will be in an RWMBX state. I have seen this happen on a couple of systems. UTILITIES SIG Message # 419 0 replies Left by: CLIFF BABKIRK On 27-Nov-89 At : 1-207-775-8414 Subject: MOUSE UTIL FOR VAXMATE I am looking for the utility program(s) usually available on the installation disks which configure the DEC mouse on a VAXMATE computer to emulate other popular mouse types. The files would be called MOUSE.COM and/or MOUSE.SYS. I would appreciate any help in locating a valid copy of these. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 377 0 replies Left by: CLIFF BABKIRK On 27-Nov-89 At : 1-207-775-8414 Subject: HPGL-TO-PLOT10 CONVERTER I am looking for a converter that will convert HPGL(HP-graphics-language) fomatted files to Tektronics PLOT10 formatted files. The PLOT10 files could then be 'viewed' on a VT240 class terminal or printed on an LN03+ laser printer. If someone has written such a converter or knows of a vendor who supplies such a product, I would like to know about it. Thanks. VMS SIG Message # 1177 1 replies Reply to # 1163 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 27-Nov-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: HELP! LOCK PASSWORDS! The feature you are interested in is something I have been wanting as an option for sometime now. On our IBM MVS system we are using a product call ACF2 for security. This package allows you to change your password and then will be prevent you from changing it until a site specified period of time has elapsed. Under VMS V5.2, you now have the ability to set a user's password via $SETUAI by using a plaintext password (previously you needed a copy of LGI$HPWD). This now opens the possibility for you to write your own SET PASSWORD. In this case, you can write the program and pick a delta time (say 10 days) to check before allowing the password change. If the password was changed less than 10 days ago, prohibit the change. Remember though to set the LOCKPWD flag in the UAF. This will prevent users from using SET PASSWORD or logging in and changing their password with the /NEW_PASSWORD qualifier. DO NOT TAKE AWAY ACCESS TO THE SETP0 IMAGE! Users need access to it in order to user the SET MESSAGE command. Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 VMS SIG Message # 1178 0 replies Reply to # 1171 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 27-Nov-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: WHERE IS NET*.* Exactly what are you looking for? The DECnet internals information or the various symbols? PC'S SIG Message # 250 1 replies Reply to # 248 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 27-Nov-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: VT200 KEYBOARD FOR PC I have four of those LK250-AA keyboards and so far I have not seen them work on any PC other than an IBM PC. They do not work with COMPAQ's or AST's. Basically, it would appear to be a cabling problem. WORD PROCESSING SIG Message # 133 0 replies Reply to # 131 Left by: RICK KAERWER On 27-Nov-89 At : Subject: HELP! FREE WORD PROCESSOR Thanks for the TeX suggestion. I'll look into it. SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 332 0 replies Reply to # 331 Left by: RICK KAERWER On 27-Nov-89 At : Subject: HELP! SMALL SYSTEMS MANAG Thanks for the good ideas. PC'S SIG Message # 251 0 replies Reply to # 246 Left by: RICK KAERWER (ICI AMERICAS) On 27-Nov-89 At : Subject: VT200 KEYBOARD FOR PC If I understand you correctly, you'd like a DEC-like keyboard that would plug into the back of a IBM PC/XT/AT/PS2 compatible. 1) I believe DEC sells one for use with PCSA client, etc. 2) I have one I purchased from KEA Systems Ltd (Vancouver, BC, Canada, 604-732-7411). The KEA one is used with ZSTEM 240 which is a PC or PS/2 package that lets them emulate a VT240. One can buy a DEC-like keyboard so users don't have to memorize "key-conversions". By the way, I'm very happy with ZSTEM. VMS SIG Message # 1179 0 replies Reply to # 1177 Left by: RICK KAERWER (ICI AMERICAS) On 27-Nov-89 At : Subject: HELP! LOCK PASSWORDS! Thanks for the suggestion. I'll investigate that option. RSTS SIG Message # 469 0 replies Reply to # 468 Left by: ANDREW DUGGAN On 27-Nov-89 At : Subject: 11/73B'S AND FPA I can't say for the 11/73, but I had an 11/84 and the FPA was not supported for RSTS. If I remember, it was three years ago, the J-11 has 2 sets of general purpose registers. RSTS/E (and I think IAS) use both sets. I speculate that the RSTS kernel uses 1 set for itself, and the other is used by normal user jobs. Anyway, the FPA does not get along with the J11 when both sets of registers are being used. I can't remember if the FPA data gets corrupted or if it is the second set of registers that gets clobbered. The easy solution for RSTS was to pull the FPA. I also know that at least for the 11/84 there is a ECO it fix the problem. I did not notice any real improvement in performance after the ECO and the FPA was installed. Since the J-11 can do floating point itself it wasn't a real big problem for me. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 335 0 replies Left by: TIM SAGSTETTER On 27-Nov-89 At : (715) 847-6784 Subject: CIT 224 VS. TPU V5.2 Sometime between VMS V4.7 and VMS V5.2, EDIT/TPU started sending some new escape sequences during its start-up phase and during its clean-up phase. These new escape sequences appear to be incompatible with our CIT 224 terminals (a VT220 clone from C.Itoh Electronics). The escape sequences in question are: Start-up phase - 1;2'z 1;3'{ Clean-up phase - 0'z The CIT 224 simply displays the z and { from these sequences. In addition, the CIT 224 documentation does not list these sequences. Does anyone know what these escape sequences are intended for on a DEC VT220? Has anyone else had a problem with EVE V5.2 using CIT 224's? No terminal set-ups have been changed since VMS V4.7. I have tried changing many of the set-ups, but with no change in behavior. Other brand-x terminals we have are not experiencing this problem. Thanks in advance for any replies. Tim PC'S SIG Message # 252 0 replies Reply to # 250 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 27-Nov-89 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: VT200 KEYBOARD FOR PC Bob, I have used an LK250-AA on my no-name AT clone with no problems. I tried it on a true-blue PC/XT and it didn't work. It does work on a PC/AT. I believe that keyboards for the PC and PC/XT and keyboards for the PC/AT are not compatible. I'm not sure whether it's a cabling problem or a keyboard ROM problem. Some third party keyboards are switch settable to work with either the XT or the AT. UTILITIES SIG Message # 420 0 replies Left by: SIMON BROWN On 28-Nov-89 At : HERE Subject: EMULATION MODE Has anyone any thoughts on measuring how much %age of time is spent by a process executing emulated instructions - ? To the best of my limited knowledge, this isn't monitorable via any DEC standard software. The only thing I can think of is to sample the process X times per second / minute, see if it's in COM state, and if so record the PC. Later, assuming the same image, I can see what these instructions really were. That should bring me in to an accuracy of perhaps 2% or so after 15 mins, but has anyone already done this. I don't want to be bothered doing this. Also, is there a reference for how long a CPU, e.g. the 6310, takes to emulate an instruction ? For some CPUs, the books tell you (we're talking 8086, 68000) how many cycles an instruction takes. Does this exist for VAXen? If so, it's a book I haven't got. Thanks, Simon UTILITIES SIG Message # 421 0 replies Left by: SIMON BROWN On 28-Nov-89 At : HERE Subject: FILE USAGE Can anyone recommend some software to tell me which are the most active files on a disk in terms of Reads and Writes - I am tasked to find out which files are causing all the i/o over a period of several hours. Simon PC'S SIG Message # 253 0 replies Reply to # 252 Left by: Phil Anthony On 28-Nov-89 At : Here Subject: VT200 KEYBOARD FOR PC Richard, the problem is the keyboard ROM - for reasons unknown to God or man, IBM decided to change the scan codes the keyboard sends between the PC/XT and the PC/AT. The cabling is exactly the same. The keyboards that provide switch selection work well with either, but watch out for the ones that claim to "sense" which machine they're hooked to. My experience is that on clones, they work at best two times out of three. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 477 0 replies Left by: HANK VANDER WAAL On 28-Nov-89 At : 616 451-9400 EXT 222 Subject: DIBOL & TERMINAL NUMBERS Has anyone resolved the problem of terminal numbers under Dibol when using a terminal server? I am running a MCBA like system that requires the terminal number when logging in and out and with terminal servers it keep changing!! I need to keep the number the same or at least control the incrementing of it somehow . PC'S SIG Message # 254 1 replies Left by: HANK VANDER WAAL On 28-Nov-89 At : (616) 451-9400 Subject: DEPCA BOARDS REV F I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH PCSA VER 2.2 USING DEPCA BOARD REV LEVEL F WHERE IT WILL NOT CONNECT TO FILE SERVICES BUT IT WILL CONNECT TO DISK SERVICES! ANY ONE ELSE HAVE THE PROBLEM? VMS SIG Message # 1180 1 replies Left by: RON EDDY On 28-Nov-89 At : (704)373-4626 Subject: CALLABLE MAIL INTERFACE Has anyone used the undocumented "callable mail interface" from VMS v5.0 and later (in specifically MAIL$SEND_BEGIN, MAIL$SEND_MESSAGE, and MAIL_SEND_END)? There are documented item lists in $MAILDEF in SYS$SHARE:STARLET.MLB and $MAILDEF in SYS$SHARE:PLI$STARLET.TLB. The routine names can be obtained from an $ANALYZE/IMAGE SYS$SHARE:MAILSHR.EXE Apparently, there are around 15 different routines to allow you to modify user profiles, send messages, and send files. Help. Thanks. PC'S SIG Message # 255 0 replies Reply to # 254 Left by: NIK On 28-Nov-89 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: DEPCA BOARDS REV F Very strange. I didn't think a DEPCA has the brains to discriminate between file and disk services. I would check the command lines that start the redirector software. For what it's worth, I have in my STARTNET.BAT. My system is a DEC210. rem Load DECnet Network Program DNP rem Start the MS-NET or NETBIOS session layer, and the Redirector session /msn:-1 /rem:2 /nbs:-1 /cmd:-1 /lan:-1 /nam:-1 /i2a:-1 /M:E REDIR /L:10 /P1:128 /P2:128 /P3:128 I assume the serivce is registered and least a user was granted access. Are the server processes running? @sys$STARTUP:pcfs_startup. For some reason DEC moved the startups to SYS$STARTUP, but the shutdowns are still in SYS$MANAGER. What flavor errors are you getting? VMS SIG Message # 1181 0 replies Reply to # 1178 Left by: JACQUES GUERETTE On 28-Nov-89 At : 613-748-0209 Subject: WHERE IS NET*.* I am looking for the record structure definitions for the DECnet database files. If you know about the memory structures that would be useful too. VMS SIG Message # 1182 0 replies Reply to # 1180 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 28-Nov-89 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: CALLABLE MAIL INTERFACE Ron, There is some unofficial and unsupported documentation being distributed for callable mail. A copy can be obtained from the Libraries of CompuServe's VAX Forum. It is also available for anonymous FTP from at least one internet site. GRAPHICS SIG Message # 97 1 replies Left by: COMET On 29-Nov-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: PERSONAL section of DOWNLOAD Bonnie AuClair, Reading in the graphics SIG (#44) about REGIS, I came across a reference to the "PERSONAL" library of DOWNLOAD as having the complete list. Great. Now where is the PERSONAL section? Comet VMS SIG Message # 1184 2 replies Left by: BOB ZISEK On 29-Nov-89 At : 203.798.5240 Subject: LOGGING A SPAWNED PROC I have a captive procedure for our operators, with one of the options being a spawn to DCL level. (Not really all that captive!). I would like to be able to log everything they do from this spawned sub process for security reasons. I tried redefining sys$output etc. and this did not work. I know that you can do SPAWN/OUTPUT=filename, however this does not display the output to the terminal, only the file. The reason for this whole thing is that the operators maintain the privilege OPER when at DCL, and this is allowing them (mostly by accident) do delete jobs from queues, stop accounting, etc. They need OPER for the other functions they must perform, so I cannot take it away. I need to log thier activities while in this sub process. We are running VMS 5.1-1 on a 6330. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Thanks in advance<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Bob Zisek Boehringer Ingelheim Ridgefield,Ct. VMS SIG Message # 1185 0 replies Reply to # 1184 Left by: DAVID DESROCHES On 29-Nov-89 At : (508) 875-7511 Subject: LOGGING A SPAWNED PROC Instead of allowing them to "SPAWN" a subprocess, you may want to try having your operators "LOGIN" again using "SET HOST/LOG="Username.log 0" and create a new account that could be used for those items needing access to DCL. This way you would be able to maintain a log of what they are doing. I have done this before and it is a minor inconvenience to require a privileged user to login a second time if you want to monitor what they are doing. You can modify the SYSUAF parameters of this account to only allow them to access this account through a "REMOTE" access (and possibly "BATCH" if needed). This should help you to monitor what your operators are doing. VMS SIG Message # 1186 0 replies Reply to # 1184 Left by: NIK On 29-Nov-89 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: LOGGING A SPAWNED PROC In a DECUS tape, there is a utility called 'PHOTO'. It uses PYDRIVER and TWDRIVER. These drivers are in DECW052.C of your VMS distribution, or in DECW051.F as the version may be. You can 'bac/sel' them and copy to SYS$LOADABLE_IMAGES. SYSGEN> CONN PYA0: /NOADAP SYSGEN> CONN TWA0: /NOADAP The utility logs all terminal I/O to a file. You can even enable time stamping after each command. It doubles the screen output time, very slow. The major draw back is that PHOTO creates a subprocess, so you'll have two spawned processes. To end a photo session, you simply log out of sub-process. This means your people will have to log out twice to get back to the parent process. I've got RX50,TK50 and 9-track. Send media to: CORSTAR 50 SAW MILL RIVER ROAD HAWTHORNE, NY. 10532 attn: Nicholas Abbot p.s. return postage would be nice. FORUM - DEC SIG Message # 87 0 replies Left by: NIK On 29-Nov-89 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: JSB EXE$AMUSEMENT I was wandering through my SYSDUMP.DMP yesturday and found an unusual string constant, "SCS$DIRECTORY What city, plez?". My curiousity peaked and the search lead to SCSLOA.EXE. I doubt this data structure has any use; SCS$DIRECTORY might be some logical for something, I don't know. The annoying part about this is; that it was in my SYSDUMP.DMP. Which means it was in physical memory at the time of the shutdown. Sure enough: $ ANA/SYS SDA> EXAMINE @(BOO$GL_SCSLOA)+170;20 Isn't nice that DIGITAL software engineering is finding new ways to consume our memory? I'm not complaining, I kind of like data structures like that. My favorite is: EXE$GL_BLAKHOLE. I wonder if my VAX would be crushed to sub-atomic size of emmense gravity if I did ,JSB EXE$GL_BLAKHOLE, while in kernel mode. Probably not. It would probably just create a new SYSDUMP.DMP. bye_now: RSB FORUM - DEC SIG Message # 88 0 replies Left by: NIK On 29-Nov-89 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: JSB EXE$AMUSEMENT I've seen an ad on TV for the SEARS "VAX" vacuum cleaner. They show the VAX sucking up nuts, bolts and water. I thought about a loose screw in a 6330 fifteen volt power supply, bug ckecking the system intermittently and of a VAX magic story about an air conditioner that urinated under the computer floor, causing electrical conductivity where there ought not be any. The SEARS VAX sucks up dirt, dust and other debris. So do DEC VAXes. I recall removing a MicroVAX II cpu board, only to find that the components were not visible to the naked eye. So I blew on it, sure enough, there they were. They show the end-user of the SEARS VAX shoving the hose down a drain of a stopped up sink. Demonstrating the VAX's ability to unclog pipes. They failed to illustrate whether the VAX was in 'suck' or 'blow' mode. I should hope the latter. I have visions of thet end-user emptying his septic into the VAX, spewing raw sewage out its exhaust. Some DEC VAXes suck and some blow. The VAX 11/725 definately sucked. We four, only one ended up working. All we had to do was think about a head crash and the RC25 abliged us. The VAX 11/780 blew and blew hard. I used to go behind ours, sticking my face in the mighty exhaust, and with my hair blowing straight back I yelled, "WHEN I BITE INTO A YORK PEPPERMINT PATTIE...". Those Torin fans would have made a great leaf, grass and topsoil blower and with an optional nozzle, a stump remover and tree de-leafer. The commercial ends showing what the VAX can't do; that is to fetch. The scene is of a man kneeling next to his VAX in the back yard holding a stick. He tosses the stick and of course the VAX remains immoblie. The DEC VAXes fetch, millions of times a second. However the VAX 6400 has a problem fetching PROCESS_MANAGEMENT.EXE from stand alone backup. DSIN blames the tape. Oh well, now the 6400 stands there sucking and blowing, not much fetching though. I wonder how it would react if I put a hose on its air intake and shoved the other end in my toilet or maybe I should stuff some nuts and bolts into the TK70 slot. Perhaps the only solution is to have air conditioner urinate in it while the end-user beats it with a stick. PC'S SIG Message # 256 0 replies Reply to # 254 Left by: DAN DONOHUE On 29-Nov-89 At : MACK TRUCKS Subject: DEPCA BOARDS REV F We've had similar problems but are not using any DEPCA's (we're heavy into PS/2's). Can you describe the symptoms in a little more detail? CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 488 1 replies Reply to # 487 Left by: ELVAN KNIGHT On 29-Nov-89 At : (512)828-1341 Subject: VAX-CLUSTER I HAVE DECIDED TO UPGRADE THE MICROVAX TO 5.0 AS SOON AS I CAN GET A VMS LICENSE FOR IT, USING THE TK-50 I LOADED ONTO THE 3600. I THINK IT SHOULD WORK AS LONG AS I INSTALL THE LICENSE. DEC TOLD ME THAT THE VAXCLUSTER DOESN'T NEED A LICENSE SO THAT SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM, I HOPE. I DID GET AHOLD OF A SOFTWARE PACKAGE CALLED THRUWAY THAT ENABLED ME TO MOUNT THE 3600 DISKS ON THE MICROVAX II THAT WILL HAVE TO DO IF I RUN INTO ANY PROBLEMS WITH LICENSING. THE 4.7 TO 5.0 SEEMED TO BE A PROBLEM, SOMETHING ABOUT MICROVMS NOT SUPPORTING THE VAXCLUSTER. THANX E. KNIGHT P EE. CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 489 0 replies Reply to # 488 Left by: COMET On 29-Nov-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: VAX-CLUSTER I recall something like MicroVMS being abolished; VMS 5.0 and higher runs on all the VAXen, including the MicroVAXen. Therefore, when you upgrade to VMS 5.0, you will NOT be using MicroVMS--the distinction is gone. MicroVMS has restrictions on VAXclustering, but if all your nodes are running the same (+/- a ~minor rev. level), LAVc and other VAXclusters work fine. So I wouldn't worry about incompatibilities between MicroVAXes and macro-VAXes after you upgrade to VMS 5.0. VMS SIG Message # 1187 0 replies Reply to # 1167 Left by: COMET On 29-Nov-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: ACL ON BATCH QUEUE Well, after reading about your problem, I have a couple ideas. First, I want to state a couple assumptions about exactly what is your problem. Correct me if I'm mistaken. PROBLEM: A specific user (e.g. OPERATOR) is ACCIDENTLY deleting jobs from a batch queue, using the DELETE/ENTRY=number queue-name command from a subprocess at DCL level. The user must have OPERATOR privilege enabled at DCL level to do operator tasks which are not in the menu for the CAPTIVE parent. Idea #1. Fix the CAPTIVE command procedure so that all the operator's privileged tasks can be done from the menu. Then, add the line $ Set Process/Privilege=NoOper before the $ SPAWN command. The subprocess will not be able to reenable the OPER privilege, but can do "normal" VMS tasks. Idea #2. Create a private version of DCLTABLES that doesn't have the $ DELETE/ENTRY command. Then change the spawn command to $ SPAWN/TABLE=OPERTABLES and if the operator is typical, he/she will not know how to get around this. [But it is possible.] Idea #3. Put a $ DEFINE queue-to-protect a-different-queue-name before the $ SPAWN command. Then when the user tries to delete an entry, a NOSUCH error message will be displayed. However, other attempts to access the protected queue will also be interfered with. Also, most people past the novice level will be able to figure out what's happening and DEASSIGNT the logical name. Good luck with whichever solutions you choose. Comet LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 102 0 replies Reply to # 101 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 29-Nov-89 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: HP LASERJET II Comet, The solution to your blank page problem may be found in this SIG in the thread beginning at message number 49. The answer you are looking for is in message 52 but you may find the other messages of interest. Dragon PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 478 0 replies Left by: KENNETH L. PAIVA On 30-Nov-89 At : (617)-726-8153 Subject: MOUSE CURSOR /VAXST3500 WE CURRENTLY UTILIZE A SEGMENT OF FORTRAN CODE SIMILAR TO THAT PRESENTED IN THE OCTOBER 89 ARTICLE "THE VT340 MOUSE: AN INTRODUCTION" TO RETURN CURSOR POSITION REPORTS FOR A MOUSE USING A VT330/340 TERMINAL IN REGIS MODE. THIS WORKS FINE ON A VT330/340 TERMINAL. WE ARE NOW TRYING TO ADAPT THIS CODE FOR USE ON A VAXSTATION 3500 RUNNING DECWINDOWS, USING VT300 TERMINAL EMULATION, IN REGIS MODE. THE CODE RUNS, ENTERS REGIS MODE, BUT DOES NOT RETURN THE CURSOR POSITION REPORT. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT MUST BE MODIFIED TO UTILIZE THIS CODE ON A VAXSTATION 3500? WE ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING VMS 5.1 AND FORTRAN VERSION 4.8. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 479 1 replies Left by: MIKE CHEN On 30-Nov-89 At : (714) 898-5656 EXT. 251 Subject: INTERPROC. DATA TRANSFER? Can any one tell me how to create a detached process and how to pass data between this detached process and other processes? (in COBOL) System routines LIB$SPAWN and SYS$CREPRC might get me ther, (what's the difference?) yet I don't see any ways that the data can be passed between processes. Is there other routine needed to be concerned? Any information, advice, reference, or sample code will help. THANKS! RSTS SIG Message # 470 0 replies Left by: PHIL MACDONALD On 30-Nov-89 At : 4168463181 Subject: PPN I have a user who we'll call Dan (name has been changed to protect the quilty). Dan has a PPN of [50,51]. Our Data file are in [10,2] protection code of <60> (Owner:rw,Group,World) Danny must be able to read and write to these files but I don't want him to be able to type "$ delete [10,2]file.nam". Dan has gread,gwrite,wread,wwrite. Is there any way I can allow Dan to read and write to these files without allowing him to delete those same files. Thanks In Advance Phil VMS SIG Message # 1188 0 replies Reply to # 1185 Left by: COMET On 30-Nov-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: LOGGING A SPAWNED PROC In the command file, instead of $ SPAWN you can $ SET HOST/LOG=logfile 0 USERNAME PASSWORD $ WRITE SYS$OUTPUT "WELCOME BACK." This will create a logfile for the interactive session. At the beginning of the login.com file of USERNAME, you can test the value of the logical name SYS$REM_ID (I think that's the name; verify this by doing a SHOW LOG/JOB when you're on a remote terminal.) and handle this accordingly. It's important for security reasons to set the protection of the file so that unprivileged users cannot read the password! However, the benefit of putting the password in the command file is that the remote login is made transparent to the user. This gets around making the user have to go through the logging in procedure twice. LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 103 0 replies Reply to # 102 Left by: COMET On 30-Nov-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: HP LASERJET II Thanks, Dragon, for the pointer. I reread the messages you indicated, but it didn't help me. The other messages referred to an LNO3 and the fact that c is the culprit behind the form feeds. My SYSDEVCTL doesn't contain a single c, and I'm not sure how the Texas Instruments OmniLaser [which is emulating an HP LaserJet+] can be helped by the notes you mentioned. Is there anybody out there using an OmniLaser? Comet PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 480 0 replies Reply to # 479 Left by: Phil Gravel On 30-Nov-89 At : HERE Subject: INTERPROC. DATA TRANSFER? VMS V4 has a manual titled "Guide to Programming on VAX/VMS". Chapter 3 is "Program Synchronization and Communication". This chapter includes sections on interprocess communication including symbols, logical names, mailboxes, installed common blocks and global sections. I think you'd find the information and examples here to be quite useful. I assume the VMS V5 documentation has a similiar manual, but I don't have the V5 doc set nearby. Phil UTILITIES SIG Message # 422 0 replies Reply to # 420 Left by: LEE K. GLEASON On 01-Dec-89 At : 713/528-1859 Subject: EMULATION MODE Well, a while back, I needed to measure the amount of instruction emulation on a MicrobeVAX II. I just wrote some routines that "plugged" into the emulation vectors in the SCB, logged each trap and the type of instruction that caused it, and then JMPed to the original emulation code that it had displaced. It was good for seeing how much emulation was going on for the system as a whole, but, no good for measuring individual process emulations performed. VMS SIG Message # 1189 0 replies Reply to # 1182 Left by: LEE K. GLEASON On 01-Dec-89 At : 713/528-1859 Subject: CALLABLE MAIL INTERFACE ...and, there is excellent documentation on its use available in the VMS SIG session notes, from the last Anaheim symposium. VMS SIG Message # 1190 0 replies Left by: NORM DONOVAN On 01-Dec-89 At : (408) 970-5678 Subject: DISAPPEARING ACLS We have been fighting a strange problem every since we upgraded to VMS 5.0-2A from VMS 4.7. We make extensive use of resource identifiers to own files that are actually shared by multiple users. Occasionally the complete ACL on files in these areas just disappears. The file ownership is still correct and the UIC protection mask is fine, but the ACL is gone. The ACLs on all other files in the directory are also fine. Two more strange points: 1. The ACL only disappears from the file header held in the XQP cache, not from the file header itself. This can be seen by dumping the file header directly from the INDEXF.SYS (using the FID as an offset into INDEXF.SYS) 2. This behavior only occurs on one disk. The only difference between this disk and any other is that there are many temporary .DIR files created and deleted on it. DEC Coloroda was "unable to reproduce the problem" and thus is ignoring us. I have a SET HOST/LOG file documenting the ACL being there if the file header is dumped but not if a DIR/SEC is done, but DEC seems to feel that no such thing can possibly happen. I am not sure if the ACL gets deleted or if it is never created. One DEC specialist made some comments about there being a "serious problem with FCBs of deleted .DIR files being reused without fields being reintied", but I can not get anyone else to repeat this. ANAL/DISK does not find any errors on this disk. We had an earlier problem, along this line with files being created on this same disk with a filesize of 300/3 (300 blocks used but only 3 allocated!). Again the cache was wrong but the file header in the INDEXF.SYS was ok. We tend to keep this problem controlled by reducing the size of the XQP header cache, renaming and not deleting .DIR files (deletes are done once a night in the early morning) and reducing the use of resource identfiers on this disk, but the problem still occurs. Has anyone seen anyhting like this? Does VMS 5.1 or 5.2 or 5.3 fix it? Are there major problems in the VMS file structure? We have a somewhat unique setup with one VAX 780, one uVAX2, one uVAX 3500 and one uVAX 3400 attached to two System Industries Clustor 3 disk controllers. All four VAXen have a hardware path to each disk controller. We run DEC LAVC cluster software. The disk driver is a SI-supplied DR driver. Thanks in advance for any help. Norm Donovan EDITORS SIG Message # 235 0 replies Left by: Rod Falanga On 01-Dec-89 At : 505-822-7393 Subject: LSE from the VAXstation 3100 I have really come to enjoy LSE when developing/maintaining code and I want to use it on a VAXstation 3100 (or 3500.) One of the features of LSE that I really like is being able to re-edit a file starting at the place where I left it when last I saved it. I've gotten used to doing it that way my a VT340 and want to do it on a VAXstation. I have been disappointed though, as when I re-execute LSE it FileView appears not to retain the logical which points to the file last edited and saved. Does anyone know if I can do anything about that?? Rod Falanga VMS SIG Message # 1191 0 replies Reply to # 1162 Left by: JOHN E. BABBITT On 01-Dec-89 At : (206) 343-2333 Subject: BACKUP/LIST/BRIEF Hello? No one can help me with this? Is it harder than it looks to make BACKUP generate the file revision dates instead of file creation dates? VMS SIG Message # 1192 0 replies Reply to # 1184 Left by: BILL PEDERSEN On 01-Dec-89 At : 408/336/2780 Subject: LOGGING A SPAWNED PROC As suggested in the "Security Guide to VAX/VMS" you can use the SET HOST/LOG 0 command which will log them into a DECnet serviced session and you can log all actions. Obviously you have to do a bit more testing of where you came from so that the account will be available for this operation versus having it all be done by command procedures. Maybe a different account for just this function. FORUM - 3RD PARTY SUPPLIERS SIG Message # 118 0 replies Left by: DAVID GERMAIN On 01-Dec-89 At : 702 295 0741 Subject: PRECISION STANDARD TIME Does anyone know what has become of the company PRECISION STANDARD TIME INC? They make (made?) a product called "Integrated Time Source." The phone numbers listed in documentation no longer work. Any help would be appreciated. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 378 0 replies Reply to # 377 Left by: PATRICK MAHAN On 01-Dec-89 At : 714-720-7868 Subject: HPGL-TO-PLOT10 CONVERTER What Textronix code do you want to generate with PLOT10? It will allow either 4010 or 4014 code (there is a small but sutle difference). Also how is the HPGL code being generated? LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 104 0 replies Reply to # 103 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 01-Dec-89 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: HP LASERJET II Comet, I think that the c is irrelevant! The problem is, I believe, in the print symbiont which sees that you have sent a string to the printer and thinks that it must issue a formfeed. If you include the formfeed in the setup string then, for reasons that escape me, the symbiont will not send a formfeed to the printer. One other possibility is to place the string between DCS and ST (Device Control String, and String Terminator). This trick has also been reported to conceal the existance of otherwise printable text from the symbiont. I hope I have recalled the details correctly. FORUM - 3RD PARTY SUPPLIERS SIG Message # 119 0 replies Reply to # 118 Left by: ANNE SCHRAUGER On 04-Dec-89 At : HERE Subject: PRECISION STANDARD TIME They're out of business. Gone without a trace. RSTS SIG Message # 471 0 replies Reply to # 469 Left by: KELVIN SMITH On 04-Dec-89 At : (203) 357-0504 Subject: 11/73B'S AND FPA We had the ECO installed and the FPA activated on our 11/84, and I found a speed improvement of almost 25% on one program that makes *very* heavy use of floating point (double precision) arithmetic, including multiplication, division, and exponentiation (present values and the like). Other programs, particularly string-oriented ones, showed essentially no improvement. So, the FPA does work now under RSTS for the 11/84; but I can't answer for the 11/73, since I have no direct experience with it. RSTS SIG Message # 472 1 replies Reply to # 470 Left by: KELVIN SMITH On 04-Dec-89 At : (203) 357-0504 Subject: PPN Phil, You have two options: (1) Do the write accessing of the file within a privileged program. For non-executable files, write access includes delete access in the RSTS world. (2) If you want to make it impossible for *anyone* to delete the file (without executing an extra, privileged step), you can $SET FILE [m,n]FOO.BAR/NODELETABLE and then set the protection code down to <0>. Note, of course, that this means anyone else can also read and write the file. The file will show up on directories with a "P" after the size, indicating that it is protected. At that point, the only way someone can delete the file is to $SET FILE [m,n]FOO.BAR/DELETABLE and then take the second step of actually deleting the file. It requires some privilege to set or reset the nodelete flag, but I don't off-hand remember what (check the DCL HELP message). If you don't like the idea of others being able to read & write the file, your only solution is #1, setting up the program so that only "Dan" can run it. RSTS SIG Message # 473 0 replies Reply to # 472 Left by: KELVIN SMITH On 04-Dec-89 At : (203) 357-0504 Subject: PPN The last line of my message got chopped off. It should have said that if you choose option #1 (making access to the data file(s) inside a privileged program), you can easily limit access to the program to just "Dan's" account. (Either put it in his account, or if unwanted users have WREAD privilege, you could always put a check at the beginning of the program for the proper account.) MICROVAX SIG Message # 225 0 replies Reply to # 78 Left by: LYLE LINDHOLM On 05-Dec-89 At : 402-476-4133 Subject: MS-DOS ON A MICROVAX II VMS SIG Message # 1193 0 replies Reply to # 1176 Left by: PEDRO A. CRESPO On 05-Dec-89 At : (405) 521-5324 Subject: NEW PROCS IN RWMBX STATE I have disabled all audits that we had turned on which were performed at login time, and the problem seems to have gone away. We were having the system monitor alarms for breakins. I don't think that we have any process with a higher priority than OPCOM, so I don't know why this was happening. What we're experiencing now is processes going into RWAST state when trying to access a disk. I haven't researched the problem any further, so that is all the info I have, but any leads will be appreciated. Thank you, Pedro A. Crespo, IS Director Oklahoma City University CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 490 0 replies Reply to # 484 Left by: MARTY JOHNSON On 05-Dec-89 At : (203)666-1737 Subject: LAVC CLUSTER After three calls to Colorado Support, I was told that the 750 will not boot off the Ethernet board and DEC has no plans to change this. What really gets me was the first two calls got the response, "Sure, no problem! Just use SYS$MANAGER:CLUSTER_CONFIG.COM". I'm glad I didn't waste any time trying this recommendation! There's nothing like talking to a bunch of Know-it-alls who don't. Marty VMS SIG Message # 1194 0 replies Reply to # 1181 Left by: MARTY JOHNSON On 05-Dec-89 At : (203)666-1737 Subject: WHERE IS NET*.* Well, doing an ANAL/RMS/FDL will give you some information on the file structure. At least you'll get information on the keys. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 672 0 replies Reply to # 669 Left by: Phil Anthony On 05-Dec-89 At : Here Subject: MODEM7 Considering the number of responses, Kevin, I suspect you're going to be forced to download the FORTRAN code for Modem7 and translate it yourself. Since Modem7 is an XModem variant, you may be able to shortcut the develop- ment time by getting hold of XModem source in either of your preferred languages and modifying it to conform to the Modem7 standard, rather than rewriting it from scratch. FORUM - 3RD PARTY SUPPLIERS SIG Message # 120 0 replies Reply to # 117 Left by: Phil Anthony On 05-Dec-89 At : Here Subject: NETWARE4VMS Novell typically doesn't give any technical support at all to end users. Instead, they certify their installers for specified products and expect the installers to support you. The installers are required to take contin- uing education courses to keep abreast of new developments, and they have access to various higher-level sources of information if situations arise that are outside their own experience. The moral of the story is: If you're thinking of going with Netware for VMS, find an installer you trust and can work with. If you give Novell a call, they'll be glad to recommend people in your area who have completed the training and demonstrated their competence to Novell's satisfaction. LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 105 0 replies Reply to # 104 Left by: Comet On 05-Dec-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: HP LASERJET II Richard, I tried the both ways, and it didn't suppress the extra page. I am convinced that the print symbiont is NOT the culprit. I believe that the page is coming from the print buffer/sharer device. Thanks for your help in tracking the problem down. Comet PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 481 0 replies Reply to # 297 Left by: Comet On 05-Dec-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: VAX C CURSES Hi Curt, I logged your message onto my VAX, edited out the extraneous screen controls, and commented out your text. Then, I compiled, linked and ran it. I did not notice any of the raggedness your message mentioned. What I saw was my screen cleared, then, after I typed in a line of text, the program finished. Looking at your code, I think maybe you don't really mean to use getchar. Perhaps you really meant to use wgetch, which is CURSES way of getting a character from the terminal screen and echoing it on a given window. I am using VMS 5.1-1 and VAX C V3.0. What versions are you using? RSX SIG Message # 284 0 replies Reply to # 14 Left by: AFTAB SHAMS On 06-Dec-89 At : 704-552-3973 Subject: SPM FOR RSX-11M PLUS HI, I HAD A NEED FOR AN SPM ON PDP SOME 5 YEARS AGO AND FOUND NO SUCH PROGRAM AVAILABLE. SO AFTER SOME DISCUSSION WITH THE LOCAL RSX PLUS GURU WROTE A SIMPLE PROGRAM. DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW YOU CAN WRITE A CPU BOUND PROGRAM OR AN I/O BOUND PROGRAM. I WROTE ONE FOR EACH AND IT WAS ACCURATE ENOUGH FOR OUR NEEDS. IF YOU NEED DETAILS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME. RSX SIG Message # 285 0 replies Left by: AFTAB SHAMS On 06-Dec-89 At : 704-5523973 Subject: RSX TO TRS-80 ( VT EMMULATOR) HI, I JUST GOT A FREEBE TRS-80 MODEL 4P AND WAS WONDERING IF ANYBODY OUT THERE KNOWS OF ANY VT EMULATION PACKAGE FOR TRS-80 4P. UNIX/ULTRIX SIG Message # 59 0 replies Left by: MICHAEL HERRINGTON On 06-Dec-89 At : 12351 SUNRISE VALLEY, RESTON, VA 22091 Subject: STAND-ALONE BOOT TAPES How can I generate a TK50 Stand-Alone boot tape for a VAXstation II/GPX from a CD-ROM distribution of ULTRIX Version 3? UTILITIES SIG Message # 423 0 replies Reply to # 206 Left by: Comet On 06-Dec-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: Multiple Minions Mangle MAIL Hi Bob, Your idea of doing a SET MAIL_DIRECTORY [.'username'] is sound. To prevent MAIL.MAI from being moved by this process, rename it to SOMETHING.ELSE first. You should do the SET MAIL_DIRECTORY command from each of the accounts sharing the same home directory. Ignore the warnings that MAIL.MAI doesn't exist. When you are done, you can SET FILE SOMETHING.ELSE and move each message from this common location into a MAIL.MAI in the appropriate [.'username'] for each user. When that's done, you can $ DELETE SOMETHING.ELSE.* ! I have used this procedure, and it works. On the other hand, you can use the UAF file to give the default directory as [SHARED.'username'] and specify [SHARED]LOGIN.COM as the LGICMD file. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 337 0 replies Left by: KELVIN SMITH On 06-Dec-89 At : (203) 357-0504 Subject: WANT TO REPLACE AN LA120 We're looking at replacing our venerable LA120 with a new printer; we're getting tired of paying half the price of a used LA120 for service any time anything goes wrong. We use it solely for output; we need its compressed pitch capabilities, and also use it as a "quick-and-dirty" printer for things that aren't worth putting to the line printer. Any suggestions on a good replacement? The replacement need not be compatible with the LA120; while we need compressed pitch (specifically 12 & 16.5 or so characters per inch), I can easily make changes to the programs that create compressed pitch output. Graphics capabilities are not important. It must handle wide (14 7/8") paper. I've looked at some of the printers available for PCs; obviously I have to get a serial adapter, since we wire it up like a terminal, but those are generally available. I like the idea of getting a 24-pin printer, since some of this printer's output is for external consumption, although it's not strictly necessary. My biggest concern is how the printer will stand up to wear; while the LA120 currently isn't used anything near continuously, office use is almost always more demanding than home use. Criteria for the decision: . * Quality (including ruggedness and print quality) . * Price . * Speed (most concerned about draft speed, not NLQ; small . differences are not very important) Any comments regarding using PC-oriented printers in a DEC environment (mine is PDP-11/RSTS, but that's probably not very significant), or using a printer like the LA 210, which seems to be DEC's replacement suggestion, or other ideas, would be appreciated. I see the recommendations for C. Itoh's printers; any others? VMS SIG Message # 1195 1 replies Left by: STUART MASCH On 07-Dec-89 At : (516) 378 8500 Subject: DISK TO DISK BACKUPS GOT A PROBLEM. NEED SOME HELP. WE HAVE AN 8250 WITH ONE RA81. WE HAVE NO NIGHT OR WEEKEND STAFF TO SPEAK OF. WITH ONLY 1 DISK, STANDALONE BACKUP, FULL SYSTEM BACKUP, AND FULL DISK BACKUP ARE ONE AND THE SAME. WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING ADDING ANOTHER DRIVE FOR TWO REASONS: 1. TO SEPARATE DATA OFF TO THEN SECOND DRIVE, LEAVING THE SYSTEM ON DRIVE 1. 2. TO AUTOMATE BACKUPS FROM DISK TO DISK WITHOUT USER INTERVENTION. THE QUESTIONS: 1. IF WE DO INCREMENTALS FROM DUA0 TO DUA1 AND ANOTHER FROM DUA1 TO DUA0 EACH NIGHT, TO OFFLOAD THE BACKUP FILES TO TAPE THE NEXT DAY DO WE 'COPY' THEM TO TAPE OR 'BACKUP' THEM TO TAPE? 2. IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO A BACKUP/IMAGE FROM THE DATA DISK TO THE SYSTEM DISK? SOMEONE AT DEC RDC SAID WE COULD, BUT AFTER READING IN THE SYSTEM MANAGER'S REFERENCE WE FIND THAT THE DESTINATION VOLUME WILL BE REINITIALIZED AND MUST ALSO BE MOUNTED FOREIGN; NEITHER OF WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE FOR THE SYSTEM DISK. I THOUGHT DEC WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT ANSWER. I BOW MY HEAD IN SHAME. I HAVE COME TO THE EXPERTS FOR HELP. THANKS, IN ADVANCE. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 673 0 replies Left by: TODD MOIR On 07-Dec-89 At : (215) 341-6581 Subject: DEC-IBM CONNECTIVITY We are curently looking at interfacing/networking our DEC MicroVAX 3400 to an IBM AS/400 using Ethernet and TCP/IP. IBM has recently announced the 8209 bridge which will interconnect Token-Ring to Ethernet. Are there any known vendors that sell TCP/IP with FTP and Telnet for the AS/400? There are several vendors that sell TCP/IP for VMS including DEC - Are there any recommendations? If we use TCP/IP that has NFS (Network File System), is this a better solution than PCSA? TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 338 0 replies Left by: BOB COULTON On 07-Dec-89 At : HERE Subject: VAX -- FAX Does anyone have first-hand knowledge about any of the VAX/FAX machines? I haven't been paying attention to any of the ads that are out & about, nor have I really heard anything about them (but the boss has, hence this plea). Thanx for any info...... VMS SIG Message # 1196 0 replies Reply to # 1195 Left by: Comet On 07-Dec-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: DISK TO DISK BACKUPS THE ANSWERS ARE "COPY" AND "NO", RESPECTIVELY. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There isn't any real need to do the incremental from DUA0 to DUA1 and vice-versa, because you can place the incremental saveset on the same volume that you are backing up. You might want to put both of the incremental savesets in the same directory (e.g. DUA1:[SAVESET]DUA0.BCK and DUA1:[SAVESET]DUA1.BCK). If your incremental backups normally fit on one tape, you could write a batch procedure to perform the backup at night; all you would need to do is to load a tape on the drive before going home. If the incremental needed more than one tape, it would wait until you returned in the morning to put on another reel. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BACKUP/IMAGE is not the same as a full backup. The /image backup is used when you want to copy EVERYTHING, and is the only way to backup "lost" files and directory structures deeper than 8 levels (apart from /physical backup, which also copies bad blocks). A full backup CAN be done from the data disk to the system disk. $ BACKUP/LOG DUA1:[*...]*.*.* DUA0:[*...]*.*.* will work, for example. I would suggest that if you decide to go this route that you use a rooted logical, so that any directories that exist on both disks don't get clobbered. $ DEFINE/TRANSLATION_ATTRIBUTES=CONCEALED SAVE DUA0:[SAVE.] and then $ BACKUP/LOG DUA1:[*...]*.*.*/IGNORE=INTERLOCK SAVE:[*...]/OWNER=ORIGINAL An advantage of full backups over image backups is the ability to use the /exclude qualifier to exclude files from being copied. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 339 0 replies Reply to # 337 Left by: DAVID DESROCHES On 07-Dec-89 At : (508) 875-7511 Subject: WANT TO REPLACE AN LA120 I use an Okidata printer on my MicroVAX II. It has seen lots of use and appears to withstand the beating fairly well. We also use the Okidata printers with most of our PCs and they appear to be holding up as well. I have not used the wide carriage versions, but I know that they are available. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 624 0 replies Left by: DAVID DESROCHES On 07-Dec-89 At : (508) 875-7511 Subject: CALENDAR DATE FORMULA I am trying to teach myself how to program in C and am writing a calendar program (typical I know). I wrote one ages ago in FORTRAN that used a formula to calculate the day of the week for any given date. I can not find the source listings for that old program and can not remember what the exact formula is. Anyone out here know a formula that will give me this information? Thanks in advance for any help. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 379 0 replies Reply to # 378 Left by: CLIFF BABKIRK On 07-Dec-89 At : 207-775-8414 Subject: HPGL-TO-PLOT10 CONVERTER I am going to say that output files would be in 4010 format as they are destined for an LN03+. The HPGL files are produced by a vintage piece of BASIC code written many years ago which collects test datalog readings and graphs the distribution after some data reduction is completed. The plotter type is HP7550. regards, Cliff VMS SIG Message # 1197 1 replies Reply to # 1124 Left by: SERGE STEIN On 07-Dec-89 At : WORK (312) 507-4296 Subject: SYS$GW_IJOBCNT IN COBOL I have just discovered the ARIS BB and in reviewing some of the past conversations I chanced across this problem of getting data when you only have it's address. Admittedly there is no straight-forward way of doing this in COBOL but there is a solution which requires an understanding of the parameter passing method of COBOL. COBOL passes all its arguments by REFERENCE unless told to do otherwise, conversly it expects all the arguments passed to it to be references to the actual data. You can make use of this restriction by passing BY VALUE the address of the data you wish resolved and COBOL will automatically 'retrieve' its contents. The following program(s) (can be compiled in a single text file) will accomplish what you were asking for. An extension of this would be to have the second program (A2) merely pass back to the first program (A1) the variables JOBCNT_V and JOBLIM_V in two other normally (REFERENCE) passed variables. To link th~# identification division. program-id. a1. data division. working-storage section. 01 jobcnt pic s9(9) comp value external sys$gw_ijobcnt. 01 joblim pic s9(9) comp value external sys$gw_ijoblim. procedure division. a1_code section. a1_begin. call "a2" using by value jobcnt, joblim. end program a1. identification division. program-id. a2. data division. linkage section. 01 jobcnt pic s9(4) comp. 01 joblim pic s9(4) comp. procedure division using jobcnt joblim. a2_code section. a2_begin. display jobcnt with conversion. display joblim with conversion. end program a2. VMS SIG Message # 1198 0 replies Reply to # 1197 Left by: SERGE STEIN On 07-Dec-89 At : WORK (312) 507-4296 Subject: SYS$GW_IJOBCNT IN COBOL As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted by MA BELL... To link this program you need to execute the command: LINK A.COB,SYS$SYSTEM:SYS.STB/SELECTIVE I hope this is of interest. Serge Stein Senior Technical Consultant (can't say) Chicago VMS SIG Message # 1199 0 replies Left by: Serge Stein On 07-Dec-89 At : W(312) 507-4296 Subject: SOUNDX? Does anyone out there know where I can get anything on the algorithm SOUNDX? This algorithm takes textual keys and based upon semantic rules generates a unique decimal number. I've been looking for some time now but can only find references to it but no cold hard CODE! Thanx in advance. Serge Stein Chicago VMS SIG Message # 1195 3 replies Left by: STUART MASCH On 07-Dec-89 At : (516) 378 8500 Subject: DISK TO DISK BACKUPS GOT A PROBLEM. NEED SOME HELP. WE HAVE AN 8250 WITH ONE RA81. WE HAVE NO NIGHT OR WEEKEND STAFF TO SPEAK OF. WITH ONLY 1 DISK, STANDALONE BACKUP, FULL SYSTEM BACKUP, AND FULL DISK BACKUP ARE ONE AND THE SAME. WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING ADDING ANOTHER DRIVE FOR TWO REASONS: 1. TO SEPARATE DATA OFF TO THEN SECOND DRIVE, LEAVING THE SYSTEM ON DRIVE 1. 2. TO AUTOMATE BACKUPS FROM DISK TO DISK WITHOUT USER INTERVENTION. THE QUESTIONS: 1. IF WE DO INCREMENTALS FROM DUA0 TO DUA1 AND ANOTHER FROM DUA1 TO DUA0 EACH NIGHT, TO OFFLOAD THE BACKUP FILES TO TAPE THE NEXT DAY DO WE 'COPY' THEM TO TAPE OR 'BACKUP' THEM TO TAPE? 2. IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO A BACKUP/IMAGE FROM THE DATA DISK TO THE SYSTEM DISK? SOMEONE AT DEC RDC SAID WE COULD, BUT AFTER READING IN THE SYSTEM MANAGER'S REFERENCE WE FIND THAT THE DESTINATION VOLUME WILL BE REINITIALIZED AND MUST ALSO BE MOUNTED FOREIGN; NEITHER OF WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE FOR THE SYSTEM DISK. I THOUGHT DEC WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT ANSWER. I BOW MY HEAD IN SHAME. I HAVE COME TO THE EXPERTS FOR HELP. THANKS, IN ADVANCE. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 673 1 replies Left by: TODD MOIR On 07-Dec-89 At : (215) 341-6581 Subject: DEC-IBM CONNECTIVITY We are curently looking at interfacing/networking our DEC MicroVAX 3400 to an IBM AS/400 using Ethernet and TCP/IP. IBM has recently announced the 8209 bridge which will interconnect Token-Ring to Ethernet. Are there any known vendors that sell TCP/IP with FTP and Telnet for the AS/400? There are several vendors that sell TCP/IP for VMS including DEC - Are there any recommendations? If we use TCP/IP that has NFS (Network File System), is this a better solution than PCSA? TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 338 2 replies Left by: BOB COULTON On 07-Dec-89 At : HERE Subject: VAX -- FAX Does anyone have first-hand knowledge about any of the VAX/FAX machines? I haven't been paying attention to any of the ads that are out & about, nor have I really heard anything about them (but the boss has, hence this plea). Thanx for any info...... VMS SIG Message # 1196 1 replies Reply to # 1195 Left by: Comet On 07-Dec-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: DISK TO DISK BACKUPS THE ANSWERS ARE "COPY" AND "NO", RESPECTIVELY. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There isn't any real need to do the incremental from DUA0 to DUA1 and vice-versa, because you can place the incremental saveset on the same volume that you are backing up. You might want to put both of the incremental savesets in the same directory (e.g. DUA1:[SAVESET]DUA0.BCK and DUA1:[SAVESET]DUA1.BCK). If your incremental backups normally fit on one tape, you could write a batch procedure to perform the backup at night; all you would need to do is to load a tape on the drive before going home. If the incremental needed more than one tape, it would wait until you returned in the morning to put on another reel. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BACKUP/IMAGE is not the same as a full backup. The /image backup is used when you want to copy EVERYTHING, and is the only way to backup "lost" files and directory structures deeper than 8 levels (apart from /physical backup, which also copies bad blocks). A full backup CAN be done from the data disk to the system disk. $ BACKUP/LOG DUA1:[*...]*.*.* DUA0:[*...]*.*.* will work, for example. I would suggest that if you decide to go this route that you use a rooted logical, so that any directories that exist on both disks don't get clobbered. $ DEFINE/TRANSLATION_ATTRIBUTES=CONCEALED SAVE DUA0:[SAVE.] and then $ BACKUP/LOG DUA1:[*...]*.*.*/IGNORE=INTERLOCK SAVE:[*...]/OWNER=ORIGINAL An advantage of full backups over image backups is the ability to use the /exclude qualifier to exclude files from being copied. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 339 0 replies Reply to # 337 Left by: DAVID DESROCHES On 07-Dec-89 At : (508) 875-7511 Subject: WANT TO REPLACE AN LA120 I use an Okidata printer on my MicroVAX II. It has seen lots of use and appears to withstand the beating fairly well. We also use the Okidata printers with most of our PCs and they appear to be holding up as well. I have not used the wide carriage versions, but I know that they are available. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 674 0 replies Reply to # 673 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 07-Dec-89 At : (609) 258-6217 Subject: DEC-IBM CONNECTIVITY Multinet from TGV Inc. is reputed to be the best commercial TCP/IP package for VAX/VMS. Packages are also available from The Wollongong Group, Fusion Research, Excellan and, doubtless, others. I use the Carnegie-Mellon package, available from Carnegie-Mellon University. CMU distributes the package for a nominal fee but provides no support to speak of. They will fix their own problems and are happy to share their fixes with you but if you have a problem that they don't have, you may have to wait a long while for a fix. The sources (in BLISS) are distributed with the package so that you can maintain it yourself if you are so inclined and have a BLISS compiler. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 340 0 replies Reply to # 338 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 07-Dec-89 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: VAX -- FAX There is a FAX package available from RAXCO (The "Rabbit" people). I believe it will let you send but not receive FAX. I have no personal experience with the package. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 625 1 replies Reply to # 624 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 07-Dec-89 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: CALENDAR DATE FORMULA David, The formula that you are looking for is called Zeller's Congruence. The name may help you look it up. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 341 0 replies Reply to # 313 Left by: JESSE AMADOR On 08-Dec-89 At : TOKYO Subject: MAC VT220 EMULATOR We have been using Pacer Utilities via Appletalk over EtherNet and it works very well. If you need more info let me know. Jesse Amador Tokyo, Japan (Also showing off!!!!) UTILITIES SIG Message # 424 0 replies Left by: MATT QUIGLEY/HAL On 08-Dec-89 At : On ARIS/BB (or Ph# 215/687-5454) Subject: VMS Tape Utility Folks, VAX/VMS is badly in need of a decent tape utility. Currently we are using one from DECUS called ETAPE. It works, yes, but with the following limitations: a) It does not write out the last block of records b) It can only handle a blocksize of 16000 bytes or smaller c) It is very unforgiving when it comes to errors (cmd or otherwise) The source code is in FORTRAN IV, but alas, we do not have a FORTRAN compiler If I were allowed the time, I would translate it to VAX-C, but for the past six+ months I've been swamped with supporting 25+ pc's in addition to my VAX. Has anybody seen, heard of, tried, uses a tape utility they would be proud to recommend? Most of the folk I've talked to so far use in-house utilities that has been written in their own shop (and not transportable). What I look for in a "decent" tape utility is the following: a) Run as a regular VAX/VMS utility (e.g. use the DCL command tables - e.g. TCOPY/Blksiz=8000/Lrecl=80 diskfile tapedrive ... b) Handle any tape format (NoLabel or ANSI Standard Label (file header/ trailer labels also) in either EBCDIC or ASCII at any density that is available on the tape drive in use (usually 1600 or 6250) c) use DEC standard library routines/system services I have toyed with writing one on my own time for submittal thru either DECUS or shareware, since I have neither the time nor the resources to support it myself. What would the market be for such a utility? Would it be worth trying to find a publisher to support it if the user community (demand) were large enough? I have most of the basic routines already pseudo-coded, but haven't gotten enough time yet to piece it all together. Matt Quigley Technical Support Specialist P A C T 150 Radnor-Chester Rd., Suite D200 St. Davids, PA 19087 (215) 687-5454 ext. 258 (voice) TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 342 0 replies Reply to # 338 Left by: JIM SHELLY On 08-Dec-89 At : HERE Subject: VAX -- FAX We recently installed a FAX software package from Digital Management Group (DMG). It works with any Pitney Bowes model 8050, 8200, or 9200 series FAX machine. The software is easy to install and has interfaces to DCL, VMSmail, WORD-11, ALLIN1, and WORDPERFECT. The FAX machine is hanging off a DECserver 200 and is accessable from any node on the VAXcluster. Status reports on FAX transmissions are also available. Although the FAX machine can send and receive FAXes we soon discovered that there were so many FAXes going out that no one could get "in". We modified some of our purchase order programs to FAX PO's and have saved our purchasing agents alot of time that they would otherwise have to spend on the phone. Some of our users don't know what we ever did without it. If you have any other questions you can call me at (215)368-2500 ext. 315. CONTROLLERS/MEMORY SIG Message # 126 0 replies Reply to # 125 Left by: Brett Bump On 08-Dec-89 At : Here Subject: RQDX1 WITH A KDF11-A CPU Ron. When you mentioned XXDP+, I decided to check my old manual for bootstraps. My XXDP+ appendix A and B state that primary and secondary bootstraps will be provided in a future revision. Hah. Bet it never happened. Oh well. As to your RL01-2, I'll bet the drive is the culprit, not the pack. I once fought with three different packs, trying to find one that was good. Random reads on the same block gave me valid data, one out of ten times. Nowadays, when these drives die, they are only useful as space heaters in basement appartments (RP04s will heat a family room nice!). Your floppy option would seem a wise move. Keep us informed on your progress. RSTS SIG Message # 474 0 replies Reply to # 468 Left by: Brett Bump On 08-Dec-89 At : Here Subject: 11/73B'S AND FPA Martin. The 11/53, 11/73, 11/83 and 11/84 all use the DCJ11 chip. The fix that Andrew mentioned for his 11/84 is actually a newer DCJ11. I ran some benchmarks on an 11/84 a while ago just to see how much improvement the FPJ11 made. The results? Forget it. From what I observed, the 11/84 with FPJ11 is roughly 32% faster than an 11/73A. But 30% of that improvement is directly attributable to the 11/84 running at 18 MHz. There are (relatively cheap) ways in which you can turbocharge your 11/73 and make it run faster. Some of them I use. Some of them I don't. However, if your bag is number-crunching, I would suggest a separate cpu (PC or other, RISC or fast CISC) for compute serving. I like to think of the PDP and VAX (sorry, VAX and PDP), as comfortable luxury cars with many options (like Mercury-Lincoln. Hmm. Lincoln-Mercury). Sure you can drive them in the pasture, but for REAL-TIME ranching, you'll need a 4-wheel drive pickup (hubs locked in [REAL-TIME] and no disturbances [NETWORK-OFF]). I realize that programming on PCs isn't much better than slicing bread, but then again, you don't design an F-16 for comfort when the main idea is getting you there yesterday. RSTS SIG Message # 475 0 replies Reply to # 470 Left by: Brett Bump On 08-Dec-89 At : Here Subject: PPN Whoops! Oh Phil. I think your problem may be a little more severe than you realize. I wouldn't worry as much about Danny typing "$ delete [10,2]file" as I would about "$ delete $Login.tsk", or how about "$ delete [*,*]*.*". The gread,gwrite privs don't mean much when you already have access to everything else on the system (wread,wwrite). I would suggest that you remove the world privs and concentrate on group privs. You could either place the data files in [50,2] or perhaps move Danny to [10,51]. As long as the first number matches, the group privs will work fine. Then you could protect the data file with "$ set file [10,2]file.nam/nodeletable". Danny could still wipe out every bit of information in the file, but there would be no way for him to delete it. VMS SIG Message # 1200 0 replies Reply to # 1189 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 08-Dec-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: CALLABLE MAIL INTERFACE I have written (or should I say re-written) a mail program I submitted to DECUS back in the Spring to use the callable mail routines. They are bit screwy to work with but they do work. If you are interested in a copy of the program as and example, drop me a line... Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 333 1 replies Reply to # 329 Left by: SERGE STEIN On 08-Dec-89 At : (312) 507-4296 Subject: PROCESS KILLERS Just thought I'd throw in my two bits as a side note... Most home-grown and commercial process killer products use the system service call GETJPI to return information on the process living on the system. On most systems this is an acceptable method, however, if your system is swapping the call may cause VMS to inswap an outswapped process to get its header (where most of the info is kept). As a result the process killer actually increases the swapping going on. I have no personal experience with either HITMAN or WATCHDOG but I would be very interested in finding out the method they use to retrieve process metrics. Serge LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 106 0 replies Left by: NIK On 08-Dec-89 At : Subject: Seems every one is having alot of fun with escape codes these days. I bet you'd all be pretty PO'd if I put an 'c' in the 'Left by:' field. I like to walk up to someone's terminal and execute a command procedure that does: $ set proc/name="c" SH SYS, SH U, SH PROC and SDA don't react to the prank, but when the user hits control-t...zap. VMS SIG Message # 1201 1 replies Reply to # 1195 Left by: NIK On 08-Dec-89 At : Subject: DISK TO DISK BACKUPS Maybe you get yourself EXA-bitten. I don't know if there is a BI-bus controller for the EXA-byte. Do you have a UNI-bus? I'm not EXA-bitten yet either, we have this great EXA-byte bug spray, he's called the president of the company. I asked him to buy me one for Christmas, but I think I'm getting coal instead. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 380 0 replies Left by: ROBERT EAST On 08-Dec-89 At : SPECTRAGRAPHICS CORP Subject: MAXCIM USERS PLEASE READ ARE YOU OR DO YOU KNOW OF ANYONE WHO IS RUNNING MAXCIM ON A 6310 WITH 50-60 USERS, OR ON A 6210 WITH APPROX 30 USERS........ WE ARE PLANNING TO UPGRADE OUR SYSTEM TO A 6310 AND WANT TO KNOW OF YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH MAXCIM, GOOD OR BAD!! PLEASE CALL ME AT (619)450-0611, THANKS! ROBERT EAST. VMS SIG Message # 1202 0 replies Reply to # 1191 Left by: RICK KAERWER, ICI AMERICAS On 08-Dec-89 At : HERE Subject: BACKUP/LIST/BRIEF You realize you can use the BACKUP/LIST/FULL command and get revision dates. You're probably looking for revision dates in a "brief"-er format. Sorry I can't help you on that. Try Colorado support if you have it. SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 334 0 replies Reply to # 333 Left by: RICK KAERWER On 08-Dec-89 At : HERE Subject: HITMAN PROCESS KILLER I'm not as informed as you about some of the inner workings of VMS. If you would like to do your own research into how HITMAN works, I'm sure you could call Al Clifford, president of SAIGA, maker of HITMAN. He usually picks up the phone and handles tech service calls, anyway. SAIGA's number is 403-263-1151 or FAX 403-264-5718. If you'd like, you can mention me and ICI Americas -- we at least have a site license for the software here, and other sites in the U.S. may also be using HITMAN. I'd be interested to find out what you find, if you do delve into it. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 626 2 replies Reply to # 625 Left by: COMET On 08-Dec-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: CALENDAR DATE FORMULA On the other hand, writing the program to call a system service to get the day-of-week is also possible. LIB$DAY_OF_WEEK, for example. There's no need to think of this as "cheating", since you will get ample practice with the language just in setting up the call itself. I think that Knuth has Zeller's Congruence in his "Seminumerical Algorithms" volume. VMS SIG Message # 1203 0 replies Reply to # 1195 Left by: BOB ZISEK On 08-Dec-89 At : 203.798.5240 Subject: DISK TO DISK BACKUPS We were temporarily doing disk to disk backups until our on-line procedures were ready for the operators to process. The backups worked great. I set up a batch job that 1)resubmitted itself for the same time the next day (at night), 2)did the actual backup from source disk to a backup saveset in a specified saveset directory, and 3)journalled the backup to a journal file. The batch would check the day of the week, and since we do our fulls on Thursday night, incrementals were done on all other days (except Saturday and Sunday). When you do the COPY to tape: $MOU/BLOCKSIZE=16384 tapedev tapelabel $COPY/LOG/READ_CHECK saveset tape:saveset_name If the backup saveset is large enough to require multiple taolumes during the COPY, then in your REPLY command, do $REPLY/BLANK_TAPE=request number. Then you can delete the saveset from disk to regain your disk space. Note: I would not do a $BACKUP/LOG in the original backup command. This will add the disk space being used by making the batch log file huge. You can reference the batch log file for errors, if they occurred. Bob Zisek System manager Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc. Ridgefield, Ct. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 627 2 replies Reply to # 626 Left by: DAVID DESROCHES On 08-Dec-89 At : (508) 875-7511 Subject: CALENDAR DATE FORMULA Thanks for the information on where I can find the algorithm. I had not thought of the LIB$DAY_OF_WEEK call, which will be useful for VMS. I am actually writing this on my PC at home. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 628 0 replies Reply to # 627 Left by: MARTY JOHNSON On 08-Dec-89 At : (203)666-1737 Subject: CALENDAR DATE FORMULA VAX C has a function called localtime. It is passed a structure (defined in time.h) which includes the integer tm_wday for day of the week. It's values range from 0 to 6. It's my understanding that other implementations of C also have this function but there may be differences (such as the way they handle daylight savings time), but you should be able to get the day of the week. CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 491 0 replies Reply to # 484 Left by: MARK LEVY On 08-Dec-89 At : (312)467-7554 Subject: LAVC CLUSTER I tried to do this awhile ago, to get a 730 (ARGHHHH!) to boot from my 63xx cluster. I was told that there is no boot rom for the UNIBUS machines. I suppose that you could get one made up (at extreme cost) but consider this: The MVII has a faster CPU, but it's constrained by the throughput of the Q-Bus. Very likely, response time on the 750 would drop into the basement if it had to request all of it's system disk access through the MVII. Likewise, response on the MVII would suffer due to the lock management and I/O processing overhead it would incur. Buy a VAX 3400 (with RF72s) and dump the aforementioned mess. VMS SIG Message # 1204 0 replies Reply to # 1201 Left by: STUART MASCH On 08-Dec-89 At : Subject: DISK TO DISK BACKUPS YES, A KINDRED SOUL! MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 629 0 replies Reply to # 547 Left by: ANONYMOUS On 08-Dec-89 At : HERE Subject: ONLINE JOBS DATABASE That's teriffic, but, WHAT'S THE USERNAME? VMS SIG Message # 1205 0 replies Reply to # 1196 Left by: STUART MASCH On 08-Dec-89 At : 516 379 9200 Subject: DISK TO DISK BACKUPS COMET (FLASH, FLASH) I LIKE YOUR THINKING, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, OUR INCREMENTALS DO NOT FIT ON ONE TAPE. THE REASON FOR BACKING UP ACROSS DISK DRIVES IS TO BE ABLE TO SALVAGE THE ONE ADDITIONAL BACKUP SHOULD THE SOURCE DRIVE CRASH AFTER THE BACKUP AND BEFORE THE OFFLOAD TO TAPE THE NEXT MORNING. THE RATIONALE FOR /IMAGE INSTEAD OF A FULL B/U WAS THAT IN THE EVENT OF A DISK CRASH, WE UNDERSTOOD THE STARTING POINT FOR A RESTORE OPERATION HAD TO BE THE LAST /IMAGE B/U WITH THE SUBSEQUENT INCREMENTALS APPLIED IN REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. CAN YOU RESTORE A DISK FROM A FULL BACKUP INSTEAD OF FROM AN /IMAGE? ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? VMS SIG Message # 1206 0 replies Left by: SCOTT LEMEN On 08-Dec-89 At : (916) 423-2010 EXT 3539 Subject: FILE SYSTEM PROBLEMS WITH VMS 5.2 We upgraded our cluster 785 and 6210 (HSC 50) the day after Thanksgiving. We have had file system problems ever since. Analyze/Disk reports errors on every drive and some of our important files have been trashed. CSC and local DEC types deny that RMS has changed from VMS 5.1 (we had no problems for the 6 months we were at VMS 5.1.) Our disks are not reporting hardware problems. Does anyone have similar problems? Thanks, Scott Lemen Vax Systems Manager Amerigas Corp 8401 Gerber Road Sacramento, Calif 95828 CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 492 0 replies Left by: JOSEPH CHOW On 08-Dec-89 At : 415-6535911 Subject: MAILBOX ACROSS LAVC We are moving into LAVC environment and many of our applications use system mailboxes for interprocess communication. Is there any way to make mailbox works across LAVC transparently? We appreciate any help. EDITORS SIG Message # 236 0 replies Reply to # 235 Left by: PATRICK MAHA On 09-Dec-89 At : 714/720-7868 Subject: LSE FROM THE VAXSTATION 3 ROD, I don't know if this could be your problem. But the way FileView works is it creates a subprocess to run the application you requested (ie LSE). If the logical name is placed in the processes logical name table then it will dissappear when you exit from LSE (logout of the subprocess. I notice this when I was trying to define my TPU$SECTION and TPU$COMMAND logicals for EVE. I wanted to define these logicals only once at login and be able to use them for both editing from FileView and DECTerm. However, just using "DEFINE TPU$SECTION section-file" wouldn't work since both FileView and DECTerm are separate processes under VMS. Also, defining them in the JOB table didn't seem to help either. I had to resort to defining them at the GROUP level. Thus, it may be that the logical you refer to is not being kept around for later use. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 630 0 replies Reply to # 624 Left by: PATRICK MAHAN On 09-Dec-89 At : 714/720-7868 Subject: CALENDAR DATE FORMULA David, The is a book out called the "C TUTORIAL" (I am not sure if this is correct) the book is published by HAYES PUBLISHERS and the chapter on structures gives the alogrithms for calculating the number of elapsed days between two dates as well as the day of the week a date falls on. If you would give me a call between 8:00 - 3:30 (PST) at the above number I could give the correct name of the book. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 381 0 replies Reply to # 379 Left by: PATRICK MAHAN On 09-Dec-89 At : 714/720-7868 Subject: HPGL-TO-PLOT10 CONVERTER Well, I don't know of any conversion programs available. I would suggest that if at all possible modify the BASIC program to generate the Tektronix files directly (that is if you have the source for it). As for a conversion program, well I don't know what rev of HPGL the code was based on but if it is of the NEWER HPGL then it should be an easy task to tranlate to 4010 code. I have never done this type of conversion since it always breaks at the wrong time. Sorry not to be of more help. PS - LN03+ will take emulate 4014 code. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 631 0 replies Reply to # 624 Left by: Phil Anthony On 09-Dec-89 At : Here Subject: CALENDAR DATE FORMULA Maybe the following code fragment will help. It's part of a larger set of functions I threw together a few years back to handle true Julian dates - i.e., a longword equal to the number of days since the day before the first of January, 0001 CE. The day of week is accurate back to 14-Sep-1752, when the Colonies adopted the Gregorian calendar; in Catholic Europe, where the Gregorian calendar was adopted in the 16th century, you get two more cen- turies out of it. I don't know how it relates to Zeller's congruence. With three divisions, a multiplication, and a modulo divide of longwords it ain't fast, but it works. /* Leap year determining macro */ #define isleap(y) (((y%4==0) & (y%100!=0)) | (y%400==0)) /* Days to this month, nonleap year */ static short daycount[] = { . 0, 31, 59, 90, 120, 151, 181, 212, 243, 273, 304, 334 } ; int dayofwk (year, month, day) int year, /* Four-digit year - i.e., 1989 */ . month, /* Month, 1 = January */ . day; /* Day of the month */ { . int tmp; . . tmp = year - 1; /* Last year - we use this a lot */ . return ((int) (((365L * tmp) + daycount[month - 1] + day . + (isleap (year) & (month > 2)) . + (tmp / 4L) - (tmp / 100L) + (tmp / 400L)) % 7)); . /* Days per nonleap year . to this year . + days to this month . + leap days this year . + leap days since 01-Jan-0001 . modulo 7 for day of week; . 0 = Sunday, 6 = Saturday. */ } VMS SIG Message # 1207 0 replies Reply to # 1199 Left by: STUART MASCH On 09-Dec-89 At : 516 379 9200 Subject: SOUNDEX? WE'VE GOT A SOUNDEX ALGORITHM THAT WE HAVE BEEN USING FOR SEVERAL YEARS. IT'S UNDER A 4GL AND THE LOGIC IS SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD. GIVE ME A CALL AND I'LL EXPLAIN IT AND (IF YOU TREAT ME NICE) FAX YOU A COPY. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 632 0 replies Left by: JANET LEVY On 09-Dec-89 At : 215-928-0482 Subject: VAX/VMS PROG/ANALYSTS NEEDED 2 VAX/VMS programmer/analysts, with 2 and 5 years experience respectively needed by prestigious Philadelphia Institution. Strong Cobol skills plus good knowledge of DEC development tools and RDB or other relational database required. Experience in UNIX, Fortran, Pascal, C, and/or Basic a plus. Excellent salary and benefits. Phone Janet Levy: 215-928-0482. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 482 0 replies Left by: TONY MINI On 09-Dec-89 At : 617-889-5640 Subject: TERMINAL #'S FROM SERVERS This may point you in the right direction if terminal number is a problem while useing Dibol with terminal servers. Had the same problem some time ago. Sorry for lack of details, working from home. Look into setting the "NAME" field (not the user name) on each server port. Somehow we were able to get this "NAME" using dibol. The quick and dirty was to set these names to resemble terminal names we were used to ie TXA?. If particulars are needed call during office hours. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 483 0 replies Reply to # 477 Left by: TONY MINI On 09-Dec-89 At : 617-889-5640 Subject: DIBOL & TERMINAL NUMBERS Sorry --- New User. Tried to respond and created a new article. See #482 for details. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 343 0 replies Reply to # 339 Left by: Paul DeAngelis On 10-Dec-89 At : (215) 783-7200 Subject: WANT TO REPLACE AN LA120 We have used NEC P565XL/P965XL wide carriage printers with mVAX II DHV11s for two years. They are not cheap ($1200 with bi-directional tractor through mail order) but they have Xon/Xoff through their serial port, include 10,12,15, 17,20 cpi fonts without "cartridges", have 24 pins, are heavy, almost quiet and fast. I'd estimate that we do about a box of paper per month per printer (2750 sheets.) Drawbacks: printheads go about every 18 months and only one of five non-NEC ribbon brands I've tried really works well. I hope this helps. VMS SIG Message # 1208 0 replies Reply to # 1199 Left by: Paul DeAngelis On 10-Dec-89 At : (215) 783-7200 Subject: SOUNDEX? All SOUNDEX is not created equal! Our old Apple /// Pascal Soundex is different from Oracle Soundex. You might get a specification from a mail list software vendor. The Apple /// method was documented and simple. COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 318 0 replies Reply to # 317 Left by: MARK LEVY On 11-Dec-89 At : HERE Subject: SNA GATEWAY Forget what DEC says. There are two ways to connect ASCII printers and print directly from the host as if they were (UGH!) IBM printers. 1. RJE software. You define an RJE workstation, and specify the printer device name as the destination file. You can also specify a full filename, and include the "/QUEUE" or "/SPOOL" qualifier (I don't remember which) if you wish to save the file on your VAX. 2. PRE (PRinter Emulator) software. I haven't used this, but I believe it works by allocating an LU via the gateway and gives you a real "network" printer. If you _really_ need more info, leave me a message here and I'll provide it. Mark FORUM - DEC SIG Message # 89 0 replies Reply to # 64 Left by: COMMON SENSE On 11-Dec-89 At : Subject: 3100 CLUSTER LICENSING VM I think you have a few things to learn about the business world. Yes, you are trying to cheat. DEC sells a box called the MicroVAX 3100 which is (essentially) the same as the VAXStation 3100 without the "Big Tube." You can buy an unlimited license for it. You bought the VAXStation because it's inexpensive, hoping to use it as a multiuser system, which is not it's purpose. DEC spends a considerable amount of money on VMS development, and on CPU development. If VMS were offered free, as you suggest, the CPUs would become even more expensive. This might very well also prompt an inquiry from the Justice department due to something called "bundling." Have you looked at the cost of IBM products lately? Quit griping. MICROVAX SIG Message # 226 0 replies Reply to # 222 Left by: MARK E LEVY On 11-Dec-89 At : HERE Subject: MV 3100 Don't bother with the 3100, if you're planning to cluster it. The distributed lock manager overhead will probably kill your 8250. As a standalone, the 3100 is terrific, but I would have to recommend the 3300/3400. Are you running VMS 5.x? If so, upgrading to an 8350 would almost double your CPU capacity. You could probably pick up the upgrade kit cheap on the used market. SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 336 0 replies Reply to # 334 Left by: Serge Stein On 11-Dec-89 At : W(312) 507-4296 Subject: HITMAN PROCESS KILLER Rick and anyone else interested... I did follow up on HITMAN and discovered that Yes the do use the System Service SYS$GETJPI to return process metrics. However, they have come across this problem (INSWAPPING) before and have programmed around it. It seems that by only requesting the information that lives in the permanent process header (which includes the current state) the process will not be swapped in if it is outswapped. HITMAN catches this and based on a qualifier will determine whether or not to get the rest of the information. The rest of the information includes such things as DIO count, Page faults and CPU time. If HITMAN does not get the additional information then it assumes that the process was idle. This assumption can cause problems if there is a long data collection interval, for example if the data collection interval is 5 minutes the process could be swapped out at the beginning, do some work in the middle and then be swapped out again at the end of the five minutes thus appearing to HITMAN as if it was idle all the time. All in all this seems to be a good method of determining the metrics and avoiding the overhead of swapping. Al Clifford did mention that the reason that they did use SYS$GETJPI and not bypass it and go directly after the process header was that GETJPI was guaranteed to work across releases while the process header may not stay the same. As far as HITMAN is concerned they seem to have this quirk under control. Serge FORUM - DEC SIG Message # 90 0 replies Reply to # 64 Left by: NIK On 11-Dec-89 At : Subject: 3100 CLUSTER LICENSING VM Interesting comparision...VAXstation 3100 and a car. I can fit five people in my car, but only one can drive at any giving moment. What kind of car do you have that has more than one steering wheel? I suppose it would need four wheel independent STEERING, and omni-directional head lights. Does the fuel injection use SPIN LOCKS or is it some type of priority scheme? My question is, who pays the tolls. I don't know the pricing between the VAXstation 3100 and the MicroVAX 3100, but I'm sure you've heard the saying, "A%%, GRASS OR GAS. NOBODY RIDES FOR FREE." TSX SIG Message # 15 0 replies Reply to # 6 Left by: BILLY YOUDELMAN On 11-Dec-89 At : (213) 839-7673 Subject: TSX+ AND LARGE DRIVES Regarding large DU handlers for TSX-Plus, one that works quite well is available for free just by calling my little bbs and downloading it. Its DUCM V4c, and will accomodate just about anything, other than it's a single-port (ONLY) handler, meaning just one controller. The bbs may be reached by calling 213 837-0892, and doing this: Logon please: 1000 Password: moving_target There is also quite a bit of other PD type stuff available.. LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 107 0 replies Reply to # 106 Left by: COMET On 11-Dec-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: Prank Well, Saint NIK, Putting a reset sequence into a person's process name is not nice. At least you didn't consider putting LOGOUT as the terminal's answerback, and including a in the process name. So maybe, just maybe, you'll have a chance of finding a nanoVAX in your stocking this year. Comet (a brown-nosed reindeer) MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 633 0 replies Reply to # 620 Left by: MARK ROBSON On 11-Dec-89 At : (401) 431-8668 Subject: SCANNING HRDWR&SOFTWR We use Mass-11 word processing software on our Microvax 3400, and this package supports a direct input from a Compuscan scanner. We have not used this function yet, but it is a device that connects to a serial RS232 port on the vax, and as a document is scanned, it is converted to ASCII text before it is sent to the host port. Mass-11 gave me their phone number in Fairfield, NJ (201) 338-5000. Good luck and let me know how things come out. UTILITIES SIG Message # 425 0 replies Left by: DAVID L. BUTTON On 11-Dec-89 At : GTE-EDCD WALTHAM MA (617) 466-3123 Subject: TIME SERVER/CLIENT SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 337 0 replies Reply to # 335 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 11-Dec-89 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: HITMAN PROCESS KILLER No, it's not advertising. If you had mentioned a price, or told people to call you for a real bargain, your message might have disappeared. Or Professional Press might have sent you a bill! :-) VMS SIG Message # 1209 0 replies Reply to # 1149 Left by: TECH HARLAND On 12-Dec-89 At : 011-441-374-4565 (LONDON) Subject: NEW PROCS IN RWMBX STATE If you just want to try getting these processes going you could try adding a line in the LOGIN.COM to stop the process waiting for this undiscovered mailbox interaction. $ set process/noresource This will disable the process from waiting for any resource including mailbox full or mailbox not yet read. Alternately download you login.com to ARIS and lets all have a look. Best of luck.... CPU'S SIG Message # 76 0 replies Reply to # 68 Left by: CURIOUS On 12-Dec-89 At : ON THE ROOF ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE BULLDOG CAFE Subject: AGE OF AQUARIUS Who is this Dr. R guy anyway? And how long can he keep replying to his own messages? CPU'S SIG Message # 77 0 replies Reply to # 69 Left by: Mark E. Levy On 12-Dec-89 At : HERE Subject: VAX/11/730 Another thing you will want to consider is software support. I acquire a MicroVAX I (real cheap) and now I find out that it's not supported by VMS V5.2. How much longer is VMS engineering going to support 11/730s? I suppose that's the risk we take in buying obsolete machines for personal use. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 634 1 replies Left by: MARK E. LEVY On 12-Dec-89 At : HERE Subject: ARIS DOWNLOAD I've seen references from a number of people on this BB regarging 'downloading' the latest messages to their PC (or whatever) for later review. My question is, how is that accomplished without constantly having to respond to the "Enter to continue, E to end..." message at the end of each memo? Thanks! CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 493 0 replies Reply to # 492 Left by: BILL PEDERSEN On 12-Dec-89 At : 408-336-2708 Subject: MAILBOX ACROSS LAVC MAILBOXES are currently a processor based communications process. That is to say that you can not use them between machines in a cluster. There are ways to "trick" the system by creating servers that user DECnet or shared files to move the d data and still have the main application use mailboxes this makes the code useable on "clustered" and "non-clustered" systems. If you wish give me a call and we can discuss it. Wm. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 382 1 replies Left by: PAUL CROARKIN On 12-Dec-89 At : (202) 342-4784 Subject: ISSCO DISSPLA GRAPHICS BUG If you are running the DISSPLA graphics package from ISSCO (now owned by Computer Associates) you may want to give your service rep a call. Last week, one of our programthat made calls to DISSPLA stopped working. No code had changed, etc. We had made some SYSGEN changes though and we weren't sure if they had affected the package or not. Anyway, after changing everything back to the original pristine state, the package still did not work. After half a dozen calls to ISSCO, they admitted that there was some type of software expiration in some of the routines that was not supposed to be there. The bug manifests only in calls to certain routines, so you may not know you have a problem. ISSCO (619) 452-4421, now has a fix available. You may also call me at the above number if you interested in details. SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 269 1 replies Left by: CHUCK DENNEN On 12-Dec-89 At : (918) 561-9226 Subject: AUTOCAD ON VAXSTATION 2000 What can be done to improve the graphics performance of a VAXstation 2000 running AutoCAD ? We use AutoCAD Release 10 for VMS on a '2000 with a MicroVAX II as a file server and other larger systems as well as PC's on a local area Vax cluster running Decnet. I talked to the folks at Autodesk about the underwhelming speed that we are reaching, and they told me "Add Memory". So, 14 Mb's. of RAM (and several thousand dollars) later; we have a very slightly improved benchmark. (e.g. 15 min. on one of our '386 PC's vs. 51 min. on the VAXstation) An examination of cluster statistics shows the '2000 is "CPU-bound". We have the 4-plane color system; I wonder if there is such an animal as a VAX "Display List Processor" ? There are both hardware and software DLP's for PC AutoCad systems. What about A "compute server" could a suitably swift server help ? Iw3)G{ Uz(Xo3ww++ffapexit MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 635 0 replies Reply to # 634 Left by: COMET On 12-Dec-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: MESSAGE CAPTURE Searching for the keyword DOWNLOAD in this SIG, gave me numbers 207,318,320,579, and 634. Reading these messages, I found your answer. Phil Anthony, in message 583 (which is part of the thread beginning at message 579), has written a script file for the Mirror-3 program to capture messages on his machine. If you are using a different program, then you may have to write a script yourself. VMS SIG Message # 1210 0 replies Reply to # 1193 Left by: Phil Gravel On 12-Dec-89 At : HERE Subject: NEW PROCS IN RWMBX STATE If you have software support from Digital, you can dial into DSIN (Digital Software Information System). There you can find a couple of articles on-line about how to solve problems with processes resource wait states (including RWMBX and RWAST). Basically, you start with ANALYZE/SYSTEM and follow the suggestions they provide. The articles are pretty good for system managers that are not internals gurus. Phil SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 338 0 replies Reply to # 327 Left by: Phil Gravel On 12-Dec-89 At : HERE Subject: NETWORK TAPE BACKUP Laurie, Rob, and David, Maybe you can help me with this. I have been trying to get the same procedure to work. When I run it, it fails and leaves the following in NETSERVER.LOG: $ ! Copyright (c) 1987 Digital Equipment Corporation. All rights reserved. $ IF "" .NES. "" THEN NETSERVER$COMMAND $ IF "" .EQS. "" THEN NETSERVER$VERIFY = 0 $ V = F$VERIFY(NETSERVER$VERIFY) -------------------------------------------------------- Connect request received at 2-OCT-1989 12:32:39.57 from remote process BETA::"0=SYSTEM" for object "REMBACK" -------------------------------------------------------- %MOUNT-I-MOUNTED, BACKUP mounted on _ALPHA$MUA0: %CONV-F-OPENIN, error opening =SYSTEM REMBACK" as input -RMS-E-ACC, ACP file access failed -SYSTEM-F-CONNECFAIL, connect to network object timed-out or failed Have you encountered this problem? If so, how did you solve it? Thanks, Phil APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 383 0 replies Reply to # 382 Left by: PATRICK MAHAN On 12-Dec-89 At : 714-720-7868 Subject: ISSCO DISSPLA GRAPHICS BU PAUL, WHAT VERSION OF DISSPLA DID THIS HAPPEN UNDER? AND WAS IN A PRERELEASE DRIVER. SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 270 0 replies Reply to # 269 Left by: PATRICK MAHAN On 12-Dec-89 At : 714-720-7868 Subject: AUTOCAD ON VAXSTATION 200 HOW IS YOUR VS2000 CONFIGURED? I INSTALLED 3 DISKLESS VS2000 CLUSTERED WITH A VAX 8600 WITH 16MB OF MEMORY. PERFORMANCE WAS LOUSY AND DID NOT IMPROVED UNTIL WE INSTALLED LOCAL PAGE/SWAP DISKS FOR EACH VS2000. PC'S SIG Message # 257 0 replies Reply to # 247 Left by: TIM MANVILLE On 13-Dec-89 At : (202) 653-0297 Subject: VT200 KEYBOARD FOR PC At our site we use the KEA keyboards with their ZSTEM 240 terminal emulator with no problems at all other than those users who need to run PC applications. While all the PC function keys are clearly marked, their positioning takes some getting used to for PC users. A problem VT users experience when going to a PC SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 271 0 replies Reply to # 270 Left by: CHUCK DENNEN On 13-Dec-89 At : (918) 561-9226 Subject: AUTOCAD ON VAXSTATION 200 Patrick, thank you for your suggestion; we will look at our local page/swap again... we have tried several combinations but have not been able to improve productivity very much so far. I dont think the ACAD display driver is making much use of the VWS's capabilities for instance there is supposed to be a display-list capabilty, and ACAD only uses 8 colorsn a system capable ofof several million ! It seems like a special ADI with DLP is in order. thanks again............. VMS SIG Message # 1211 0 replies Reply to # 920 Left by: SANJAY KUMAR On 13-Dec-89 At : 517 885-3668 Subject: SPAWN MAIL I AM NOT SURE WHICH DIAGNOSTIC MESSAGES YOU ARE MISSING WHEN YOU SPAWN MAIL. THE REPLY YOU GOT (PUBLISHED DEC 89) DOES NOT SEEM TO ADDRESS YOUR PROBLEM. ANYWAY, TILL YOU GIVE ME MORE DETAILS, I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM USING MY COM FILE TO ATTACH TO A MAIL PROCESS: $ MRPC = "MAI" + F$GETJPI("","MASTER_PID") !set process name $ DG = "DELETE/SYMBOL/GLOBAL" $ SVMAI = MAIL !save symbol $ DG MAIL !delete personal symbol $ ATT: $ ON WARNING THEN GOTO SPAWN !if process is not $ ATTACH 'MPRC' !there spawn it else $ GOTO CEX !attach $SPAWN: $ ON WARNING THEN GOTO MANUAL !if warn invoke mail $ DEFINE/USER SYS$INPUT SYS$COMMAND !manually $ SPAWN/PROCESS='MPRC' MAIL !do the spawn $ GOTO CEX $CEX: $ MAI*L = 'SVMAI' !set personal symbol $ EXIT $MANUAL: $ MM = "MAIL" $ MM $ GOTO CEX The process name is unique so I can attach to the process from any subprocess I am in. Also If I logon from another tube, I can still spawn a mail process. If all fails just invoke mail from current process. I also define KP5 in mail as "AT/PARENT" to take me back. Caution: if u have 2 processes in your mail file, DON'T try compressing it.(file locked) Have Fun!! VMS SIG Message # 1212 1 replies Reply to # 1074 Left by: SANJAY KUMAR On 13-Dec-89 At : 517 885-3668 Subject: SPAWN MAIL Comet! (Haileys?) You did not address the problem of losing diagnostic messages as reported by Dave. anyway how long does it take to invoke your com file? VMS SIG Message # 1213 0 replies Reply to # 1076 Left by: SANJAY KUMAR On 13-Dec-89 At : 517 885-3668 Subject: SPAWN MAIL I fully agree with your comments about Vax Pro. Even Decus's bulletin board is better than this PClike BB. VMS SIG Message # 1214 0 replies Reply to # 1078 Left by: SANJAY KUMAR On 13-Dec-89 At : ARIS Subject: SPAWN MAIL Vax pro is more or less for Techies. I got the subscription for my group thinking it will be a good way to enrich their VMS knowledge. No way! I am the only one who reads it, the issues just lie around my desk. People have been in my group for 3-4 years and they HAVE NOT READ INTRO TO SYSTEM SERVICES JUST TO UNDESTAND THE VMS CALLING STANDARD! How do you expect them to read Vax Professional to set up kernel mode Asts? You decide who will be able to use ARIS? VMS SIG Message # 1215 0 replies Reply to # 1079 Left by: SANJAY KUMAR On 13-Dec-89 At : ARIS Subject: SPAWN MAIL Seems like you are in the dark ages! Using mice is not going to stop you from tweeking micro code, you'd probably get it done twice as fast! Like using a vacuum cleaner instead of a broom or a multivalve cylinder engine instead of a push rod. Its called progress! VMS SIG Message # 1216 0 replies Reply to # 1212 Left by: Comet, not Halley's On 13-Dec-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: Diagnostics vanishing from MAIL subprocess I implicitly addressed the "vanishing diagnostics" problem by publishing a procedure which uses a method of accomplishing the desired task without any unwanted side effects. My procedure takes longer on the first call than on subsequent calls, just because of the overhead associated with subprocess creation. (The fact that SYS$INPUT, SYS$OUTPUT, and SYS$ERROR streams are connected to the terminal at this time may help explain why diagnostics are Not Vanishing). I'd say that the execution time of the procedure is comparable with that of less versatile KEPT procedures. Lastly, my name IS Comet. If you doubt it, just send me a signed blank check, and watch your bank account. Or call (408)555-1212, Directory Assistance, and they'll verify my existence, since my phone is a listed number. Gotta go; I'll 0D tomorrow, probably. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 636 0 replies Reply to # 624 Left by: RANDY TUNISON On 13-Dec-89 At : 415-674-9300 Subject: CALENDAR DATE FORMULA To compute the day of week from the date: Day# = INT(365.25 y') + INT (30.6001 m') + d where y' is year-1 if m=1 or 2 year if m>2 m' is month + 13 if m=1 or 2 month + 1 if m>2 Day of week = 7 * FRAC ((Day# + 5)/7) APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 384 0 replies Left by: Comet On 13-Dec-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: SERVER SYMBIONT Has anybody here written a server symbiont as described in SMB-1 in graybooks? I want to $ SUBMIT/LOG=NODE::PRINTER: BATCHFILE. Or any automagic method of making the logfile appear on the remote node's printer. DECnet yes, VAXcluster no, VMS 5.1-1 and VAX C v3.0 (I think). Any hints or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 494 0 replies Left by: COMET On 13-Dec-89 At : (408)998-1105 (HOME) Subject: REMOTE LOG FILE I have a pair of computers, one of which has a printer. How would I submit a batch job on the other computer so that I get a hardcopy of the log file AUTOMATICALLY? MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 637 0 replies Reply to # 634 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 13-Dec-89 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: ARIS DOWNLOAD Mark, At the moment, "downloading" messages requires a communications program with scripting capability. Your script looks for the prompts and issues the carriage returns. As an alternative, you can just send 30 or 40 carriage returns ahead and hope that there are at least that many messages waiting to be read. A message downloading feature has been requested and I believe that the programming department has it under consideration. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 385 0 replies Reply to # 382 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 13-Dec-89 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: ISSCO DISSPLA GRAPHICS BU Ain't CA/ISSCO fun? We just lost about three weeks searching for the cause of an undocumented error message. It turned out that our program was trying to use logical unit 21 and so was DISSPLA! Of course the fact that DISSPLA uses LU 21 isn't documented either! And be very sure you read your "license" agreement carefully. If you think that a "license" agreement is just two pages of legal puffery that says you can use the product on onem machine and may not make copies for all your friends, YOU ARE WRONG!. The CA license agreement provides that "support" is continued automatically at the end of the warranty period unless you give them thirty days prior notice! The fact that someone in out purchasing department signed this agreement is likely to cost us many thousands of bucks for "support" that we didn't want, didn't get, and can't afford! VMS SIG Message # 1217 0 replies Left by: PATRICK MAHAN On 14-Dec-89 At : 714-720-7868 Subject: DECWINDOWS Hello, Just a question in general, is there anyone out who is programming in DECwindows. I have been delving into it for the past 9 months but am finding the documentation accomponing DECwindows to be less than inform- ative. Knowing there are ARIS/BB users out there using DECwindows would be very comforting. MICROVAX SIG Message # 227 0 replies Left by: BERN FOX On 14-Dec-89 At : 3139941200 Subject: UVAX II TO UVAX III/III+ Has anyone out there bitten on the previously phantom KA 630 to KA 650/655 upgrade that DEC seems to offering for real now? Would like to retain my investment in MS 630= RAM (16M), but 'am hearing rumors that MS 650 must be used. True or false? Comments are hereby solicited as to the viability of this upgrade. Thanx. - bern - MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 638 0 replies Left by: Serge Stein On 14-Dec-89 At : (312) 507-4296 Subject: PRAISE Although I have only been using this service for 10 days now I have already recieved some useful and very helpful information from other members of ARIS. I may only speak for a few people but I appreciate the simplicity of this system. I have enough to remember in my busy day of setting up Kernal mode ASTs and writing device drivers that I just want to relax with something simple. I would like to compliment Comet in retaining his professionalism and his imaginative use of graphics. I would also like to thank Stuart Masch for his help and information and Randy Tunison for the answer he provided. A professional service like this is the place for information exchange and intellectual discussion, it is hardly the arena for criticism. Serge SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 272 2 replies Left by: PAUL LUCERO On 14-Dec-89 At : (805) 388-5700 Subject: INSUFFICIENT VIRTUAL MEMORY I have an Oracle application in our Microvax 3600 with 32Mb of physical memory. This application once in awhile will fail due to the error INSVIRMEM or insufficient virtual memory. The owner of the process has a working set extent of 16384 pages and the page fault quota is 15000. The system VIRTUALPAGECNT is set at 24384 pages. What I need to know is what is causing the depletion of the virtual memory and why it happens only occassionally in that application. What parameter value do I need to raise (system or process) to increase the virtual page quota? By the way, only 40% of the 32Mb is used on a daily basis by all users and processes so we have plenty to work with. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks. SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 273 0 replies Reply to # 272 Left by: Comet On 14-Dec-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: INSUFFICIENT VIRTUAL MEMO Perhaps your PAGEFILE is too small. You can do a $ SHOW MEMORY/FILES/FULL command. If it looks like most of your pagefile is in use, and very little is free, then you can either extend the size of your pagefile and reboot, or you can create a secondary pagefile. The VIRTUALPAGECNT in SYSGEN sets the maximum number of virtual pages a process can map. Perhaps you should increase this to be the size of your smallest pagefile. The PGFLQUOTA in the UAF file limits the usage of the system paging file on a per-process basis. You can increase this value for the process that is giving you the problem. Increasing it past VIRTUALPAGECNT will do you no good, and you must have enough free pagefile to take advantage of this. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now here's how to set up your PHYSICAL memory: Your WSEXT in the UAF file can be increased to be the size of however much physical memory is free during a normal system load. This will take advantage of your unused physical memory, and may help programs which swap excessively to run faster. Check the WSMAX in SYSGEN and make sure it is not less then the largest WSEXT in your UAF file. WSMAX in SYSGEN is an absolute limit to the amount of pages which can be used. You don't want to go overboard in giving out working sets. Just increase them so that you don't get much faulting. WSMAX affects the allocation of permanently resident memory for the swapper map and system page table. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 639 0 replies Reply to # 624 Left by: COMET On 14-Dec-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: Zeller's Congruence 1) The year is modified to begin on March and end on February. DEC-14-1989 => ((DAY 14)(MONTH 10)(YEAR 89)(CENTURY 19)) JAN-01-1990 => ((DAY 1)(MONTH 11)(YEAR 89)(CENTURY 19)) 2) WEEKDAY = [INT(2.6*MONTH-0.1) - 2*CENTURY + INT(CENTURY/4) + YEAR + INT(YEAR/4) + DAY] MOD 7 DAY is the day, MONTH is the adjusted month, YEAR is the adjusted year (last two digits), CENTURY is the adjusted century (first two digits). I got the above algorithm from Irving Sperling's article "Day of the Week Revisited" in the December 1988 issue of Computer Language magazine. ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 274 0 replies Reply to # 272 Left by: NIK On 14-Dec-89 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: INSUFFICIENT VIRTUAL MEMO I think I got cut off, so at the risk of being redundant I'll type it again. VMS v5.2, Oracle v5.22 and v6.0. VAX 8530, 16mb. If you've recently upgraded VMS and you have NOT re-linked ALLLLLLL Of your Oracle products and any applications you've written, you will get INSVERMEM. As per DEC, VIRTUALPAGCNT should be, at least, physical memory in pages plus 4. If your PAGEFILE were too small, I think you'd have bigger problems than just, INSVERMEM. You'd probably get, "Pagefile badly fragmented, system trying continue.", and then your system would take a lunch break. WSMAX, sysgen, should equal the highest WSEXTENT, uaf. I think 16k is a bit much, set WSMAX to that, since it takes a reboot to change it. You can use WSEXTENT to regulate the max WS on a per process basis. A simply way to "tune" your uaf WSxxxx parameters to an application is to use: $ SHOW PROC/CONT/ID=pid, while a user runs through the application. Monitor the working set and page faults. In summary: 1) If VMS upgrade then re-link EVERYTHING to do with Oracle. (INSVERMEM) 2) VIRTUALPAGCNT = phy mem pages + 4 (INSVERMEM) 3) WSMAX = max WSEXTENT (BECAUSE) CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 495 0 replies Reply to # 494 Left by: NIK On 14-Dec-89 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: REMOTE LOG FILE hmmmm. How about if you stop/reset queue, terminal, logical and/or generic, on the remote node. Then set dev/nospool txa0:. What would happen then if you did: $ submit/log=remote::txa0: batch.com? Would the log print as it happened. remote mode: $ stop/reset queue terminal, logical and/or generic, on the remote node. $ set dev/nospool txa0: $ start queue terminal, logical and/or generic, on the remote node. local node: $ submit/log=batch.log batch.com $ copy batch.log remote::txa0: I'm just guessing. Let me know what happens. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 386 0 replies Reply to # 384 Left by: JOHN RICE On 14-Dec-89 At : HERE-Usually Subject: SERVER SYMBIONT Do you really have to do it the "hard" way ? If the remote printer is on a server and the local system has lat, it might be just as easy or easier to define the remote printer on the local system. We do that to share a hi speed printer between our cluster and a non-clustered 11/750. Then for the purposes of /log the printer becomes "local". J.R. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 675 0 replies Reply to # 673 Left by: WILLIAM NOLF On 15-Dec-89 At : (703) 827-0806 Subject: DEC-IBM CONNECTIVITY We are also looking for a telnet ftp package that will do dec terminal type emulation on an IBM 4381, without SNA, If you know of anyone I might talk to please let me know. Thanks MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 640 0 replies TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 344 0 replies c I am having a problem with printing long reports from a VAX to an LA210. At about the 50th page, all kinds of crazy characters appear. Is this a limitation on the la210? If I were to print the report on a LA120 the problem does not show? If anybody knows of a solution where I can keep using the LA210, I'd appreciate hearing form you. ThanxLeft by: MIKE DIIENNO On 15-Dec-89 At : (215) 667-6100 Subject: LA210 PRINTER ERRORS VMS SIG Message # 1218 0 replies Reply to # 1191 Left by: NIK On 15-Dec-89 14:03 At : Subject: BACKUP/LIST/BRIEF OK. VMS V5.2. You want the revision date instead of created, while doing $BAC/LIS SAVESET. Here it comes. $ CHECK SYS$SYSTEM:BACKUP.EXE $ SH SYM CHECKSUM$CHECKSUM ! YOU BETTER GET 2448867206 $ ANA/IMAGE SYS$SYSTEM:BACKUP.EXE ! JUST TO BE SURE . image file identification: "X-6" . link date/time: 30-jun-1989 11:14:22.05 . link identification: "05-05" $ COPY SYS$SYSTEM:BACKUP.EXE SYS$LOGIN: ! MY OWN COPY $ SET DEF SYS$LOGIN ! IF YOUR NOT ALREADY THERE $ PATCH/JOU=NL: BACKUP PATCH>SET MODE INSTRUCTION PATCH>EXAM 0B707 0000B707: PUSHAB B^30(R5) ! VERIFY THE RIGHT INSTRUCTION! PATCH>REPLACE 0B707 OLD>"PUSHAB B^30(R5)" OLD>EXIT NEW>"PUSHAB B^38(R5)" NEW>EXIT old: 0000B707: PUSHAB B^30(R5) new: 0000B707: PUSHAB B^38(R5) PATCH>UPDATE $ DEFINE BACKUP SYS$LOGIN:BACKUP ! DEFINE BACKUP IMAGE TO MY COPY $ BAC/LIS ANYTHING.SAV/SAV ! SHOULD BE REVISION DATE, TO CHECK, DO. $ BAC/LIS/FUL ANYTHING.SAV/SAV *** DON'T PUT THE NEW IMAGE IN SYS$SYSTEM:, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER! *** MIGRATION ISSUES SIG Message # 59 0 replies Left by: LOUIS M. LANGE On 15-Dec-89 At : 617-242-3900 X343 Subject: 785 TO 6310 Our company is about to purchase a 6310 and bring ourselves into the 1990s. We are currently running on a 11/785 with VMS 4.7. Any ideas, suggestions, or comments about how we can integrate the two systems on a short-term basis. We have purchased ASK and need to do file conversions. I can be reached M-F 8 am to 5 pm. Thanks. Lou Lange Orion Research Inc. 529 Main Street Boston, MA 02129 EDITORS SIG Message # 237 0 replies Reply to # 236 Left by: ROD FALANGA On 15-Dec-89 At : 505-822-7393 Subject: LSE FROM THE VAXSTATION 3 Patrick, I hope that you scan see this as my terminal emulator has really screwed up!! Anyway, thank you for the info on the GROUP table for use with FileView and LSE. Maybe I should use that too. Rod VMS SIG Message # 1219 0 replies Reply to # 1214 Left by: Phil Anthony On 15-Dec-89 At : Here Subject: SPAWN MAIL Well - there may be factors I'm not aware of, such as the kind of work you and your group are doing. When I read your message, though, the question occurs to me: Whose fault is it that your group hasn't read "Introduction to System Services"? If you're the boss, you can either (a) require them to read it, or better yet, (b) motivate them to read it. VAX Pro does have technical articles. It isn't aimed either at informing people who need to learn what $ COPY DUA3:[ACCTG.DATA]REPORT.DOC;0 DUA1:[MGMT.DOCS]*.*;* does for a living, one the one hand, or at supporting management who have no interest in *what* the computer does, or *how* it does it, so long as the work gets done, on the other. There have also been a number of articles with tips for starting system managers, advice on creating useful DCL procedures, information on establishing system security, description of backup devices and techniques, and so on. That's hardly aimed at advanced VMS internals gurus. Maybe VAX Pro doesn't serve your needs (it never claimed to be all things to all VMS users, programmers, and administrators). That's a call only you can make. But your message suggests that your group has deeper problems than any computer magazine, or DEC reference manual, can solve. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 642 0 replies Reply to # 639 Left by: Phil Anthony On 16-Dec-89 At : Here Subject: CALENDAR DATE FORMULA Hm. After looking at Zeller's congruence, I'm not so sure my method (Mes- sage No. 631) is so inefficient after all. Seems to me that the floating point arithmetic and conversion to integer and the adjustment to the year depending on the month, coupled with the initial parsing and the two divides, would probably take at least as much time as my integer and longword divisions plus a table lookup. This would be true especially on a machine such as the VAX whose native register size is a longword. 'Course, the VAX FPA would take some of the curse off the floating point arithmetic. MICROVAX SIG Message # 228 1 replies Reply to # 227 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 16-Dec-89 At : 914-335-9792 (AFTER DEC. 26TH) Subject: UVAX II TO UVAX III/III+ Sorry, to break the news to you but you must use MS650 memory with a a KA650 cpu. In fact, you must use the 16MB variety if you are going to get a KA655. You can retain your investment in the sense that your MS630 is yours to keep. There is no reason why you cannot sell it. The CPU upgrade requires returning the KA630 but not the memory. Make sure that DEC does not take the board. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 676 0 replies Reply to # 675 Left by: Phil Gravel On 16-Dec-89 At : (708) 420-5474 Subject: DEC-IBM CONNECTIVITY There are a number of TCP/IP implementations for VMS including Multinet from TGV, WIN/TCP from Wollongong, Fusion from Network Research, and one from Carnagie-Mellon University. Other messages on this board have more information on TCP/IP for VMS. DEC terminal emulation under TCP/IP, from what I have seen, is not so much a function of the TCP/IP product on the VAX as it is on the TCP/IP product running on your IBM 4381. I am aware of two products that run on that platform -- one from IBM and another called KNET (from Fibronics, I think). The KNET product has a VT100 (maybe even VT220) emulation. I've used it and while it works, it is kind of quirky. Phil MICROVAX SIG Message # 229 0 replies Reply to # 228 Left by: Phil Gravel On 16-Dec-89 At : HERE Subject: UVAX II TO UVAX III/III+ Robert, I thought the return of the MS630 memory to DEC was required as part of the upgrade. DEC had a session on this subject at DECUS in Anaheim. As I recall, DEC said memory had to be returned with the CPU. The reason this sticks in my mind was that the DEC reps made the point that it could be a third-party board. As far as I know, there aren't any third party KA630s. Phil MIGRATION ISSUES SIG Message # 60 0 replies Reply to # 59 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 16-Dec-89 At : (609) 258-6217 Subject: 785 TO 6310 Lou, It's not too clear from your message just what you need to do but I'll take a guess at it anyway. You didn't mention what hardware you had other than the two CPUs. If you have RA series disks on the 785 and a KDB50 controller on the 6310, you can just plug your existing disks into the new machine. It also seems quite feasible to install VMS V5.2 on your new machine followed by any layered products and then restore a tape backup of your data files from your old system. If you have an Ethernet controller for the 785 (DEUNA/DELUA) and DECnet licenses for both machines you could connect them that way. Upgrade your 785 to VMS V5.2, add two LAVC licenses and you could have a cluster with two boot nodes and no satellite nodes (I'm not certain that that would be a legal configuration, check it before you spend money on it). Do you have an HSC and a CI for each machine? You could have a CI cluster (once again you would have to bring your 785 up to VMS V5.2). As you can see, a great deal depends on what hardware and software you have available. Much also depends on exactly what you need to be able to do. I hope this helps. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 643 0 replies Reply to # 619 Left by: DR. R On 17-Dec-89 At : BACK IN THE USA Subject: FILE LOCKING (OR NOT) Yes. Regrettably, DEC's plans for disk defragmentation remain a tad nebulous. In one scenario (circa August 1989), DEC allegedly planned to incorporate a defrag utility in VMS V5.4. Since V5.4 is due out in Spring/Summer '90, it seemed that DEC would have to go outside and purchase or cooperatively market an existing third party defrag product. More recently, however, DEC has indicated that it will provide "hooks" into VMS and the file system, thereby enabling third party vendors to write to a VMS "API." Just to make matters more interesting (or confusing), at least one reliable DEC source has indicated that VMS will (at a time TBD) incorporate a native defrag capability . . . VMS SIG Message # 1220 0 replies Reply to # 1078 Left by: JERRY KELLER On 17-Dec-89 At : (812) 331-4235 Subject: SPAWN MAIL Hear! Hear! ARIS/BB is a Godsend. As with all things, improvements can be made ... but by-and-large I've learned a great deal, saved tons of time writing code. Enough of the holier-than-thou. VMS SIG Message # 1221 0 replies Left by: CURT WILSON On 18-Dec-89 At : 618-656-4242 Subject: DECSERVER SECURITY I am the night operator at an insurance company, and during one particulary slow night I began poking around on our system, and I noticed there was a dump file from one of our DECSERVERS in SYS$SPECIFIC:[DECNET]. I decided to TYPE this file to see if I could get anything out of it. At first it was just garbage and random chars, but after a while I saw the passwords associated with this DECSERVER (the SET PRIV password as well as the general password needed0w r5 U%HH( W.HVZg if anyone else has noticed anything like this. After all, the old cliche' statment holds true, "Security is everyone's concern". SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 275 0 replies Reply to # 274 Left by: SIMON BROWN On 18-Dec-89 At : HERE Subject: INSUFFICIENT VIRTUAL MEMO Howdy - I had exactly the same problem last year - my ORACLE stuff was eating up virtual memory on an 8mb uVAX II. The problem was the paging file quota, which was 15000 pages. increasing this to 25000 solved my problem. That was v4.7 of VMS, but your symptoms are just what I saw all those days ago. Best of luck with ORACLE (we've gone SYBASE /RDb here) Simon MIGRATION ISSUES SIG Message # 61 1 replies Reply to # 59 Left by: SIMON BROWN On 18-Dec-89 At : SWITZERLAND 1 236 49 01 Subject: 785 TO 6310 Ugh - don't mention 6310 too loud over here - at least not when my boss is in the room. DEC told us that the 6310 was a fine machine offering 4VUPs, which so it does, until you look at just how much is emulated - string instructions, packed decimal etc. (Floating point is not emulated - well, only H_floating, and I can't count above about 5 these days). In short - the application we have is pretty typical banking stuff - COBOL / ADA / PL1 etc ... We are only able to obtain 70% of the performance quoted by DEC as a result of the emulation of our favourite instructions, and as a result have had to do an emergency 6320 upgrade. BE WARNED!! - Best of luck otherwise, Simon PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 484 0 replies Left by: SIMON BROWN On 18-Dec-89 At : HERE Subject: PROBER IN KERNEL MODE I've got a Kernel mode routine that I'm calling from C via CMKRNL. Problem - I can't get PROBER to work - What I'm doing is reading all the PCBs and from each PCB using the PHD pointer to access the PHDs, and I want to do a PROBER as opposed to a system crash to dtermine whether I can actually read the PHD / swpapped out / whatever. hreeo lines of my code are MOVL PCB$L_PHD(R5),R6 ;R6 points to the PHD PROBER #0,#4,(R6) ;can I read it ? BEQL NO_WAY ;branch if not and I always end up branching, even though I can read what's in the PHD. My PROBERS work fine in other Kernel mode ASTS, but this is the first time I've tried it in a function called directly, And it will not go. HELP - also, which book havn't I read? Thanks, Happy Xmas,Simon MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 276 0 replies Reply to # 275 Left by: JOE RICHKER On 18-Dec-89 At : 407-263-3645 Subject: UNATTENDED BACKUP From reading your message, if the 8350 & Micro Vax are clustered together, make sure the sysgen parameters MSCP_LOAD & MSCP_SERVE_ALL are set to 1, and the command SET DEVICE/SERVED node-name$device-name is in node specific SYSTARTUP_V5.COM for each device you wish to backup. At that point almost any one of the popular 8mm tape sub-systems can backup all the drives in your VAXCluster that are mounted with the MOUNT/CLUSTER qualifer. You must use the WRITE CURRENT command in SYSGEN to set these qualifers, and then reboot to enable them. CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 496 0 replies Reply to # 495 Left by: COMET On 18-Dec-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: REMOTE LOG FILE The second method you suggested, using $ SUBMIT/log=file followed by a $ COPY file remote::device: works fine when the remote device is spooled. This is the method I have been using for ages, but my users are not happy with it; they want to just do ONE command (the submit). The first method, using $ SUBMIT/log=remote::file gives an error message of invalid log file name. Thanks for your suggestions. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 387 0 replies Reply to # 386 Left by: COMET On 18-Dec-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: SERVER SYMBIONT Yes, I really have to do it "the hard way." There is no LAT here. We are talking about an LAVc between a VAXstation 3100 Model 30, a uVAX 3600, and a VAX-11/780. There is no printer on the 3100, whose boot server is the 3600. All machines have local batch queues, so that processing can be distributed. The 780 has its own system disk and UAF file and acts as its own boot server. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 345 1 replies Reply to # 344 Left by: COMET On 18-Dec-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: LA210 PRINTER ERRORS Is your printer spooled? If not, perhaps the handshaking isn't good enough to permit adequate buffering of your data. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 346 0 replies Reply to # 345 Left by: MIKE DIIENNO On 18-Dec-89 At : (215) 667-6100 Subject: LA210 PRINTER ERRORS Thanx for the reply Comet. Yes, I am using the LA210 as a spooled device. It is also set up as a printer queue on my 8650. I have also tried printing the pages just before the screw-up appears and I still get the unwanted characters. (i.e. $ PRINT/PAGE=(43,54) FILENAME.TYP) I have tried the LA210 connected to a terminal server with LATSYM used for the processor, a DZ11, and a DMZ32. The garbage appears on all three setups. DEC field service has replaced the guts of the printer a couple of times but to no avail. I am in the process of talking with DEC in Colorado, and they are as miffed as I am. MIGRATION ISSUES SIG Message # 62 1 replies Reply to # 60 Left by: LOU LANGE On 18-Dec-89 At : 617-242-3900 X343 Subject: 785 TO 6310 Thanks Dick! I'm glad we can upgrade to 5.2 on the 785. I had thought that V5 was not compatible with 785's. We do not have DECNet or anything on the 785. NOr are we getting a cluster. You've given me a good start. est wishes for the holidays. Lou Lange Orion Research 529 Main Street Boston, MA 02129 MIGRATION ISSUES SIG Message # 63 0 replies Reply to # 61 Left by: LOU LANGE On 18-Dec-89 At : 617-242-3900 X343 Subject: 785 TO 6310 Thanks for the warning, Simon. We will keep that in mind. Best wishes for the holidays. Lou Lange Orion Research 529 Main Street Boston, MA 02129 USA 617-242-3900 x343 VMS SIG Message # 1222 0 replies VMS SIG Message # 1223 0 replies Left by: GARY DAVID SHAPIRO On 18-Dec-89 At : (805) 961-7595 Subject: "STEALTH"-MODE & VMS V5.2 Bruce Ellis' "Stealth"-mode program in the June 1989 VAX Professional has no *apparent* effect on a VAXstation running VMS V5.2. Has anyone looked into this? MIGRATION ISSUES SIG Message # 64 0 replies Reply to # 62 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 18-Dec-89 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: 785 TO 6310 Lou, It's the 782 that cannot be upgraded to VMS V5. The 782 was DEC's first attempt at a multiprocessor VAX and the design was ill suited to symmetric multiprocessing. There weren't many of them around and I suspect that most of them have been written down to scrap value (garbage) by this time. RSTS SIG Message # 476 0 replies Reply to # 475 Left by: PHIL MACDONALD On 19-Dec-89 At : Subject: PPN Thanks Kelvin and Brett for the suggestions. I think I'm gonna set Danny-bouy up in the same group priv. and set the files to no/del. We are just setting out users up here so I'm am learning as I go along. I still think I'll wrap Danny's Knuckles (with a ruler) just for good measure. THanks Again and Merry Christmas Phil APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 388 1 replies Reply to # 387 Left by: NIK On 19-Dec-89 At : Subject: SERVER SYMBIONT If you want to buy something for this problem. I recall DEC offering a product called "Distributed Naming Services", or something like that. If I remember correctly, it created a sort of cluster environment. That is to say, remote disks and printers are usable as if the systems were clustered. The company I used to work for had two MicroVAX II's separated by 2500 miles of leased line, The DNS allowed us to print mail messages and other documents to the remote node without having to copy it first. I also noticed, *DNS*.*, in SYS$SYSTEM and SYS$SHARE. I havn't figured what they're for yet, perhaps DNS/DNA is bundled? CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 497 0 replies Left by: ELVAN KNIGHT On 19-Dec-89 At : 512 828-1341 Subject: TCP/IP I JUST INSTALLED MICON INTERLAN'S TCP/IP ON OUR VAX 3600 TO ENABLE OUR INTERGRAPH SYSTEM TO SEND FILES TO THE PRINTER ON THE VAX. AN INTERESTING PROBLEM WAS ENCOUNTERED....TCP/IP CONVERTS ALL FORTRAN CARRIAGE CONTROL FILES TO CARRIAGE RETURN CARRIAGE CONTROL AND I END UP WITH DOUBLE SPACED REPORTS WITH AN OCCASSIONAL FIELD OUT OF PLACE. QUESTION: IS THIS A BUG IN MICOM'S SOFTWARE OR DOES THE SAME HOLD TRUE FOR ALL OF THE TCP/IP SOFTWARE? WE NEED A FIX. VMS SIG Message # 1224 0 replies Reply to # 1221 Left by: BOB ZISEK On 19-Dec-89 At : 203.798.5240 Subject: DECSERVER SECURITY Security! Every one, especially system managers, need to be in tune with the various system security functions in VMS. Is it your company's policy to allow users in your group to access the DECserver load files? Should these files be made more secure? If so, there are a bzillion ways (exaggerated) to do it. Notify your system manager(s) and let them know. It would be of interest to know what else you, or anyone else can access. Bob Zisek System manager Boehringer Ingelheim Ridgefield, Ct. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 389 0 replies Reply to # 388 Left by: Comet On 19-Dec-89 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: SERVER SYMBIONT Thanks for the suggestion. Does anybody out there in ARISland use Distributed Network Services or one of the NETPRINT or NETWORK symbionts I have just noticed are offerings on some DECUS tapes? I thought the REMOTE-BACKUP procedure was neat; now I want more! PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 485 1 replies Reply to # 484 Left by: ANDREW DUGGAN On 19-Dec-89 At : HERE Subject: PROBER IN KERNEL MODE Simon... The only thing I can offer is--to ask what is your previous mode in PSL? The PROBEx instruction, per VAX Architecture Reference Manual, page 219, maximizes the mode operand and the previous mode from the PSL. If your previous mode is anything greater than kernel, and the PTE protection is higher than URKW, that might explain your branch. Kernel mode ASTs, it seems to me, would probably have a previous mode of Kernel, which would explain why your PROBERs work there. Since I do virtually no Kernel programming (I only have production machines) my response is purely ACADEMIC. Andrew MICROVAX SIG Message # 230 0 replies Reply to # 229 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 19-Dec-89 At : 914-335-9792 (AFTER VACATION) Subject: UVAX II TO UVAX III/III+ Sounds like DEC is still making policy on-the-fly. We were considering a KA650 upgrade and I asked our rep about the memory. At that time, early November I was told that the CPU was to be returned but the memory would remain ours. This was important since we have other MicroVAXen which could use it. If they are going to take it away, I'll stick in an old 4MB board and keep my two 8MB's. How will they know the difference? I guess DEC will have to make some kind of formal announcement on this matter. Anyhow, the upgrade price is rediculous so we nixed it. Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 486 0 replies Reply to # 484 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 19-Dec-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: PROBER IN KERNEL MODE While what you are doing will work, an easier way would be to check for the PHDRES (Process Header Resident) flag in PCB$L_STS. If the flag is clear, the header is not resident. Simple? Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 644 0 replies Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 19-Dec-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: Any Amateur Radio Op's out there? Just out of curiosity, are there any Ham Radio operators here on ARIS. There have been Ham Radio BOF's at DECUS but I never got a chance to go one. Also, if anyone has run packet in conjunction with a VAX I would like to know. Robert G. Schaffrath, N2JTX Advanced Class Licensee PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 487 0 replies Reply to # 485 Left by: SIMON BROWN On 20-Dec-89 At : THIS VDU Subject: PROBER IN KERNEL MODE Yeah - I guess my PSL previous mode is USER, and that's why PROBER doesn't work. But what do I do, or are there any other macros / functions I can use to test availability of an address? For me at least, an interesting problem. Simon PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 488 0 replies Reply to # 486 Left by: Simon Brown On 20-Dec-89 At : THIS CPU Subject: PROBER IN KERNEL MODE Thanks Bob, that's actually what I've done in this case, but it's getting me anoyed that I can only get PROBER / PROBEW to go in Kernel mode ASTs, and not in functions that I call from USER mode via CMKRNL. In fact the only PHD I can access this way is that of the SWAPPER. I'd like to find out just what I have to do to get PROBER to run as I've come up against this problem before. If my software crashes, It can cost millions for the firm while the system is down. Simon, GD4ELI, not yet got the packet software going. Happy Xmas All. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 489 0 replies Reply to # 447 Left by: MARC E. MCNEAL On 20-Dec-89 At : GENERAL BUS. SERVICES Subject: RPG ON VAX We have been using RPGII on our uVAXII for serveral months. Most of our applications are business oriented and of course we require a great deal of report generation. We find RPGII to be very usefull and easy to learn even for someone that has never used the language before. We have found that by using RPGII the source code needed for a general report can be cut down on an average of 70% over some high level languages such as DIBOL or COBOL. VAX RPGII does have several wierd attributes that you must live with that are not common to other languages, however, the benefits clearly out- weigh the inconveniances. If you would like to talk to get some more detailed information, please call anytime. Marc E. McNeal MIS Specialist 301-428-1040 ext. 384 or B. J. Moersen MIS Manager 301-428-1040 ext. 383 TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 347 0 replies Reply to # 346 Left by: MARK E. LEVY On 20-Dec-89 At : HERE Subject: LA210 PRINTER ERRORS Have you tried typing the report to a terminal to ensure that the pages you're having trouble with are _really_ good? If the very same pages always appear bad, it's probably not the handshaking. More likely, some junk (maybe an errant escape sequence?) got into one of the files that the report is produced from and it's getting into the output file, and messing up the printer. Let us all know what happens. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 645 0 replies Reply to # 644 Left by: JOHN RICE On 20-Dec-89 At : Here on occasion or 708-438-7011 evenings Subject: ANYBODY AN AMAET WEll, let's try this, the edit response is real slow. Yes, I'm an amateur - K9IJ - hadn't thought of packett with a vax. That would make an interesting packett bbs - Actually haven't tried packett yet, not enough time lately. Hope to get a chance to do that this summer. I"ll bet you find quite a few "Ham's" here. I already noticed one reply . Got to run, more later. J.R. __... ...__ PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 490 0 replies Reply to # 489 Left by: Phil Anthony On 21-Dec-89 At : Here Subject: RPG ON VAX Marc, glad to hear you've had so much success with RPG. I dealt with the same report-generation situation some years back in DIBOL, and came up with a different solution that worked very well for us: I took a couple of days and wrote a preprocessor to take a mock-up of the desired report plus a command file associating source fields or expressions with the report fields. The output was DIBOL record definitions for the report plus the internal subroutine to write header material, stubs, and detail lines with appropriate format masks. The preprocessor probably could've been written faster if I'd used BASIC, since DIBOL's string parsing facilities range from primitive to nonexistent .... One advantage of that approach was that the same mock-up we used to generate record definitions and code was also shown to management for their approval before writing the report program. It also made things easy when management wanted to change the report - we simply changed the mock-up, re-ran the preprocessor, compiled, and linked. Yes, the report generator also included a means of replacing code in the source automatically. My method may not have been quite so good as writing in RPG from scratch, but it did provide easy report generation while letting us use other fea- tures of DIBOL that were important to our application. I'm sure it wouldn't have been much more difficult in COBOL. And as my boss at that time put it, "We have a powerful device (in that case, a PDP-11/70) at our disposal. Why should we waste our time on grunt labor?" TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 348 0 replies Reply to # 337 Left by: JERRY VEZZOSI On 21-Dec-89 At : 201-802-6249 Subject: WANT TO REPLACE AN LA120 We have a PDP 11/83 running RSTS/E, V9.7 system. We use an LA120 for our system console. On our PDP we have a lineprinter, 2 dot matrix printers, and a laser printer all set up as servers. I would highly recommend you look at getting a Genicom 3410 printer. That's what our dot matrix printers are. We have a 3rd one hooked up to an IBM pc. One thing I can tell you is they are extremely reliable, very fast, and easy to use. They are either menu driven from the front panel or you can use escape sequences for different print quality. It comes with both parallel and serial interfaces. You can do condensed print, bold, etc. We even purchased an Italics font which we installed ourselves. One thing that make the printer very fast is it has a fast slew rate. We use them quite heavily. The ribbon cartridges are easy to install and last a long time. We also have an LA210, but the Genicom will out-perform it hands down. The Genicom handles paper much better. We are currently printing 4 part NCR forms with no problem. I would recommend spending the extra couple of hundred bucks for the quietized model because it does a fairly good job of supressing the noise. Any questions feel free to call, although I may be tough to reach for the next week or so. Merry Christmas!! UTILITIES SIG Message # 426 0 replies Left by: MICHAEL E.T. HEWITT On 21-Dec-89 At : 416-429-4411 X3257 Subject: LINK PROBLEM W/NOPRIV.DOC I am very interested in using the programs outlined in the latest VAXPRO by Bruce Ellis - NONPRIV.DOC. I am however having a problem linking it. Here is the scenario: Since I have my fortran compiler version 4.2-102 on VMS version 4.5 I compiled the SHOW_STUFF.FOR there. Then, I copied the object code to a VMS 5.1 system and compiled the SYSTEM_ROUTINES.MAR there with macro version 5.0-8. Once I had the two objects ready and compiled without any errors I then tried to link them together. I recieved many errors as follows: 9 Undefined Symbols CTL$GL_PHD EXE$AR_EWDATA EXE$GL_ABSTIM EXE$GL_ABSTIM_TICS EXE$GL_RPB PMS$GL_HIT PMS$GL_PROCCNTMAX PMS$SPLIT SCH$GW_PROCCNT If anyone has any ideas on how I can get this thing working please let me know. Thank You. VMS SIG Message # 1225 0 replies Reply to # 1223 Left by: MARTY JOHNSON On 21-Dec-89 At : (203)666-1737 Subject: "STEALTH"-MODE & VMS V5.2 You are right, "Stealth" mode does not work under V5.2. The SHOW USERS utility was rewritten under V5.2 to provide cluster wide information. Obviously, some of the shortcomings of the old utility were repaired. CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 499 1 replies Left by: KAREN HOGOBOOM On 21-Dec-89 At : 415/832-5606 Subject: TERMINAL SERVERS We're considering getting either Emulex P4000 Terminal Servers or DECserver 300's for a total of 64 lines coming out of a LAVC'd Microvax 3900. I'm interested in knowing what others' experiences with the Emulex servers are. The last news I saw was in the DECUS newsletter from May. I wonder if the performance of the Emulex servers has improved since then. UTILITIES SIG Message # 427 0 replies Reply to # 426 Left by: PATRICK MAHAN On 22-Dec-89 At : (714)720-7868 Subject: LINK PROBLEM W/NOPRIV.DOC MICHAEL, I AM JUST WAGGING AT THIS BUT I SEEM TO RECALL THAT DEC HAS DIVORCED THE SYSTEM SERVICE NAMES FROM THE SYSTEM (REMOVED THEM FROM SYS.MAP) THIS MAY BE CAUSING YOUR PROBLEMS. ALSO, I HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH PASCAL OBJECTS COMPILED UNDER V4.6 BUT LINKED UNDER V5.0. THE PASCAL FILES WERE INHERITING THE STARLET ENVIRONMENT FILE. DEC COLORADO CUSTOMER SUPPORT SAID THAT THERE WERE INCONSITENCIES AND THAT I NEEDED TO RECOMPILE UNDER VMS 5.0. PATRICK VMS SIG Message # 1226 0 replies Reply to # 1225 Left by: ANNE SCHRAUGER On 22-Dec-89 At : ARIS Subject: "STEALTH"-MODE & VMS V5.2 Bruce modified his stealth program (hiker.doc) to accommodate V5.2. You'll find the program in Download under the name: HIKERV52.DOC SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 276 0 replies Reply to # 275 Left by: Paul DeAngelis On 22-Dec-89 At : (215) 948-2953 Subject: INSUFF VIRT MEM (ORACLE) Page 2-10 of ORACLE For DEC VAX/VMS Installation and User's Guide (v5.1) recommends a miniumum PGFLQUO of 19063 if you use the distributed INIT.ora initalization file. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 491 0 replies Left by: SCOTT COLEMAN On 22-Dec-89 At : Subject: DIBOL AND FMS IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFORMATION ABOUT USING FMS CALLS FROM DIBOL, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT: UNITED SYSTEMS & SOFTWARE PO BOX 547 BENTON, KY 42025 WE HAVE ATTEMPTED USING FMS IN DIBOL AND GET NO ERRORS WHEN COMPILING. WE ALSO GET NO FORMS. THANKS CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 500 0 replies Reply to # 499 Left by: BRUNO JUGOVIC' On 22-Dec-89 At : 617-241-4899 Subject: TERMINAL SERVERS We have installed 3 full blown P4000 servers on our system for a total of 96 ports. We haven't had any trouble with them through 11 months. The warranty expires in February, so we will see what happens then. I have to say that they blow the pants off the DECservers in performance and price as well. They are easier to set up and maintain. And the greatest thing of all for us is that DEC will be adding them to our maintenance contract without have giving us any flack about it. (so far). Good luck. UTILITIES SIG Message # 428 0 replies Reply to # 426 Left by: NIK On 22-Dec-89 At : Subject: LINK PROBLEM W/NOPRIV.DOC UTILITIES SIG Message # 429 0 replies Reply to # 426 Left by: The not so saint NIK On 22-Dec-89 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: LINK PROBLEM W/NOPRIV.DOC Sorry about the blank message. I'm sure the ARIS/BB will clean it up. $ link show_stuff,system_routines,SYS$SYSTEM:SYS.STB/SELECT ! This should work Or you could edit the .MAR and include, at the top, the line. .LINK 'SYS$SYSTEM:SYS.STB'/SELECTIVE_SEARCH Then, re-compile the .MAR and $ LINK SHOW_STUFF,SYSTEM_ROUTINES I think that will work also. SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 339 0 replies Left by: JONATHAN PRICE On 24-Dec-89 At : PRUDHOE BAY Subject: VISTA SERVER CONFIG From a DCL command procedure I would like to download VISTA terminal server port configurations via Ethernet. Something like this: $run unknown_server_download_program change port 8 enable dsrlogout change port 9 access remote $ One of our hardware techs came back from Ethernet school where he learned all about DECservers and command procedures we do not have. At least the cabling looks great. Thanks for any help ... and yes it's cold, -44 with a pleasant breeze from the west. SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 340 0 replies Reply to # 339 Left by: NIK On 26-Dec-89 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: VISTA SERVER CONFIG I don't know anything about VISTA terminal servers. Can you connect to the VISTA servers using, NCP> CONN NODE (vista)? If you can, I think I have something that can help. I wrote, in BASIC, a program that utilizes the remote console facility to communicate with DECservers. What I wanted to do was hang up a modem through my application program. The reason being that if I could hang up the modem, the user would be disconnected and the application could jump back to the "main menu" without having to logout/destroy the process. The only way to hang up a modem on a server is to $ LOGOUT/HANGUP or log the port out. So, when the user thinks he "logging out", all that happens is the port logs out/modem hangup. I had to set the "god" bit for a moment, PCB$M_NODELET, in PCB$L_STS for this to make the "user" immortal. In a nut shell I create 8 near anatomicaly correct "users" at boot time. The processes go through the page faulting and initialization before the client even thinks of dialing the phone. When they do, the port connects to a service and flash!, up comes the "main menu". The client never experiences the login/image activation or initialization, sounds like something the ARIS/BB could use. Anyway, I'll send you the source. It will give a BASIC idea on how to "talk" to a server through a program. The communication with the server is done very much like NCP. I used the debugger on NCP.EXE and followed the macro code to find out how DEC does it. I'll even send you the DEBUG.COM that makes an executable image debugable. Merry Christmas. MOVL #1,R0. RET. PC'S SIG Message # 258 0 replies Left by: NIK On 26-Dec-89 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: CHEAP PC, REAL CHEAP! My girlfriend's cousin, Chris, is looking for a used, cheap PC. Price range between $200.00 and $500.00. Memory, 64k is fine, more is better. Floppy would be nice, tape loader is ok. Manuals would be wonderful. Chris is 14 years old. He programs in BASIC and is building a robot. So, the pc should have some type of output port and be equiped with some form of BASIC. I'm talking about something that is pretty low on the evolutionary scale of PC's. If any one knows where Chris can get one of these primates or you have one you want to get rid of, please leave a message here with the details or call me and I'll relay it to Chris. Thanks. CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 501 0 replies Reply to # 499 Left by: MARK STONE On 27-Dec-89 At : (617) 578-8665 Subject: TERMINAL SERVERS I don't mean to make your decision more difficult, but have you looked at Datability's VISTA terminal server. We just bought one and it costs less than Emulex's. Now if I only remembered to buy the DECserver software, I'd have the thing working by now... MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 646 0 replies Reply to # 642 Left by: DESROCHES On 27-Dec-89 At : HERE Subject: CALENDAR DATE FORMULA Leave it to the users of ARIS to respond with so much enthusiasm to a simple request. It is one of the reasons that I have quickly come to enjoy monitoring this BB. I also like the _simplicity_ of this BB. I agree with the comments about the usefulness of the information being more important than the mechanism used to attain it. I would not _complain_ about improvements to the service, but I also will not worry if they are slow in coming. We _ALL_ know how time consuming _simple_ modifications can be, never mind anything that becomes a major upgrade. Again, thanks for all the help with the calendar algorithms (I'll probably try them all). And keep up the useful flow of information here on ARIS!!! CONTROLLERS/MEMORY SIG Message # 127 0 replies Left by: DAVID DESROCHES On 27-Dec-89 At : (508) 875-7511 Subject: SCSI FORMATTER FOR USDESIGN I have a US Design Q380 controller (SCSI) and a Maxtor 8760S disk drive. I recently purchased a second Maxtor and find that I need a formatter for the new drive. US Design is willing to provide me with a copy of their formatter on a TK50 for a media charge (at least $45). I have access to a copy of the formatter on RX50 floppies but no way of converting it to TK50. Anyone out here have a copy of the formatter that I can KERMIT to my machine? Before anyone thinks that I am trying to get an illegal copy of the formatter, US Design agrees that I am entitled to one with the purchase of their controller. The only problem is that their _standard_ media for distribution is RX50s instead of something more realistic like TK50s. LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 108 0 replies Reply to # 6 Left by: DAVE MEYER On 27-Dec-89 At : Subject: LN03 MAINTENANCE SIGNAL R About the maintenance light on the LN03 printers. In the rear right of each OPC cartridge is a small tab. When you place a new OPC cartridge in the printer, this tab depresses a switch in the back of the LN03, resetting the count and turning off the maintenance light on the front panel. We have found that (depending on your throughput) one OPC can last for up to 30,000 copies. We replace the OPC only when print quality degrades to an unacceptable level. When the maintenance light comes on (10,000 copies), we merely pull out the development drawer, and with a pencil press the button in the LN03 that is normally pressed by the new cartridge. This stops the annoying light. You sometimes have to do this pencil trick with new OPC cartridges, too. If you don't close the development drawer firmly enough, the little button in the back doesn't get pressed and that annoying light stay on. A quick poke with a Ticonderoga #2 fixes that quick. RSX SIG Message # 286 0 replies Left by: MIKE STEVENS On 27-Dec-89 At : 919-541-2711 Subject: DECNET V4.0 ON 512KB PDP I'm a new ARIS reader, so I'm curious if anyone has run into this problem in the past: We're currently running Micro-RSX V4.0 on a PDP-11/73 with 512KB memory. F-77, Macro-11 are installed on this system, and when we try to install DECNET u-RSX we get some task-loading errors. At first, we got the "GEN PARTITION TOO FRAGMENTED" error which is addressed in the installation guide for systems with 512 KB memory (which we found was due to a bug in the command procedure NETSTART.CMD - which tries to run [3,54]SPACER.TSK while it should reference [5,54]SPACER.TSK). However, after correcting this bug, DECNET loaded in just fine and ran fine - but EDT would not load into GEN as long as DECNET was in memory. If ACCOUNTING was shut off before DECNET was installed all works fine. However, I recently installed a printer to this system - and the modificiation to SYSPARAM.DAT to start a print processor was enough to cause the EDT problems again. We only use this system for data-collection and some minor analysis - and DECNET isn't that crucial to the process so I took it off the machine - however, we do wish to transfer the data to an LAVC cluster on our network. (until then we'll use 'sneaker-net') I recently purchased additional memory for this system - and I assume that'll solve the problem - but I'd like to know if anyone else has had to deal with this on a small PDP system - and how did you get around it if additional memory wasn't an option. Thanks! FORUM - DEC SIG Message # 91 0 replies Reply to # 72 Left by: DAMEYER On 27-Dec-89 At : RIGHT HERE. Subject: WHAT IS GENESIS? GENESIS? I have seen a software package named GENESIS. It is a process control package made by (I believe) Iconics. The product was originally designed to run on IBM PC's, but I have heard that due to the popularity of MicroVAXes in the PC market, they were porting the GENESIS package over to VMS. I have not seen this supposed VMS version, but I would guess that it would be designed for VAXStations and the like, since the PC version is completely graphic icon driven with a mouse. Since process control is a real-time venture requiring fast response, I am sure they won't have it under DECWindows for quite some time. VMS SIG Message # 1227 0 replies SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 341 0 replies Reply to # 340 Left by: JONATHAN PRICE On 27-Dec-89 At : PRUDHOE BAY Subject: VISTA SERVER CONFIG Supposedly Vista terminal servers act just like DECservers, only better !! That's what the ad says at least. This inability to config. on startup via a command procedure or program hasn't been a problem because the Vista's memory is battery backed up. Still, I can just see the day it will 'forget' (or we switch Vistas) and every port configuration will have to be typed back in directly or through the remote console facility. I would like to take a look at your solution Nik, only, I have a plane to catch to get off the slope and back to the real world ... hooray! I'll call you next year !! VMS SIG Message # 1228 1 replies Left by: JEFF BEARDSLEY On 28-Dec-89 At : ARIS Subject: BUKTSPLIT.DOC GRAPHICS SIG Message # 98 0 replies Left by: JONSSON On 28-Dec-89 At : SWEDEN Subject: POSTSCRIPT I've got a problem. How do you map swedish characters in postscript? I'm using a LN03 Scriptprinter. The manual don't tell me anything about that. Regards Susanne VMS SIG Message # 1229 0 replies Left by: On 28-Dec-89 At : Subject: MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 647 0 replies Left by: AVAILABLE On 28-Dec-89 At : HERE Subject: OTHER DEC-ORIENTED BBS'S I'm looking for other DEC-related BBS systems that don't have a non-commercialization policy or their own agenda. If no one knows of any, maybe I'll start one. Regards. SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 343 1 replies Left by: BAYDOUN On 28-Dec-89 At : Subject: DECSERVER DOWNLOADING I have 5 DECserver 200's at my site. Naturally most of the ports on each DECserver have had their default characteristics altered via the DEFINE command. I would like to download the port and server characteristics when the server boots. This way if I ever have to replace one of my DECservers I won't have to redefine all the settings (if I even remember them all). I have been unable to figure out how to do this or even if it is possible. If anyone could help me I would appreciate it. I left a message about this earlier, but all the messages from yesterday and early this morning seem to be gone ??? Thanks, Michael A. Baydoun SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 344 0 replies Reply to # 343 Left by: NIK On 28-Dec-89 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: DECSERVER DOWNLOADING Sounds like you need DEC's Terminal Server Manager, TSM, too. As I said in message 339 (site manage...), TSM works well with command procedures, NCP doesn't. TSM has commands like: $ tsm/output=file.nam/server=serv01 show port all char $ tsm/server=serv01 @procedure.com !or $ tsm @do_it.com I don't think TSM is that expensive. You could just buy it as a one time shot and forget the maintenance updates. If you want to write your own 'TSM', I have a BASIC example of how to communicate with DECservers. It's yours if you want it, just leave address here or call me. CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 502 0 replies Reply to # 499 Left by: FRANK INNES On 28-Dec-89 At : 215-448-3461 Subject: TERMINAL SERVERS I've been running an Emulex P4016 with expansion unit (32 ports) for almost one year. All problems were solved with the help of technical support or by turning off irrelevant (to me anyway) diagnostic messages. Presently, our unit has been up for over four months since it was last initialized and has never crashed of its own accord. Performance is good. I'd be glad to answer more specific questions. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 648 0 replies Reply to # 642 Left by: DAVID DESROCHES On 28-Dec-89 At : (508) 875-7511 Subject: CALENDAR DATE FORMULA Where did yesterday's messages go????? Thanks for all the help on the calendar date algorithm. Leave it to the good people here on ARIS to respond so enthusiastically. As far as the comments on the capabilities of ARIS, I agree with the opinion that the ability to receive useful information is more important than the mechanism utilized. I also use a multitude of applications and would not relish having to learn another sophisticated (i.e. time consuming) one at this point. This does not mean that I would not appreciate new capabilities. But I also will not stop using ARIS while waiting for them. CONTROLLERS/MEMORY SIG Message # 128 0 replies Left by: DAVID DESROCHES On 28-Dec-89 At : (508) 875-7511 Subject: SCSI FORMATTER FOR USDESIGN I am looking for someone who has a SCSI formatter that is compatible with the US Design SCSI controller for MicroVAX II's (Model Q380). I have the controller and a couple of Maxtor 8760-S drives. US Design is willing to provide me with one (which they agree I am entitled to), but they want to charge me $45 for providing me a copy on a TK50. In their infinite wisdom, they have chosen RX50's as the medium for distribution. Any other will require a media charge. Anyone have a copy that I can KERMIT??? CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 503 0 replies Left by: JOHN WARDEN On 28-Dec-89 At : (508)681-0600 X4561 Subject: LOCAL TO REMOTE VAX FILE TRANSFER I would like some suggestions as to how to effect local VAX to remote VAX file transfers over asynch ports (modem lines). Many of the files are non-ASCII. I am somewhat familiar with DEC's dynamic asynchronous DDCMP lines - in theory, not practice, that is. Is there an easier method? Software (KERMIT binary transfers?)? I would not be looking to buy any additional software or hardware at this time. Any ideas would be appreciated. Time is of the essence. I am looking for a quick and easy solution. THANKS! SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 345 0 replies Reply to # 344 Left by: BAYDOUN On 29-Dec-89 At : Subject: DECSERVER DOWNLOADING NIK, I would love to look at your example, though I do not own a BASIC compiler and I would have to rewrite it in another language. Please send it to: Michael Baydoun Nucor RR 2, Box 311 Crawfordsville, Indiana 47933-9450 Thanks! MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 649 0 replies Reply to # 644 Left by: BRIAN SCHNEIDER On 29-Dec-89 At : PO BOX 354 OLEY PA 19547 Subject: ANYBODY AN AMAET I have played with KMV's for other applications, but think they might work well with packet. I would need to know more about AX.25 before I would try. I enjoyed your discussion on PROBER. Happy New Year. Brian CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 504 0 replies Reply to # 503 Left by: DAVE DESROCHES On 29-Dec-89 At : (508) 875-7511 Subject: LOCAL TO REMOTE VAX FILE I have successfully used KERMIT to transfer non-ASCII files, including VAX executables. One caution about transferring the executables is that you MUST transfer them as fixed sized binary files, not binary alone. In addition, you should create an FDL of the original executable and transfer that as well. Then on the second VAX, you can CONVERT the transferred file back into a VAX executable. SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 277 1 replies Left by: BRIAN JENKINS On 29-Dec-89 At : DELAWARE SERVICE CO, 10 PENN CENTER, PHILA PA 215-988-1359 Subject: VAX PRO SOFTWARE LAYERING The article by TES and PAN in OCT 89 VAX PRO references a program on page 28 XYZ_CONDITION_HANDLER. I am having a few problems grasping the program. 1- the indentation is misaligned, does the first IF THEN have the ELSE ? 2- when compiled using VAX FORT v5.3 an error NOIMP occurs. Can a type declaration statement for XYZ_CONDITION_HANDLER be safely added to this type of program or should the IMPLICIT NONE be removed ? 3- What is the "IBITS (sigargs(1), 16, 11)" do ? What is IBITS, a 3 dimen array ? I would appreciate any help with this as I am interested in this series and in implementing shareable images. Also, is there a better place to directly comment or question articles such as this ?? Thank you, /Brian/ SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 278 0 replies Reply to # 277 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 29-Dec-89 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: Y Brian, I don't have a copy of the article handy so I can't comment on the indentation. If XYZ_CONDITON_HANDLER is referenced as a function; i.e. STATUS = XYZ_CONDITION_HANDLER then it is both safe and appropriate to give it a type declaration. The appropriate type is the type of the value returned by the function. IBITS is not an array. It's a function. It extracts bits from the first argument. The first bit is desgignated by the second argument. The length is given in the third argument. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 653 0 replies Left by: RANDALL C. NEWCOMB On 30-Dec-89 At : (612) 778-7216 Subject: ERGONOMIC KEYBOARD I am looking for an ergonomic keyboard (LK201 preferred) since I am one of the lucky computer users coming down with carpal tunnel syndrom. Typing has become a real pain -- literaly. If you have info on manufacturers with an ergonomic keyboard please let me know. For others interested, Tony Hodges has invented a split keyboard but no American company is willing to produce it. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 654 0 replies Reply to # 644 Left by: Brett Bump On 30-Dec-89 At : Here Subject: HAM AND CHEESE Robert. No, I'm not a ham. But my brother is (boy, what a ham). Since he sold his rig (Yaseau FT101B), I kid him that the only reason he got his license was to show off the fancy plates on his van (WB0TYA). I too have been thinking more and more about packet since reading the recent article in -... -.-- - . (Ha. That should get by the censors.) But first I have to get my tech license (lazy uno). If there are any more hams or packet hackers out there, please respond to this thread. VMS SIG Message # 1230 1 replies Left by: PEDRO A. CRESPO On 02-Jan-90 At : (405) 521-5324 Subject: VMS 5.0 IMAGE INSTALL @ SYSTARTUP I went through a failed attempt to upgrade our 8250 from 4.7 to 5.0, and noticed that the VMSIMAGES.COM command file is missing from VMS 5.0. Since as I said, the installation wasn't successful (DEC didn't send me a PAK for DECNET) I did not get to play with the new release much, but I was wondering if this command file has been replaced by a similar one, or do I have to write my own? If there is not a replacement for this command file in 5.x, any suggestions for installing the site-specific images would be appreciated. VMSIMAGES was very convenient since you could use a data file to specify which images you wanted installed. Thank you in advance, Pedro A. Crespo Oklahoma City University MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 655 1 replies Reply to # 654 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 02-Jan-90 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: ANYBODY AN AMAET MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 656 0 replies Reply to # 655 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 02-Jan-90 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: Amateurs Recognized so far... Oops on message 655. A little bit of QRM! Well so far I have noted Simon Brown GD4ELI with a very interesting home QTH (checked the callbook), John Rice K9IJ, and Brett Bump's brother-in-law(?) WB0TYA. Maybe there are more out there who haven't been on ARIS lately. From the people I have met on the local repeater, a large portion are computer junkies so I gather we will have more. And Brett, a little bit of study or memorization and you can get a license fast. Then of course you find yourself with a $10000 wish list and neighbors whose TV's suddenly go haywire! As for the KMV11 isn't that a DDCMP only device? I think you would need either a DPV11 or KMV1A to perform AX.25. It should be possible. You need the VHF modem and something to interpret the protocol. I believe the specification is available from ARRL. --... ...-- Robert G. Schaffrath de N2JTX System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 VMS SIG Message # 1231 0 replies Reply to # 1230 Left by: MARK E LEVY On 02-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: VMS 5.0 IMAGE INSTALL @ST Did you actually complete the entire installation procedure? VMSIMAGES.DAT gets created by AUTOGEN which is run when the mandatory update is applied. If you need more info, leave me a message here (with a phone #) and I'll be glad to give you a call. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 677 0 replies Left by: ROY MILANO On 02-Jan-90 At : (914)694-9200 X138 Subject: HOW CA I TALK TO A AS400 I am currently looking for a way to be able to both send/receive mail (vms or All-in1-) and provide interactive sessions between a Vax 8600 running VMS and an IBM AS/400 running OS/400 and OS office system. We currently have vms 4.7 and have WOLLONGONG TCP/IP ROY MILANO HITACHI METALS AMERICA 2400 westchester Ave Purchase, N.Y. 10577 (914)694-9200 x138 VMS SIG Message # 1232 1 replies Left by: DAVID ROBISON On 02-Jan-90 At : 702-364-8633 Subject: TS11 TAPE ERROR I have an 11/785 system with a TS11 tape driver. Periodicaly I get the following message %BACKUP-F-LABELERR, error in tape label processing on MSA0:xxxxxxxxxxxx -SYSTEM-F-DRVERR, fatal drive error Can any one tell me what this error means and what are the situations that can cause this error? Any help would be appriciated. VMS SIG Message # 1233 0 replies Reply to # 1232 Left by: DAVE DESROCHES On 02-Jan-90 At : (508) 875-7511 Subject: TS11 TAPE ERROR I have a TSV05 on a MicroVAX II and have seen similar problems. Usually the first thing I try is to clean my tape drive (dirty tapes can leave deposits quicker than you might imagaine). This usually works for me. Otherwise, check the error rates you are receiving in the error log to see if you might have a controller problem. SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 346 0 replies Reply to # 338 Left by: DAVID ROBISON On 02-Jan-90 At : 702-364-8633 Subject: NETWORK TAPE BACKUP The secrit is to open the decnet connection early with the command $ open netlog sys$net This will confirm the decnet connection and will prevent a time out. If you still have problems, feal free to give me a call. VMS SIG Message # 1234 1 replies Left by: JOHN P. FLYNN On 02-Jan-90 At : 615-269-2266 Subject: CDD.DIC PROTECTION Greetings, My [SYS0.SYSEXE]CDD.DIC file had no world-read access, so I changed the UIC-based protection and the ACL to allow this. This worked. However, something keeps changing the protection back to how it was set originally, which is (S:RWED,O,G,W) with an ACL like: (ID=%X80010005,ACCESS=...) (ID=[*,*],ACCESS=NONE) After I defined a security alarm on the file, it appears that the changes are done by some batch jobs which use Datatrieve. Not all such batch jobs appear to do it, however, and no interactive jobs appear to do it. The batch jobs do not appear to explicitly mess with the protection on any files. I'm sure there's an obvious explanation for what's going on. Does anyone know? Thanks- John. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 663 0 replies Reply to # 653 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 02-Jan-90 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: ERGONOMIC KEYBOARD Randall, You can get the LK-201 in various flavors from DEC. If you need a PC keyboard, what you want is the LK250, also available from DEC. A company called KEA Systems makes an LK-201 lookalike for PCs. VMS SIG Message # 1235 0 replies Reply to # 1234 Left by: JOHN RICE On 02-Jan-90 At : 708-438-7011 Subject: CDD.DIC PROTECTION Look to see if the version number of the CDD.DIC file is incrementing. Then look for a batch job calling CDDV and doing VERIFY and COMPRESS. When CDDV compresses the DICTIONARY file, it writes a new version of the file. It's possible that the new file is then created with new protection, very likely protection/ACL's derived by the protection codes on the directory in which the CDD resides. J.R. CONTROLLERS/MEMORY SIG Message # 129 0 replies Left by: MIKE STEVENS On 03-Jan-90 At : 919-541-2711 Subject: 'CHRISLIN IND. MEMORY' HELP!! I've got several 256 KB memory boards for a PDP-11 built by Chrislin Industries Caribe - that I understand has been bought out by another company several years ago. I inherited these boards and have no documentation for them. The model ## is CI-1123. Does anyone have a copy of the documentation sets or know who purchased the company? Any help is appreciated - thanks in advance!! - Mike. VMS SIG Message # 1236 1 replies Left by: MICHAEL R. PARROTT On 03-Jan-90 At : 1-416-429-4411 X3362 Subject: V5 MEMORY USAGE I have a concern about the new 'feature' in VMS V5 memory usage. The output from a SHOW MEMORY displays a field "Reservable". This is a new field and I have asked Digital about it. "What values are normal?" "What calculation is being used?" "Why is it there?" and "Why is there air?" the usual. Since I received an inadequate response from them, I was hoping the folks at VAX Professional could help. On most systems the value is negative. Is that 'normal'? Any information would be appreciated. yours, mp VMS SIG Message # 1237 1 replies Reply to # 1235 Left by: JOHN FLYNN On 03-Jan-90 At : 615-269-2266 Subject: CDD.DIC PROTECTION John, Thanks for the excellent hints. However, no new versions of the CDD.DIC are being created. I'm dealing with my original version of the file, dated 3 years ago. John. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 390 1 replies Left by: SCOT SHAW On 03-Jan-90 At : (615)377-1707 Subject: UIC TRANSLATION I have an application that uses the GETUAI System Service call to extract information from UAF. Part of the info extracted is the UIC, which happens to be a longword. How can I translate this longword into the Member and Group Numbers? It seems as though I recall a RTL Routine or another System Service Call that did this. Thanks, DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 678 0 replies Reply to # 677 Left by: IBM HATER On 03-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: HOW CA I TALK TO A AS400 Don't bother trying to connect the AS/400. Just junk it. You'll save lots of money and frustration. VMS SIG Message # 1238 0 replies Reply to # 1236 Left by: Serge Stein On 03-Jan-90 At : (312) 507-4296 Subject: V5 MEMORY USAGE The Reservable count indicates, as I understand it, the number of blocks that would be left in the page file if every user currently using the particular page file used up their available page file quota. "Normal" depends on how your system is tuned, the applications running, the typical number of users logged on, etc., etc. However, it is very common to see negative numbers, in most situations this is what you would expect. The more static the system the closer to zero you would tune the number. It's a fairly useful metric on some systems, although its looks can be deceiving. Serge APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 391 0 replies Reply to # 390 Left by: Serge Stein On 03-Jan-90 At : (312) 507-4296 Subject: UIC TRANSLATION Scot, The routine I believe you're looking for is SYS$FAO. The !%U directive translates a longword UIC to the form "[ggg,mmm]". The !%I directive will convert a longword UIC to the form "[group_identifier,member_identifier]". If you need the group and member numbers by themselves you should be able to get binary word representations from SYS$GETUAI and use the !OW directive of SYS$FAO to get the octal numbers. Luck, Serge VMS SIG Message # 1239 0 replies Reply to # 1237 Left by: JOHN FLYNN On 03-Jan-90 At : 615-269-2266 Subject: CDD.DIC PROTECTION Additional information: The problem with resetting protection on CDD.DIC does in fact occur when exiting Datatrieve interactively. But only when this is done from the node in my mixed-version cluster that is running VMS A5.1-1 and DTR 4.2 and CDD 4.1. From my other node, running VMS 4.7 and DTR 4.1 and CDD 3.4, this problem does not occur. This problem has nothing to do with batch jobs, as I previously thought. So, it appears to be something in Datatrieve 4.2 that, upon exiting, resets the protection on CDD.DIC. Any more hints? John. PC'S SIG Message # 259 0 replies Left by: NIK On 03-Jan-90 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: JUST FOR KICKS AND REBOOTS VMS v5.2 and PCSA v2.2. Remember the TV shows that had dangerous stunts on them and then the host of the show would say, "Now these are trained, experience men. These stunts should NOT be performed at home!" I got curious to see what would happen if I tried to create a disk service on a tape drive. So I defined LAD$APPLICATION_DISKS to MUA0:[], mounted the tapee and went intothe PCSA_MANANGER menu to create a service. The container file was created and the size was allocated alright but then everything got real slow, my system crashed. I never did get the statement from my HOST...get it? HOST?... Anyway, wouldn't it be nice if PCSA had a facilty to allow a PC user to "BACKUP" his/her C: drive to a tape drive on the server? Incidently, I learned something new today. With LAT installed and using the SETHOST utility. I can SETHOST to services define in my terminal servers, from my PC. (ie. modems) APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 392 0 replies Reply to # 391 Left by: SCOT SHAW On 04-Jan-90 At : (615)377-1707 Subject: UIC TRANSLATION Worked like a champ. Thanks for the assist. CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 505 1 replies Reply to # 504 Left by: On 04-Jan-90 At : Subject: LOCAL TO REMOTE VAX FILE CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 506 0 replies Reply to # 505 Left by: JOHN WARDEN On 04-Jan-90 At : 508-681-0600 X4561 Subject: LOCAL TO REMOTE VAX FILE Thanks, Dave. Come to find out, many of the files are indexed. Think that leaves KERMIT out. Have been trying to create an async ddcmp link over a modem line (unsuccessful at this point in time - modem configurations.... speed, flow control, buffering, etc?!?). Have any suggestions? DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 679 0 replies Reply to # 677 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 04-Jan-90 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: HOW CA I TALK TO A AS400 Roy, If you open your window and yell out I'll probably hear you! I am in that big white building down the road from you (the Taj Mahal)! Here at GF we are slowly migrating to AS/400's. I seem to recall that there is a third-party solution to your problem. Currently, IBM has issued a 'position statement' that they will support OSI sometime down the road. However, nothing is available now that I know of Essentially, you have two options. Look for an X.400 MAIL environment or TCP/IP. TCP/IP is probably the better alternative now. If I recall, you said you had Woollongong(sp?) TCP/IP already running. We were using that in our Houston plant via a Mitek box. It provided communication to a System/38. In this environment we had TELNET for terminal access to the System/38 and we had MAIL courtesy of All-in-Fun (Message Router). You might check with Mitek (sorry, no address handy) and see what they are doing with AS/400's. As for the IBM hater, that is a rather narrow minded attitude. While I agree that DEC's overall computing strategy is better than IBM's, in the real world we have to coexist. And here in Westchester County (IBM's living room) it is a necessity! If we were to simply opt for the best architecture and forget everyone else, a VAX would not be my choice. While VMS is an excellent operating system (probably the best general purpose system around), I think the Data General Eclipse/MV series have a superior CPU architecture over the VAX (after all, DG had a VAX to look at when they built their machine). Only problem is that DG's AOS/VS is not as good as VMS so we opt for the VAX. Now if I could get VMS to run on an MV/20000... Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 (physically located at) 800 Westchester Avenue <-- pretty close to 2400 Westchester Ave. Rye Brook, NY 10573 COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 319 2 replies Left by: AL LILIANSTROM On 04-Jan-90 At : 708-719-7128 Subject: BASIC/TERMINAL SERVERS A while back someone left a message regarding some BASIC programs that allowed him to communicate with terminal servers. I was searching thru ARIS trying to find your name to contact you but had no luck. Could you please post your name and how to contact you again. Thanks in advance, Al VMS SIG Message # 1240 0 replies Left by: ANTONIO CARLINI On 04-Jan-90 At : PMS COMMS (UK) Subject: EXECUTIVE LOADABLE IMAGES I am about to write a user-written system service which needs to have certain code sitting in non-paged pool (basically I want to submit this code as the target of a special Kernel mode AST to be executed by another process). There appear to be at least two ways of doing this. One way is to write a privileged shareable image which incorporates a change mode dispatcher, have it allocate non-paged pool do its stuff and have the AST routine deallocate it again. It would be neater (and save time) to have a loadable executive image containing the service routine and the AST code loaded at boot time. That part is easy and documented. However there seems to be no documented way of getting to the code. The standard VMS Change Mode to Kernel dispatcher will, apparently, call a routine specified at EXE$GL_USRCHMK - this appears to be a cell designed to hold the address of a system-wide user-specified Change Mode dispatcher. It would appear therefore that the lodable image's initialisation routine could put the address of its dispatcher in that cell (after saving the contents) and expect to get called whenever VMS's dispatcher fails to recognise the CHMK code. Of course if it does not recognise the code either it must chain to the previous contents of EXE$GL_USRCHMK. My question is: has anybody any idea whether this will work? Has anybody already done this? Or is there a better way? Antonio Carlini, Systems Manager, PMS Communications SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 347 0 replies Reply to # 336 Left by: RICK KAERWER (ICI AMERICAS) On 04-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: HITMAN PROCESS KILLER Thanks for the info. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 664 0 replies Reply to # 638 Left by: RICK KAERWER (ICI AMERICAS) On 04-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: PRAISE PROFESSIONAL PRESS indeed deserves our praise for offering this service. I dropped a note to DEC's Electronic Store saying that it would be great if they'd offer a place for users to converse. They replied that they didn't want to get involved in that. Oh well. I guess we just need to publicize PROFESSIONAL's magazines and this service so this becomes even more popular. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 665 0 replies Reply to # 654 Left by: RICK KAERWER (ICI AMERICAS) On 04-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: ANYBODY AN AMAET I'm not a ham, but I try to pick "y'all" up. I'm just a SWL. VMS SIG Message # 1241 0 replies Reply to # 1232 Left by: RICK KAERWER (ICI AMERICAS) On 04-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: TS11 TAPE ERROR Do you have the full VMS Doc set? If not, I could run upstairs here and check what it says the error may be. VAX/ELN SIG Message # 26 0 replies Left by: RICK KAERWER (ICI AMERICAS) On 04-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: HELP! CP/RSX VERSUS VAXELN VAX/ELN SIG Message # 27 0 replies Left by: RICK KAERWER (ICI AMERICAS) On 04-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: HELP! CP/RSX VERSUS VAX/ELN Did anyone out there compare DEC's RSX coprocessor that fits into a MicroVAX (etc.) to the VAX/ELN? CP/RSX is cheaper up front, but it'll be phased out sooner. Personally I'm inclined to go with ELN with more tools, etc. available over the CP/RSX. Anyone out there knowledgable? VAX/ELN SIG Message # 28 0 replies Left by: RICK KAERWER (ICI AMERICAS) On 04-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: HELP! C VERSUS ADA, ETC. We're contemplating CP/RSX versus VAX/ELN. We're also not sure what languages to explore if we go with either. Does anyone have experience with DEC's VAXELN/Ada or VAXELN/C ? Are there many software tools to speed up development? Our application would be unmanned machine control on the factory floor. Input would be through Burr-Brown type of stripped down keyboards with one-line LCD displays. If you have non-DEC suggestions I would be interested in hearing that, too. Thanks. RSX SIG Message # 287 0 replies Left by: RICK KAERWER (ICI AMERICAS) On 04-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: HELP! DECUS C (OR OTHER) Here I am with an old Pascal-like proprietary language on a proprietary operating system on an LSI-11. I want to upgrade to a modern language with a modern editor (EDT or EVE is sufficient). One school of thought here is to keep using our LSI-11 boards and use DECUS C and use DEC's "CP/RSX" coprocessor board for compilation. Another school of thought (and it costs more UPFRONT) is to move to VAX/ELN and replace the LSI-11 boards with KA620's and memory boards (will cost about $4000 per computer). Application: machine control out on the factory floor. Is anyone using DECUS C and would choose another (compatible) language if they were to do it again? (Etc.) Does anyone have any thoughts here? Thanks. SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 280 0 replies Reply to # 268 Left by: BRUCE ELLIS On 04-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: MODIFIED PAGE LIST PARAME There are a few areas where "whoever wrote AUTOGEN" I disagree. My objective is to minimize I/O activity. With a difference of 50 MPW_WRTCLUSTERs you are talking about fifty very large I/Os, assuming the Modified page list gets up to the HILIMIT. This is a large amount of disk activity. If you are running Ingres, I would bet that the Modified page list (MPL) rarely gets that large. Most database applications tend to be fairly extensive users of global sections. Assuming that these are temporary sections, your modified page list is being "flushed" to zero regularly. So you probably wouldn't be experiencing the large writes that could potentially occur. I contend that the developer that wrote AUTOGEN bases most of his/her calculations on the development systems, which are most likely different from most systems in the real world. This is not a knock on the AUTOGEN people. In any performance environment you should understand your workload and apply the theory to meet your needs. If you're experiencing "flushing," you might note that the Version 5.2 solution may be worse than the pre-5.2 problem. This is due to the SWAPPER algorithm for guaranteeing that pages which should be written, indeed are. A smaller difference between the HILIMIT and MPW_LOWAITLIMIT parameters becomes more crucial until this searching behavior is corrected. As for the reasoning behind the AUTOGEN settings, I recommend you take the question directly to the VMS Performance people at DECUS or write them at Spitbrook Rd., Nashua, NH. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 680 0 replies Reply to # 677 Left by: Phil Gravel On 04-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: HOW CAn I TALK TO An AS400 Robert Schaffrath is on the right track. I think that the third party he was referring to is SoftSwitch. It is a company that specializes in electronic mail exchange. They are a cooperative marketing partner of IBM's. Try getting some information from your IBM sales rep on the company. If they can't find it, have them call IBM's Engineering and Scientific Center in Dallas. I just read something in one of the trade rags about IBM entering into a special agreement with SoftSwitch to write some software for them. Token-ring to DECnet sticks in my mind for some reason. Phil COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 320 0 replies Reply to # 319 Left by: NIK ABBOT On 04-Jan-90 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: BASIC/TERMINAL SERVERS COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 321 0 replies Reply to # 319 Left by: NIK On 04-Jan-90 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: BASIC/TERMINAL SERVERS It would be nice to be able to "QUIT" out of this editor without leaving a message. Does any know how to do that? Al, the conversations you are looking for are in the SITE MANAGEMENT sig starting at messages #339 and #345. The program I wrote uses the "Remote Console" protocol to communicate with DECservers just as the NCP> CONNECT NODE SERVER does. I'm in the process of rewriting it with comments/readability. You can call me or leave your address here, I'll send you the source when it's done. Once the ethernet port is created, assign channel XQA0, you have to know what to hit the port with in the form of a QIO SETMODE. Then, the rest is just an I/O loop while keeping track of "handshaking". The program is interactive. It just loops until your terminal enters a command, then the AST kicks in and the command you typed gets QIO'd to the port. The server's response is then QIO'd to your terminal during the I/O loop. Of course DEC's Terminal Server Manager does a better job, but this is free. UTILITIES SIG Message # 430 0 replies Left by: SIMON BROWN On 05-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: I/O MONITORING Hello - I have been instructed to write some software to record all i/o to selected disks for the purpose of determining which are the active files on a disk, which parts are active, when they are active etc.. The problem I'm having is determining what the best hook into VMS is for this - ideally, I want to do something after EXE$QIO has done it's stuff, as I can then look at R0 and the IOSB to see if it was o.k. and how big the transfer actually was. Then I can record FID, R/W, #blocks etc. etc.. However, I can't come up with a `clean' solution to my problem, which is what type of `hook' to use to find this info. Has anyone any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks, Simon VAX/ELN SIG Message # 29 0 replies Reply to # 28 Left by: MICHAEL BAYDOUN On 05-Jan-90 At : Subject: HELP! C VERSUS ADA, ETC. Rick, Though most of my past experiance was with the old Micropower/Pascal (MPP), I have heard that VAXELN is the way to go. My personal choice would be C. I don't know how you are going to develope all of your code (in-house, or contracted), you may have problems finding vendors (at semi-reasonable prices) to develope in ADA. As for ICI Americas, I have a buddy that works for your company, Tim Hoberty (sales out of the Ft. Wayne, In. area), know him? VMS SIG Message # 1242 0 replies Reply to # 1163 Left by: RALPH BRANDT On 05-Jan-90 At : Subject: HELP! LOCK PASSWORDS! Because people who would lock doors don't see the need to change passwords, we wind up with scare stories that actually have substance. I've been working with computers for over 25 years and have found that when we don't police ourselves, someone else, the auditors get into the act. Anyone who puts passwords in function keys or uses "secret" etc for a password or doesn't change it is stupid. There isn't any other word. Why do we having to relearn the lessons of the past? Becsuse we aren't smart enough and disciplined enough to use the past lessons of others. Till we do, we'll keep getting bitten. The same goes for systems managers of UNIX systems that refuse to plug the holes. If they don't know the risk by now, they're probably not smart enough to learn. Wake up to the music.. In some states a system manager who doesn't exercise prudent care in this area can be charged as an accessory if a hacker is prosecuted! It hasn't happened yet, but I'm not planning to be the first. PC'S SIG Message # 260 0 replies Reply to # 248 Left by: RALPH BRANDT On 05-Jan-90 At : Subject: VT200 KEYBOARD FOR PC DO not publish! The keyboards are available separately. To use on an IBM PC you need a cable that is ordered separately and if you want to use it on a PS2 you need a cable adapter also. We have had some problems with this on PS2/70's recently.... PC'S SIG Message # 261 0 replies Reply to # 250 Left by: On 05-Jan-90 At : E Subject: VT200 KEYBOARD FOR PC I MESSED UP (RALPH BRANDT) 717 7515210 We had the same keyboard problems with about 30% of the boards. We kept returning them till DEC gave us good ones. Of course we did get one of the original 100 to work. VMS SIG Message # 1243 0 replies Reply to # 1239 Left by: JOHN RICE On 05-Jan-90 At : 708-438-7011 Subject: CDD.DIC PROTECTION John, I haven't any other ideas, other than a possible bug. We're still at V4.7, however in about 2 weeks, we will be starting our V5 upgrade by taking one of the machines an 8250, to VA5.0 and working up from there. I'll be looking for that problem, as we have a number of DATATRIEVE applications running on the Cluster. If I come across an answer, I'll pass it along and would also be interested in anything you find out. J.R. COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 322 1 replies Reply to # 321 Left by: AL LILIANSTROM On 05-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: BASIC/TERMINAL SERVERS Al Lilianstrom Interlake MHD 550 Warrenville Road Lisle, Illinois 60532 Thanks in advance! UTILITIES SIG Message # 431 0 replies Left by: HAROLD COHEN On 05-Jan-90 At : Subject: CONVERSION >JULIAN DATE I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW OF A SIMPLE DCL FILE THAT WILL CREATE THE JULIAN DATE. REASON: I HAVE VARIOUS DCL PROGRAMS THAT REQUIRE EDITING EACH TIME THEY NEED RUN DEPENDING ON THE JULIAN DATE. IF I COULD GET THE SYSTEM TO RETRIEVE THE DATE FOR ME THAT WOULD BE PERFECT! I AM CURRENTLY RUNNING A VAXCLUSTER VMS 4.7 THANKS! AND LOOKING FORWARD TO AN ANSWER! HC COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 323 0 replies Reply to # 322 Left by: NIK On 05-Jan-90 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: BASIC/TERMINAL SERVERS SERVER.BAS is ready. It's only 5 printed pages, so I could fax it to any one who wants it. Micheal Baydoun and Al Lilianstrom have copies in the mail. To the rest, leave fax number here if you want a copy. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 393 0 replies Left by: FRANK MATHERSON On 05-Jan-90 At : 708-459-9500 Subject: WHITEHAT SOFTWARE WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH WHITEHAT APPLICATION SOFTWARE SINCE UPGRADING TO VMS 5.2. WOULD APPRECIATE HEARING FROM ANYONE WHO HAS INFO ON ANY COMPANY SUPPORTING THIS SOFTWARE OR IS RUNNING IT UNDER VMS 5.2. THANKS! MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 666 0 replies Reply to # 665 Left by: LEE K. GLEASON On 06-Jan-90 At : 713/528-1859 Subject: ANYBODY AN AMAET My license lapsed approx. 20 years ago - but, I'm planning to get involved again. Packet radio looks like it would be fun to dabble with. The state of ham radio is a little worrisome, though - computers, video games, and television have sapped the will of the youngsters to get involved, so the average age of a ham operator is in their 50s. At the rate things are going, the whole thing could disappear. -.. . .-- -... ..... ..-. ...- --.. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 349 0 replies Left by: AL LILIANSTROM On 06-Jan-90 At : 708-719-7128 Subject: PLOT-Q SOFTWARE Has anyone ever heard of a product called PLOT-Q by Meridian Software? This product is supposed to allow ACK/NAK communications over VAX serial ports for Calcomp plotters to work as shared devices. If anyone can help with this product or knows of one that can do the same please leave a note here or call me at the number above. Thanks, Al RSTS SIG Message # 477 0 replies Left by: COLIN SHAW On 08-Jan-90 At : (805) 494-7530 (DAY) Subject: 11/84S AND V9.6 One of my clients has a problem booting the 9.6 distrib tape on an 11/84. They load the tape ok, and they type BO to Option:, the tape drive moves a little and then the RUN light (on the /84) goes out! They are currently running V8.0 on a /44 and are "trying" to go to the /84. I haven't actually seen this happen myself (they are on a different coast to myself!) so I don't know much more. Anyone have any ideas? MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 667 0 replies Reply to # 653 Left by: Paul DeAngelis On 08-Jan-90 At : (215) 783-7200 Subject: ERGONOMIC KEYBOARD I'm just guessing at possible solutions here: Digital Computer Special Systems (CSS) 800-343-6277. I think they do custom work for the military and for disabled people. Association of Computing Mach. --Special Interest Group on Computers and Human Interaction (SIGCHI.) New keyboard layout? MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 668 0 replies Left by: Paul DeAngelis On 08-Jan-90 At : (215) 948-2953 (SIG Answering Machine) Subject: International ORACLE Users Group VAX/VMS SIG Oracle users on VAX/VMS are welcome to join the new IOUG VAX/VMS SIG free of charge. If you have not received your membership invitation by mail and you wish to join, please leave your name and address on our answering machine. We will publish our first newsletter in April. Any articles or suggestions you have for the SIG would be most welcome! VMS SIG Message # 1244 0 replies Left by: Paul DeAngelis On 08-Jan-90 At : (215) 948-2953 (Answering Machine) Subject: New International ORACLE Users Group VAX/VMS Special Interest Group Oracle users on VAX/VMS are welcome to join the new IOUG VAX/VMS SIG free of charge. If you have not received your membership invitation by mail and you wish to join, please leave your name and address on our answering machine. We will publish our first newsletter in April. Any articles or suggestions you have for the SIG would be most welcome! (Thanks to ARIS for permission to publicize here.) MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 669 0 replies Reply to # 666 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 08-Jan-90 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: Packet Radio I have gotten to know quite a few hams who have there licenses for the sole purpose of playing on packet. I am in the process of trying to pick up a TNC now. However, I am also interested in obtaining the AX.25 protocol specification and try to implement it on the VAX. A VAX would make a wonderful Digipeater as well as an excellent gateway with store and forward capability. 73 -.. . -. ..--- .--- - -..- VMS SIG Message # 1245 0 replies Reply to # 1231 Left by: PEDRO A. CRESPO On 08-Jan-90 At : (405) 521-5324 Subject: VMS 5.0 IMAGE INSTALL @STARTUP Mark, VMSIMAGES.DAT was created fine, but my problem is that there was a command file called VMSIMAGES.COM that would read a data file (i.e. U1IMAGES.DAT) and install the images that were specified in this file. I guess that I can either save the command file from 4.7, or install my own images (i.e. Third-party software) in the SYSTARTUP_V5.COM. I tried the SYSMAN utility to see if that is what was supposed to take care of installing third-party images, but the installation wasn't successful due to a problem with NCP (more on this in a separate message) Thank you in advance for any suggestions, Pedro A. Crespo Oklahoma City University (405) 521-5324 VMS SIG Message # 1246 0 replies Left by: PEDRO A. CRESPO On 08-Jan-90 At : (405) 521-5324 Subject: 5.0 - NCP'S DATABASE error in STARTNET.COM I was finally booting up our 8250 with the freshly upgraded VMS 5.0 and the site-specific SYSTATRTUP_V5.COM ready to go, when I got the following error: %NCP-I-NOINFO, No information in database (3 times) This obviously impaired DECNET from knowing about the DECSERVERS. Also, the LAT software indicates that it is not ACTIVE. Is this caused by a change in directories? I tried copying all the files from [SYS0.DECSERVER] to the new directories created in 5.0 that I though might be the place where NCP is looking to the database, with no luck. Has anyone experienced this problem? Any suggestions would be appreciated. If I have to spend another weekend trying to upgrade to 5.0 (2 weekends so far) I'll have to consider placing a call to DEC, but I don't have phone support, so I guess I'll have to pay the going per-call rate. Thank you, Pedro A. Crespo Oklahoma City University (405) 521-5324 VMS SIG Message # 1247 0 replies Left by: S.D.LYON On 08-Jan-90 At : (609) 737-0425 Subject: ANYONE WITH KNOWLEGE OF ASSETS? Has anyone ever heard of ASSETS? Information I got from another network indicated that there is some mass of unsupported, DEC-written, routines which are referred to as ASSETS? I would be interested in finding out what may be a part of this....or any info anyone may have. (I know I could call DEC, but they do not always seem to know what they have) Thanks in Advance. EDITORS SIG Message # 238 0 replies Reply to # 230 Left by: BRUCE A GREMBOWSKI On 08-Jan-90 At : 408/291-3364 Subject: EDT FOR MS-DOS Hal, Thanks for the input. I checked out a demo of EDT+ and loved it, but hated the price (I think it was $295 or more). I ended up gettin the Norton Editor, which is a text editor with two windows. It seems more fitting to use a PC keyboard-oriented editor on the PC, as I've become quite fond of the Home, End, and Ctrl/arrow keys. Also, its $29.95 price at discount is great! I'll probably end up getting EDT+, though, as I won't be able to live without my EDTINI.EDT file for TOO long. BTW, sorry about the delay in replying -- too much work. MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 277 1 replies Left by: JAMES MEEKS On 09-Jan-90 At : 703-632-2961 EXT 6558 Subject: ESE20 - HSC70 PERFORMANCE I am interested in hooking up two ESE20 drives in a shadow set connected to two different HSC70 controllers. I was wondering if anyone has done this and what problems I could expect and what configuration problems I might run into. On one HSC70 I will have only the ESE20s and a SA550 storage array with only RA70s. There shadow copies will be on two other HSC70s that are presently handling 2 SA550s and 1 SA650 storage array. All this is being run in a VAX- cluster with two 6210s and two 6410s. If anyone out there can give me any advise it will be appreciated COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 324 0 replies Reply to # 323 Left by: KENT CEARLEY On 09-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: BASIC/TERMINAL SERVERS NIK, I would be interested in your SERVER.BAS! My FAX Number is: 303-492-9769. Thanks!!! -Kent VMS SIG Message # 1248 0 replies Reply to # 1246 Left by: MARTY JOHNSON On 09-Jan-90 At : (203)666-1737 Subject: 5.0 - NCP'S DATABAS After upgrading to V5.0 (both on a cluster and standalone nodes) I've gotten the same messages. It hasn't affected any network functionality that I have found. If you are having problems with your terminal servers use DSVCONFIG to reload the network database with the LAT node information. DO NOT replace the V5.0 databases with V4.n as they are not compatible. If you do blow away your databases, you can use NETCONFIG to set up the node specs, and NCP COPY command from a remote node to restore the NODE database. The only problem I have found, network wise, was going to V5.2 and creating separate accounts for FAL, MAIL and PHONE. If the passwords stored in the network database don't match the passwords in SYSUAF.DAT, some network connections cannot be established. Let me tell you, It's real annoying to get a MAIL message from a user and not be able to REPLY to it! Marty MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 278 0 replies Reply to # 277 Left by: MARTY JOHNSON On 09-Jan-90 At : (203)666-1737 Subject: ESE20 - HSC70 PERFORMANCE Tell me I'm wrong, but a while back (when disk shadowing first came out) I was told that all the disks of a shadow set had to be on the same HSC as it was the HSC, not VMS, the was doing the shadowing. Is this true? If it is, your second HSC70 could only be used for failover redundancy. SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 348 1 replies Left by: MARTY JOHNSON On 09-Jan-90 At : (203)666-1737 Subject: GOING CRAZY I must be going crazy! I was sure that there was a conversation somewhere about automatic login of terminals on terminal servers (using ALF - Automatic Login Facility). Now that I'm trying to accomplish such a feat, I can't find the conversation anywhere! Can anyone point me to the convseration, or better still, tell me how to get a terminal attached to a DECserver 100 or DECserver 200 to automatically log on to a VAX? Thanks, Marty VAX/ELN SIG Message # 30 0 replies Reply to # 27 Left by: JERRY C. HUDGINS On 09-Jan-90 At : (804) 948-6006 Subject: HELP! CP/RSX VERSUS VAX/ Unless you have an existing software investment in RSX, I'd recommend ELN. CP/RSX is a neat toy, but it's primary use is in porting RSX applications to a VAX environment. Using ELN will give you access to more CPU power, nice transparent process distribution, and a growth path. VAX/ELN SIG Message # 31 0 replies Reply to # 28 Left by: JERRY C. HUDGINS On 09-Jan-90 At : (804) 948-6006 Subject: HELP! C VERSUS ADA, ETC. I haven't used VAX Ada, so I really can't comment on it. While the ELN EPASCAL compiler is specific to ELN targets, the standard VAX C compiler is used to write ELN C applications. Regardless of the language chosen, many of the standard VAX development tools (LSE, CMS, MMS) can be used. VAX C is a very good compiler, and the interface for ELN works well. Recommended. VMS SIG Message # 1249 0 replies Reply to # 1247 Left by: JIM GOYETTE On 09-Jan-90 At : (414)765-3255 Subject: ANYONE WITH KNOWLEGE OF ASSETS You should be able to get the information from your local sales rep or software specialist. A lot of the software was written for clients by DEC consultants where DEC kept the rights to it. Since it is unsupported software, you get the source code; some is reasonably priced others not. Although I have never purchased any software this way I know some of the areas are modem pool control routines, ALLin1 extensions, and TPU extenstions. SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 349 0 replies Reply to # 348 Left by: NIK On 09-Jan-90 at 22:24 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: GOING CRAZY $ if VMS => V5.0 $then $ run sys$system:sysman.exe ...help alf add, help alf remove, help alf show, exit $! $ mcr sysman alf add "SERV01/PORT_1" /PORT username $! case sensitive -^----^ ^ ^- don't forget this $! |-- quotes are nice $ mcr sysman alf show ...blah $ mcr sysman alf remove "SERV01/PORT_1" $else $ edit sys$manager:alfmaint.com ! remove any checking of ports allowed and $ ! execute. $endif $! $ if f$getsyi("GOING CRAZY") .eqs. "TRUE" then DELETE/ERASE FRONTAL_LOBE.DAT $ eoj CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 507 0 replies Reply to # 497 Left by: Comet On 09-Jan-90 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: $ EDIT/TECO *EX I have used the above lines to strip the that print out if you edit a .MEM file. Perhaps this will help you. RSTS SIG Message # 478 0 replies Reply to # 477 Left by: BOB FIDELMAN On 10-Jan-90 At : 415-454-9055 Subject: 11/84S AND V9.6 What's the tapedrive density? Normally, the boot procedure makes 2-4 passes through the overlayed boot program, so it shouldn't stop right away. If you're using a non-DEC tape drive, it may be out of spec as well. Note that somewhere in the version 9's, DEC changed their boot from a MSBOOT to a more generic MGBOOT; this change may be causing your problems. Bob PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 493 1 replies Left by: PAUL CZACHOR On 10-Jan-90 At : (215) 341-6447 Subject: SEARCH FOR A C COMPLIER We are interested in purchasing a C Complier for a MicroVax 3400 (VMS 5.1-1) and a PC (DOS 3.0). Any recommendations or comments would be appreciated. Thank You VMS SIG Message # 1250 0 replies Reply to # 1246 Left by: MARK E LEVY On 10-Jan-90 At : (312)467-7554 Subject: 5.0 - NCP'S DATABAS The NOINFO message seems to be normal if you're not using all of the databases. Make sure that your decserver files are in SYS$COMMON:[DECSERVER]. You might have to use the reload option of DSVCONFIG to get the server info into the DECnet databases if you've done a 'virgin' (not an upgrade) installation of V5.x. Heed the previous reply's advice NOT to copy the V4.7 databases, they won't work. Call at the above number if I can be of more assistance. FORUM - 3RD PARTY SUPPLIERS SIG Message # 121 0 replies Left by: PAUL URBAN On 10-Jan-90 At : (201) 309-1210 Subject: TICKER TELEVISION - HELP? I am looking to take a BAUDO ticker communication feed from a PDP host system and put it through some 3rd party "inexpensive" character generator, and place the ticker information (66.7 BAUD) on a left to right scrolling line on the bottom of the television. The television must simultaneously be tuned into network or cable channels. Does anybody have any ideas? APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 394 0 replies Left by: ROLAND HUGHES On 10-Jan-90 At : (708)-898-4005 Subject: POLICE DISPATCH SW I have a client that is looking for some Police dispatchand general municipality software. A bid is being presented by another consultant and I was asked to research this matter. They already have a bid for an IBM RT system with ungoddly price tags. If some police displatch or other software is in utilization serving police department needs I would be happy to find out. They will only have 10 to 15 users to start with and a maximum of 20. If possible "clusterable" software for the microvax2000 series would be great. With hat number of users they don't need a lot of ponies under the hood, just real fast disks. Roland on compuserve 71061,2160 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 494 0 replies Reply to # 493 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 10-Jan-90 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: SEARCH FOR A C COMPLIER Paul, I use MicroSoft C on MS-DOS and have found it quite satisfactory. It is well, even exhaustively, documented. The other biggie in the MS-DOS world is Turbo-C from Borland. I've never used it but I hear good things about it. There are at least half a dozen other vendors including Lattice (Lattice C), and Manx (Aztec-C). The VAX world doesn't offer anywhere near as many choices. VAX-C from DEC and, perhaps, something from Whitesmiths Ltd. I've used VAX-C and had no problems with it myself but a lot of people have had problems with the library. Some of the routines exhibit performance problems and some do some pretty strange things in the name of Unix compatibility; for instance, you can create files in C that are illegal if you try to read them with something else and which get errors when you use ANALYZE /RMS_FILE on them. SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 350 1 replies Reply to # 348 Left by: John Rice On 11-Jan-90 At : Here on ARIS Subject: GOING CRAZY Marty, Look at SIG 11, Msg 352. No, you aren't going crazy, It really was there. J.R. ;-} VMS SIG Message # 1251 0 replies Reply to # 1249 Left by: SIMON BROWN On 11-Jan-90 At : ARIS-BOX Subject: ANYONE WITH KNOWLEGE OF A I'm also using DEC Assets - in this case primarilly the File Transfer Spooler, which copies files from one node to another reliably, recovering from crashes, network attacks by System Managers etc. all in al, I recommend this software - at least get the info. from your sales rep. The software I use has a callable interface, which is _very_ useful indeed. Best of luck, Simon COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 325 0 replies Reply to # 324 Left by: NIK On 11-Jan-90 at 10:00 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: BASIC/TERMINAL SERVERS It has been pointed out to me by my good friend and neighbor, Robert G. Schaffrath, who joking denys any association with me as a result of some of my more bazaar messages left on the BB. (I try to create a little humor within the context of my messages, no offense. It's all in good fun. Sorry, Bob. I just couldn't take the credit for your discovery.) That SERVER.BAS has a problem with the termination routine, DONE:. Apparently the when the code exits, the "session" to the remote console is not dissolved. There by, creating a situation where a: $ MC NCP CON NODE SERV01 would result in continuation of the previous session...ooops. So, here is the new DONE: routine, first include, "EXTERNAL LONG FUNTION SYS$CANCEL" in the system services department at the top. DONE: eth_cmd = sync(sync_flag) + "LO" + chr$(13% ! logout command to server gosub talk ! pipe it out and read response. eth_cmd = chr$(15%) ! this is the byte of destruction, 0F(16) istat = sys$qiow (,en_chan by value,io$_writevblk by value,,,,& . eth_cmd by ref,1% by value,,,& . loc(extnd_char_buf(10%)::par_id) by value,) ! NOTE: no response from server, it's dead now. ! Close up shop istat = sys$qiow (,en_chan by value,& . (io$_setmode or io$m_ctrl or io$m_shutdown) by value,,,,,,,,,) istat = sys$dassgn (en_chan BY VALUE) istat = sys$cancel (tt_chan by value) istat = sys$dassgn (tt_chan BY VALUE) END ! This is the end. My only friend, the end. I haven't incorporated any error checking, after all it is only a BASIC example of how to communicate with a DECserver. TSM is still better. CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 508 1 replies Reply to # 358 Left by: MARK E LEVY On 11-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: ALF ON Contrary to popular belief, ALF does not stand for Alien Life Form. Seriously, the features you described (server/port name) are not supported by ALFMAINT. SYSMAN, however, will allow the entry of the server/port information. SYSMAN:==$SYSMAN SYSMAN ALF ADD blah blah blah Etc. VMS SIG Message # 1252 0 replies Reply to # 265 Left by: MARK SICKING On 11-Jan-90 At : (3140279-5639 Subject: VAX11-C TRNLNM SERV. I Also have been trying for some time to call the TRNLNM system service form VAX C. I finally gave up when I found out that the getenv("LOGNAM") command will do it for me. If then name is not a logical name then it will check the symbol table to see if it is a defined symbol. It's a lot easier. VMS SIG Message # 1253 0 replies Reply to # 1201 Left by: TONY FIORITO On 11-Jan-90 At : 215-781-4140 Subject: DISK TO DISK BACKUPS There is an exabyte BI tape drive available from a company called MegaTape in California. I have one on my 8530 and it works fairly well. Clearpoint makes the controller which sold me on it. With one of the 8mm units you could backup a boatload of RA81s (I backup 4 RA90s to it). The only hitches are 1) do you mind 3rd party stuff in your bus and 2) will your bugdet handle it (it's about $18k). LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 109 1 replies Left by: L. K. HIGHT On 11-Jan-90 At : P.S.E.&G. 244 CHESTNUT ST, SALEM, NJ 08079 Subject: LN03 FONT FILES I would like to create a font file to download to my LN03. The tech manual gives the command to download font files, but I can't find information on what the "DEC standard font file format" is, or how to create my own fonts. I would appreciate any help someone might be able to give to get me started. Thank APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 395 1 replies i Does any one know how to set an integer symbol from a program .? lib$set_symbol allows you to set string symbols only Left by: JAYESH SHAH On 11-Jan-90 At : 2126766920 Subject: SETTING INTEGER DCL SYMBOLS CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 509 2 replies Reply to # 508 Left by: NIK On 11-Jan-90 at 22:40 At : 914 347 2700 Subject: Velocity of Water Do any programmers out there calaculate this kind of stuff? I need to know how much water can flow through a hole about the size of a basketball. There is NO water pressure. Imagine the hole in a dam, just below the water line and the water just flowing naturally. Educated guesses are welcome. Cubic feet per second or gallons per second. Thanks... LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 110 0 replies Reply to # 109 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 11-Jan-90 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: LN03 FONT FILES There is a manual that describes the DEC Common Font File Format. Bug your DEC sales rep till he finds it for you. There is also a font editor program for the DEC Rainbow 100 with color graphics installed. I believe it can still be found in the Libraries on CompuServe's DECPC forum (GO DECPC). CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 510 0 replies Reply to # 509 Left by: NIK On 11-Jan-90 At : Subject: last message Sorry about the last message being in the Cluster SIG. I started to reply to message and forgot where I was. I do need answer to the water problem though. CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 511 0 replies Reply to # 509 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 11-Jan-90 At : (609) 258-6217 OR 5130 Subject: ALF ON If there is NO pressure, there is NO FLOW. Actually, in the situation you describe, the pressure is zero at the top of the hole and increases with distance below the surface. I'd expect that the shape of the hole would be important, a square opening giving you quite different results from a circular opening with equivalent area. Check some engineering handbooks for formulas for calculating something like this. I think that there is a Mechanical Engineer's Handbook or something with a similar title which would be a good place to start. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 499 0 replies Reply to # 391 Left by: BOB RUDIS On 12-Jan-90 At : 717-346-8505 Subject: SMALLTALK ON VMS? If you hear of where I can find it, let me know. I love Smalltalk/V on the PC and would like to see it's capabilities on a system with a wealth of built-in functions like VAX/VMS. BITNET: RER1@SCRANTON thanks, boB PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 500 1 replies Reply to # 493 Left by: PAUL CZACHOR On 12-Jan-90 At : (215) 341-6447 Subject: SEARCH FOR A C COMPLIER I have checked into GNU "C" from DECUS and it is available at a very good price.($140.00) We want to use a "C" complier only for learning purposes. If we want to use "C" for development purposes we will buy VAX-C from DEC. Does anyone know if GNU "C" is well documented and easy to use? Any information would be appreciated. Thank You UTILITIES SIG Message # 432 0 replies Reply to # 431 Left by: JOSEPH PASQUALE On 12-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: CONVERSION >JULIAN DATE You might want to check the DCL Dictionary for information on the lexicals F$TIME and F$CVTIME (will allow you to parse time strings). I hope this is what you are looking for. CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 512 0 replies Left by: JAMES A MEEKS On 12-Jan-90 At : (03)632-2961 Subject: ESE20 PERFORMANCE ON A VAXCLUSTER I CURRENTLY HAVE A 4-NODE VAXCLUSTER WITH 2-6410 AND 2-6210. FOR DISK STORAGE I HAVE 2-SA550 DISK ARRAYS AND 1-SA482 ON TWO HSC70 CONTROLLERS. I A CONSIDER PURCHASING 2-ESE20 AND ANOTHER HSC70 CONTROLLER TO GET THE I/O RATE DESIRED. I WAS WONDERING IF ANY ONE HAS DONE THIS AND WHAT BUGS THEY RAN INTO AND WHAT TYPE OF PERFORMANCE INCREASE THEY EXPERIENCED. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 396 1 replies Reply to # 395 Left by: Comet On 12-Jan-90 At : (408)982-5238 Subject: SETTING INTEGER DCL SYMBOLS FROM A PROGRAM Use LIB$SET_SYMBOL. First, you must convert the numeric value to an ASCII representation of a signed decimal number before calling this service. DCL doesn't have strong typing. To show this, you can do the following at CLI level: $ A:=3 $ B="4" $ WRITE SYS$OUTPUT 6+A $ WRITE SYS$OUTPUT 5-B APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 397 1 replies Reply to # 396 Left by: Comet At : (408)982-5238 Subject: SETTING INTEGER DCL SYMBOLS FROM A PROGRAM $ A:=3 $ B="2" $ WRITE SYS$OUTPUT A*B ! returns 6 $ WRITE SYS$OUTPUT A+B ! returns 32 $ WRITE SYS$OUTPUT A+B+0 ! returns 32 $ WRITE SYS$OUTPUT 0+A+B ! returns 5 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 501 0 replies Reply to # 500 Left by: V. JAMES KRAMMES On 12-Jan-90 At : (614) 228-2001X341 Subject: SEARCH FOR A C COMPLIER I've been using a beta release of the GNU C compiler for nearly a year now and have had no problems. The version I got (from a friend of a friend... etc.) had very little documentation on the C language itself, and none on the run-time library (because there isn't one; it uses the standard VAXCRTL library). To address the documentation shortage, I would suggest buying a good C language reference book, and the VAX C Run-Time Library Reference Manual (Order Number AI-JP84A-TE). This manual describes the entire C runtime, including the CURSES library. I've used this compiler to develop several utility programs, including a resource-accounting package, and have had no compatibility problems interfacing with any runtime routines, including system services. One drawback is that I haven't figured out how to produce compile listings or map files yet. Hopefully, the version for sale has these features. Call me if you would like more info. Jim Krammes Systems Programmer The Midland Mutual Life Insurance Company (614) 228-2001 x 341 APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 398 0 replies Reply to # 394 Left by: CHARLES On 12-Jan-90 At : 713-483-8350 Subject: POLICE DISPATCH SW APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 399 0 replies Left by: On 12-Jan-90 At : Subject: APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 400 0 replies Reply to # 394 Left by: CHARLES BIRKHEAD On 12-Jan-90 At : 713-483-8350 Subject: POLICE DISPATCH SW I have a client in the Galveston Police Department. He is Terry Hoecker. His beeper number is 409-766-8365. He is/has developed software written in BASIC f VAX SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 351 0 replies Reply to # 350 Left by: MARTY JOHNSON On 12-Jan-90 At : (203)666-1737 Subject: GOING CRAZY THANKS! I needed that! :-) Thanks too to the previous reply. It did the trick. Marty SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 352 0 replies Left by: DAVE GRIST On 12-Jan-90 At : 508-880-1610 Subject: SYSTEM STATUS I'm looking for a command procedure that can help me to determine if all parts of my system are online. For example all the system processes (NULL,EVL,etc.), and all the applications we run. Has anyone had any experiences with this? If so I'dlike to hear from you!!! Thanks, Dave Grist Senior Computer Operator GTE Tactical Systems Taunton, Mass. COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 326 0 replies Reply to # 323 Left by: BRUNO P. JUGOVIC' On 12-Jan-90 At : 617-241-4899 Subject: BASIC/TERMINAL SERVERS I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD FAX ME A COPY. THANKS IN ADVANCE. FAX NO: 617-241-4934 APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 401 0 replies Reply to # 397 I would like the value of the symbol to be displayed as an hex integer after i c ompletye the program execution and enter $ sho symbol xxx I would also like to be able to , say add 24 to the symbol from DCL. Any suggestions? Left by: JAY SHAH On 12-Jan-90 At : 2126766920 Subject: SETTING INTEGER DCL SYMBO VMS SIG Message # 1254 0 replies Reply to # 1245 Left by: Phil Gravel On 13-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: VMS 5.0 IMAGE INSTALL @ST Pedro, VMS V5 implements a new way to startup layered products using SYSMAN. It is discussed extensively in the V5 release notes and the SYSMAN manual though I have not used it personally on any of my systems. You can either use this mechanism or start your software form SYSTARTUP_V5.COM either directly or retain your separate file, VMSIMAGES.COM, and call it from SYSTARTUP_V5.COM. Phil VMS SIG Message # 1255 0 replies Reply to # 1246 Left by: Phil Gravel On 13-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: 5.0 - NCP'S DATABAS Pedro, I also had the same concern when I upgraded to VMS V5 and saw these new NCP messages. I called Digital's customer support about it. They pointed out that they are informational (NCP-I-) messages, not error messages. This change in NCP was implemented to differentiate between successful command completion and completion where nothing had actually happened. (Under VMS V4, you simply got the NCP> prompt back regardless of whether the command had completed success- fully or simply did nothing.) Since these are informational messages, you can ignore them. DECnet starts normally as it did under VMS V4. As far as LAT is concerned, the VMS upgrade procedure created new versions of site-specific files. Among them are SYSTARTUP_V5.COM, SYLOGIN.COM, and LTLOAD.COM. You will need to put your site-specific commands back into the new version of LTLOAD.COM to start LAT. Make sure you have edited SYSTARTUP_V5.COM to call LTLOAD. I have had not problem running LAT and communicating with terminal servers after upgrading to VMS V5. No change to the DECSERVER directory or terminal server database was required. Phil VMS SIG Message # 1256 0 replies Reply to # 1248 Left by: Phil Gravel On 13-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: 5.0 - NCP'S DATABAS Marty, According to Digital's customer support, there is a known problem on VAXclusters with the SYS$UPDATE:NETCONFIG_UPGRADE.COM procedure supplied with the VMS V5.2 upgrade. The result, as you discovered, is that after upgrading the system, the passwords on the DECnet objects does not match the passwords for their repsective accounts in SYSUAF. The solution (as best as I can recall now) is to go through the upgrade procedure. Run SYS$UPDATE:NETCONFIG_UPDATE.COM on the boot node, but when prompted about running the command procedure it creates answer No. After finishing the procedure, execute SYS$MANAGER:UPDATE_NODEINFO.COM. Then on each of the satellites, execute SYS$MANAGER:UPDATE_CLUSTER_MEMBERS.COM. Phil APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 402 0 replies Reply to # 401 Left by: Phil Gravel On 13-Jan-90 At : HERE Subject: SETTING INTEGER DCL SYMBO Jay, I don't know if this is what you're looking for, but LIB$STOP will return an ASCII string representing the hex value of the argument passed to it in the DCL symbol $STATUS. In Fortran you would do Call Lib$Stop(%Val(integer)). This routine has the (un)desirable effect of exiting the program. You can then use the lexical function F$Integer to convert this string to an integer symbol. Phil APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 403 0 replies Reply to # 401 Left by: NIK On 13-Jan-90 At : Subject: SETTING INTEGER DCL SYMBO I'm not exactly sure if this will help, but you can numbers with different radixes by using a percent sign and an 'X'(hex),'O'(octal), 'D'(decimal). $ a = %Xdeaf + %Xbeef + %Xcafe So, I guess you can do something like: $ sh sym it $ it = it + 24 ! The default radix is decimal $ sh sym it $ it = it - %x18 $ sh sym it ! Back to original value of it. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 502 0 replies Reply to # 492 Left by: RANDALL NEWCOMB On 13-Jan-90 At : (612) 778-7216 Subject: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Two of my clients have been doing AI/Expert System work in other departments. One was using an Apollo platform to create an electronic technician to do circuit board defect locating. The other client is developing a variation on a neural-net for in-house use using a Mac front end and a Vax with an Rdb database for information storage. They are about 6 months into what will probably be a 3 year project. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 670 0 replies Reply to # 653 Left by: RANDALL NEWCOMB On 13-Jan-90 At : (612) 778-7216 Subject: ERGONOMIC KEYBOARD Just as an informal survey, how many people are out there that have/had carpal tunnel syndrom or tendonitis from long hours of typing? How about your co-workers? If you don't have it anymore, what cured it? Surgery? Change of work habits? (By the way, I've switched to a Dvorak key layout on my VaxStation and that has helped, but I'm still not cured of the CTS.)