VAX Distributed Name Service Management Guide

This document serves as a management guide for the VAX Distributed Name Service (DNS), a system designed to assign unique, location-independent names to network resources (objects like files, disks, and nodes). DNS translates these object names into a set of attributes, including their network addresses, thereby making the physical network transparent to users and applications. It operates on a client-server model, with DNS server software storing object names and client software enabling applications like Remote System Manager (RSM) and VAX Distributed File Service (DFS) to utilize DNS names.

The guide outlines the process of planning and managing a DNS namespace. Users can configure either a single-directory namespace (ideal for smaller networks) or a hierarchical namespace (suited for larger, expanding networks). A "clearinghouse" is a collection of directories residing on a DNS server, and the namespace can be distributed across multiple clearinghouses on different servers to boost availability and performance. This distribution is achieved by creating read-only copies of "master directories," with changes to master directories automatically propagated to their read-only replicas through an "update function" or "skulk operation."

Key management tasks are performed using the DNS$CONTROL utility and include:

• Managing access control by granting read, write, delete, test, and control rights to individuals or groups for various namespace entries.
• Constructing and restructuring the hierarchical namespace by creating and deleting directories and links.
• Displaying comprehensive information about the namespace, such as access control settings, attribute values, and statistical data.
• Managing DNS servers, which involves starting and stopping clearinghouses and servers, reclaiming unused disk space, optimizing RMS buffer counts, setting timezones, and utilizing database backups.

The document also provides a detailed summary of DNS$CONTROL commands, error messages, global attribute definitions, and valid characters for DNS names.