DECnet for OpenVMS Networking Manual

This document serves as a comprehensive manual for users and system managers working with DECnet for OpenVMS, detailing how to manage, monitor, configure, install, and test DECnet networks.

The manual is structured into four main parts:

1. Introduction to DECnet for OpenVMS: This part introduces fundamental networking concepts, including nodes, logical links, circuits, and routing. It covers various network configurations like Ethernet, FDDI, DDCMP, and VMSclusters, and describes how users interact with the network through applications and programming interfaces.
2. Network System Management: This section explains how to use the Network Control Program (NCP) utility to configure, control, and monitor network components such as nodes, circuits, lines, logical links, objects, logging, and access control. It elaborates on managing configuration databases (volatile and permanent) and performing remote command execution.
3. DECnet for OpenVMS Host Services: This part outlines services provided by a host node for unattended systems, including downline loading of operating systems or tasks, upline dumping of memory, and connecting to remote consoles.
4. Configuring, Installing, and Testing Networks: This part provides procedures for establishing a DECnet network, including prerequisites, using NETCONFIG.COM, tailoring configuration databases, and testing the network using loopback tests.
5. Network User Operations: This section covers user-level activities like retrieving network status, establishing communication with remote nodes, accessing files on remote nodes, and performing transparent and nontransparent task-to-task communications.
6. File Operations in a Multivendor Network Environment: This part details specific considerations and restrictions for file operations between OpenVMS nodes and various other operating systems such as IAS, RSTS/E, RSX, RT-11, TOPS-10, TOPS-20, MS-DOS, ULTRIX, and IBM.

The document emphasizes practical guidance for network administrators to ensure efficient and secure DECnet operation.