Pathworks for VMS V4.0 SPD 30.50.07 Feb91

This document describes PATHWORKS for VMS, Version 4.0 (formerly VMS Services for PCs), a software product that integrates personal computers (DOS, OS/2) into a Digital Equipment Corporation's VMS-based information system. It allows VAX, MicroVAX, VAXstation, and VAXserver systems to function as application, data, and resource servers for PC clients.

Key Features and Services:

1. Server Role: Enables VMS-based systems to act as file, print, mail, and disk servers for DOS and OS/2 personal computers.
2. Network Transport Support:
   • DECnet: Supported for file, print, mail, and time/date services in both Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN) environments.
   • TCP/IP: Supported (requiring VMS/ULTRIX Connection product) for file and print services only, in both LAN and WAN. Includes NetBIOS interface support in LANs.
   • LAST: A high-performance LAN-only protocol supporting file, print, and disk services.
3. File Services: Provides a remote file system for DOS and OS/2 clients, based on Microsoft LAN Manager SMB protocols, allowing concurrent access and byte-range locking. Files are stored as VMS Stream or RMS Sequential files. (Restrictions: PC hardware utilities like CHKDSK are not supported, and filenames with __ are reserved).
4. Disk Services: Offers "local area disk services" via LAST (LAN-only) for high-performance virtual disks (formatted as OS/2 or DOS disks). These virtual disks can also be accessed in a WAN via the Network Disk Utility (NDU) using DECnet. (Restrictions: One client at a time for read/write, multiple readers allowed; DOS/OS2 files on these virtual disks cannot be shared with VMS users).
5. Print Services: Allows DOS, OS/2, and VMS users to share printers connected to a VAXserver, VAXcluster, or LAT supported terminal servers in LAN or WAN.
6. Mail Services: Provides electronic mail capabilities for DOS and OS/2 clients, with accounts established on the VMS server (based on Mail 11 product).
7. Time and Date Services: Allows clients to request and set their local workstation date and time from the server.
8. Server Management and Control: Offers both a menu-driven Manager Menu and a command-line interface for administrators to manage services, user accounts, access permissions (using VMS ACLs), and restrict client connections. Includes utilities like PCDISK for DOS device maintenance and a Configurator for VMS server tuning.
9. Broadcast Utility: Enables system administrators to send messages to individual or all active LAN clients.
10. Remote Boot Services: Allows DOS clients (VAXmates and specific Ethernet-equipped PCs) to boot remotely (requires LAST disk services on the LAN).

System Requirements: Runs on VAX, MicroVAX, VAXstation, or VAXserver configurations. Requires VMS Operating System, DECnet-VAX, and VAX/ULTRIX Connection for TCP/IP support. Licensing is based on the number of client PCs.