DECserver 500 Use Dec

This document is the DECserver 500 Use guide (Order Number: AA-HU81D-TK, Software Version V2.0, published December 1989).

It serves as a tutorial and reference for nonprivileged users of interactive terminals connected to DECserver 500, 510, and 550 hardware ports. It primarily focuses on how to use the DECserver 500 software to access network services and manage terminal sessions, rather than administrative setup.

Key aspects covered include:

• Interacting with the Server: Logging in, understanding local and service modes, and using basic server commands.
• Connecting to Network Services: Establishing sessions with various network resources (computer systems, modems, etc.), including connecting to specific nodes and ports, and handling password-protected services or busy services through queuing.
• Multiple Service Sessions: Managing and switching between up to eight simultaneous service sessions, allowing users to keep multiple applications active and easily move between them.
• Session Management (TD/SMP): A detailed explanation of advanced session management features supported by some terminals, enabling simultaneous data exchange and multi-session displays on a divided screen.
• Customizing Port and Session Characteristics: Using SET commands to define personal preferences for port behavior (e.g., switch characters, data transmission settings, display type, preferred services, message reception, queuing, and enabling session management).
• Displaying Information: Utilizing SHOW commands to view current characteristics and status of the server, ports, services, nodes, and active sessions.
• File Transfers: Procedures for transferring files between a PC connected to the server and other network systems, including how to enable data transparency for transfers.
• Additional Features: Guides on locking a terminal for security, testing port connections, and broadcasting messages to other users.
• Failure Recovery: Describes how the DECserver automatically attempts to reconnect to services if a service node fails.
• Command Summary: An alphabetical listing of all nonprivileged user commands and user-definable port characteristics.

The guide is intended for users who need to interact with and manage connections to multiple services via the DECserver, and for those with access to the server's local mode.