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AV-Y300B-TK

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Document:	Ethernet Communications Server DECnet Router V1.1 Release Notes Sep84
Order Number:	AV-Y300B-TK
Revision:	0
Pages:	12
Original Filename:	AV-Y300B-TK_Ethernet_Communications_Server_DECnet_Router_V1.1_Release_Notes_Sep84.pdf

OCR Text

Networks- Communications

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Ethernet
Communications Server
DECnet Router
Release Notes
"

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Ethernet
Communications Server
DECnet Router
Release Notes
Order No. A V - Y300B- TK

September 1984
The Release Notes contain update information and other miscellaneous items not included in the DECnet Router Server manual set. Also
included are tips and restrictions and instructions on how to report
problems.

SUPERSESSION/UPDATE INFORMATION:

This is a new manual.

SOFTWARE VERSION:

V1.1

AV-Y300B-TK
First Printing, September 1984

The information in this document is subject to change without notice and should not be
construed as a commitment by Digital Equipment Corporation. Digital Equipment Corporation assumes no responsibility for any errors that may appear in this document.
The software described in this document is furnished under a license and may only be used
or copied in accordance with the terms of such license.
No responsibility is assumed for the use or reliability of software on equipment that is not
supplied by Digital or its affiliated companies.
Copyright © 1984 by Digital Equipment Corporation
The postage-prepaid Reader's Comments form on the last page of this document requests
the user's critical evaluation to assist us in preparing future documentation.

The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation:
DEC
DECmate
DECnet
DECUS
DECwriter
DIBOL

~amaDmD

MASSBUS
PDP
P/OS
Professional
Rainbow
RSTS
RSX

RT
UNIBUS
VAX
VAXcluster
VMS
VT
Work Processor

Networks and Communications Publications typeset this manual using Digital's
TMS-11 Text Management System.

Contents
1.0
1.2

Release Description
Prerequisites
General Product Notes for Vl.1.

2.0

Installation and Loading Notes.

3.0

Configuration Notes.

4.0

Network Management Notes.

· 3

5.0

Problem Solving Tool Notes

· 3

6.0

How to Report a Problem

· 3

1.1

III

1.0 Release Description
This release is for DECnet Router Server software Version 1.1 which runs on Digital's
Ethernet Communications Server (DECSA). It supports Phase IV DECnet, Ethernet
Communications, the DEUNA device controller, and up to 16 synchronous or 32
asynchronous point-to-point connections to Phase III or Phase IV DECnet nodes.

1.1

Prerequisites

Your DECnet Router Server requires the following:
• An Ethernet Communications Server with the desired number of M3100, M3101,
and M3102 line cards (LCs).
• An Ethernet cable with RSX or VMS hosts running DECnet Phase IV.
• BC17C. BC17D, BC17E. or BC22E shielded cables.
• Modems to connect the point-to-point lines to existing DEC communications devices. (See Section 1.2.)

1.2 General Product Notes for V1.1
The DECnet Router Server can be installed on VMS hosts, software versions V3.6 or
thereafter, and on RSX-llM/M-PLUS hosts, software versions 4.1/2.1 or thereafter.
The hosts must be running DEC net Phase IV. If your host system has an older system
or DEC net version, you must update it before installing the server.
Synchronous LC lines require cables with shielded clock lines (BC17C, BC17D or
BC17E cables). If you do not use shielded cables, numerous problems may occur due
to crosstalk on these clock lines.
NOTE

Problems have been encountered using 15-foot V.35 cables with
BELL Digital Dataphone Services (DDS) 56K modems. Use 50-foot
cables with these modems.
All line cards that you intend to use must be in place when the system is loaded. You
can hotswap line cards (that is, replace or remove them while the server is running);
however, the server will not recognize any line cards in slots that were empty during
initialization.
To optimize performance, gaps should not be left between line cards. That is, line
cards should be installed consecutively starting with slot 1 and up. Also, all line cards
not intended for use should be unplugged from the server.
A modem or null modem must be used for any high speed line between the DECSA
line cards and other DEC communications devices. No modem is required on RS232
lines between two DECnet Router Servers.

If you are running synchronous lines to DMRll devices, make sure that the DMR is
running in Dl\1R mode and not DMC compatible mode. Timeout errors might result if
the DMRII runs in DMC compatible mode.

The Ethernet Communications Server can contain up to two line card controllers
(called Protocol Assist Modules or PAMs), each supporting a maximum of 8 synchronous or 16 asynchronous lines. The maximum throughput supported by each PAM is
500,000 bits per second. Although it is possible to run the server with two PAMs, each
at its maximum throughput, the total maximum throughput supported by the DECnet Router Server is f)OO,OOO bits per second.

2.0 Installation and Loading Notes
To load the DECnet Router Server, service must be enabled on the loading host's
UNA circuit. To do this on VMS host systems, you must turn the circuit off, enable
service, and set the circuit back on. Consult your documentation if you have any
questions.
If you want to see event information that is generated by the server, you must enable
the logging console and/or the logging monitor on the host system. If you do not
receive events on the host, enable the monitor/console event logging.

3.0 Configuration Notes
Read Chapters 1, 2, and 4 of the DECnet Router S()ftu'are Installation Guide before
loading the server. Read these chapters carefully to avoid missing steps during installation. Read Chapter :J if you need to design or reconfigure your network. That chapter explains how to include Ethernet and area routing support.
Change the parameters in the server's configuration files to match the requirements of
your network. Try to get the parameters to the closest values you need. Large differences will waste the resources of your server. Refer to the DECnet Router Software
Installation Guide if you do not understand the meaning of a parameter. Make sure
that the configuration files you edit are readable from the PLUTO account on the
loading host. If they are not world readable, they must be owned by the PLUTO
account and must be owner readable.
Make sure that the MAXIMUM BROADCAST ROUTERS parameter of the router
configuration file contains a value large enough to include all routing nodes on the
Ethernet. If it is not large enough, there is a problem with DECnet-VAX which will
cause some nodes to appear to be reachable although communications will not be
allowed to those nodes.
If you reinstall the DEC net Router on the host, configuration files already in place
will be superseded by the default configuration files supplied in the software distribution kit. If you have already edited the configuration files and then performed another
installation, you must reedit the configuration files.

The commands in the configuration files have the same format as network management commands, but are not accepted by network management. Configuration commands are accepted and interpreted by the initialization tasks.
2

4.0

Network Management Notes

Only one network management connection can be handled by the server at a time. If a
second remote request is issued, the second user will receive an "object too busy" or
"network resources" message.
You can loop from the server over any circuit. You can also loop to the server's
DEUNA on the Ethernet. However, the server cannot service incoming loop circuit
requests on the LC circuits and cannot answer multicast loop requests on the Ethernet.
When performing loop node tests on the server's LC circuits (such as the type used in
the installation checkout command procedures), the return path of the message from
the adjacent node must be via the LC circuit. (The adjacent node may also be
connected to the Ethernet, in which case the loop test message could return to the
server via the Ethernet. The test will fail if the message returns via the Ethernet.) To
ensure that the message returns over the LC circuit, make the cost of returning to the
server lower on the LC circuit than on the Ethernet circuit.

5.0 Problem Solving Tool Notes
The remote console facility (RCF) must be run from an RSX-I1M V4.1 or
RSX-llM-PLUS V2.1 host (or a later version), with DECnet-RSX V4.0N2.0, or on a
VMS V3.6 host (or a later version). (Note that on DECnet-RSX systems, RCF is also
known as the Console Carrier Requester or CCR. RCF will not work on previous
releases. The host must be on the same Ethernet. Also, we have observed occasional
problems in-house when using RCF. The Router may halt or crash (and up-line
dump) when the console carrier microcode is loaded. This problem will be fixed in a
future release. If you need to use the console carrier to force a crash, see Chapter 3 of
the DECnet Router Software Management Guide.

6.0 How to Report a Problem
When completing a Software Performance Report (SPR), describe one problem at a
time. This simplifies record keeping and facilitates a quick response.
Problems are often difficult to reproduce. Therefore, define as precisely and simply as
possible the state of the server and network when the problem occurred. Illustrate a
general problem with one or more examples. When an SPR contains concise information about a problem, it is easier to reproduce the problem and, therefore, to correct
the problem.

In addit.ion, please ensure that questions are direct and simply stated so that they
may be answered appropriately.
When reporting problems, supply as much of the following information as possible:
.• A machine-readable medium containing a copy of the crash dump file and the
server's configuration files.
• Any pertinent console output from the server's loading host.
• Any information requested for submission of problem reports relative to the host
operating system.
• The modem or type of local connection being used between the server and the nodes
connected by its point-to-point lines.

DECnet Router
Release Notes
AV - Y300B-TK
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AV-Y300B- TK