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The Question is: VMS Version 4.5 DEC Vax 630 Q5 I have a VAX/VMS 4.5 Microvax II with 16 serial ports on the back plane. I want to use one of the serial ports to communicate with an NT server running server version 4.0 or 5.0 (latest). I thought about TCP/IP, DECnet and serial line point-to-point commu nication methods. The best I think would be to use Async Decnet between the PC and the MicroVax. I am looking for suggestions on the PC side, on what product to use for establishing DECnet on Windows NT. I also would like to know what components are neede d on the MicroVax to establish the DECnet link with Windows NT. Alternative suggestions are welcome. Thanks Ramesh The Answer is : Acquire a DELQA Ethernet controller -- point-to-point serial connections are not usually worth the time and effort, particularly if the systems involved are located within the supported diameter of an Ethernet network. A DEQNA Ethernet controller is another alternative given the vintage of this system, but the DELQA is the prefered controller and the DEQNA itself is not supported starting in the V5.4 and the V5.5 releases of OpenVMS VAX. There is a DECnet stack for Windows NT available as part of the PATHWORKS Client product, though the OpenVMS Wizard would typically recommend the use of IP on both hosts. It might also be simpler and easier (and faster) to replace the circa 1986 MicroVAX II with a more recent VAX system or to OpenVMS Alpha -- the MicroVAX II is the slowest VAX still supported by OpenVMS VAX. The OpenVMS Wizard will assume that you are aware that an operating system release as old as MicroVMS V4.5 (released in 1986) will require an uprade to something rather more current (eg: V5.5 or V7.2), as acquisition of layered product software (such as a TCP/IP stack) will be quite difficult. The OpenVMS Wizard is not in a position to recommend PC products.
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