topic Re: DCL & CGI in Operating System - OpenVMS

DCL & CGI

Manny DeAssis — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:39:57 GMT

Where can I obtain information on how to incorporate DCL procedures into usable CGI scripts? I want to be able to execute DCL procedures/commands via Apache (CSWS) on OVMS. (ie: '$ show system' -or- '$ show process' , etc)

Re: DCL & CGI

Jeremy Begg — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:15:05 GMT

Have a look at Alan Winston's book, "OpenVMS with Apache, OSU and WASD" (Digital Press, 2003, ISBN 1-55558-264-8). Lots of useful information there about webserving on OpenVMS.

Is there any particular reason you chose Apache? If not, have a look at WASD - a webserver written specifically for OpenVMS with great support and lots of unique features including full support for DCL as CGI and higher performance than all other VMS webservers.
http://wasd.vsm.com.au/

Regards,
Jeremy Begg

Re: DCL & CGI

Willem Grooters — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:46:23 GMT

CGI is typically just a script executed by the webserver, and it''s written in a command language that the system understands. On OpenVMS, that is DCL.

So actually: a CGI procedure on VMS IS a DCL procedure. You have to take care of a few things though. A CGI procededure typically runs under the webserver user. For CSWS that is APACHE$WWW. This is a 'normal' user without privileges, which complicates things a bit. But $SHOW SYSTEM would not be a problem

Re: DCL & CGI

Mario Dhaenens — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:49:46 GMT

Hi,

I have uploaded an example of a CGI script that can be used on VMS.

/Toine

Re: DCL & CGI

Hoff — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:14:31 GMT

DCL works.

Here's probably the simplest example:

http://labs.hoffmanlabs.com/node/277

I've also included a chapter on this topic in the second edition of the Writing Real Programs in DCL Book. That book is out of print, though copies do show up occasionally. ISBN 1-55558-191-9.

For non-trivial displays and operations and sequences, DCL is comparatively more involved here than using php or Perl or other languages. With DCL, you're rolling your own CGI environment and tools, where other environments have mechanisms and libraries and assists available to programmers.

http://labs.hoffmanlabs.com/node/928

Other approaches for remote data collection here include SNMP (installed via SMH or such) and remote monitoring tools.

http://labs.hoffmanlabs.com/node/1117

Re: DCL & CGI

Manny DeAssis — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:00:04 GMT

Thanks guys. This information is helpful and appears to be a good start. Any more questions and I know who to turn to.

Re: DCL & CGI

Manny DeAssis — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:00:57 GMT

Re: DCL & CGI

Peter Weaver_1 — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:51:48 GMT

I'm a bit late to the party since I don't get out here much, but you might want to check out http://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.vms/browse_frm/thread/f753a86df523d7d8# - the thread is titled "Stupid DCL Tricks revisited - Bar and Pie Charts in DCL"