DECnet/OSI routing configuration

[Mike Homewood]

I have been asked to convert a node to a routing node. The system is running DECnet/OSI. I have very little experience using phace V. How do I configure the node as a routing node?

[Hoff]

There are sections on configuring routing in the DECnet-Plus Network Management manual. It's rather more involved than can be easily provided here, as the conversion required for your network -- in addition to some time in net$configure -- likely also involves various additional steps such as setting up Phase IV-, OSI- and/or IP-based routing.

The DECnet-Plus manuals are here:

http://www.hp.com/go/openvms/doc/

Start with the installation guide and the network management guide. The former covers the basic net$configure stuff and reconfiguring the node, and the latter covers the details of correctly setting up routing.

Yes, I know, that's a whole lot of reading. (Been there. I feel your pain.)

Stephen Hoffman
HoffmanLabs LLC

[Colin Butcher]

Hello Mike,

You'll need a DVNETEXT licence to get routing running. You'll then need to reconfigure DECnet using NET$CONFIGURE in ADVANCED mode and select the appropriate options.

Which version of VMS and DECnet/OSI are you running? If it's DECnet-Plus (Phase V) then you can do routing. If it's before DECnet-Plus (Phase V when the product was called DECnet/OSI) then you can't do host-based routing.

What kind of interfaces are you intending to route through?

In some cases a dedicated router will do a simpler job - see if you can pick up a Routeabout router on the 2nd user market should that be applicable for your situation. Of course, it may be that you want to set up a DS15 or RS2600 as a router because you want DECnet routing and you don't want old or 2nd user hardware.

It's quite difficult to answer without knowing a lot more about your proposed network configuration.

You might find this helpful for some of the background: http://www.downloads.xdelta.co.uk/vmstjv5%20feb2005/decnet%20article%20vms%20tj%20v5%20feb2005.pdf

If you're anywhere near Nashua at the end of May then I 'drecommend that you come to the Symposium: http://h71000.www7.hp.com/symposium/index.html?jumpid=symposium

Cheers, Colin (http://www.xdelta.co.uk).

[Daniel Fernandez Illan]

Hello Mike

As Collin said, yo will need a DVNETEXT license to use routing facilities.

Yo can edit SYS$MANAGER:NET$ROUTING_STARTUP.NCL to modify routing type between endnode, l1router and l2router
(see you NCL>HELP CREATE ROUTING and NCL>HELP ENTITY ROUTING)

Saludos.
Daniel.