Emulate a VXT2000

[VAN DYCK Marc]

I still have 4 VXT 2000 here that are getting old (not to speak about the infoserver that boots them) and need replacement. I was recently able to grab 4 unused SUN stations. Any idea about how to best emulate a VXT with those ? They can run Solaris or Linux. Main need is a good terminal emulator that support all the DECterm features. Second to that is keypad and function keys support. Please don't suggest PCs with X-window emulation, those terminals are to be used as master console in computer rooms, I don't want them to crash in my hands at the time I need them the most.

Thanks in advance,

Marc.

[Dieter Rossbach]

What about XDMCP? You get the VMS Window Manager on your Sun Workstation. Keyboard mapping might still be a problem.

Look at TCPIP services management, chapter 19 for the concept of XDMCP and how to set it up.

I do not know if XDMCP is supported on SUN solaris, but it is on Linux.

Dieter

[Willem Grooters]

>Keyboard mapping might still be a problem.

not to forget the keypad and function keys....

I don't know what keyboard type is used on VXT2000, but if it's VMS-style you _will_ have a problem.
Ever thought of (small) Alpha's under VMS or Linux? In that case VMS-style keybords would be no problem.

[VAN DYCK Marc]

XDCMP is not a good solution because it needs a VMS host running somewhere. As this will be a master console, it must be able to perform a cold start of the entire computer room; so it must work standalone, on its own.

OpenVMS stations are not manufactured anymore, I would need to buy a real server
(DS10) with a graphics card. A bit too expensive (unless I find nothing else, that is - in this case, I might just put a graphics board and screen, video and mouse on my console manager system... would it work in a 4000 ?)

Ah, also, I must have someting like the Serial DECterm working too, in order to boot
the console manager system. Just hook its console line to the SUN's serial port...

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Marc.

[Antoniov.]

Hello Marc,
I don't know VTX2000 but a my customer has a VTX1200 very very old so I think problem is similar.
I suggest him use a PC instead VTX1200. A PC with PT525 emulator (avaiable with pathwork32) can:
a) open multiple session as VTX1200
b) can manage LAT & telnet sessions
c) emulates full keyboard
d) it's the unique emulator DEC full compliant

My experience with PC emulation using pt525/pathwork32 (in past I've used also other emulators) is very positive (I use it also as console on some customer).
Next month I think to test also the new thin client (called also WBT, Windows Based Terminal); HP has installed the same emulator.
Also, ericom software (http://ericom.com) has version of this software for all platform type (include MacOS, PC pocket, etc.); I notice you, I've not experience of emulation on Solaris or Linux platform.
At last, ericom (supplied in pathwork32) has also a X-windows terminal but I've not directly experience on it.

H.T.H.
Antoniov

[Martin P.J. Zinser]

Hello Marc,

if you are going the PC route, it might be worth looking around for a "real" keyboard, which would solve the problem of mapping et al. A while (like 10 yrs) back we bought VT-style keyboard for PCs used as Xterms and this was a quite decent solution. I do not remember the manufacturer anymore, but you might be able to hook up one of the new USB VT-keyboards from hp to a PC.

Greetings, Martin

[Willem Grooters]

By Antonio:

At last, ericom (supplied in pathwork32) has also a X-windows terminal but I've not directly experience on it.

I have: It is called eXcusrion, is stable and works fine, even from a Win98 machine (which I would not promnote, better use Win2K (in a domain - more secure and far more stable)). You don't need a very big machine. Only problem you _may_ encounter is (again) keyboard mapping (keypad / function keys). Even better: you can effectively LIMIT the use of connections to certain machines (as seen from VMS!) so it's secure in that aspect as well.

As on Alpha's: depending on your requirements, even a DS10L would probably do, These are cheaper (could be, anyway), and quite a lot are on the market of refurbished systems. Saves you a lot.
(I don't have experience with these machines with DecWindos but I think there wouldn't be a problem. Only problem migh be you've only 1 (PCI) slot but that could well do)

[Antoniov.]

Willem,
thanks for shared your know about excursion.
May be usefull for me.

Antoniov

[VAN DYCK Marc]

Using an unstable, unreliable, unsecure computer as a master console is really not a thing I want to do. We're in a 24x7 business (EFT) and I want to have something that will work when everything else is broken. The PC will be the first to break before everything else. So forget about that.

We will experiment with a Mandrake distribution of Linux that works on a Sparc processor. What I need to find for that is a decent, DECterm compatible, terminal emulator, a correct keymap, and a terminal emulator that can work over the serial line (like windows' hyperterminal). If I can't find that, we will jettison the SUNs and add video board, screen, keyboard, and mouse directly on the Alpha systems used as console managers.

Thank you for the help so far,

Marc.

[Antoniov.]

Hi Marc,
if you need What of "decent, DECterm compatible, terminal emulator", with "correct keymap" and "can work over the serial line", PT525 by ericom is rigth answer. There is no any other emulator so stable a so complete. I used it also as console (serial), for "dummy" customer; you can open emulator at boot of PC, you can remove any menu and button; PT525 is unique emulator that recognize private dec sequence; and it work very fine also on old PC (with win95, win98, winME, etc.); I've installed emutalor on old PC in a factory too and it works very fine.
If you don't want a PC, you can only use old VT terminal or VTX terminal.

Antoniov

[Willem Grooters]

Marc,

I would suggest to use genuine VMS-style keyboards on your Sparc machine, then you'll have to find a Linux driver for it.
If you want a _really_ safe console, I wouldn't think of Linux either, I would spend more money and install a VMS-based machine.

[Martin P.J. Zinser]

Another possibility for console management would be a KVM switch, which allows you to actually be on the console of the various systems. Since all current Alphas I am aware of come at least with standard VGA type of graphics this should work fine. Advantage is that this does not require any network infrastructure, just power. And you can connect a VT Keyboard.

Greetings, Martin

[j1076366]

What valid terminals emulators will run on Windows XP and connect to an ALPHA box in secure shell mode (TTSSH)? What are the costs and which if any emulator is free?

[Willem Grooters]

j1076366 (whoever that may be ;-))
In principle: ANY terminal emulator, at least if you have SSH installed (both VMS (server side) and XP (client side). It comes with 7.3.-2 (I think) and can be downloaded from the HP site. I haven't tried it yet but have heard good reports on this. Fact is, you have to connect to a _local_ port on your XP machine, the SSH client will intercept and tunnel your traffic to the server on VMS (and backwards).
If you have a VMS license and have 7.3-1 SDK, I think you'll have pathworks-CD as well - and you could use Powerterm. For XP, you'll need version 5.5 (5.4 doesn't run on XP). You could try Hyperterm Private edition, but I don't knwo it'll run on XP and is not 100% compatible (but much better than the one delivered with Win9x, NT or W2K)

[Martin P.J. Zinser]

Hi,

well if you are looking for something rock solid, have a look at

http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/

Greetings, Martin

[Willem Grooters]

Marc,
This may be your solution - just ran into it:

http://h71000.www7.hp.com/freeware/freeware60/decxterm
There is a freeware_readme.txt explaining the tool.