Pathworks on VMS 8.3

[robert70]

Recently upgraded an Alpha DS20E
It used to run VMS 7.3-2 and Pathworks 6.0C
Now when upgraded to VMS8.3 I get this message when trying to startup Pathworks.

$ DAVE:SYSTEM> @sys$startup:pwrk$startup
%SYSMAN-I-NODERR, error returned from node DAVE
-SYSTEM-W-SYSVERDIF, system version mismatch; please relink
%SYSMAN-I-NODERR, error returned from node DAVE
-SYSTEM-W-SYSVERDIF, system version mismatch; please relink
%PWRK-F-NOSUCHDEV, could not load PCFS driver; cannot start PATHWORKS

What do I need to do to get round this?
do i need to install new pathworks software?
re-link what?

Many Thanks

[Hoff]

Yes. You will need to upgrade PATHWORKS Server, or move to Advanced Server, or replace it all with HP CIFS.

Here's some old documentation on this stuff:

http://www.openvms.compaq.com/doc/732final/6668/6668pro_001.html

And based on that, it appears that you were down-revision when you started this sequence. Yes, if you want to stay with PATHWORKS Server, you'll need to upgrade.

Here is the CIFS package information, and CIFS is the (free) replacement for both PATHWORKS Server and for Advanced Server packages.

http://h71000.www7.hp.com/network/cifs_for_samba.html

And no, I don't know off-hand of an easy way to figure out what's the most current version (or patch) for any paricular OpenVMS stuff. That determination is (unfortunately) somewhat of a slog.

[Karl Rohwedder]

Info about Pathworks/AdvancedServer is here:
http://h71000.www7.hp.com/pathworks/index.html

The actual version of AdvancedServer is V7.3B with a patchset PS021.

regards Kalle

[Paul Nunez]

PATHWORKS for OVMS won't run on OVMSA 8.x - there are no OVMS 8.x drivers.

So as others have noted, you'll have to migrate to either Advanced Server for OVMS or CIFs for OVMS, with the latter being the preferred option.

However, there is no upgrade/migration path from PATHWORKS for OVMS to CIFS for OVMS.

Thus, I think to get the service back on line ASAP, you should upgrade to Advanced Server first and then plan the migration to CIFS when time allows...

HTH,

Paul

Regards,

Paul

[robert70]

Thanks you all for your comments/suggestions
I will upgrade to Advandced server and then to CIFS to a later date as suggested.
cheers

[John Harper (Barbour)]

Depending on the number of users it way be better to go straight to CIFS as you will need new licences to use Advanced Server 7.3B. We found that that it adds a significant cost to the upgrade.

John

[robert70]

thanks John
We have 20 users - so yes it is a consideration
I take it CIFS is a free product?

[robert70]

John,

We currently have the following licenses
10 of each which work with Pathworks 6.0C

PWLMXXXCA07.02
PWLMXXXCA07.03

Are these no use for Advanced Server 7.3B?

[Karl Rohwedder]

The V7.03 license should work with V73B.
Are all user constantly connected? May be you could work around with setting the autodisconnect feature.

regards Kalle

[Paul Nunez]

Only the pwlmxxxca07.03 license will work with Advanced Server.

Divide the number of units by 100 to determine the number of simultaneous users allowed to connect to Advanced Server.

FWIW, there is an "upgrade" license option that gives you some credit for the pwlmxxxca07.02 license (should you decide to stick with Advanced Server).

Yes, CIFs is "free" (it's a port of the OpenSource Samba software) - no license is required to use it.


Paul

[Hoff]

I would not bother upgrading to to Advanced Server from PATHWORKS Server; that's a dead-end upgrade, and if (when?) that stops working, you'll be migrating again.

Acquisition of CIFS itself is free and there are no associated license costs, though there are costs around sorting out the local configuration and there are also operational costs. This is the usual "TANSTAAFL" cost, as is often the case with open source ports, and the CIFS port is no exception here.

As for CIFS, you'll also eventually want (need?) to find your way to the password-protected CIFS patch area (HP folks have posted that URL and the password around the ITRC forums, or you can gain access via HP support), and you'll be working through both the (limited!) VMS CIFS docs and over to the Samba site for (more!) (generic!) documentation.

Aim some Google queries such as /site:itrc.hp.com cifs/ or such at the forums, and dig around for details and patches. Do expect to have to visit the Samba documentation. And don't install the older CIFS stuff; stay with the latest CIFS kits (the older versions of CIFS served to besmirch), and have a look around for the current patches (which have been stored and served separately from the CIFS kit and from the OpenVMS patches) when you get going.

[robert70]

we laso have the following licenses on our system

PWXXWINAT07.02
PWXXWINAT07.03
PWXXWINAT07.04

Are any of these compatible with Advandced Server 7.3B ?

[robert70]

Another problem after the upgrade to Advandced Server 7.3B

$ DAVE:SYSTEM> admin send sandisor test
%PWRK-E-ERRSENMSG, error sending message for computer "SANDISOR"
-LM-E-NERR_NAMENOTFOU, the message alias could not be found on the network

would normally work under Pathworks 6.0C but since the upgrade NET SEND coomand dosent appear to function?

[Paul Nunez]

Hi Robert,

The way the ADMIN SEND command works is it attempts to resolve the NetBIOS name SANDISOR\0x03 to get the IP address of the system to which the message should be sent.

A similar test would be:

$ @sys$startup:pwrk$define_commands
$ nbshow knbstatus sandisor 03

If you don't get a response it could be because the name SANDISOR\0x03 is not registered on the network, most likely because the Messenger service is not running on the Windows client.

From the client on which you expect to receive the message, do:

nbtstat -n

to see the list of NetBIOS names it has registered. Is there an entry for SANDISOR <03>?

If the name has been registered, is that client on the same IP subnet as the Advanced Server? If not, is WINS being used? If yes, it could be a WINS issue too (i.e., the client is using one WINs server while Advanced Server uses another and the 2 WINS servers aren't replicating).

HTH,

Paul

[robert70]

sandisor is on the network and shows up when you do a netsat -a on the PC

how do you know if the Alpha is on the same subnet?

[robert70]

the ip address of pc is
129.94.185.20
and of the Alpha server is
129.94.185.46

we have another Alpha server on the network runing vms 7.3-2 and pathworks 6.0c and the admin send commands to sandisor works perfectly well on that
thanks

[robert70]

the network mask on one alpha is 255.255.255.128 and the other is 255.255.255.0?
would this stop admin send from working?