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Conference netcad::hub_mgnt

Title:DEChub/HUBwatch/PROBEwatch CONFERENCE
Notice:Firmware -2, Doc -3, Power -4, HW kits -5, firm load -6&7
Moderator:NETCAD::COLELLADT
Created:Wed Nov 13 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:4455
Total number of notes:16761

67.0. "Loading routers from PC's ?" by MONTEZ::MONTEZ (The impossible takes a litle longer...) Tue Oct 20 1992 14:11

	Hi there.

	Times are changing...and times are tough.
	We are trying hard in networks...
	 1 - Implementing multi-protocol routers
	 2 - Pushing OSI , DECnet/OSI , TCP/IP at same time.
	 3 - Pushing DECmcc as a management tool for everything
	 4 - etc, etc, 

	We are trying hard...but it's not enough.

	Some key features are missing, namely:
	 1 - Load hosts for routers, gateways, terminal servers.

	If we have a small lan with PC's and/or SCO's you need to
 	have a VMS hosts or a ULTRIX hosts to load the router ou terminal
	server.
	
	Normally the price of the VMS or ULTRIX host is higher than the
	router itself or than the all nodes in the lan (if pc's).

	The solve that problem we could use :
	  1 - Local load from ( hard disk, diskette ).
	  2 - Load from RAM ( FLASH RAM? ).
	  3 - Remote down-load.
	  4 - Load from a PC or SCO.
 
	Every solution is possible and is used by others constructers.
	While, option 1 and 2 implyes hardware changes, (and I understand
	that they are hard to implement now); option 3 and 4 are more realistic
	and simple to implement.

	Remote down-line load, is the cheaper solution , but it could give us
	poor loading times.

	Solution 4 is the fastest, easyest, cheapest and simplest to implement.

	Anyone has a PC !!!!

	We are developing a complete set of networking products for small
	groups ( DECHUB90 ).
	We already have a router that is loaded by a PC. ( EtherRouter )

	Why not LOAD EVERYTHING from a PC ?

	The code that enables that, is basically (if not) all developed.
		( Any PC guru can develop the code in one week 		)
		( Any PC wizard can develop the code in two weeks 	)
		( Any pc expert can develop the code in tree weeks 	)
		( Any pc novice can develop the code in four weeks 	)
		( Any pc aprentice can develop the code in five weeks 	)
		( I could develop the code in seven weeks :-)  		)

	WE NEED URGENTLY LOAD SUPPORT IN PC's FOR DECHUB90 familly and 
	WANrouter90/150/250 !!!!!

	Is there any good news out there ?

	/rgds
	a.m.

ps: Note posted on WANrouter250 and HUB_MGMT
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
67.1Some ideas...NAC::D_NELSONDave Nelson LKG2-2/BB9 226-5358Tue Oct 20 1992 16:4915
    RE: .0
    
    We currently load terminal servers (e.g. DECserver 90TL) from PCs.
    Either via MOP (as part of PATHWORKS for DOS) or via BOOTP/TFTP 
    (as part of SCO Unix).  The DOS loader is decicated, i.e. the PC
    can't do anything else while it is acting as load host.  The SCO
    BOOTP server does not have this restriction.
    
    All our terminal servers load via MOP.  The DS90TL and DS700 also load
    via BOOTP/TFTP.
    
    Regards,
    
    Dave
    
67.2DECNET SCO another optionCGOS01::DMARLOWEPDP 11: MOV -(PC),-(PC)Tue Oct 27 1992 16:393
    But with DECNET for SCO, SPD 34.21, you can also load with MOP.
    
    dmm
67.3There will be a DOS download for WANrouterEMDS::SEAVERLENAC Net Mgnt Mktg 223-4573Mon Nov 30 1992 22:127
    Good queston.  You will find the Lee HERON::KNOCH has taken up the
    cause of a load from a PC.  Lee can probably best give you the current
    status.  All I know is some people do not seem to understand how many
    PCs there are out there.  I am told that one of the engineers in my
    group has been told to do a DOS download utility, but I do not believe
    it is scheduled yet.  (PS- this engineer clearly understands what is
    needed.  He is an Atari freak and has used PCs for many years).
67.4NO! WR cannot be DLL from DOS MOP todayHERON::KNOCHLife is Uncertain; Eat Dessert First!Thu Feb 04 1993 07:14139
Since I've gotten 2 requests for this information this week (...) I am posting 
the current status here. 

WANrouters CANNOT be loaded from DOS PC's using MOP. WANrouters are "Phase 
V" systems which means that after configuration (on a VMS or Ultrix system 
ONLY), you end up with 3 files that need to be DLLoaded: a system image, a 
parameters file and a management file (I may have the names mixed up but 
you end up with three files in any event). The version of MOP that we ship 
on PC's can ONLY DLL 1 file. 

You CANNOT load WANrouters from SCO UNIX either, contrary to what was 
mentioned earlier in this note (this note asked about ROUTERS, not terminal 
servers...). They are not the same...

MOP has been upgraded ON VMS AND ULTRIX ONLY to support multiple file DLL. 
MOP has NOT been upgraded for PC's.

Last week the DECNIS engineers successfully demonstrated a patch by first 
compressing the load images into one file and DLLing it from a DOS PC  into
the DECNIS where it was decompressed into all its component parts. I  sent
mail to our local contact inquiring whether this  feature was available for
WANrouters  but have not heard back yet.

It has been reported that you can DLL the WR images using TCP/IP BOOTP/TFTP 
but I have not tried it and DEC does not ship any s/w which includes a 
TCP/IP BOOTP/TFTP boot module. I have heard that you can buy this from FTP 
systems but again, I have not verified that it works.

Please send your requests to Bill Seaver (EMDS::) requesting this feature 
so that engineering doesn't forget about it's importance. IMO it is 
critical that we have DOS load of WANrouters.

I would be immensely happy to hear this is now available!

The following are some mails I've gotten that explain some more details.

Regards
Lee

From:	DELNI::SHORES "Andrew Shores...CBN Product Management...226-5078  29-Sep-1992 1141" 29-SEP-1992 16:44:10.17
To:	@DOSLOAD.DIS
CC:	SHORES
Subj:	DOS Loading for WANrouters

Subject: DOS Loading for WANrouters
From:    Andrew Shores
         CBN Product Management
         226-5078
To:      See Below
CC:      See Below

Greetings, 

Thanks to everyone for their input on DOS loading for the WANrouters. As 
indicated by Lee Knoch, we will provide the ability to place the configured 
WANrouter software into the DOS format, which can then be copied to the remote 
offices and loaded locally onto the WANrouters from PCs. (The software must 
first be configured on a VMS or ULTRIX system as is now the case.) We will 
test and verify this procedure and then document it in Release Notes and 
notify the field via a Sales Flash. Hopefully, this functionality will be 
ready by FRS of V1.1.

Providing the ability to configure and manage the WANrouters without a VMS or
ULTRIX system is a task of much greater magnitude, partly because NCL is not
available on DOS, which precludes network management of the routers from a 
DOS system. We will weigh the costs and benefits of providing this 
functionality when preparing the requirements for any future release of the 
software, as part of our ongoing attempt to add the most value possible with 
limited engineering resources. Please be sure to contact us regarding any other
WANrouter suggestions or concerns.

Regards,

Andy

To: Torbjorn Lissdaniels
    Lee Knoch
    Graham Hardy
    Stef Duin
    Andy Bray
    Ritva Siren
    Elisabeth Sivertsen
    Jan De Vries 
    Phillipe Roux 

CC: Steve Price
    Elliot Gerberg
    John Forino
    Alice Hassey
    Karen Coughlin
    Bill Seaver

From:	NAME: LEE KNOCH @VBO                
	FUNC: DS TIG                          
	TEL: DTN 828-5633                     <KNOCH.LEE AT A1NSTC at VALMTS at VBO>
To:	seaver @emds @vaxmail
Subj:	I wonder if the WANrouter folk know this?

    
From:	NAME: GIDDINGS <GIDDINGS@MARVIN@MRGATE@VALMTS@VBO>
Date:	13-Oct-1992
Posted-date: 12-Oct-1992
Precedence: 1
Subject: RE: DOS load of DECNIS
To:	KNOCH.LEE@A1NSTC

	Lee,

	The reason why PC MOP cannot support it at present is that
	it requires support for the loading of "management File"
	or "CMIP file" to be added to PC MOP. Not a particulary difficult
	task. The limitation would be that the Router must have a Phase IV
	address, not an unreasonable request. If the WANrouter 90 has
	commited to adding this functionality in a standard manner then it
	will also work for DECNIS. Simply a question of priorities.

	David


From:	DELNI::SHORES       "Andrew Shores...CBN Product Management...226-5078" 19-OCT-1992 18:39:31.26
To:	HERON::KNOCH, MARVIN::GIDDINGS, BONNET::LISSDANIELS
CC:	TOOK::FORINO,SHORES
Subj:	RE: DOS Loading of WANrouter (from John Forino, Engineering Manager)

From:	TOOK::FORINO       "John Forino, DTN 226-7585, LKG1-3/L06" 19-OCT-1992 12:31:31.56
To:	DELNI::SHORES
CC:	
Subj:	RE: Will this DOS MOP limitation be a problem for us too?

Andrew,
	I checked with both the DOS and SCO UNIX folks.  Neither support
the management file attribute in there MOP implementations.  THerefore,
they cannot be used to load any Phase 5 routers as the products stand
right now.  I found this out last week.
	I won't speak for DECNIS but in our case we may be able to request
the tertiary loader file (which both DOS and SCO support) if we don't get
a reply when we ask for the management file.  This would be after V1.1
is done though.
						John
67.5Yes you can!HERON::KNOCHLife is Uncertain; Eat Dessert First!Wed Feb 10 1993 15:2984
YES! You can DLL a WR or DECNIS from DOS.

Enjoy!
Lee


From:	DELNI::SHORES "Andrew Shores...CBN Product Management...226-5078  09-Feb-1993 1533"  9-FEB-1993 21:35:38.30
To:	@DOSLOAD.DIS
CC:	SHORES
Subj:	Update on DOS Loading for WANrouters


Subject: Update on DOS Loading for WANrouters
From:    Andrew Shores
         CBN Product Management
         226-5078
Date:    February 9, 1993
To:      See Below
CC:      See Below

Greetings, 

John Forino (WANrouter Engineering Manager) has confirmed that
the new version of DOS MOP can down line load the preconfigured WANrouter
image, configuration file, and management file. The WANrouter files must
first be configured on an ULTRIX or VAX system at a central site. This 
procedure relies on the newly available enhanced version of DOS MOP rather 
than the compression technique used by Peter Higginson for DOS loading the 
DECNIS. 

For instructions on how to DOS load your WANrouters, refer to Note 155 in the
conference TOOK::WANROUTER250, or contact the DOS MOP Engineer, Cindy
Schlener (RANGER::SCHLENER).

We recognize that the ability to both configure and load WANrouters from DOS
is a key requirement as we move off base into PC LANs. Accordingly, DOS 
support is high on the priority list for WANrouter 90/150/250 V2.0:

   IPX
   Appletalk
   PPP
   DOS Support

Regards,

Andy

To: Torbjorn Lissdaniels
    Lee Knoch
    Graham Hardy
    Stef Duin
    Andy Bray
    Ritva Siren
    Elisabeth Sivertsen
    Jan De Vries 
    Phillipe Roux 
    Didier Szmulewicz
    Christian Prud'homme
    Jean-Paul Crozet

CC: Steve Price
    Elliot Gerberg
    John Forino
    Alice Hassey
    Karen Coughlin
    Bill Seaver

            <<< TOOK::WORK$40:[NOTES$LIBRARY]WANROUTER250.NOTE;1 >>>
                        -< DEC WANrouter 150/250 V1.0 >-
================================================================================
Note 155.0              Who wants to DOS load a WANrouter             No replies
TOOK::FORINO                                         11 lines   3-FEB-1993 23:56
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    For all you folks desperate to have some way of loading a WANrouter
    from a DOS system contact Cindy Schlener at RANGER::SCHLENER.
    
    She has a version of MOP on DOS that will load the management
    file as will as the system image.  Remember you still have to
    do all your configuration work on a VMS or ULTRIX system and
    copy the files over to your DOS node.
    
    As they say "Some restriction apply".
    
    						John
67.6Fine print...HERON::KNOCHLife is Uncertain; Eat Dessert First!Thu Feb 11 1993 15:1134
Well, unfortunately there is "fine print"... Seems like MOP is in field test 
code for Pathworks , and no more external sites are being accepted... 

Lee


From:	RANGER::SCHLENER     "Exhaustion = 100 miles of road to bike + several hungry dogs" 11-FEB-1993 17:58:40.22
To:	HERON::KNOCH
CC:	
Subj:	RE: Cindy, what restrictions apply?


					2/11/93
	
	To anyone interested in testing MOP load/dump server for DOS (V5.0), 
in order to do so you must become an internal field test site for Pathworks 
for DOS V5.0 (or Pathworks for Windows V5.0). The MOP server runs as either a
foreground process in DOS or it can run in a DOS box in Windows.

MOP.exe will not be given out randomly but will be tracked via the field test
coordinator. It can not be given out to customers and currently they ( whomever
they are) are not accepting anymore external field test sites.

So if you are interested in becoming an internal field test site, contact
Adrienne Denault (LJOHUB::LJOHUB) for information.

If you do become a site feel free to send suggestions to me, Cindy Schlener
(RANGER::SCHLENER), concerning MOP. If you have problems with MOP, you need
to use the official problem tracking system (whatever that may be...) but you
can also send the problem to me.

Thanks.
				Cindy