Hobbyist DECnet Network - Update

[Robert Armstrong]

  The hobbyist DECnet is actually working - we have now five distinct
locations connected and six or seven machines online 24x7 with a couple
dozen more that are turned on occasionally.  Here's a SHOW NETWORK -

OpenVMS Network status for local node  2.1 LEGATO on 15-DEC-2005 18:40:09.95


             Area   Cost  Hops    Next Hop to Area

               1      4     1      SVA-0     ->  1.13   MIM
               2      0     0      (Local)   ->  2.1    LEGATO
              11      4     1      SVA-0     -> 11.1023 A11RTR
              60     10     1      TCP-0-0   -> 60.664  PDXVAX


        Node          Links  Cost  Hops   Next Hop to Node

     2.7    CODA         0     4     1     SVA-0     ->  2.7    CODA
     2.100  PETEY        0    10     1     TCP-0-1   ->  2.100  PETEY

                Total of 2 nodes.

  You can see a full list of the nodes and descriptions here

	http://www.jfcl.com/Computers/dcn.pdf

We've been using Johnny's HECnet mailing list to communicate

	http://www.update.uu.se/~bqt/hecnet.html

If you'd like to hook up we'd love to have more nodes!

Bob Armstrong

-----Original Message-----
>from: Robert Armstrong [mailto:bob at jfcl.com] 

>I'm interested in setting up a network of hobbyist DEC machines linked 
>together in a DECnet phase IV network.  Why?  I suppose there's no 
>really good reason, but it seems like it would be fun to be able to do 
>"SHOW NET" or "NCP SHOW ACTIVE NODES" and see a whole long list of 
>machines that aren't mine :-)  Besides, it would be a good way to share
>access to real, non-simulated, VMS/RSX/RSTS and even, maybe, TOPS-10 
>or 20, machines.
>
>  Does anyone else agree?  Is anyone else interested in participating?
>
>  I know I'm not the first to think of this; in particular, I've had a 
>few email discussions recently with Johnny Billquist about HECnet,
>
>	http://www.update.uu.se/~bqt/hecnet.html
>
>At some point I'd like to link up with HECnet, but right now Johnny is 
>having ISP problems and it sounds like HECnet is down to one or two 
>nodes.
>
>  Are there any other hobbyist DECnet associations that are going 
> strong?
>
>  As for technology, it seems like the best thing would be to use the 
>Internet as our communications medium.  Nobody wants to pay for 
>point-to-point leased lines anymore, after all.  Multinet, TCPware, and
>even DECNet Phase V all have the ability to send DECnet traffic over IP.  
>Right now I'm leaning towards Multinet - they have a free hobbyist 
>license program, and Multinet can create point-to-point virtual DECnet 
>circuits using UDP packets that can be routed over the Internet.  
>They're simple to set up and administer.
>
>  I have a fair amount of Internet bandwidth available at my location, 
>and I can set aside a VS4000 VLC or model 90 to serve as a dedicated Phase
IV 
>routing node.
>
>Bob Armstrong