1 INFO-VAX	Wed, 22 Nov 2006	Volume 2006 : Issue 642       Contents:
 RE: DLT-V4! Re: Educational VMS IA64 licenses ! Re: Educational VMS IA64 licenses ! Re: Educational VMS IA64 licenses G Re: End of life question for VAX 3100-96 and Alphaserver 5/533 question G Re: End of life question for VAX 3100-96 and Alphaserver 5/533 question G Re: End of life question for VAX 3100-96 and Alphaserver 5/533 question ( increase in spam and what to do about it, Re: increase in spam and what to do about it, Re: increase in spam and what to do about it, Re: increase in spam and what to do about it$ Re: Is HP trying to kill VMS again ?$ Re: Is HP trying to kill VMS again ?$ Re: Is HP trying to kill VMS again ?$ Re: Is HP trying to kill VMS again ?$ Re: Is HP trying to kill VMS again ?$ Re: Is HP trying to kill VMS again ?$ Re: Is HP trying to kill VMS again ?$ Re: Is HP trying to kill VMS again ?$ Re: Is HP trying to kill VMS again ? Re: OpenVMS Clustering Question  Re: OpenVMS Support Issues Re: OpenVMS Support IssuesC Re: Problem connecting to SSH, OpenVMS7.3-2, HP TCP/IP v5.4 patched C Re: Problem connecting to SSH, OpenVMS7.3-2, HP TCP/IP v5.4 patched  Problem with CMS MOB LIB* Re: Purpose of uppercasing a RUN command ?. Re: Question: Can anyone write device drivers/ Re: Strategies for time offsets ' Re: Trying to use ZLIB in a PERL script 2 Re: Using SYS$INPUT for input into an FTP command.  Re: volume shadowing over LAVC ?  Re: volume shadowing over LAVC ?  Re: volume shadowing over LAVC ?  Re: volume shadowing over LAVC ?  Re: volume shadowing over LAVC ? Re: Who called me? Re: Who called me?  F ----------------------------------------------------------------------  % Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:59:23 -0500 , From: <Barry.Treahy@EmersonNetworkPower.com> Subject: RE: DLT-V4 M Message-ID: <63A4454BFCE1C048B2683DBB63A36333F545F6@ETP-CIN-US-EX01.etp1.com>   ? Using the Quantum VS160 on CHARON-VAX and it works just fine...    V4100$ sh dev/full dlt_tape  =20 F Magtape $99$MKB100: (V4100), device type QUANTUM DLT VS160, is online, record- D     oriented device, file-oriented device, error logging is enabled,
 controllerH     supports compaction (compaction  enabled,), device supports fastskip (per_io      .  =20 <     Error count                    2    Operations completed 8617070 1     Owner process                 ""    Owner UIC  [VMS,SYSTEM]0     Owner process ID        00000000    Dev Prot S:RWPL,O:RWPL,G:R,W ;     Reference count                0    Default buffer size  512 .     Density                  unknown    Format	 Normal-11 $     Allocation class              99 =20 G   Volume status:  no-unload on dismount, beginning-of-tape, odd parity.  =20  V4100$  ' Barry Treahy, Jr                    =20  Vice President/CIO Midwest Microwave, Inc. , Emerson Network Power Connectivity Solutions, E-mail: Barry.Treahy@EmersonNetworkPower.com Phone: 480/314-1320  Cell:     480/216-9568 Fax:     480/661-7028  =20 /                        ... but it's a DRY HEAT!    -----Original Message-----G From: Eric Dittman [mailto:dittman@narnia.int.dittman.net] On Behalf Of  dittman@dittman.net ) Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2006 11:25 AM  To: Info-VAX@Mvb.Saic.Com  Subject: DLT-V4   A Has anyone tried a Quantum DLT-V4 drive on a VMS system (Alpha or 	 Itanium)?  If so, what were the results?   H I emailed Quantum tech support and they said I would have to contact the' vendor as they are unfamiliar with VMS.  --=20  Eric Dittman dittman@dittman.net    ------------------------------  % Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 13:44:47 -0800 , From: "Malcolm Dunnett" <dunnett@mala.bc.ca>* Subject: Re: Educational VMS IA64 licenses Message-ID: <456372cd$1@flight>   F "Stephen Hoffman" <Hoff@HoffmanLabs-RemoveThis-.Org> wrote in message " news:ejvfgv$27s$1@pyrite.mv.net... >   >   Heard back from the Deity... > L >   The hobbyist OpenVMS I64 licenses being returned now appear to have the H > correct product name.  The OpenVMS I64 base license PAK that was just B > returned from the request was one of the expected license PAKs. E > Specifically, the OPENVMS-I64-FOE foundation operating environment  
 > license. > I >   As for the educational license program, try that again (and load the  ; > current LMF ECO, just for grins) and see if it works now.   L There doesn't appear to be a "current" LMF patch kit for VMS 8.3. The one I  tried earlier today was a kit L for VMS 8.2, which normally refuses to install on 8.3. I manually extracted % the images from the kit and installed L them in the appropriate locations to see if it would make a difference ( it 	 didn't ).    >   J  I've just tried the OPENVMS EDU site again and it still returns only the   OPENVMS-I64-EDUOE license, which) VMS 8.3 doesn't recognize as being valid.   M I also tried the hobbyist site and received an OPENVMS-I64-FOE license which   works as expected.  L Hoff, could you please pass this information on to the Deity and/or ask the  Deity to contact me directly at dunnett(at)mala.bc.ca   Thanks for your help.    ------------------------------    Date: 21 Nov 2006 13:58:38 -0800 From: davidc@montagar.com * Subject: Re: Educational VMS IA64 licensesC Message-ID: <1164146318.108201.171470@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>    Malcolm Dunnett wrote:E > First of all, thank you to the folks who added IA64 licenses to the  > openvmsedu website.  > L > Unfortunately I downloaded one of these (OPENVMS-I64-EDUOE) onto my RX2600K > running VMS 8.3 but it doesn't appear to be recognized, I get the "no VMS ) > license active" errors when I boot VMS.  > N > I presume VMS doesn't know to check for the "EDUOE" type license, is there a > patch to enable this?   E It was told that was an acceptable license, specific for the EDU (and F includes a number of products under that umbrella).  I will update theA license generation to deliver the OPENVMS-I64-FOE license.  Other B features that are needed can be included with the Layered Products= licenses (some of which are part of the other *OE's, anyway).   E I'll drop you an E-mail shortly after this is posted letting you know  it's been updated.   ------------------------------    Date: 21 Nov 2006 14:35:53 -0800 From: davidc@montagar.com * Subject: Re: Educational VMS IA64 licensesA Message-ID: <1164148553.119546.3880@j44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>    davidc@montagar.com wrote:G > I'll drop you an E-mail shortly after this is posted letting you know  > it's been updated.  G And the updates have been made. Both Edu and Hobbyist should be working B as expected now.  If anyone has any new issues, please let me know! (directly by e-mail is prefered).    ------------------------------  % Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 11:44:52 -0800  From: foo@bar.com P Subject: Re: End of life question for VAX 3100-96 and Alphaserver 5/533 question8 Message-ID: <aml6m2h9qrjdd3h33nt0ccm46ev4vcul91@4ax.com>  3 On Tue, 21 Nov 2006 13:02:36 -0500, Stephen Hoffman ) <Hoff@HoffmanLabs-RemoveThis-.Org> wrote:    >foo@bar.com wrote: 8 >> Does anybody know when the official end of life (whenI >> Digital/Compaq/HP stopped providing maintenance) to the above machines I >> was? Also when was the end-of-life for the Vax architecture as a whole  >> (hardware, not software)? >  > J >   Hardware service status like this traditionally depended on the input F >and participation of the local or regional HP service office, and on + >what is negotiated with the service folks.  > : >   The MicroVAX 3100 model 96 is a comparatively new VAX. > J >   I'm not sure which AlphaServer is involved here, as there are several G >EV56-based systems at 533 MHz around -- AlphaServer 1200, AlphaServer  H >4000, AlphaServer 4100, and maybe others?  These are mid-vintage Alpha 	 >systems.  > F >   The general assumption I'd make is "at least five years" from the D >original purchase, but it could easily be longer.  There were some J >ancient PDP systems that were continuing with formal support for seeming J >eons...  Check with your service office, and with whomever is supporting  >the particular box. > G >   There are folks that may well be willing to assist with this other  H >than HP, as well -- folks that specialize in keeping older gear going, G >or providing a path to move older gear forward.  Whether to newer old  F >hardware, to CHARON-VAX or such, or to newer systems and/or to newer  >architectures.   E Thanks. This is for a client's BCP plan and I am concerned when I see C mission-critical systems running on vintage hardware (Hey, I bought . some 3100-40s for $10 each about 5 years ago).* ------------------------------------------C NO, use John Mee3 at comcast dot net (remove the spaces and do the  # obvious with the "dot" and the "at"    ------------------------------  % Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:07:22 -0500 ' From: Dave Froble <davef@tsoft-inc.com> P Subject: Re: End of life question for VAX 3100-96 and Alphaserver 5/533 question9 Message-ID: <b9OdnWdnk-lOP_7YnZ2dnUVZ_vOdnZ2d@libcom.com>   / Phillip Helbig---remove CLOTHES to reply wrote: F > In article <aml6m2h9qrjdd3h33nt0ccm46ev4vcul91@4ax.com>, foo@bar.com
 > writes:  > H >> Thanks. This is for a client's BCP plan and I am concerned when I see8 >> mission-critical systems running on vintage hardware  > F > Think of it as (your) job security.  :-)  Seriously, it might not beH > such a bad idea.  Old DEC kit was solid as a rock.  Remember the storyF > about someone welding his VAX shut?  ("Why would I ever need to openB > it?")  Since a mission-critical system must be able to withstandH > (partial) hardware failure, why not just stock up on enough spares to 8 > last for decades and replace failed units when needed? >   H Do you know of a source for MicroVAX 3100 models 96 and 98 systems?  My G experience is that these are highly prized, partly for the reasons you  & state, and finding them isn't so easy.  F As for maintenance, Nemonix is suppost to be able to work on them.  I J have an issue with them right now, so I'm not endorsing them at this time.   --  4 David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450> Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef@tsoft-inc.com DFE Ultralights, Inc.  170 Grimplin Road  Vanderbilt, PA  15486    ------------------------------    Date: 21 Nov 2006 19:42:19 -0800, From: "Stanley F. Quayle" <quayle@pobox.com>P Subject: Re: End of life question for VAX 3100-96 and Alphaserver 5/533 questionB Message-ID: <1164166939.554148.38320@h54g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>   foo@bar.com wrote:G > Thanks. This is for a client's BCP plan and I am concerned when I see 6 > mission-critical systems running on vintage hardware  9 [Shameless Plug Alert (tm) -- I am a CHARON-VAX reseller]   = That 3100 can be replaced very easily by a CHARON-VAX system:   '    http://www.stanq.com/charon-vax.html   G And maintenance on a ProLiant server [no, I don't a percentage of that]  is very easy and inexpensive.   8 The AlphaServer might be replaceable by CHARON-AXP, too.   ------------------------------  + Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 22:41:54 +0000 (UTC) P From: helbig@astro.multiCLOTHESvax.de (Phillip Helbig---remove CLOTHES to reply)1 Subject: increase in spam and what to do about it $ Message-ID: <ejvvbh$bh2$6@online.de>  G Has anyone else noticed a large increase in spam in the last few weeks? I In particular, I'm getting a large number of messages with [SPAM] in the  D subject line, which is NOT being provided by any filtering under my  control.  G I'm using some of the anti-spam features of TCPIP 5.4, but not the RBL  D stuff.  Does it work OK?  Does the configuration need to be updated G often?  What is the chance of getting legitimate (i.e. non-spam) email  F from a machine on a RBL list?  Are the entries on the list only those I who have sent spam, or do they include for example ranges of volatile IP   addresses?    H I think a lot of spam today comes from virus-infected PCs.  Presumably, ? someone could send a legitimate email from such a PC as well.     I In the past, most email addresses used as spam recipients were harvested  B from usenet and the web.  These days, I think they are gleaned by F viruses from PCs or found through dictionary attacks.  In both cases, I spam-blocking one's email address doesn't provide the protection it once   did.  D Is there some place one can send spam and hope that charges will be I filed against the spammer?  Sounds too good to be true, but I have heard  C of such things.  (Easier would be just to set up an email account,  G collect the spam and press charges, rather than rely on people sending   in their spam.)    ------------------------------  + Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:35:06 -0600 (CST) * From: sms@antinode.org (Steven M. Schweda)5 Subject: Re: increase in spam and what to do about it 2 Message-ID: <06112117350642_2020028F@antinode.org>  P From: helbig@astro.multiCLOTHESvax.de (Phillip Helbig---remove CLOTHES to reply)  I > Has anyone else noticed a large increase in spam in the last few weeks?       Not I.  Just the usual.  I > I'm using some of the anti-spam features of TCPIP 5.4, but not the RBL  F > stuff.  Does it work OK?  Does the configuration need to be updated I > often?  What is the chance of getting legitimate (i.e. non-spam) email   > from a machine on a RBL list?   ;    Seems to.  I haven't updated mine in a long time.  Slim.   -    It adds messages like these to the stream:   8 %%%%%%%%%%%  OPCOM  21-NOV-2006 17:39:31.73  %%%%%%%%%%%! Message from user INTERnet on ALP C INTERnet ACP SMTP Accept Request from Host: 85.50.44.106 Port: 1488   8 %%%%%%%%%%%  OPCOM  21-NOV-2006 17:39:34.39  %%%%%%%%%%%# Message from user TCPIP$SMTP on ALP G TCPIP-W-SMTP_CLNTINRBL, client IP address 85.50.44.106 matched RBL list   + >   Are the entries on the list only those  K > who have sent spam, or do they include for example ranges of volatile IP   > addresses?  *    Probably depends on whose list you use.  J > I think a lot of spam today comes from virus-infected PCs.  Presumably, ? > someone could send a legitimate email from such a PC as well.   B    No doubt.  Unlikely, as most Windows desktop systems pass theirA legitimate e-mail through a legitimate e-mail server, rather than G sending it themselves.  I tend to reject all the IP address space I can D find which involves, for example, aol.com, charter.com, comcast.net,? hinet.net, interbusiness.it, pacbell.net, rima-tde.net, rr.com, H sbcglobal.net, telecomitalia.it, ttnet.net.tr, verizon.net, vsnl.net.in,C wanadoo.fr, and China in general.  (Also South America and Africa.)   F > Is there some place one can send spam and hope that charges will be # > filed against the spammer?  [...]   H    Charges?  Surely you jest.  You can complain to the sender's ISP, andE hope for the best.  I would not hold my breath waiting for the PLA to G send tanks to the homes of every compromised Windows system in the PRC.   H ------------------------------------------------------------------------  3    Steven M. Schweda               sms@antinode-org 4    382 South Warwick Street        (+1) 651-699-9818    Saint Paul  MN  55105-2547    ------------------------------   Date: 22 Nov 2006 02:07:45 GMT( From: bill@cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon)5 Subject: Re: increase in spam and what to do about it / Message-ID: <4shpngFvctltU1@mid.individual.net>   8 In article <7d7b6$45639ef8$cef8887a$10159@teksavvy.com>,0 	JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@teksavvy.com> writes:1 > Phillip Helbig---remove CLOTHES to reply wrote: J >> Has anyone else noticed a large increase in spam in the last few weeks? >  > > W > http://news.com.com/Tis+the+season+to+send+spam/2100-7349_3-6136901.html?tag=nefd.top  >  > P > Very interesting article on spam volumes increasing for this christmas season. > K > The volumes are now up to 819 terabytes of spam per day, compared to 275   > per day a year ago.  > N > Researchers found evidence that about 73,000 computers in 166 countries are K > part of the SpamThru botnet, adding up to a mighty spam cannon. (This is  J > some virus which transform an innocent PC in to a member of a centrally J > controlled spamming network whene central servers provide templates etc. > G > I can attest to the "cannon" thing. When spam hits my machine, it is  E > usually in bursts lasting a few minutes con constant call attempts.  > K > Reducing the number of concurent sessiosn my SMTO server will handle has  I > reduced the attacks. After two calls, the subquent ones fail until the  7 > first 2 have ended their unsuccesful delivey attempt.  > K > BTW, they often harvest email adresses in a very dumb way which includes   > usenet message ids.  >  > Re: RBLs are very efficient. > @ > Here is my smtp.config : ( a few things not available in 5.4 ) > , > $ type $disk4:[sys0.tcpip$smtp]smtp.config > Good-Clients: 10.0.0.0/8 > Bad-Clients: 220.144.0.0/16, >          200.45.190.0/23 > !  > ! Chinanet > Bad-Clients: 58.0.0.0/8, >          59.0.0.0/8, >          60.0.0.0/8, >          218.66.0.0/15,  >          220.160.0.0/11, >          220.192.0.0/10, >          221.0.0.0/8,  >          222.0.0.0/8,  >          61.12.0.0/16, >          61.206.0.0/16 > !  > Relay-Zones: vaxination.ca  > Relay-Zones: www.vaxination.ca > Relay-Zones: gw.vaxination.ca  > ! $ > Reject-Unbacktranslatable-IP: TRUE. > Accept-Mail-From: <email address of friends> > SPAM-Action: ACCOUNTING  > Security: FRIENDLY > RBLs: combined.njabl.org > RBLs: sbl-xbl.spamhaus.org > Allow-EXPN: NEVER  > Allow-VRFY: LOCALLY ' > Symbiont-Checks-Deliverability: FALSE  > Try-A-Records: IFNOMX  > !  > ! B > Unbacktranslatable-IP-Text: Can't backtranslate SMTP server's IP7 > Client-In-RBL-Text: SMTP server is blacklisted in RBL ? > Bad-Clients-Text: Your network is blocked: sent too much SPAM ; > Unqualified-Sender-Text: Sender's email address illformed > > Unresolvable-Domain-Text: Sender's email domain unresolvableK > SPAM-Relay-Text: This facility does not tolerate spammers, relay disabled N > EXPN-Used-Text: Environmental regulations forbid the Mining of distribution  > lists / > VRFY-Used-Text: Spammers are not welcome here   G There is a perfect way to get email back under control.  Go back to the H old way it was done in the original USENET days (Yes, Email predates theG INTERNET).  Setup mail maps again and have email exchanged only between J agreeing hosts.  That would immediately eliminate the ability for infectedH machines on the INTERNET to send email anywhere.  It would eliminate theH need for RBL's as it would take explicit permission to inject email intoK the system.  People who don't want to play by the rules get shunned.  Works  fine for the Amish!!   bill      --  J Bill Gunshannon          |  de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n.  Three wolvesD bill@cs.scranton.edu     |  and a sheep voting on what's for dinner. University of Scranton   |A Scranton, Pennsylvania   |         #include <std.disclaimer.h>       ------------------------------    Date: 21 Nov 2006 20:11:47 -0800 From: davidc@montagar.com 5 Subject: Re: increase in spam and what to do about it C Message-ID: <1164168707.352713.194240@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>    Bill Gunshannon wrote:I > There is a perfect way to get email back under control.  Go back to the J > old way it was done in the original USENET days (Yes, Email predates theI > INTERNET).  Setup mail maps again and have email exchanged only between L > agreeing hosts.  That would immediately eliminate the ability for infectedJ > machines on the INTERNET to send email anywhere.  It would eliminate theJ > need for RBL's as it would take explicit permission to inject email intoM > the system.  People who don't want to play by the rules get shunned.  Works  > fine for the Amish!!  G What I would like to do is have a DNS server that does an RBL check for A every host requesting an MX lookup.  If it's on the RBL, return a 9 127.0.0.1 as the prefered MTA!  Save me a lot of traffic.    ------------------------------    Date: 21 Nov 2006 13:29:35 -0800! From: "Ian Miller" <gxys@uk2.net> - Subject: Re: Is HP trying to kill VMS again ? C Message-ID: <1164144574.993071.283580@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>   E on a alpha for VMS you paid base licence plus 3 SMP licences + x user 	 licences.   8 How much are these I64 licences compared with alpha vms?  F In the UK I think its =A3700 per core for VMS so =A32800 for unlimited	 user VMS. F How much is base VMS + three SMP plus unlimited user vms on a quad CPU ES45?    ------------------------------  % Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 15:13:21 -0700 6 From: "Michael D. Ober" <obermd.@.alum.mit.edu.nospam>- Subject: Re: Is HP trying to kill VMS again ? 6 Message-ID: <45637a07$0$63458$815e3792@news.qwest.net>  I How can HP attempt to kill something they don't even appear to know they  7 have?  I'd say VMS is dying a slow death of starvation.   
 Mike Ober.    6 "Syltrem" <syltremzulu@videotron.ca> wrote in message * news:12m6r7djjvb181a@corp.supernews.com...< > We are getting pricing submissions for an Integrity server > E > On an rx3600 2 CPU, 2 cores each, HP charges 4 Unlimited Users VMS  " > licenses + 4 VMScluster licenses > L > I end up paying the software twice the price of the cost of the hardware. M > And they say Integrity prices are going down... If you don't run VMS on it  
 > that is. > H > On an Alpha system with 4 CPUs I used to pay only one license of each  > (VMS, cluster).  > H > Oracle, on the other hand, which was ever so greedy, charges me 4 CPU M > licenses on an Alpha but only 2 on the Integrity server. So I might have 2   > licenses for sale ;-(  > B > I don't think I can buy an Integrity server in these conditions. > K > Anyone has bought an Integrity lately, who can tell me how many licenses   > of VMS were required?  > 3 > If something will kill VMS, this certainly will ! ' > It now costs too much to license it !  >  > Thanks for your input  >  > --  	 > Syltrem E > http://pages.infinit.net/syltrem (OpenVMS information and help, en   > franais)  >  >    ------------------------------  % Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 19:00:58 -0500 ) From: "Neil Rieck" <n.rieck@sympatico.ca> - Subject: Re: Is HP trying to kill VMS again ? < Message-ID: <4563926c$0$26896$9a6e19ea@news.newshosting.com>  6 "Syltrem" <syltremzulu@videotron.ca> wrote in message * news:12m6r7djjvb181a@corp.supernews.com...< > We are getting pricing submissions for an Integrity server > E > On an rx3600 2 CPU, 2 cores each, HP charges 4 Unlimited Users VMS  " > licenses + 4 VMScluster licenses > L > I end up paying the software twice the price of the cost of the hardware. M > And they say Integrity prices are going down... If you don't run VMS on it  
 > that is. > H > On an Alpha system with 4 CPUs I used to pay only one license of each  > (VMS, cluster).  > H > Oracle, on the other hand, which was ever so greedy, charges me 4 CPU M > licenses on an Alpha but only 2 on the Integrity server. So I might have 2   > licenses for sale ;-(  > B > I don't think I can buy an Integrity server in these conditions. > K > Anyone has bought an Integrity lately, who can tell me how many licenses   > of VMS were required?  > 3 > If something will kill VMS, this certainly will ! ' > It now costs too much to license it !  >  > Thanks for your input  >  > --  	 > Syltrem  > I I attended an Intel QuadCore webinar last week where most vendors stated  J they would be changing their licensing strategies to a per user basis and M not count cores or CPUs. This was even shocking to hear from Oracle and less  M shocking to hear from Microsoft. I guess the geniuses at HP would rather tap  F each others phones rather than watch what their competition was doing.  
 Neil Rieck Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge,  Ontario, Canada.8 http://www3.sympatico.ca/n.rieck/links/cool_openvms.html: http://www3.sympatico.ca/n.rieck/links/openvms_demos.html    ------------------------------  % Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 19:28:29 -0500 - From: JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@teksavvy.com> - Subject: Re: Is HP trying to kill VMS again ? 6 Message-ID: <5ebc$456399a0$cef8887a$8859@TEKSAVVY.COM>   Syltrem wrote:& > Let me see the contracts (tomorrow).O > This is not what I was told (nor what I remember it was), but I'll make sure  % > I see the numbers with my own eyes.     G Sylvain, since you are sidegrading from Alpha to IA64, can't HP simply  F transfer your existing licences at some acceptable cost ? Or will you G really need to buy totally new licences because you intend to keep the   Alphas for a long time ?  K And if you feel that the HP sales drone isn't knowledgeable enough, get in  H touch with Sue who will put you in touch with a VMS ambassador who will  give you the right time of day.    ------------------------------  % Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 19:36:33 -0500 ) From: "Neil Rieck" <n.rieck@sympatico.ca> - Subject: Re: Is HP trying to kill VMS again ? < Message-ID: <45639ac3$0$26908$9a6e19ea@news.newshosting.com>  ; "JF Mezei" <jfmezei.spamnot@teksavvy.com> wrote in message  0 news:5ebc$456399a0$cef8887a$8859@TEKSAVVY.COM... > Syltrem wrote:' >> Let me see the contracts (tomorrow). K >> This is not what I was told (nor what I remember it was), but I'll make  + >> sure I see the numbers with my own eyes.  >  > I > Sylvain, since you are sidegrading from Alpha to IA64, can't HP simply  H > transfer your existing licences at some acceptable cost ? Or will you I > really need to buy totally new licences because you intend to keep the   > Alphas for a long time ? > M > And if you feel that the HP sales drone isn't knowledgeable enough, get in  J > touch with Sue who will put you in touch with a VMS ambassador who will ! > give you the right time of day.   L Good point JF. They usually let you trade in your old ones. (and give you a 0 break on the new ones to make the hardware sale)  
 Neil Rieck Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge,  Ontario, Canada.8 http://www3.sympatico.ca/n.rieck/links/cool_openvms.html: http://www3.sympatico.ca/n.rieck/links/openvms_demos.html    ------------------------------  % Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:29:02 -0500 ' From: Dave Froble <davef@tsoft-inc.com> - Subject: Re: Is HP trying to kill VMS again ? 9 Message-ID: <-YKdnZt8bMt3Ov7YnZ2dnUVZ_qudnZ2d@libcom.com>    Syltrem wrote:< > We are getting pricing submissions for an Integrity server > N > On an rx3600 2 CPU, 2 cores each, HP charges 4 Unlimited Users VMS licenses  > + 4 VMScluster licenses  > L > I end up paying the software twice the price of the cost of the hardware. M > And they say Integrity prices are going down... If you don't run VMS on it  
 > that is. > N > On an Alpha system with 4 CPUs I used to pay only one license of each (VMS,  > cluster).  > H > Oracle, on the other hand, which was ever so greedy, charges me 4 CPU M > licenses on an Alpha but only 2 on the Integrity server. So I might have 2   > licenses for sale ;-(  > B > I don't think I can buy an Integrity server in these conditions. > N > Anyone has bought an Integrity lately, who can tell me how many licenses of  > VMS were required? > 3 > If something will kill VMS, this certainly will ! ' > It now costs too much to license it !  >  > Thanks for your input  >   C What I think doesn't really matter, but, I think there is either a  I misunderstanding, or somebody is just plain wrong.  You're talking about  > one (1) system.  Not 4.  There should be one VMS license, and G potentially some SMP licenses for additional CPUs/cores/whatever.  And  I it's one system, not even needing a cluster license, unless you're going  C to cluster it with other VMS systems, and then one cluster license.   G As for cluster license(s), don't automatically assume that if you have  A multiple VMS systems that you need to form a cluster.  There are  A advantages, but, in many cases a simple network link is adequate.    --  4 David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450> Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef@tsoft-inc.com DFE Ultralights, Inc.  170 Grimplin Road  Vanderbilt, PA  15486    ------------------------------  # Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 03:24:10 GMT 6 From: "Malcolm Dunnett" <info@cruising-for-a-cause.ca>- Subject: Re: Is HP trying to kill VMS again ? * Message-ID: <upP8h.19352$gy2.707@edtnps90>  5 "Dave Froble" <davef@tsoft-inc.com> wrote in message  3 news:-YKdnZt8bMt3Ov7YnZ2dnUVZ_qudnZ2d@libcom.com...   E > What I think doesn't really matter, but, I think there is either a  K > misunderstanding, or somebody is just plain wrong.  You're talking about  L > one (1) system.  Not 4.  There should be one VMS license, and potentially F > some SMP licenses for additional CPUs/cores/whatever.  And it's one M > system, not even needing a cluster license, unless you're going to cluster  : > it with other VMS systems, and then one cluster license. >   A Nope, Itanium is licensed on a "per core" basis - one VMS license ; required for each processing unit. So with a 2 chip/ 4 core : Itanium you need 4 VMS licenses. There are no SMP licenses, for Itanium, you just buy more VMS licenses.   ------------------------------    Date: 21 Nov 2006 20:11:36 -0800) From: "Sue" <susan_skonetski@hotmail.com> - Subject: Re: Is HP trying to kill VMS again ? C Message-ID: <1164168696.273770.194030@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com>   E something is wrong here this is not right.  Please send me mail at my / hp address.  I will need your country location.   C Can you also please let me know where you got the quote from in the  email.   Thanks so much, 6 Sue Skonetski (Susan Skonetski of course @ hp dot com)   Syltrem wrote:< > We are getting pricing submissions for an Integrity server > L > On an rx3600 2 CPU, 2 cores each, HP charges 4 Unlimited Users VMS licens= es > + 4 VMScluster licenses  > K > I end up paying the software twice the price of the cost of the hardware. L > And they say Integrity prices are going down... If you don't run VMS on it
 > that is. > L > On an Alpha system with 4 CPUs I used to pay only one license of each (VM= S, > cluster).  > G > Oracle, on the other hand, which was ever so greedy, charges me 4 CPU L > licenses on an Alpha but only 2 on the Integrity server. So I might have 2 > licenses for sale ;-(  > B > I don't think I can buy an Integrity server in these conditions. > L > Anyone has bought an Integrity lately, who can tell me how many licenses = of > VMS were required? > 3 > If something will kill VMS, this certainly will ! ' > It now costs too much to license it !  >  > Thanks for your input  >  > --	 > Syltrem J > http://pages.infinit.net/syltrem (OpenVMS information and help, en fran= =E7ais)    ------------------------------    Date: 21 Nov 2006 20:23:03 -0800) From: "Sue" <susan_skonetski@hotmail.com> - Subject: Re: Is HP trying to kill VMS again ? C Message-ID: <1164169383.600879.221890@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com>   2 Here is where you can find license trade in policy4 http://licensing.hp.com/swl/view.slm?page=3Dxplasoft     Syltrem wrote:< > We are getting pricing submissions for an Integrity server > L > On an rx3600 2 CPU, 2 cores each, HP charges 4 Unlimited Users VMS licens= es > + 4 VMScluster licenses  > K > I end up paying the software twice the price of the cost of the hardware. L > And they say Integrity prices are going down... If you don't run VMS on it
 > that is. > L > On an Alpha system with 4 CPUs I used to pay only one license of each (VM= S, > cluster).  > G > Oracle, on the other hand, which was ever so greedy, charges me 4 CPU L > licenses on an Alpha but only 2 on the Integrity server. So I might have 2 > licenses for sale ;-(  > B > I don't think I can buy an Integrity server in these conditions. > L > Anyone has bought an Integrity lately, who can tell me how many licenses = of > VMS were required? > 3 > If something will kill VMS, this certainly will ! ' > It now costs too much to license it !  >  > Thanks for your input  >  > --	 > Syltrem J > http://pages.infinit.net/syltrem (OpenVMS information and help, en fran= =E7ais)    ------------------------------  % Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 00:59:18 -0500 - From: JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@teksavvy.com> ( Subject: Re: OpenVMS Clustering Question6 Message-ID: <6d1$4563e729$cef8887a$28827@TEKSAVVY.COM>   M White wrote:K > It's been awhile since I worked with OpenVMS clustering.  Do they have it L > now so if one node goes down the processes on the downed node get switchedL > to the remaining node(s) without manually logging into the remaining node?  M At the operating system level, no. When a node dies, all processes on it die.   K At the queue level, you can set it up that a job gets restarted on another  H node if the queue it was submitted  to has execution queues on multiple K nodes. But the job would restart from scratch, so it needs to have its own   checkpointing.  G In terms of IP, you can failover an IP so that new calls get routed to  > another node. But existing TCPIP connections are not switched.  L At the application level, you can have an application wait on a backup node K for the production app to be killed (at which point a lock is released and   the backup app takes over.  I But at the interactive level, you ned to start your session from scratch.    ------------------------------  + Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 21:54:23 +0000 (UTC) P From: helbig@astro.multiCLOTHESvax.de (Phillip Helbig---remove CLOTHES to reply)# Subject: Re: OpenVMS Support Issues $ Message-ID: <ejvsif$bh2$1@online.de>  H In article <1163955616.549419.94000@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com>, "Sue"& <susan_skonetski@hotmail.com> writes:   ' > We stand together or we fall apart.     I As Ben Franklin said, either we hang together or most assuredly we shall   all hang separately.   ------------------------------    Date: 21 Nov 2006 16:04:00 -0800! From: "Ian Miller" <gxys@uk2.net> # Subject: Re: OpenVMS Support Issues C Message-ID: <1164153840.080208.245440@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>   E See also the editorial by Don Tennent at Computerworld titled "We are  all in this together"   9 http://www.openvms.org/stories.php?story=06/10/31/2137885   A He writes about interdepenancy between HP, the computer press and E computer consulting companies. This applied to us all whose preferred  career depends on VMS.   ------------------------------    Date: 21 Nov 2006 15:38:36 -0600- From: Kilgallen@SpamCop.net (Larry Kilgallen) L Subject: Re: Problem connecting to SSH, OpenVMS7.3-2, HP TCP/IP v5.4 patched3 Message-ID: <ZfBi$lnAhNc7@eisner.encompasserve.org>   c In article <LbadnSlFLb1szf7YnZ2dnUVZ_o-dnZ2d@libcom.com>, Dave Froble <davef@tsoft-inc.com> writes:   K > As for DECnet, can you make one valid argument for not installing it, at   > least version IV?   = For testing to ensure my software works ok without DECnet :-)    ------------------------------  % Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:10:09 -0500 ' From: Dave Froble <davef@tsoft-inc.com> L Subject: Re: Problem connecting to SSH, OpenVMS7.3-2, HP TCP/IP v5.4 patched9 Message-ID: <b9OdnWZnk-nnPv7YnZ2dnUVZ_vOdnZ2d@libcom.com>    Larry Kilgallen wrote:e > In article <LbadnSlFLb1szf7YnZ2dnUVZ_o-dnZ2d@libcom.com>, Dave Froble <davef@tsoft-inc.com> writes:  > L >> As for DECnet, can you make one valid argument for not installing it, at  >> least version IV? > ? > For testing to ensure my software works ok without DECnet :-)   # And after you're done testing?  :-)    --  4 David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450> Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef@tsoft-inc.com DFE Ultralights, Inc.  170 Grimplin Road  Vanderbilt, PA  15486    ------------------------------    Date: 21 Nov 2006 17:11:53 -0800' From: "ababeel" <farooq.omar@gmail.com> ! Subject: Problem with CMS MOB LIB B Message-ID: <1164157913.851283.16540@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com>   HiD I created a lib MYLIB and when I created it I didnt have a reference7 area, which I changed using CMS MOD LIB /REF=[blah dir] D Now whenever I create an elem, it shows up in the CMS but not in theE reference area. I asked a few colleagues and they seem to recall some F kind of problem using cms mod lib. I dunno whether it is a bug or do IE need to to do anything else for it to pick up the new reference area.  Any ideas greatly appreciated.	 Thanks...    ------------------------------  % Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 07:16:19 +0800 ) From: Tim Sneddon <tesneddon@bigpond.com> 3 Subject: Re: Purpose of uppercasing a RUN command ? 9 Message-ID: <45637bdf$0$21190$88260bb3@free.teranews.com>    Paul Sture wrote: A > This is what VMSINSTAL does (though not all in the same place):  >  > $delete = "delete" > $delete/symbol/global/all  > G > But that can be a pain in the neck, since you lose symbols set up in   > your login procedure(s). >    Thats why you do:        $ SPAWN VMSINSTAL ...   
 Regards, Tim.    --  = Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com    ------------------------------  % Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:26:36 -0800 4 From: Alan Frisbie <Usenet02_REMOVE@Flying-Disk.com>7 Subject: Re: Question: Can anyone write device drivers/ % Message-ID: <1164169578.425287@smirk>    Bart Z. Lederman wrote: > > Editing the SYS$CONFIG.DAT file to make the system recognize@ > one adaptor because it seems similar to another adaptor is not8 > a good thing to do (for fairly large values of "NOT"). > ... E > Writing a device driver for OpenVMS can be fairly easy (for someone G > with experience in the area): or it can be quite difficult, depending E > on the device.  My strictly unofficial and off-hand opinion is that I > the more advanced Adaptec controllers tend to be quite complicated, and E > are more difficult to write good device drivers for than some other C > types of devices.  What is more important is TESTING the results. O > Properly load testing a SCSI adaptor with all of the possible configurations, F > multiple devices busy simultaniously, etc., and getting it up to theG > quality standards of OpenVMS is not easy, and it takes quite a bit of ! > time, expertise, and equipment.   > As someone who has written many device drivers over the years,@ I heartily second these comments.   I have written drivers where; a mistake could cause fire and destruction, but I would not @ attempt this job.   I simply do not have access to the resources; necessary to properly qualify it, nor the documentation and : access to Adaptec's engineering staff to answer questions.  @ If this were for a limited, well-defined application, that would@ be a different story.   Here, however, it could wind up with all$ sorts of unknown devices hung on it.   Alan   ------------------------------  + Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 21:58:52 +0000 (UTC) P From: helbig@astro.multiCLOTHESvax.de (Phillip Helbig---remove CLOTHES to reply)( Subject: Re: Strategies for time offsets$ Message-ID: <ejvsqs$bh2$2@online.de>  A In article <7d790$4561ac58$cef8887a$26974@TEKSAVVY.COM>, JF Mezei ' <jfmezei.spamnot@teksavvy.com> writes:    I > In VMS time, the sign of the time quadword indicates whether this is a  1 > delta time (-) or an absolute time (+). Right ?    See if you have a fast system:  #    $  SPAWN SHOW PROCESS/ACCOUNTING    ------------------------------    Date: 21 Nov 2006 19:07:14 -0800) From: craig.berry@SignalTreeSolutions.com 0 Subject: Re: Trying to use ZLIB in a PERL scriptA Message-ID: <1164164834.751068.94770@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com>    Scott Greig wrote:I > Actually, Im trying to make a Perl script called "TXT2PDF + crypt v9.0" 5 > work on an Alpha VMS8.2 (+patches) with Perl 5.8.6.  > I > I know that Zlib is available on the freeware CD (I have it), and I can H > find any number of "ZLIB.PM" files - I lack the basic understanding asC > to how all of this stuff hangs together (particularly under VMS).  > G > Any pointers as to where best to install ZLIB (e.g. under the Perl...  > tree, ; > or under the TXT2PDF... tree?) would be most appreciated.   9 The usual way to do zlib compression from Perl is via the ( Compress::Zlib extension available here;  1 http://search.cpan.org/~pmqs/Compress-Zlib-2.001/   F This includes teh ZLIB library, so there would be no reason to install that separately.  D If this is the Sanface txt2pdf product you're talking about, why notA get their tech support to walk you through exactly what you need?    ------------------------------  % Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 15:32:48 -0500 3 From: "Richard B. Gilbert" <rgilbert88@comcast.net> ; Subject: Re: Using SYS$INPUT for input into an FTP command. : Message-ID: <QM2dnT3jnOPv__7YnZ2dnUVZ_tadnZ2d@comcast.com>  
 Ade wrote:   > Hi,  >  > OpenVMS 7.1-1H1  > UCX V4.1 ECO 2 > + > Unfortunately, we can't change the above.  > , > Using this command in a command procedure: >     $FTP/INPUT=myfile.ftp  >  > where myfile.ftp contains  >     connect node >     username >     password >     ascii & >     put myfile.txt someotherfile.txt
 >     quit > O > works fine. I would like to combine the two files and direct FTP to take the  O > input from the command file, ie DEFINE/USER SYS$INPUT SYS$COMMAND before the  J > FTP/INPUT=SYS$INPUT command and the rest of myfile.ftp to follow in the / > procedure. This method however, doesn't work.  > L > I've also tried this on an Itanium running OpenVMS 8.2, TCP/IP 5.5 and it  > still doesn't work > L > The reason I'm asking is we have to change a LOT of procedures due to the N > removal of decnet from a customers network meaning everything changes to an N > IP based solution and I was hoping to minimize the number of changes and/or # > extra files required for the job.  >  > Any suggestions? >  > Ade  >  >    You could try:F $ FTP /INPUT=SYS$INPUT /USERNAME=MYNAME /PASSWORD=MYPASS REMOTE_SYSTEM ASCII  PUT MYFILE.TXT SOMEFILE.TXT  BYE  $ EXIT  ( Something along those lines should work.   ------------------------------  + Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 21:59:49 +0000 (UTC) P From: helbig@astro.multiCLOTHESvax.de (Phillip Helbig---remove CLOTHES to reply)) Subject: Re: volume shadowing over LAVC ? $ Message-ID: <ejvssl$bh2$3@online.de>  A In article <1164040774.714175.29520@m7g2000cwm.googlegroups.com>, ( "Pierre" <pierre.bru@gmail.com> writes:   G > is it possible to do volume shadowing over LAVC without HSx controler * > (let say with local disk on each node) ?  6 Host-based volume shadowing?  Been doing it for years.   ------------------------------  % Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:07:28 -0500 3 From: "Richard B. Gilbert" <rgilbert88@comcast.net> ) Subject: Re: volume shadowing over LAVC ? : Message-ID: <eP6dnRxxybk85f7YnZ2dnUVZ_oOdnZ2d@comcast.com>   JF Mezei wrote:    > Richard B. Gilbert wrote:  > ? >> Check out what it costs before you get all excited about it!  >  > K > There are licences that cover shadowing, as opposed to just disk by disk.  > H >> Also, since volume shadowing is software based, you place additional = >> CPU load on your cluster.  Then there is the network load.  >  > K > Yes. But sometimes, the ethernet is all you have and you can't afford to  C > have other links between the 2 nodes=, at which point host based  $ > shadowing becomes a good solution. > F >> When a cluster member crashes, the shadowset has to be checked for   >> consistancy, block by block.  >  > H > Nop. It is when the crashed node that comes back on line and wants to J > re-integrate its disks that the rebuilding has to take place. And there J > are now parameters to control how much cpu/bandwidth is used to do this. >  > H Picky, picky, picky!!!!!  And you can, of course, avoid the whole thing  by not rebooting.    > F >> I've run both host based volume shadowing and HSZ40 or HSZ50 based 7 >> hardware RAID and believe me, hardware is better!!!   >  > F > Hardware shadowing that is totally separate of VMS can be dangerous H > depending on configuration with regards to cluster partitioning. With I > host based shadowing, your disks are "part of the cluster" and benefit  K > from the cluster partitioning safeguards. And VMS has flags in each disk  D > to indicate which disk is the most recent. So, if you remount yor G > shadowset, it knows which disk in teh shadow set has the most recent  > > data to be used as source of data to update the other disks. > M > With hardware systems, you don't have that extra logic that is part of VMS.   C I'm not sure what you mean by that last bit.  The hardware RAID is  G controlled by the hardware.  It has a battery backed cache that's good  I for several hours.  Normally you would have a UPS that gives you time to  C do a clean shutdown in case of power failure.  I don't recall ever  D losing any data on an HSZxx controlled array and I have about seven I years experience with them.  I've run two node clusters with a path from  F each machine to a pair of dual redundant HSZ50 controllers.  The only E problem I ever had with this rig was a 150W power supply that failed  I but, since there was N+1 redundancy in the power supplies, it just meant  E a problem for field service; the RAID array went right on without it.   H Maybe DEC's management couldn't count to twenty with their shoes on but ! their engineering was first rate!    ------------------------------  % Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 14:33:34 -0800 , From: "Malcolm Dunnett" <dunnett@mala.bc.ca>) Subject: Re: volume shadowing over LAVC ?  Message-ID: <45637e3d$1@flight>   < "Rob Brooks" <brooks@cuebid.zko.hp.nospam> wrote in message & news:URZXTxq2A4hm@cuebid.zko.hp.com...   > The HSZ80 followed the HSZ70.  > I    Was the HSZ80 pretty scarce? I've only ever seen one on Ebay (which I  ' purchased in an RA8000 and then upgrade M to HSG80 controllers).  IIRC the main difference was that the HSZ80 used the  " new cache (like the HSG80) and wasM thus quite a bit faster than the HSZ70. btw if anyone has a use for an HSZ80  & controller I have one here that I have no use for.   B > HSG80's can be periodically found on Ebay for reasonable prices.  M yup, you can usually find dual controller MA220 shelves fully configured for   under $100. Combine these L with some 4xxx shelves and disks and you've got a really cheap SAN solution.   ------------------------------  % Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 19:45:17 -0500 - From: JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@teksavvy.com> ) Subject: Re: volume shadowing over LAVC ? 7 Message-ID: <7465b$45639d8f$cef8887a$9821@TEKSAVVY.COM>    Richard B. Gilbert wrote: E > I'm not sure what you mean by that last bit.  The hardware RAID is  I > controlled by the hardware.  It has a battery backed cache that's good   > for several hours.    H In a multisite cluster, you have failure modes that complicate matters, J especially if the hardware disk system has its own link between buildings.  K If the disk link goes down, but the ethernet stays up, your VMS nodes will  J not know about that event and thus from a quorum point of view, the nodes F will continue to function. But disk writes done on node A will not be J reflected on node B because they are not propagated. And disk writes done $ on node B also don't get propagated.  < When the disk link is re-established, which disk is valid  ?  J You need to have a quorum scheme  on the disk arrays that matches exactly  VMS's quorum implementation.    I  From a cluster partitioning point of view, a shadowset "in a box" (aka:  G hardware shadowing) is logically a single disk that happens to be very  	 reliable.   F But the second you create shadowsets from two boxes connected to each D other,  (aka: multi site), you get new failure modes you need to be  concerned about.   ------------------------------  % Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 21:48:00 -0500 3 From: "Richard B. Gilbert" <rgilbert88@comcast.net> ) Subject: Re: volume shadowing over LAVC ? : Message-ID: <cIWdnYkohZT8J_7YnZ2dnUVZ_sqdnZ2d@comcast.com>   JF Mezei wrote:  > Richard B. Gilbert wrote:  > F >> I'm not sure what you mean by that last bit.  The hardware RAID is J >> controlled by the hardware.  It has a battery backed cache that's good  >> for several hours.  >  > J > In a multisite cluster, you have failure modes that complicate matters, L > especially if the hardware disk system has its own link between buildings. <snip>  H I think we are talking about very different things here.  I was talking A about hardware RAID; e.g. RAID 1 or mirroring.  It's done with a  C hardware RAID controller such as the HSZ50, HSZ70 or HSZ80.  It is  G connected, using copper wire, to SCSI Host Bus Adapters on one or more  H nodes in the cluster.  I've never seen it done with more than two nodes E but I understand that there is a bit of hardware called a "SCSI Hub"  D that makes it possible to connect more than two nodes in a cluster. G It's all mounted in one rack and sits within a few feet of one or more  G nodes in a cluster.   See, for example, the "ESA 10000" which lived in  C six or seven foot high rack and accommodated something like twelve  H StorageWorks shelves and two dual redundant HSZ70 RAID controller pairs.   ------------------------------    Date: 21 Nov 2006 13:16:49 -0800 From: bryan.s.a@gmail.com  Subject: Re: Who called me? B Message-ID: <1164143809.490401.315730@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com>   Volker Halle wrote:  > Bryan, > D > prior to OpenVMS V8.3, there is the TBK$SYMBOLIZE internal routine: > available, but this interface/API is not documented (see > [TRACE]TBKSYM).  > 	 > Volker.   G Thank You.  I changed the routine to TBK$SYMBOLIZE and it links without  error.  D Now I'm trying to work through getting the routine to not stack dump with ACCVIO.  E I think the problem is that I need to update the POINTER variables to - point to real strings.  That is my next step.    For information purposes:  $show systemB OpenVMS V7.3-2  on node VRXDEV  21-NOV-2006 15:15:01.57  Uptime  9 13:56:46 ...    Any help is always appreciated.   
 Thank You, -Bryan   ------------------------------  % Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 19:06:59 -0800 4 From: Alan Frisbie <Usenet02_REMOVE@Flying-Disk.com> Subject: Re: Who called me? % Message-ID: <1164164801.984099@smirk>    prep@prep.synonet.com wrote:  6 > So for those who need it, it is TKB$FOREVER again...  K Ever and Ever and Ever and Ever and Ever and Ever and Ever and Ever and ...   A Seen around the edge of a button at DECUS that said "TKB Forever" ? in the center.   I suspect that John Covert had something to do  with it.   Alan   ------------------------------   End of INFO-VAX 2006.642 ************************