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Subject: Review of DECUS Library Material -  NETSTAT
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The DECUS U.S. Chapter Library Committee has begun a process by which items in 
the DECUS Library are reviewed by DECUS members with the  resulting written
review published in the DECUS U.S. Chapter Newsletters  publication.

The items reviewed are available from the DECUS Library for a minimal charge. 
If you wish to order the item in this review, contact the DECUS Library and
request the item by the reference number in the review title.

The DECUS Library can be contacted within the United States at:

 		The DECUS Library
		219 Boston Post Road  BP02
		Marlboro, MA  01752-1850

		Phone: 508 480-3418

People who would like to volunteer to help with the DECUS Library review 
project should contact the Review Coordinator, Ted Nieland.  Mr. Nieland can 
be contacted on DCS at NIELAND.




                            NETSTAT  - V00360

                        Review by Daniel J. Graham


DECUS Library Abstract for NETSTAT

V00360     NETSTAT  Version: E1.1, November 1988

Submitted by: Digital Equipment Corporation

Operating System: MicroVMS V4.6, V5.1, VAX/VMS V4.6, V5.1  Source
Language: VAX BASIC  Software Required: VAX GKS V2.0 or higher, TSM
V1.2, RBMS V1.1, VAX BASIC V3.0 or higher.  Hardware Required: Color
ReGIS Graphics Terminal  Keywords: Networking

Abstract: These DECnet network monitoring programs are essentially the
same displays shown at DECWORLD '87 in  Boston, MA.  There 
are several data collection programs as well as display 
programs which monitor a DECnet network, as well as terminal 
servers and LAN bridges.  The  set of tools is called 
NETSTAT. 

The DECnet event processor program and the DECnet area and 
node polling program gathers reachability information and 
stores it in shared data structures.  The area and node 
display programs periodically read these data structures and 
update the graphical display boxes by shading them either 
red for an alarm condition or green for reachable. 

The terminal server polling program uses TSM V1.2 (Terminal 
Server Manager software) to interrogate all known terminal 
servers on the Ethernet LAN.  This information is stored in 
a shared data structure.  The terminal server status display 
program operates in the identical manner as does the node 
display program described above. 

The bridge server polling command procedure uses RBMS V1.1 
(Remote Bridge Management software) to interrogate all known 
LAN bridges on the extended Ethernet LAN.  This information 
is stored in a shared data structure.  The bridge status 
display program operates in the identical manner as does the 
node display program described above. 

Each display program is independent of the other so only 
those displays that are of interest to the user need be run. 
The graphical display programs use VAX BASIC V3.0 (or 
higher) and the associated graphics commands.  This requires 
VAX GKS V2.0 or higher. 

Release Notes are distributed with each order. 

Notes: Operating system VAX/VMS V4.6 or higher is required.  This
package contains a 
collection of several tools some of which can be used independently. 

Changes and Improvements: Bug fixes, enhanced documentation, minor
functionality enhancements. 

Media (Service Charge Code): 600' Magnetic Tape (MA)  Format:
VMS/BACKUP




REVIEW:

Encapsulated review (rating scale 1-5 with 5 being excellent)

Ease of Installation:  5
Documentation:         5 
Intended Audience:     Network Managers
Ease of use:           
Usefulness:            4
Sources: Full source is included in BASIC
Objects Supplied:          Yes.  
Other Required software:  GKS, TSM, RBMS



NETSTAT is a program designed to give information on many aspects of 
network communications.  It deals with DECnet connections, LAT Ethernet 
terminal server connections and Ethernet bridges.  It provides a detailed 
graphics display on the screen of any or all the mentioned subsystems.

When I first downloaded the tape to a directory, I was more than a little 
daunted.  There were well over a hundred files.  After recovering and 
looking more closely, I saw that there were sources, documentation, 
objects and executables.  There are a number of programs, thus, there are 
three files per program.  Not so bad after you look at it in the right way.

All of the source is in VAX BASIC, so objects and even executables are 
included for those without a BASIC compiler.  This is polite, I wish more 
would follow this practice.  The documentation details which version of VMS 
the program was linked under.  If you are using a different version, I 
strongly suggest relinking.

Intended Audience:
This program is for anyone in system or network management.  Personally, I 
wouldn't make it available to the general user community, simply because it 
uses a fair amount of resources.  This usage is more than justified for a 
manager, but wouldn't be for a few curious users.

Installation:
The installation is remarkably simple.  I thought, from the large number of 
files, that it would be a bear, but the instructions are very well prepared 
and following them is very easy.  Basically, you just move the executables 
to the proper directories, set a few logicals, and you're off.

Documentation:
NETSTAT is very well documented.  I have seen few DECUS programs that have 
this good a doc set.  All aspects are clearly explained, and most every 
question one could ask is answered before you get a chance to ask it.

Unfortunately, this is where my review must end.  This program requires 
three products which I do not have on any machine available to me.  TSN, 
RBMS and GKS graphics are required.  The first two gather information on 
the LAT and bridge environment, the GKS is to display the entire package.  
I cannot even fire it up because without the GKS graphics, I cant even run 
the first screen.  However, if the rest of the program is as good as the 
installation and the documentation, it should be very good indeed.



