A Hobbyist DECnet Network

Yeah, as soon as I get my TK50 or one of my 9 tracks working I'm going to load DECnet/E, and then hopefully put my 11/23plus up on HECnet. It would be neat if we could get the guy running the DEC 10 on pdpplanet to link up to us also. I think this'll pick up steam as it rolls downhill, as most net trends do. Once people see that there are several machines on the network, it'll become larger. I gotta say, it sure would be cool to have my installation of DECmail connected with other systems across the globe. > -----Original Message----- > From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] > On Behalf Of Robert Armstrong > Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 5:41 PM > To: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts' > Subject: A Hobbyist DECnet Network > > > 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 > >