DECNET on 4D

[Reinhard Doelz]

Hello, 
I just joined the bboard. I am working at the BIOZENTRUM, which is a 
scientific institute and part of Basel University. My job is to make
researchers understand the use of computers in biochemistry. Research
I'm involved in deals with the biophysical investigation of collagen,
molecular modelling and protein sequence analysis.

The computers I'm using here are a VAX 8800 (and some smaller DEC machines),
a MEGATEK workstation (just to display solid-surfaced molecular models),
a E&S PS330 and - since two months - an IRIS 4D/70 GT (12 megs, accl 
board, tape streamer and 370 megs hard disk on the SCSI port). 
I use the machine for molecular modelling purposes. Software is from 
BIOSYM (Insight & Discover). 

Being not quite familiar with UNIX, I have lots of problems, some of them
I hope to find answers here. My problem today is:

*PROBLEM:*
We are hooked up to a local area network based on an Ethernet running DECNET
phase IV . We will upgrade the VAX 8800 to a 8830, which will run VMS 5.0, and
simultaneously all DECs will upgrade to VMS 5.0 as well.
Then, we have DECNET phase IV plus (at least this is what the VMS 5.0 gurus
say) - and in the VAX world there are rumors about incompatibility between
phase IV and phase IV plus. There seem to be some reserved bits in IV which are 
altered in IV plus, and this will make connections impossible. 

*QUESTION:*
Does anyone have experience with the DECNET on the IRIS? 

Any comments/suggestions/flames welcome.

Reinhard 

  
  ************************************************************************
  *   Dr. Reinhard Doelz           *           SWITZERLAND               *
  *     Biocomputing               *                                     *
  *      Biozentrum                * doelz%urz.unibas.ch at relay.cs.net    *
  * Klingelbergstrasse 70          *                                     *
  *     CH-4056 Basel              *                                     *
  ************************************************************************