INFO-VAX Sat, 23 Jun 2007 Volume 2007 : Issue 340 Contents: Re: And the question was? (Re: Amazing, two new articles on Computerworld.com ac RE: And the question was? (Re: Amazing, two new articles on Computerworld.com ac Re: If you live in California, get out now! (Part 2) Re: Infiniband Re: Itanium hardware Q Re: Mac OS (was: Re: OpenVMS - When downtime is not an option) Re: Mac OS (was: Re: OpenVMS - When downtime is not an option) Multiple Hobbyist Layered Products Licenses for more than 1 Alpha? Re: Multiple Hobbyist Layered Products Licenses for more than 1 Alpha? Re: Multiple Hobbyist Layered Products Licenses for more than 1 Alpha? Re: Multiple Hobbyist Layered Products Licenses for more than 1 Alpha? Re: Multiple Hobbyist Layered Products Licenses for more than 1 Alpha? Re: OpenVMS - When downtime is not an option Re: OpenVMS - When downtime is not an option Re: OpenVMS - When downtime is not an option Re: OpenVMS - When downtime is not an option Re: OpenVMS - When downtime is not an option RE: OpenVMS - When downtime is not an option Re: Organised letter writing to Hurd ? Re: Organised letter writing to Hurd ? Re: reading news [was: dns woes (ucx5.3, vms 7.3-1)] Suggestion for VMS: compression/deconpression architecture Re: Suggestion for VMS: compression/deconpression architecture Re: Suggestion for VMS: compression/deconpression architecture ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 23 Jun 2007 12:00:27 GMT From: bill@cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) Subject: Re: And the question was? (Re: Amazing, two new articles on Computerworld.com ac Message-ID: <5e4garF36at65U2@mid.individual.net> In article , "Main, Kerry" writes: >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Dr. Dweeb [mailto:spam@dweeb.net] >> Sent: June 22, 2007 8:58 PM >> To: Info-VAX@Mvb.Saic.Com >> Subject: Re: And the question was? (Re: Amazing, two new articles on >> Computerworld.com actual mention OpenVMS!) >>=20 >> Main, Kerry wrote: >> >> -----Original Message----- >> >> From: Dr. Dweeb [mailto:spam@dweeb.net] >> >> Sent: June 21, 2007 4:51 PM >> >> To: Info-VAX@Mvb.Saic.Com >> >> Subject: Re: And the question was? (Re: Amazing, two new articles >> on >> >> Computerworld.com actual mention OpenVMS!) >> >> >> > >> > [snip...] >> > >> > >> >> >> >> Few companies are investing in new VMS systems, its all maintenance >> >> and >> >> migration away from VMS, except for the few sites where Rdb and/or >> >> VMS is so >> >> entrenched that the cost and risk of moving outweighs all other >> >> factors. >> > >> > Shhh.. please don't tell Cust's with mission critical environments >> > like the following: >>=20 >> Kerry, I just left one. >>=20 >> A multi-billion doillar p.a. houshhold name. They are expending a >> VERY >> large amount of money to migrate away from HP (VMS/Rdb). Anything but >> HP at >> any cost (and I mean *any* cost). They have absolutely sound reasons >> for >> doing so, none of which have to do with VMS quality or functionality. >>=20 >> Dweeb >>=20 > > Well, as you stated, it sounds like this Cust has issues with HP that > extend well beyond OpenVMS. What makes you say that? We have had numerous people say that because of HP's traetment of OpenVMS they would never buy another HP product. Sounds pretty much the same to me. > > Certainly not something HP wants (no vendor wants unhappy Cust's), and I > would hope the account team is working to correct whatever the issue is. If it ain't PC's or ink, I don't think HP cares one way or the other. bill -- Bill Gunshannon | de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n. Three wolves bill@cs.scranton.edu | and a sheep voting on what's for dinner. University of Scranton | Scranton, Pennsylvania | #include ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 09:53:04 -0400 From: "Main, Kerry" Subject: RE: And the question was? (Re: Amazing, two new articles on Computerworld.com ac Message-ID: > -----Original Message----- > From: bill@triangle.cs.uofs.edu [mailto:bill@triangle.cs.uofs.edu] On > Behalf Of Bill Gunshannon > Sent: June 23, 2007 8:00 AM > To: Info-VAX@Mvb.Saic.Com > Subject: Re: And the question was? (Re: Amazing, two new articles on > Computerworld.com actual mention OpenVMS!) >=20 > In article > t>, > "Main, Kerry" writes: > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Dr. Dweeb [mailto:spam@dweeb.net] > >> Sent: June 22, 2007 8:58 PM > >> To: Info-VAX@Mvb.Saic.Com > >> Subject: Re: And the question was? (Re: Amazing, two new articles > on > >> Computerworld.com actual mention OpenVMS!) > >>=3D20 > >> Main, Kerry wrote: > >> >> -----Original Message----- > >> >> From: Dr. Dweeb [mailto:spam@dweeb.net] > >> >> Sent: June 21, 2007 4:51 PM > >> >> To: Info-VAX@Mvb.Saic.Com > >> >> Subject: Re: And the question was? (Re: Amazing, two new > articles > >> on > >> >> Computerworld.com actual mention OpenVMS!) > >> >> > >> > > >> > [snip...] > >> > > >> > > >> >> > >> >> Few companies are investing in new VMS systems, its all > maintenance > >> >> and > >> >> migration away from VMS, except for the few sites where Rdb > and/or > >> >> VMS is so > >> >> entrenched that the cost and risk of moving outweighs all other > >> >> factors. > >> > > >> > Shhh.. please don't tell Cust's with mission critical > environments > >> > like the following: > >>=3D20 > >> Kerry, I just left one. > >>=3D20 > >> A multi-billion doillar p.a. houshhold name. They are expending a > >> VERY > >> large amount of money to migrate away from HP (VMS/Rdb). Anything > but > >> HP at > >> any cost (and I mean *any* cost). They have absolutely sound > reasons > >> for > >> doing so, none of which have to do with VMS quality or > functionality. > >>=3D20 > >> Dweeb > >>=3D20 > > > > Well, as you stated, it sounds like this Cust has issues with HP > that > > extend well beyond OpenVMS. >=20 > What makes you say that? We have had numerous people say that because > of HP's traetment of OpenVMS they would never buy another HP product. > Sounds pretty much the same to me. >=20 Mmm, re-read his statement "They have absolutely sound reasons for doing so, none of which have to do with VMS quality or functionality." Sounds like lots of non-OpenVMS issues to me. > > > > Certainly not something HP wants (no vendor wants unhappy Cust's), > and I > > would hope the account team is working to correct whatever the issue > is. >=20 > If it ain't PC's or ink, I don't think HP cares one way or the other. >=20 > bill >=20 Yeah, you are likely correct, who cares about all the billions of $'s that the other depts bring in eh? That's like saying Universities only care about Arts and Science students (typically the biggest number by far) - following your analogy, Universities do not care about Engineering and other Colleges / Depts. Regards Kerry Main Senior Consultant HP Services Canada Voice: 613-592-4660 Fax: 613-591-4477 kerryDOTmainAThpDOTcom (remove the DOT's and AT)=20 OpenVMS - the secure, multi-site OS that just works. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 08:23:41 +0200 From: "P. Sture" Subject: Re: If you live in California, get out now! (Part 2) Message-ID: In article <467C6DC1.576603AD@spam.comcast.net>, David J Dachtera wrote: > "Craig A. Berry" wrote: > > > > In article , > > "Tom Linden" wrote: > > > > > On Fri, 22 Jun 2007 06:00:50 -0700, Craig A. Berry > > > wrote: > > > > > >> Thanks. As described at > > > > > > > > > which says nothing about thorn, much less mistaking it for Y. > > > Read it again > > > > The link originally posted: > > > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/fi > > > > is about typographical ligatures and says nothing about the letter > > thorn no matter how many times I read it. > > > > The link you posted is invalid: > > It showed up and worked just fine in Google Groups. Ah, it shows up as /fi in my news reader. The offending article can be found by entering the following into Google. letter thorn The URL in question contains an internationalized character. More details of the use of these at: http://www.w3.org/International/articles/idn-and-iri/ I think it's safe to conclude from the few messages here that use of IRI's introduces compatibility issues. -- Paul Sture ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 15:13:54 -0000 From: Hein RMS van den Heuvel Subject: Re: Infiniband Message-ID: <1182611634.831933.131600@q75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com> On Jun 20, 9:42 pm, "Richard Maher" wrote: > Hi, > > Anyone got a pointer to a brochure/white-paper on Infiniband as a cluster > Interconnect with VMS. Just the high-level stuff like "How much faster it > is", "What are the distance limitations", "What's it got to do with C-class > blades", "Is it wonderful or irrelevant". > > Cheers Richard Maher One of the biggest potential of Infiniband is its RDMA option, which when used right, can allow for user mode cluster communication with no process/context switching. Oracle-RAC is ready to use that and has been seen (in tests years ago under Windoze) to reduce CPU load dramatically. I don't see many OpenVMS Clusters applications using it in that mode, but they might. I suspect that Infiniband will not be much different from 10GigE for OpenVMS and normal (MSCP and RMS locking). Oracle RAC on OpenVMS is likely the biggest potential winner, but it will be marginal, not magnitudes. At HP Tech Forum last week Pierre Orzechowski (HP) presented session #1510 which had relevant material: "Oracle Reliable Datagram Sockets for Real Application Clusters on HP- UX Integrity using Infiniband" Well worth trying to get. (if you can not get it or him, then I'm willing to ask permission to share my copy). Using infiniband as a carrier for tcp/ip (IP-over-IF) is just a waste of resources. https://www.hptechnologyforum.com/catalog/controller/catalog fwiw, Hein. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 10:06:38 -0700 From: DeanW Subject: Re: Itanium hardware Q Message-ID: <3f119ada0706231006t2fa235e2yb610c99ca62112a@mail.gmail.com> On 6/21/07, Robert Deininger wrote: > DeanW wrote: > > Check for problems in the network. I boot/install from an infoserver > constantly. When the network is having problems, the EFI-based network > network services are not very robust. The network consisted variously of several patch cables, then two patch cables then a switch, then just a crossover cable. Same results, each go. I caught the bit about InfoServer only liking one NIC- indeed, if I didn't lock it down to the one (ref: the installing for Blades doc that someone posted) and set a logical LAST$DEVICE, it didn't work at all. > How far do you get? If you configure the server to log TFTP and BOOTP > requests, you can verify that it gets that far. It posts the announcement that it's booting VMS, a few lines about having a valid connection... then nothing, for an hour (we went to lunch). The DVD drive showed up yesterday; I was able to get onsite yesterday afternoon long enough to slap it in the machine, slap the VMS DVD in the drive, then last night I got it installed. Many thanks to all those who offered tips and suggestions; none of it worked in the end, but it helped knowing we weren't being completely stupid in not being able to get this working. This has been the busiest non-productive week I've had in a long, long time. :-/ ------------------------------ Date: 23 Jun 2007 11:06:02 -0500 From: Kilgallen@SpamCop.net (Larry Kilgallen) Subject: Re: Mac OS (was: Re: OpenVMS - When downtime is not an option) Message-ID: In article , Stephen Hoffman writes: > Mac OS 8.6? Mac OS X (Tiger 10.4.10) is current. Mac OS 9 pre-dates > the integration of the NeXT stuff; Mac 8.6 and Mac OS 9 are descended > from software rather older than the rebuilt Mac OS kernel that arrived > with Mac OS X. It's like OpenVMS VAX, in terms of OpenVMS -- or like > what OpenVMS on Mach might have looked like, to connect with another > recent discussion. A major difference I see is that Mac OS X breaks compatibility with older on-disk structures. I can move disk volumes back and forth between MacOS 7.5.5 and MacOS 9.2 with gay abandon. But when I tried it I found that MacOS X could only read the newer HFS-plus disks. That is one major reason _I_ stick with OS 9. The best comparison from a VMS perspective would be side-by-side usage of VAX VMS V1 and Alpha VMS, where one supports only ODS-1 and the other does not support ODS-1. ------------------------------ Date: 23 Jun 2007 11:07:10 -0500 From: Kilgallen@SpamCop.net (Larry Kilgallen) Subject: Re: Mac OS (was: Re: OpenVMS - When downtime is not an option) Message-ID: In article , "Craig A. Berry" writes: > In article , > Stephen Hoffman wrote: > >> And FWIW, the One-Button-Mouse-Whinge is a classic Newbie Apple >> Whinging Mistake. It's been done. :-) > > When they advertised the first Mac in 1984, they made rather a big deal > out of the fact that it was extremely hard to push the wrong button > since there was only one. I don't mind three buttons on VMS, but I am glad there is only one button on my Macintoshes, rather than a _different_ set of three button functions. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 16:15:57 +0200 From: Ulrich Bellgardt Subject: Multiple Hobbyist Layered Products Licenses for more than 1 Alpha? Message-ID: I have just requested the Hobbyist licesnses (Base + LP) for one of my three Hobbyist alphas, and I'm waiting for the email with the licenses. The request form for the LP Licenses does not ask for the computer's serial number, unlike the page for the VMS Base License. Does this mean that it is sufficient to install one single set of LP licenses on all my alphas, or do I need to request individual sets, one for each box? Thanks, -Uli Bellgardt ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 15:00:55 GMT From: "John E. Malmberg" Subject: Re: Multiple Hobbyist Layered Products Licenses for more than 1 Alpha? Message-ID: Ulrich Bellgardt wrote: > I have just requested the Hobbyist licesnses (Base + LP) for one of my > three Hobbyist alphas, and I'm waiting for the email with the licenses. > > The request form for the LP Licenses does not ask for the > computer's serial number, unlike the page for the VMS Base License. > > Does this mean that it is sufficient to install one single set of LP > licenses on all my alphas, or do I need to request individual sets, one > for each box? You can use all the the LP licenses on all your hobby systems. -John wb8tyw@qsl.network Personal Opinion Only ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 17:03:20 +0200 From: "Martin Vorlaender" Subject: Re: Multiple Hobbyist Layered Products Licenses for more than 1 Alpha? Message-ID: Ulrich Bellgardt wrote: > I have just requested the Hobbyist licesnses (Base + LP) for one of my > three Hobbyist alphas, and I'm waiting for the email with the licenses. > > The request form for the LP Licenses does not ask for the > computer's serial number, unlike the page for the VMS Base License. > > Does this mean that it is sufficient to install one single set of LP > licenses on all my alphas, or do I need to request individual sets, one > for each box? You can use the single set of LP licenses on all your boxes. It's just the base VMS license that is bound to a machine. cu, Martin -- One OS to rule them all | Martin Vorlaender | OpenVMS rules! One OS to find them | work: mv@pdv-systeme.de One OS to bring them all | http://www.pdv-systeme.de/users/martinv/ And in the Darkness bind them.| home: martin.vorlaender@t-online.de ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 17:42:14 +0200 From: Michael Kraemer Subject: Re: Multiple Hobbyist Layered Products Licenses for more than 1 Alpha? Message-ID: Martin Vorlaender schrieb: > You can use the single set of LP licenses on all your boxes. It's just > the base VMS license that is bound to a machine. Not even that. I found a single base license to work on different machines. At least this was the case about 2 years ago, on VAXen. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 18:11:00 +0200 From: Ulrich Bellgardt Subject: Re: Multiple Hobbyist Layered Products Licenses for more than 1 Alpha? Message-ID: Ulrich Bellgardt wrote: > I have just requested the Hobbyist licesnses (Base + LP) for one of my [...] Thanks to all who have responded. BTW Is there currently a problem with the Hobbyist site issuing the PAKs? I am waiting for the email with the PAKs since more than two hours, which seems to be unusually long (the previous few years this process used to take a couple of minutes, not hours). -Uli Bellgardt ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 08:31:01 +0200 From: "P. Sture" Subject: Re: OpenVMS - When downtime is not an option Message-ID: In article <1182551310.730240.164640@e9g2000prf.googlegroups.com>, Rich Jordan wrote: > On Jun 20, 8:53 am, IanMiller wrote: > > See the video at > > > > http://www.hp.com/go/disasterproof > > > > and see which operating system recovers first. I wonder about the > > disaster tolerant fish though :-) > > Is there any way to get a local copy of this video, other than using a > video out card and recording it? Ditto. Video out is not an option for me, as it views in a jerky fashion anyway. A downloadable version would doubtless cure that. -- Paul Sture ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 11:44:05 GMT From: "John Wallace" Subject: Re: OpenVMS - When downtime is not an option Message-ID: <9I7fi.103319$hj5.53181@fe2.news.blueyonder.co.uk> "Rich Jordan" wrote in message news:1182551310.730240.164640@e9g2000prf.googlegroups.com... > On Jun 20, 8:53 am, IanMiller wrote: > > See the video at > > > > http://www.hp.com/go/disasterproof > > > > and see which operating system recovers first. I wonder about the > > disaster tolerant fish though :-) > > Is there any way to get a local copy of this video, other than using a > video out card and recording it? > The techniques I've previously used for getting local copies of Flash video etc haven't yet worked for this one. I've spent more than enough time on trying to get a local copy, using Firefox on Windows and Linux, IE6 on Win2K, and a small selection of other helpers. But I wouldn't claim to be an expert in the field, someone else might easily do better. Sorry John ------------------------------ Date: 23 Jun 2007 12:05:09 GMT From: bill@cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) Subject: Re: OpenVMS - When downtime is not an option Message-ID: <5e4gjlF36at65U3@mid.individual.net> In article , "Main, Kerry" writes: > > Well, hopefully, the viruses, trojans of the day etc do not hit them > like what happened here or it will end up being the type of poster they > do not want posted or talked about anywhere: > Kerry, You really should be more careful about using this strategy. Afterall, what is HP primary platform of interest? It sure ain't VMS..... And it isn't really HP-UX, even.... Oh wait, it's Windows!!! bill -- Bill Gunshannon | de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n. Three wolves bill@cs.scranton.edu | and a sheep voting on what's for dinner. University of Scranton | Scranton, Pennsylvania | #include ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 12:27:43 GMT From: VAXman- @SendSpamHere.ORG Subject: Re: OpenVMS - When downtime is not an option Message-ID: <3l8fi.1$xo3.0@newsfe12.lga> In article , JF Mezei writes: > > >VAXman- @SendSpamHere.ORG wrote: >> What did that buy them anyway? More wasted space and a higher server load >> to serve that 1pixel GIF. I just created a 1 pixel GIF. It totalled 35 >> bytes. color:#RRGGBB; is 14 bytes. That is less than half the size and >> it doesn't require an additional fetch from the server (assuming it isn't >> in a linked style sheet). > >It is far worse than that. There is the overhead of making an extra HTTP >connection especially if there are multiple references to that 1 pixel >gif image (to ensure it hasn't been updated since last accesses). Each >connection has a lot of overhead as well as HTTP request and HTTP >response headers. I'm pretty sure I mentioned that in my original post. >But once the browser has received that 1 pixel image to be used as a >background, it needs to tile it in the background and then redraw the >contents above it. On some browsers, it can take an etermity to do on a >large page. On all browsers it slows down the process of displaying the >page. If it is just for background color there are several better ways. Even the old still works and is better that the 1pixel method. >But it outlines how people (even HP) get suckered into non standard >techniques because their Microsoft HTML editor suggests using 1 pixel >GIF images. That's because HP has not only crawled into bed with but has burrowed its head well into output end of the alimentary canal of Miniscule-n-flacid's realm of the non-standards standard. MEDIOCRITY: Why excel when mundane is ubiquitous? -- VAXman- A Bored Certified VMS Kernel Mode Hacker VAXman(at)TMESIS(dot)COM "Well my son, life is like a beanstalk, isn't it?" ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 12:30:00 GMT From: VAXman- @SendSpamHere.ORG Subject: Re: OpenVMS - When downtime is not an option Message-ID: In article <39674$467c4b33$cef8887a$1570@TEKSAVVY.COM>, JF Mezei writes: > > >FredK wrote: > >> And off into the weeds we go. Oh well. Another thread to ignore since it >> will spawn 300 replies about the death of VMS and woulda-coulda-shoulda. > >Is there anyone within HP who has the guts to fight upper management's >insistence that VMS be relegated to "we'll allow the installed base to >continue to use VMS - for now" ?????? > >Are employees so affraid to lose their jobs if they speak out that they >would rather stay employed for 5 more years and then get a big package >rather than risk being fired by speaking out and fighting for VMS' success ? MEDIOCRITY: Why excel when mundane is ubiquitous. -- VAXman- A Bored Certified VMS Kernel Mode Hacker VAXman(at)TMESIS(dot)COM "Well my son, life is like a beanstalk, isn't it?" ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 09:44:08 -0400 From: "Main, Kerry" Subject: RE: OpenVMS - When downtime is not an option Message-ID: > -----Original Message----- > From: bill@triangle.cs.uofs.edu [mailto:bill@triangle.cs.uofs.edu] On > Behalf Of Bill Gunshannon > Sent: June 23, 2007 8:05 AM > To: Info-VAX@Mvb.Saic.Com > Subject: Re: OpenVMS - When downtime is not an option >=20 > In article > t>, > "Main, Kerry" writes: > > > > Well, hopefully, the viruses, trojans of the day etc do not hit them > > like what happened here or it will end up being the type of poster > they > > do not want posted or talked about anywhere: > > >=20 > Kerry, > You really should be more careful about using this strategy. > Afterall, > what is HP primary platform of interest? It sure ain't VMS..... And > it > isn't really HP-UX, even.... Oh wait, it's Windows!!! >=20 > bill >=20 HP is a huge company made up of lots of depts that use lots of different products. There is no one single platform that everyone is migrating to or even mandated to use. HP IT is simply one of those many internal depts.=20 The same could likely be stated for every other large company. Regards Kerry Main Senior Consultant HP Services Canada Voice: 613-592-4660 Fax: 613-591-4477 kerryDOTmainAThpDOTcom (remove the DOT's and AT)=20 OpenVMS - the secure, multi-site OS that just works. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 06:47:01 -0400 From: "Richard B. Gilbert" Subject: Re: Organised letter writing to Hurd ? Message-ID: <467CFA25.6010006@comcast.net> JF Mezei wrote: > Just an idea here: > > Would there be a point in some sort of organised/coordinated letter > writing to Hurd ? > > > I don't mean a petition. > > I was thing more of a coordinated continuing "debate" with Hurd. > > Person 1 writes letter to Hurd. > Person 1 gets response. > Person 2 writes letter to Hurd to argue Hurd's reponse to #1 > Person 2 gets response > Person 3 write letter to Hurd to argue Hurd's response to #2. > etc etc What makes you think that Hurd reads his own mail? He undoubtedly has a staff who open his mail, read it, and decide which ones he should handle personally! ------------------------------ Date: 23 Jun 2007 11:56:47 GMT From: bill@cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) Subject: Re: Organised letter writing to Hurd ? Message-ID: <5e4g3vF36at65U1@mid.individual.net> In article <591b2$467c86ca$cef8887a$25180@teksavvy.com>, JF Mezei writes: > Just an idea here: > > Would there be a point in some sort of organised/coordinated letter > writing to Hurd ? > > > I don't mean a petition. > > I was thing more of a coordinated continuing "debate" with Hurd. > > Person 1 writes letter to Hurd. > Person 1 gets response. > Person 2 writes letter to Hurd to argue Hurd's reponse to #1 > Person 2 gets response > Person 3 write letter to Hurd to argue Hurd's response to #2. > etc etc You are assuming he wold actually see the letters and you wold get something other than a "Thank you for your interest" nore from whoever handles his correspondence. bill -- Bill Gunshannon | de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n. Three wolves bill@cs.scranton.edu | and a sheep voting on what's for dinner. University of Scranton | Scranton, Pennsylvania | #include ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 07:34:25 +0200 From: "P. Sture" Subject: Re: reading news [was: dns woes (ucx5.3, vms 7.3-1)] Message-ID: In article , Chris Sharman wrote: > JF Mezei wrote (lots of good stuff ...) > So why can't I see it in google groups? > Got a proper newsreader at home, but I've not got one working at work, > and google groups shows the thread tree, but omits the content of JFM's > post. > > Anyone recommend an easy way to read newsgroups through a picky > corporate firewall? > Have you tried the INFO-VAX mailing list? If you choose the Digest version, it comes through twice a day, and you don't get a load of individual emails to sort through. It arrives at 8 am and 8 pm for me, so assume that would be 7 am and 7 pm for you, convenient for a quick scan first thing when you arrive at work. -- Paul Sture ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 05:57:46 -0400 From: JF Mezei Subject: Suggestion for VMS: compression/deconpression architecture Message-ID: back in the 1980s, Digital did something really bright: CONVERT/DOCUMENT and then provide various converters from format to format and let people add their own formats. VMS has had its own LIBRARY format which can do compression and store multiple "files". And it has had "BACKUP" to create savesets as well. But out in the real world, there is TAR ZIP GZ SIT UUENCODE, MIME and some newer formats such as RAR PAR and YENC and I am sure there are others and more to come. As well, there are the proprietary formats used by the commercial Linux packages. What would be node would be a standard command interface that could handle any of these formats by the presence of some shareable image to handle that format (like CONVERT/DOCUMENT does). So there would be a standard set of functions to access /create such formats (create, directory, add, read etc) For instance LLIBRARY/FORMAT=ZIP/INSERT mylib.zip myprogram.c When a new "ZIP" software comes along, one would need to recompile the shareable image that is used by the LLIBRARY command and voila. (You'd probably need a /OPTIONS qualified that are fed to the shareable image). And one could even write shareable images for BACKUP savesets as well as VMS libraries by using the respective callable interfaces. OR: (even better) Write a LIBRARY driver similar to LDdriver. LBA CONNECT LBA1: mylib.zip/format=ZIP MOUNT LBA1: And you could then access individual files inside the archive and manipulate them as if they were on a normal disk drive. When a file has been changed, once you close it, it gets recompressed into the .ZIP file to replace the old version). Now this would truly be something to brag about for VMS and some really neat and very usable software. (and again, the concept of a "plug in" for various archive formats would be very nice. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 09:02:53 -0700 From: IanMiller Subject: Re: Suggestion for VMS: compression/deconpression architecture Message-ID: <1182614573.807383.213160@q75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com> I look forward to you releasing the first version :-) ------------------------------ Date: 23 Jun 2007 11:58:00 -0500 From: Kilgallen@SpamCop.net (Larry Kilgallen) Subject: Re: Suggestion for VMS: compression/deconpression architecture Message-ID: In article <1182614573.807383.213160@q75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com>, IanMiller writes: > I look forward to you releasing the first version :-) When replying in a newsgroup, please include a bit of context to which you are replying, so all can understand. Do not assume that everybody's newsreader interface is the same as yours. ------------------------------ End of INFO-VAX 2007.340 ************************