NIP (Network Information Program)
			28-Apr-1981

	Note:  For FLX purposes, the file NIP.EXE has been
	       renamed to NIP.TSK.  After using FLX to put
	       NIP on disk, rename it back to NIP.EXE.


NIP (Network Information Program) is a logical replacement program for
the built-in DCL command SHOW NETWORK for VAX/VMS DECnet V2.0.

NIP is a self contained image that you simply RUN or invoke as a foreign
command (e.g., NIP :== $NIP).  NIP normally resides in the standard
system executable file directory (i.e., SYS$SYSTEM:NIP.EXE).  It
requires no special privileges and need not be INSTALLed.

On any terminal supported by the screen package that is at least 51
columns wide and 14 lines high NIP will operate in a continuous display
mode.  The initial default interval between updates is five (5) seconds.
NIP will utilize the total height of the screen (up to 24 lines) and the
total width of the screen (up to 132 columns).  You get two columns of
information on 72 column terminals (e.g., VT05s), three columns of
information on 80 column terminals (e.g., VT52s or VT100s in 80 column
mode), and four to five columns of information on 132 column terminals
(e.g., VT100s in 132 column mode).  The shift from four to five columns
of information on 132 column terminals is done automatically if and when
the number of active nodes and lines overflow four columns.  [ Note that
you must set a VT100 to 132 column mode both logically (with the DCL
command SET TERMINAL/WIDTH=132) and physically (either with SETUP or the
correct ESCape sequence) for NIP believe it has 132 columns. ]

The following single keystroke "commands" are available:

	1 through 9	Change display interval to n seconds
	B (or b)	Ding the bell if something has changed
	C (or c)	Clear screen and re-display everything,
			remove unreachable nodes, and reset bell dinging
	E (or e)	Exit NIP
	CTRL/Z		Exit NIP

As new nodes become reachable they will enter the display and the old
information will slide accordingly.  If an already displayed node turns
unreachable, it will remain on the display with *Unreachable*
displayed beside it.  If it becomes reachable again, the new related
link and routing information will return.  To purge unreachable nodes
from the screen you can use the C (for clear) command (see above).

On VT100s, any changed information is displayed in reverse video until
the next display cycle.  This helps you locate what just changed.  This
feature used in conjunction with the "ding the bell" feature (see the
B command above) lets you run NIP unmonitored until you here the bell.
When you do you can quickly find the altered information as it is in
reverse video.

If the terminal cannot support the continuous display mode (e.g., a
hardcopy terminal) then the information is sequentially written to
SYS$OUTPUT and NIP exits.

If you have defined NIP as a foreign command (e.g., NIP :== $NIP), you
can give it a node name, node address, or line name to search for.  In
all explicit command line cases, NIP does simple SYS$OUTPUT output and
exits.  You can use:

	$ NIP *			to find out about all known nodes
	$ NIP nodename		to find out about the named node
	$ NIP nodeaddr		to find out about the addressed node
	$ NIP linename:		to find out about the named line

For example:

	$ NIP STAR		to find out about node named STAR
	$ NIP 160		to find out about node number 160
	$ NIP XMB0:		to find out about line XMB0: (DMC-1)

If you're on DEC's Engineering Network then comments, suggestions, etc.
can be MAILed to KOALA::BRAMHALL and the latest and greatest (and
debugged) NIP can always be found in KOALA::SYS$SYSTEM:NIP.EXE.
Elsewise, I hope you like the NIP you've received and you can send fan
mail to

	Mark Bramhall  ZK1-3/E11
	Digital Equipment Corporation
	110 Spit Brook Road
	Nashua,  NH  03061