Article 156373 of comp.os.vms: In article <530rsu$2qs@news.arc.nasa.gov>, ragosta@merlin.arc.nasa.gov writes: :In article <530fh0$q6d@usenet.pa.dec.com>, hoffman@xdelta.enet.dec.com (Stephen Hoff Hoffman) writes: :> :.... :>: How does the server communicate and issue commands to these agents on :>: other platform ?? Can anyone advise on this ? : :... :> I'd be interested in knowing what you have in mind when asking this :> sort of question, as -- at least on the surface -- this question, and :> any answers you might receive, would likely be completely irrelevent. : :Although I can't answer for the original poster, it could be a matter of :concern over security. If system-level jobs can be launched over the net, :how do you prevent sniffers (et al) from breaking your system. If this is the case, the specific concern over the DECscheduler protocol is -- bluntly -- somewhat misguided, and the site would do well to request a security review from a reputable services provider. (Various security review services are available from Digital and from third-party organizations.) :A related inquiry that I have made (and never gotten a good answer to) is :where can I find a good, cheap (preferably free) library of TCP/IP routines :for secure client/server. We currently use sockets, but don't do anything :sensitive. One of the reasons I'm interested (of course I don't expect any :help from DEC :-) ) is that I wrote the free DECUS utility, Kronos, and have :considered adding a client/server version for NT. I, however, have avoided :doing anything until I can verify that my security technique is at least :adequate to prevent easy security problems. Obviously with a free utility, I :can't spend a lot of time myself developing secure network techniques. Take a look at the DCE software product description (SPD 43.05.xx), and see if this package might address your particular request. (The DCE run-time license is/was included with OpenVMS, while the DCE Security Server and the other DCE components are standard layered products. Some optional DCE components, such as the "DCE Privacy Option", may/do contain technology that is currently under export-control.) -------------------------- pure personal opinion --------------------------- Stephen 'Hoff' Hoffman OpenVMS Engineering hoffman@xdelta.enet.dec.com OpenVMS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): http://www.openvms.digital.com