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From: ward@husc3.harvard.edu
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.sys.cisco
Subject: Cisco Router DECnet NCP/NML Query
Message-ID: <1991May23.125546.1133@husc3.harvard.edu>
Date: 23 May 91 16:55:46 GMT
Lines: 43


I have a question regarding the Cisco AGS and
AGS+ routers, though the question and answer may
apply to all Cisco routers.

Regarding the routing of DECnet protocols, in
DECnet there is a management/monitoring capability
provided through a VMS program called NCP which
allows one to access DECnet nodes and
extract certain information such as DECnet
routes.  I believe that DECnet NML is used
to accomplish this.  I think NML is a separate
DECnet protocol(s) (like MOP, LAT, etc) but
I am not sure of this.

With the Proteon router we have, one cannot run the
VMS net management and monitoring program NCP
and access a DECnet node on the other
side of the Proteon router, so presumably the
DECnet router cannot pass/route this (NML
DECnet protocol(s)?) DECnet function.  Of course
the Proteon router does handle the fundamental
DECnet communications protocols, but not whatever
protocol(s) are used by the NCP program.

The question is:  how does the Cisco router(s)
behave in this case, specifically the AGS and AGS+
models?

I know that the Cisco routers can also
process the fundamental DECnet communications
protocols.  But specifically regarding the VMS
NCP net management/monitoring protocol(s), does
the Cisco router also become a "black hole" like the
Proteon does when running  the VMS NCP program
on a DECnet node on one side of the router
while trying to access a DECnet node on
the other side of the router, or can the Cisco
routers handle this situation as desired?

If possible send replies directly to me.  Thanks,

  --Steven Ward    ward@cfa.harvard.edu