Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!apple!voder!pyramid!prls!philabs!micomvax!ncc!alberta!uqv-mts!ualtavm!ECULHAM
From: ECULHAM@UALTAVM.BITNET (User name Unknwon)
Newsgroups: comp.mail.misc
Subject: Re: HELP!! with PROFS file formats and other stuff
Message-ID: <97@UALTAVM.BITNET>
Date: 30 Sep 88 16:07:54 GMT
References: <162@chiron.UUCP>
Reply-To: ECULHAM@UALTAVM.BITNET
Organization: University of Alberta VM/CMS
Lines: 28
Disclaimer: Author bears full responsibility for contents of this article

In article <162@chiron.UUCP>, jon@chiron.UUCP (Jon L. Griffeth) writes:
 
>
>Some time ago I posted an article asking how I might establish a mail
>gateway between UNIX and IBM's PROFS.  I received several excellent
>responses.  However, due to internal politics I am unable to utilize
>any of them (silly, yes?).
>
>Currently, the only feasible solution is to write my own.  From what
>little I know concerning PROFS, it seems that a simple RJE link
>between UNIX and another PROFS node would be sufficient.  I could then
>develop the programs to translate between the two file formats and
>handle address resolution.
> ...
> ...
 
Please think VERY carefully before building yet another adhoc gateway
from VM to the rest of the world. Invariably, these gateways implement
only part of the function, and wind up causing a lot of grief to the
network. They are a LOT of work to write, and need to be continually
upgraded.
 
I am speaking from experience. I did what you are proposing, but for the
Michigan Terminal System (MTS), not UNIX. I had no choice. You do.
 
I advise you to examine all your reasons for not using the semi-standard
approaches. They exist NOW. Yours will take 4 months to stabilize,
assuming that you are a good programmer.