Connecting to a VMS Host over TCP/IP or DECnet without PCX$SERVER

Connecting to a VMS Host over TCP/IP or DECnet without PCX$SERVER
Technical Note 1624
Last Reviewed 18-Aug-2005
Applies To
Reflection X version 12.0 through 14.x
Reflection Suite for X version 12.0 through 14.x
VMS System
Summary

Reflection X includes DCL (Digital Command Language) scripts that enable you to start individual X clients or the DECwindows Session Manager on an OpenVMS host using either TCP/IP or DECnet transports. This technical note explains how to locate, upload, configure, and use these client files.

Note: Technical Note 1840 provides preconfigured Reflection templates designed to connect to a VMS host using Telnet or SSH.

The Startapp and Startsm Scripts

Using PCX$SERVER is the easiest and preferred method for making Reflection X connections to an OpenVMS host. For further details on making OpenVMS host connections using PCX$SERVER, see Technical Note 1227.

If PCX$SERVER is not an option in your network environment, Reflection X also provides connection files that can be uploaded to the host and used to run a DECterm (or other individual X client) or to start the DECwindows Session Manager.

Support for DECterm (or other individual X clients) is provided by the file Startapp.com.
Support for DECwindows Session Manager is provided by Startsm.exe and supporting files. These files allow users who do not have SYSNAM privileges on the OpenVMS host to start the DECwindows Session Manager.

Selecting a File Transfer Method

Before starting to upload and configure Startapp or Startsm, determine which file transfer method you will use to upload the Reflection files to your host.

If you have a full PATHWORKS installation, you probably have a network drive that is mapped to your OpenVMS host. If this is the case, copy the files from your local drive to the appropriate network drive.
If you have TCP/IP and FTP on your OpenVMS host, you can use Reflection FTP to transfer the files.
If you have Reflection for UNIX and OpenVMS, you can use this application to transfer the files.

Using Startapp for DECterm Support

To provide DECterm (or other individual X client) support, upload Startapp.com to your OpenVMS host.

Uploading Startapp

Follow the steps below to upload the Startapp.com file to your host.

Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the Program Files\Reflection\X\VMS folder.
Rename Startapp.crx to Startapp.com
Upload Startapp.com to your host as an ASCII file.

Note: All users of Startapp.com must have access to this file.

Using Startapp

Reflection X provides two startup templates that use the Startapp connection script:

Script	Description	Command
Vms.rxc	Generic VMS TCP/IP DECterm	@startapp %IP#% term *
Vmsdnet.rxc	Generic VMS DECnet DECterm	@startapp %DN#% term *

* Reflection X substitutes the PC's IP address and display number for %IP#%, and the PC's node ID and display number for %DN#%.

By default, the Vms.rxc template is available from the Reflection X Manager (titled the X Client Manager in version 10.x and earlier). However, Vmsdnet.rxc is not available. To access Vmsdnet.rxc, follow the steps below.

In the Reflection X Manager, click File > Open Client File.

Note: In Reflection 10.x, click File > Open > Client File in the X Client Manager.

Navigate to the Reflection X templates folder, by default C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Templates\WRQ\Reflection\X\<lang>\VMS.

Note: If you are running version 10.x, navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Reflection\X\<lang>\VMS.

Select Vmsdnet.rxc, and then click Open. All of the VMS startup templates are now available in Reflection X Manager (or X Client Manager).

To use the templates, select the appropriate template from the top-left pane of the Reflection X Manager (or X Client Manager), fill in the appropriate Connection settings, and then click Connect.

Using Startsm for DECwindows Session Manager Support

To provide DECwindows Session Manager support, perform the steps in the following sections to upload, configure, and use the Startsm files.

Uploading the Startsm Files

To install the necessary DCL script files on your host, follow the steps below.

Note: These steps require you to upload executable files, so you will need to either logon using an account with sufficient privileges, or have your system administrator upload the necessary files.

Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the \Program Files\Reflection\X\VMS folder.
Rename the following files as indicated in the table below:

File name	Rename file to	Transfer type	Description
Instalsm.crx	Instalsm.com	ASCII	A DCL command procedure that configures the Reflection X files on the OpenVMS host after they have been transferred.
Startapp.crx	Startapp.com	ASCII	A COM file that allows you to start a DECterm.
Startlog.crx	Startlog.com	ASCII	A DCL command procedure that starts the DECwindows Session Manager.

Upload the three COM files to your host as ASCII files.
Use the table below to determine which of the Reflection X DCL script executable files (*.erx) is appropriate for your host configuration.

File name	Rename file to	Transfer type	Description
Alpha_sm.erx	Alpha_sm.exe	Binary	Binary executable file for an OpenVMS/AXP host.
Vax_sm.erx	Vax_sm.exe	Binary	Binary executable file for a VAX/VMS host.

Rename the Alpha_sm.erx or Vax_sm.erx file (whichever is appropriate for your host type) to *.exe, as indicated in the table above.
Upload the EXE file to your host as a binary file.

Configuring the Startsm Files

Once the files are uploaded, follow the steps below to configure Startsm on your host.

Note: These steps require you to run a COM file and edit system files. Therefore, you will need to logon using an account with sufficient privileges or have your system administrator make the necessary changes.

Connect to your host (from the terminal console or using a Telnet connection).
At the host prompt, enter the following DCL command:

@instalsm

This runs a DCL script that performs the following functions:

Copies the Reflection files to their appropriate locations on the host.
Renames the executable file to Startsm.exe (Start Session Manager).
Renames Startlog.com to Rxstartsm.com.
Does a DCL install of the executable file.
Sets permissions on the installed files.

After the installation is complete, edit Sys$manager:Sylogin.com. Add the following line so that each user has the symbol for startsm:

$ startsm:==$ startsm

Note: If you do not add this line to the sylogin.com file, users will be unable to establish a host connection and will see the error "Invalid queue name" in the Reflection X Host Response box (if enabled).

To ensure that Sys$system:Startsm.exe is installed/initialized whenever the host is started, add the following line to either Sys$manager:Systartup_v5.com (the name of the file on an OpenVMS/AXP host is Systartup_vms.com), or Sys$system:Startup.com.

$ INSTALL ADD /PRIV=(SYSNAM,SETPRV) STARTSM

Using Startsm

Reflection X provides two startup templates that use the Startsm connection script:

Script	Description	Command
Sm_tcp.rxc	Generic VMS TCP/IP DECwindows Session Manager	@startsm %IP#% term *
Sm_dnet.rxc	Generic VMS DECnet DECwindows Session Manager	@startsm %DN#% term *