Folks,
I was exposed to only local DECnet during college life (1984-1990) at
Gallaudet University in DC area. I was CS student. I had accessed to VAX,
PDP-10 (TOPS-10), and Ultrix system which was connected to the Internet
(SURAnet). VAX system was connected to BITNET with using JNet software. I
used DECnet to transfer my files between VAX, PDP-10 and Ultrix systems and
logged into other systems via DECnet (set host command).
I got JNet software with TCPNJE driver for my emulated VAX system. I
installed FunetNJE (available on ftp.funet.fi) on Linux system and was able
send messages to my emulated VAX system or via. I am still looking for
JNet 1.x and 2.x for older VMS operating systems that I have. Also, I am
still looking for JNet manuals as well.
Some BITNET file servers have good resources for VM and VAX operating
systems. There were RELAY servers as well.
Yeah. There are still MUD sources (like TinyMUD and AberMUD) on the
Internet for UNIX systems.
There was MUD server on PSUVAX for a few months. That was so fun until
system admin asked someone to shut down due to excessively resources. I
tried to contact MUD developer to give me a copy but they said no.
At college, We used Kermit to access VAX, PDP-10 and Ultrix systems as
terminal and file transfers (very slow!!). Network admin told me that and
use TCP/IP software instead. TCP/IP is much more effective than Kermit.
I graduated from Gallaudet University before TCP/IP became standard
(replaces old Kermit, etc.) for system-wide use after sys admin retired.
Yeah. I saw that declining of BITnet in 1990s in favors of the Internet as
standard communication. I never use THEnet because it was not available at
my college campus. Today I recently discovered HECnet and am planning to
join HECnet with my emulated VAX system. I am considering about Hobbyist
version of BITnet some day with JNet and FunetNJE software. I had seen some
people used Hercules 390 to run VM/ESA or z/VM to can communicate with
that. VM/370 (released to public) does not support that yet.
Tim