On Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:25:08 -0400, you wrote: NCP>define node 19.301 name dusty I get the same "Operation failure" doing it that way as well. I did get a "set node" command to work (when I hadn't before), but that doesn't help me get it into the permanent database. If it works like TOPS-10 DECnet, there is no permanente database: at every boot you have to load the database again. You may want to create a file containing a SET NODE for every node you want defined, one per line, and then have it TAKEn by NCP at boot time. I think you'll have to play with SYSTEM:SYSTEM.CMD and/or *-PTYCON.ATO to have NCP do it. Something like ENTER NCP, then TAKE yournodelist.CMD, then RETURN. Because this is quite slow, there is also a much faster TOPS-10 utility that appears to run even on TOPS-20. Its name is NODNAM and can be found here: http://pdp-10.trailing-edge.com/tops10_tools_bb-fp64b-sb/01/10,7/decnet/nod… http://pdp-10.trailing-edge.com/tops10_tools_bb-fp64b-sb/01/10,7/decnet/nod… (There is the binary executable too.) On TOPS-10 it works like a charm, TOPS-20 DECnet is yet to come for me... :) HTH, :) G.