From: LABELLES@ZENO.MSCD.EDU (Stephen LaBelle - MSCD)
Newsgroups: comp.os.vms
Subject: Re: Help need with FUSION network/cluser renaming
Date: 28 Sep 92 15:54:23 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: The Internet

T. R. Gowrishankar <trgs@quads.uchicago.edu> writes:

> Does anyone use FUSION network software out there? 

We used to!!! Recently replaced it with TGV MULTINET. I fought that software
for over 2 years and was finally able to get it replaced. FUSION is the
"WORST VAX/VMS TCP/IP" product on the market!!!!! Full of bugs, a sub-standard
product!!!!

> We are having problem getting the mail working. There is no error message 
> when mail is used, but the message never gets delivered. 

I found bugs in the mailer, however it appears you cannot get it to work at
all. 

Look at the following:

	1. You must decide whether you want to use the VMS mailer or the NRC
	   mailer. Read your Fusion documentation it will explain them.

	2. After making that decision look at the following files and make the
	   proper modifcations based on the above decision and your
	   environment:

			FNS_BASE:[BIN]FNSLOGIN.COM
			FNS_BASE:[ETC]FNSDB.COM
			FNS_BASE:[ETC]SERVICE.DB

	3. Also look at the following database files:

			MAIL.DB
			MAIL_DEFINES.DB
			MAIL.RC
			ALIASES

	4. Make certain directory protections are open for W:RE in the FUSION
	   directories. It is my experience that the FUSION installation does
	   not open the directories/files for world access, neccessary if
	   non-privildged users wish to use FUSION.

	5. You can set some system logicals which will help you debug mail.
	   Also outlined in the system documentation, after defining these
	   logicals you will get logfiles which may contain clues as to your
	   mail problems.

		qmail_debug
		smtp_debug
		mail_debug
		vms_mail_debug

	There is a chapter in your system documentation that covers managing
	configuring and debugging mail. Read it fully...


> Telnet, finger, rsh, etc. works fine.

Interesting, in version 3.4 the FINGER utility returned such bogus information
that it was "Difficult to Believe!!!", that Fusion was a professionally???
developed and supported product!!!! Run finger and see if it returns
information that makes sense...

Also be aware, the FUSION sends out a string during the negotation sequence
for FTP identifying itself as a 'FNS SITE', many anonymous FTP servers on the
Internet choke during the negotation sequence for this reason. NRC says 
these sites have "Brain Dead Software". Whatever, this behavior is unacceptable
to me. Try to explain to a 3,700 user base that they cannot FTP from certain
sites because that site has "Brain Dead Software"!!! I  have UNIX machines 
that I also manage, this problem does not happen on UNIX machines. I use the 
UNIX machines as the standard!!! NRC will tell you this is perfectly legal 
within the guidlelines of the RFC, that didn't help my users.

I also found bugs with the following:

	NSLOOKUP
	TFTP
	TELNET
	MAILER - We used VMS mail as the delivery mechanism, has problems
	         sending/receiving mail to mail distribution lists and the
		 SMTP mailer.

> I was suggested by NRC that having different names for decnet and internet
> may be the cause. That leads to the following question.
> How difficult is to change the node names of various systems in a VAX/VMS
> cluster.  We have three VAXStations running VMS 5.5.  What are the steps
> involved in renaming the nodes. Any help will be appreciated.

You should not have to do this!!!!! We ran FUSION and now MULTINET with our
Internet and DECNET names the same, it does not cause any problems, at least
for us. Before even thinking about doing it, I would completely check out
the mailer setup and configuration, per above and read your manuals completely.

Then put the ball in NRC's court, they suggest the DECNET and INTERNET node 
name issue MIGHT be the problem???? If you are paying for support and/or
your softwares on warranty, it doesn't appear they are doing much to earn 
their money.

Enough NRC bashing, I had to deal with their software for 2+ years. I would
not wish FUSION on my worst enemy.

I certainly hope NRC has improved this software for your sake!!!!
 

						Steve

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# Stephen LaBelle                        # Internet : labelles@zeno.mscd.edu #
# Systems Programmer                     #            labelles@clem.mscd.edu #
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