7.1 Networking

A network is a collection of computers connected by hardware and software to allow the sharing of data and resources. In order for the computers on a network to communicate, they must all speak the same language, or protocol. Today, it is a rare Tru64 UNIX system that is not a member of a network of some sort. Tru64 UNIX, like all other flavors of UNIX, supports Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) networking natively, which is the networking protocol of the Internet. In addition, Tru64 UNIX also supports Compaq's DECnet, the native networking protocol of Compaq's OpenVMS operating system, though only as an extra cost option. Due to the almost universal acceptance of TCP/IP, that is the only networking protocol that will be covered. This chapter is intended as a guide to configuring and managing basic TCP/IP networking on Tru64 UNIX systems. The first part of the chapter is an introduction to the requirements of TCP/IP networking on a Tru64 UNIX system. This includes Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, subnets and subnet masks, and gateways and routing.

We will then cover the configuration process and provide examples of both the character-based setup sequence and the graphical SysMan utility available on Tru64 UNIX version 5.0 and above. Following this, the different network interfaces available on a Tru64 UNIX system will be outlined, along with any special requirements or considerations. Next, some basic network troubleshooting tips will be demonstrated. Finally, several common network services for sharing resources across a network, such...