DECnet

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Network protocol suite

title: "DECnet" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["computer-related-introductions-in-1975", "products-and-services-discontinued-in-2022", "2022-disestablishments-in-the-united-states", "history-of-computer-networks", "network-protocols", "digital-equipment-corporation", "openvms"] description: "Network protocol suite" topic_path: "technology/networking" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DECnet" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Network protocol suite ::

DECnet is a suite of network protocols created by Digital Equipment Corporation. Originally released in 1975 in order to connect two PDP-11 minicomputers, it evolved into one of the first peer-to-peer network architectures, thus transforming DEC into a networking powerhouse in the 1980s. Initially built with three layers, it later (1982) evolved into a seven-layer OSI-compliant networking protocol.

DECnet{{cite magazine |magazine=Hardcopy |pages=62–65 |title=Giving DECnet a LAN |author1=James M. Moran |author2=Brian J. Edwards |date=February 1984}} was built right into the DEC flagship operating system OpenVMS since its inception. Later Digital ported it to Ultrix, OSF/1 (later Tru64) as well as Macintosh and IBM PC compatibles running variants of MS-DOS, OS/2, and Windows under the name PATHWORKS, allowing these systems to connect to DECnet networks of VAX machines as terminal nodes.

While the DECnet protocols were designed entirely by Digital Equipment Corporation, DECnet Phase II (and later) were open standards with published specifications, and several implementations were developed outside DEC, including ones for FreeBSD and Linux.{{cite web |url=https://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/linux-decnet/index.php?title=Main_Page |title=DECnet for Linux |publisher=SourceForge |access-date=June 26, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004142729/http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/linux-decnet/index.php?title=Main_Page |archive-date=October 4, 2009}} DECnet code in the Linux kernel was marked as orphaned on February 18, 2010{{cite web |url=https://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.33 |title=Orphan DECnet |first=Christine |last=Caulfield |work=Linux Kernel ChangeLog 2.6.33 |date=February 18, 2010 |access-date=June 26, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811153303/http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.33 |archive-date=August 11, 2011}} and removed August 22, 2022.

Evolution

DECnet refers to a specific set of hardware and software networking products which implement the DIGITAL Network Architecture (DNA). This architecture is set out in a number of documents which define the network architecture in general, state the specifications for each layer of the architecture, and describe the protocols which operate within each layer. Although network protocol analyzer tools tend to categorize all protocols from DIGITAL as "DECnet", strictly speaking, non-routed DIGITAL protocols such as LAT, SCS, AMDS, LAST/LAD are not DECnet protocols and are not part of the DIGITAL Network Architecture.

To trace the evolution of DECnet is to trace the development of DNA. The beginnings of DNA were in the early 1970s. DIGITAL published its first DNA specification at about the same time that IBM announced its Systems Network Architecture (SNA). Since that time, development of DNA has evolved through the following phases:

1970–1980

Phase I (1974) Support limited to two PDP-11s running the RSX-11 operating system, or a small number of PDP-8s running the RTS-8 operating system, with communication over point-to-point (DDCMP) links between nodes.

Phase II (1975) Support for networks of up to 32 nodes with multiple, different implementations which could inter-operate with each other. Implementations expanded to include RSTS, TOPS-10, TOPS-20 and VAX/VMS with communications between processors still limited to point-to-point links only. Introduction of downline loading (MOP), and file transfer using File Access Listener (FAL), remote file access using Data Access Protocol (DAP), task-to-task programming interfaces and network management features.

Phase III (1980).{{cite web |url=http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/decnet/AA-AV51A-TK_intrPhIII_May82.pdf |title=Introduction to DECnet (Phase III) |date=May 22, 1982}} Support for networks of up to 255 nodes with 8-bit addresses, over point-to point and multi-drop links. Introduction of adaptive routing capability, record access, a network management architecture, and gateways to other types of networks including IBM's SNA and CCITT Recommendation X.25.

::data[format=table title="'''DECnet Phase IV protocol suite'''"]

ApplicationNetwork ManagementSessionTransportNetworkData linkPhysical
DAP: Data Access Protocol
NICE: Network Information (and) Control Exchange
SCP: Session Control Protocol
NSP: Network Service Protocol
DRP: DECnet Routing Protocol
DDCMP: Digital Data Communications Message Protocol
Ethernet, Token Ring, HDLC, FDDI, ...
Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, ...
::

1981–1986

Phase IV{{cite web |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/ios/decnet/configuration/guide/2_xe/dec_2_xe_book/overview_decnet.pdf |title=Overview of DECnet}}{{cite web |url=https://linux-decnet.sourceforge.net/docs/doc_index.html |title=The DECnet Phase IV Specifications}} and Phase IV+ (1982). Phase IV was released initially to RSX-11 and VMS systems, later TOPS-20, TOPS-10, ULTRIX, VAXELN, and RSTS/E gained support. Support for networks of up to 64,449 nodes (63 areas of 1023 nodes) with 16-bit addresses, datalink capabilities expanded beyond DDCMP to include Ethernet local area network support as the datalink of choice, expanded adaptive routing capability to include hierarchical routing (areas, level 1 and level 2 routers), VMScluster support (cluster alias) and host services (CTERM). CTERM allowed a user on one computer to log into another computer remotely, performing the same function that Telnet does in the TCP/IP protocol stack. Digital also released a product called the PATHWORKS client, and more commonly known as the PATHWORKS 32 client, that implemented much of DECnet Phase IV for DOS, and 16 and 32 bit Microsoft Windows platforms (all the way through to Windows Server 2003).

Phase IV implemented an 8 layer architecture similar to the OSI (7 layer) model especially at the lower levels. Since the OSI standards were not yet fully developed at the time, many of the Phase IV protocols remained proprietary.

The Ethernet implementation was unusual in that the software changed the physical address of the Ethernet interface on the network to AA-00-04-00-xx-yy where xx-yy reflected the DECnet network address of the host. This allowed ARP-less LAN operation because the LAN address could be deduced from the DECnet address. This precluded connecting two NICs from the same DECnet node onto the same LAN segment, however.

The initial implementations released were for VAX/VMS and RSX-11, later this expanded to virtually every operating system DIGITAL ever shipped with the notable exception of RT-11. DECnet stacks are found on Linux, SunOS and other platforms, and Cisco and other network vendors offer products that can cooperate with and operate within DECnet networks. Full DECnet Phase IV specifications are available.

At the same time that DECnet Phase IV was released, the company also released a proprietary protocol called LAT for serial terminal access via Terminal servers. LAT shared the OSI physical and datalink layers with DECnet and LAT terminal servers used MOP for the server image download and related bootstrap processing.

Enhancements made to DECnet Phase IV eventually became known as DECnet Phase IV+, although systems running this protocol remained completely interoperable with DECnet Phase IV systems.

1987 & beyond

Phase V{{cite book |isbn=978-0-1320-2987-2 |title=DECnet Phase V: An OSI Implementation Network |author1=James Martin |author1-link=James Martin (author) |author2=Joel Leben|year=1992 |publisher=Digital Press Support for very large (architecturally unlimited) networks, a new network management model, local or distributed name service, improved performance over Phase IV. Move from a proprietary network to an Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) by integration of ISO standards to provide multi-vendor connectivity and compatibility with DNA Phase IV, the last two features resulted in a hybrid network architecture (DNA and OSI) with separate "towers" sharing an integrated transport layer. Transparent transport level links to TCP/IP were added via the IETF RFC 1006 (OSI over IP) and RFC 1859 (NSP over IP) standards (see diagram).

It was later renamed DECnet/OSI to emphasize its OSI interconnectability, and subsequently DECnet-Plus as TCP/IP protocols were incorporated.

Notable installations

DEC Easynet

DEC's internal corporate network was a DECnet network called Easynet, which had evolved from DEC's Engineering Net (E-NET). It included over 2,000 nodes as of 1984, 15,000 nodes (in 39 countries) as of 1987, and 54,000 nodes as of 1990.

The DECnet Internet

DECnet was used at various scientific research centers which linked their networks to form an international network called the DECnet Internet. This included the U.S. Space Physics Analysis Network (US-SPAN), the European Space Physics Analysis Network (E-SPAN), Energy Sciences Network, and other research and education networks. The network consisted of over 17,000 nodes as of 1989. Routing between networks with different address spaces involved the use of either "poor man's routing" (PMR) or address translation gateways. In December 1988, VAX/VMS hosts on the DECnet Internet were attacked by the Father Christmas worm.

CCNET

CCNET (Computer Center Network) was a DECnet network that connected the campuses of various universities in the eastern regions of the United States during the 1980s. A key benefit was the sharing of systems software developed by the operations staff at the various sites, all of which were using a variety of DEC computers. As of March 1983, it included Columbia University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Case Western Reserve University. By May 1986, New York University, Stevens Institute of Technology, Vassar College and Oberlin College had been added. Several other universities joined later.

Hobbyist DECnet networks

Hobbyist DECnet networks have been in use during the 21st century. These include:

  • HECnet
  • Italian Retro DECnet

References

General references

  • Carl Malamud, Analyzing DECnet/OSI Phase V. Van Hostrand Reinhold, 1991. .
  • James Martin, Joe Leben, DECnet Phase V: An OSI Implementation. Digital Press, 1992. .
  • DECnet-Plus manuals for OpenVMS are available at http://www.hp.com/go/openvms/doc/
  • DECnet Phase IV OpenVMS manuals for DECnet Phase IV; these Phase IV manuals are archived on OpenVMS Freeware V5.0 distribution, at http://www.hp.com/go/openvms/freeware and other sites.
  • DECnet Phase IV architecture manuals (including DDCMP, MOP, NICE, NSP, DAP, CTERM, routing); at https://web.archive.org/web/20140221225835/http://h71000.www7.hp.com/wizard/decnet/ (the originals are mirrored at DECnet for Linux).
  • Cisco documentation of DECnet, at http://docwiki.cisco.com/wiki/DECnet

References

  1. (May 13, 1992). "SYSTEMS STRATEGIES". [[The New York Times]].
  2. "kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git - Linux kernel source tree".
  3. "kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git - Linux kernel source tree".
  4. Digital Equipment Corporation. (1978). "Nineteen Fifty-Seven to the Present". [[Computer History Museum]].
  5. (September 1978). "Software Product Description: DECnet-VAX, Version 1". DEC.
  6. Erik E. Fair (January 5, 1984). [https://www.cs.rutgers.edu/~cwm/NetStuff/Human-Nets/Volume7.html Re: The Plethora of Networks]. ''Usenet fa.human-nets''. Retrieved August 19, 2018. {{Webarchive. link. (March 14, 2016)
  7. Network World (September 7, 1987), p.4. [https://books.google.com/books?id=ix0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA4&dq=easynet DECworld network links hotels, ocean liners]. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  8. Network World (August 6, 1990), p.1. [https://books.google.com/books?id=Tx0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA1 DEC shares early lessons on DECnet V]. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  9. L. Stuart Vance (1990). [https://books.google.com/books?id=ecvNBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA150 The User's Directory of Computer Networks, The DECnet Internet]. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  10. L. Stuart Vance (1990). [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781555580476500126 The User's Directory of Computer Networks, The DECnet Internet (Publisher Summary)]. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  11. link. (March 8, 2021)
  12. "The DECSYSTEM-20 at Columbia University 1977-1988".
  13. "Computing at Columbia Timeline".
  14. [http://mim.stupi.net/hecnet.htm HECnet - The hobbyist DECnet]. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  15. [http://decnet.ipv7.net Retro DECnet]. Retrieved August 19, 2018.

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computer-related-introductions-in-1975products-and-services-discontinued-in-20222022-disestablishments-in-the-united-stateshistory-of-computer-networksnetwork-protocolsdigital-equipment-corporationopenvms