Interfacing the VAX 11/780 Using Berkeley UNIX 4. 2BSD and Ethernet Based Xerox Network Systems.

The Program and Financial Control PFC office would like to be able to perform electronic filing, mailing, and printing services between the VAX 11780, using the Berkeley Unix 4.2BSD operating system, and Ethernet based Xerox Network Systems XNS. This study researched the implementation of an electronic filing service between the VAX 11780 and Ethernet based XNS systems. This study also researched implementations of the DARPA TCPIP protocols on the VAX 11780, because PFC is mandated by DOD to use these protocols for internetworking systems. This study began by outlining the protocol specifications required for interfacing with XNS systems. An extensive literature search was then performed to determine which of the XNS protocol specifications, as well as the TCPIP protocols, were already implemented for the VAX 11780. It was found that Berkeley Unix 4.2BSD contains an implementation of TCPIP. It was also found that the Xerox Bulk Data Transfer Protocol, a protocol used by the electronic filing service to transfer files, was not implemented. Therefore, a design, implementation, and testing of the Bulk Data Transfer Protocol were presented. With the design and implementation presented, most of the protocols needed to implement an electronic filing service on the VAX 11780 exist. However, Xerox has not yet released its electronic filing protocol for public use. Originator-supplied key words include Local area networks, Computer communication networks, Computer network architectures, Flow charting.