AppleTalk for VMS: Router Issues

I am having a problem with AppleTalk for VMS when connecting Macintoshes to other computer systems. If I use Liaison as a gateway between LocalTalk and Ethernet, I don't get any response from the AlisaTalk software on the VAX. I said that the RTMP table is not correct, so there is no connection between the networks. If I remove Liaison from the Macintosh and connect it directly to the Ethernet, there is no problem. I do not believe this is a problem with Liaison, because I have the same problem with Shiva FastPath.

Is this a known problem? Can you explain?
There are two possible areas that might be causing the problems you are seeing.

The first has to do with AppleTalk Phase 2 versus AppleTalk Phase 1. It is possible that you have installed the Phase 2 version of AppleTalk for VMS without realizing it, and you are trying to use Phase 1 routers, like Liaison. There are two ways you can test this:

1) Open the ATKBRIDGE.LOG file on the VAX and check the version of AppleTalk for VMS that is being run. If it says you are running version 2.1, you are running the Phase 2 version of ATK/VMS.

2) On the machine you are running Liaison, run the Internet Router instead. If you run the Internet Router without the Phase 2 Upgrade Utility installed, and you can see the services, you are running AppleTalk Phase 2 on the VAX. If you cannot see the services, and then you install the Upgrade Utility along with Phase 1 EtherTalk on the router and you can see the services, you are running Phase 1. We also know that it is something about the other routers causing the problems.

The other area you should investigate if it is not a Phase 1 versus Phase 2 issue is network numbers. AppleTalk for VMS is a router. In the default configuration, it has specifications for two networks, the Ethernet the VAX is connected to and the virtual network running inside the VAX. When you add the other router to the network, you have to ensure:

1) AppleTalk for VMS and the new router have the same network number specified for the Ethernet.

2) The virtual network has a unique network number specified for it.

3) Any other networks connected to the new router have unique network numbers as well.

Each router has a different method for specifying network numbers. For AppleTalk for VMS, this information is maintained in the PORTDESC.TXT file in the AppleTalk directory.
Published Date: Feb 18, 2012