UDP version of VMSnetrek (beta):

Why UDP?
	Well, using the User Datagram Protocol allows us to bypass some of TCPs
(Transport Control Protocol) more file-transfer friendly features.  For
example, using tcp if an error occurs in the tranmission of a update packet
being sent to you, all updates are held up until the lost update times out and
is retransmitted.  Of course, while this retranmission is going on you have 
been destroyed by your enemy.  The UDP protocol does not check for lost 
packets and thus you are free to ignore the one lost packet and use the newer
ones.  For more info about UDP and real time tranmission, see a real time text
or Unix Network Programming (Stevens).

To compile, at the prompt type:

	$ mms defines   ! to build logicals for include files
	$ mms libs      ! to build x11 libraries
	$ mms           ! to compile VMSnetrek.exe

to compile the source, you must have DECwindows/Motif installed, have the X-window 
header files, have UCX and its header files, and have mms.  The code may compile
with another IP package; however, it has not been tried by me.  If you do not have
the mms package, you may be able to use gnu make to compile; otherwise you will
have to build it by hand.  The source was compiled by the VAX C compiler version 
3.1.  If you have any problems or if you make changes, please notify me.

to run, at the prompt type:
	
	$ set display /create /node=yourXnodename /screen=0 /trans=tcpip
	$ VMSnetrek == "$''f$environment("DEFAULT")'VMSnetrek.exe"
	$ VMSnetrek 

alternatively, you can run the setup file :

	$ @setup <nodename>        !fill in the X window display server for <nodename>

This will connect you to bigmax.ulowell.edu.  If the bigmax server is not 
running or if no one is logged on, then use another server.

	$ VMSnetrek -h 128.103.25.59 -p 2592  ! connect to harvard server
	$ VMSnetrek -h bigmax.ulowell.edu -p 2592  ! connect to ulowell server

The display argument is ignored by the VMSnetrek client.  You need to set the display
using the "set display" command above.

For more information on servers read the rec.games.netrek news group.  There 
is a list of servers and what they run.  A list of current servers is included
with this distibution.

This client is NOT BLESSED.  This means that you cannot log in to a "bronco"
server that requires blessed binaries.  I am working on getting the client 
blessed, but I need to find someone with reserved.c who can use a vms machine.
If you know of such a person please send me mail!

You should be able to play on bigmax all the time (we don't have reserved.c)
and you will be able to play on harvard every other day (when borgs are 
allowed).

Porting info:

	o most problems were caused by name collisions with VMS or
	  function/data types unavalible in VMS
	o all changed code should be surrounded by "#ifdef VMS"

server code: 
	
	o I have ported all the server code.  Unfortunately, there remains a 
	  problem running the ntserver on a VMS system.  Because VMS does not 
	  pass it's file descriptors (except a pipe implemented as a mailbox) 
	  to child programs like a unix system would after a fork/exec I cannot
	  make a startd.  It is possible that UCX 2.0 will have a inetd
	  which will do this work for us... for those with access to it.
	  Until then, I don't think we will be able to run the server 
	  on a VMS system without major chages which will then not be 
	  compatible with the current unix versions.
	  However, if you want to run the server, ask me for the code and
	  I will mail it to you.  It will work if you run the ntserver
	  first (specifying a socket number) and then connect using the 
	  client.

John 'MacGyver' Richardson |"sun dogs fire on the horizon        \ \   \
jrichard@cs.ulowell.edu    | meteor rain stars across the night   * *   \   /\
jrichard@duck.ulowell.edu  | ...the spark still flies                /\  * /  \
                           | reflected in another pair of eyes." /\ /  \/\/
                                                           ------  \   / / 



