[Simh] XServers and Simh (Somewhat OT)

[Robert Thomas]

We serve X-Windows from SIMH VAX running VMS 7.3.  There are many flavors of
X-servers that work.  The most challenging part of using such is getting
networking to work on SIMH/Vax. Our experience is under Windows:

 

1) EXCURSION (DEC provided with VMS V7 through V7.3 on the Pathworks disk -
can be installed on its own requiring no special privileges or registry
setting).  Provides a simple X-server.

2) MobaXterm

3) Xming

4) vcxsrv

5) Cygwin-x

 

All of the above are free and work with some issues.  EXCURSION is color
limited and does not properly support plane masks.

 

MobaCterm, Xming, vcxsrv, and Cygwin-X are all implementation of XORG's
x-server.  They do not fully support PC keyboards emulating LK405 keyboards,
i.e. VT400 emulation.  The numeric keypad and functions keys are not fully
mapped.  Additionally not all of the DECwindows/Motif fonts are available.
These are identical to most of the LINUX X-Servers.

 

All of the above support local window managers with various modes of
operation (All in one windows, multiple windows, etc.) as well as a remote
window manager, e.g. DECwindows/Motif.

 

It is easy to start up a DECterm or the DECWindows/Motif CDE.  The steps are
to:

 

1) Start the X-server on your workstation/PC allowing connections from the
desired clients.

2) Log into the VMS system using either the mechanism within the X-server
environment or putty.

3) Create a display to the X-server:

               $ set display/create/trans=tcpip/perm/node=<node>

4) To start the CDE (DECwindows/Motif window manager):

               $ @cde$path:xsession

    To start a DECterm:

               $ create/term/detach

 

We are evaluating EXCEED as an x-server.  So far it has full functionality
turning a PC into a full function X-server, i.e. like having a Vaxstation or
Alphastation on your PC.  Its only drawback so far is its cost being over
$500 per seat.

 

BTW:  All of the above work on Windows even in Windows virtual machines.

 

Sincerely,

Robert F. Thomas



 44 Industrial Way 
Norwood, MA USA 02062
*  Office Phone - (781) 329-9200
* mail to: rft at asthomas.com

 

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