Please read the following topics to gain an understanding of:

   - how to use this help utility,

   - the organization of topics within this help utility,

   - how manageable components of the network are organized in a
     logical hierarchy (the entity hierarchy), and

   - how that entity hierarchy is used as a framework for
     network management using NCL, the Network Command Language.

1  –  Using NCL Help

   To access online NCL help, type help at the ncl> prompt.

   Type the name of the command or topic for which you need help.

   When selecting help topics, you may abbreviate help topic names,
   provided that the abbreviation uniquely identifies the help topic.

   Type a question mark (?) to obtain a list of available topics.

   For OpenVMS, press Return at the "Topic:" prompt to go up a level
   in the hierarchy, and to exit help. You can also exit NCL help by
   pressing Ctrl/Z in response to any prompt.

   For DEC OSF/1, press Ctrl-D at the "Topic" prompt to go up a level
   in the hierarchy, and to exit help.

2  –  Overview of NCL Help

   Besides listing all the NCL command and control verbs, the top level
   of NCL help includes the following topics:

   NCL_Introduction -   Describes the syntax and usage of the Network
                        Control Language.  Subtopics provide help on:

                        o  Invoking NCL
                        o  Creating NCL log files
                        o  Commonly used NCL commands (create/delete,
                           enable/disable, set/show, and add/remove)
                        o  Abbreviating NCL commands
                        o  NCL Syntax, with explanations of valid data
                           types, verbs, entity names, attributes,
                           required and optional command arguments,
                           and node-id specification.  Also describes
                           the usage of prepositional phrases and
                           wildcards.
                        o  Recalling previously entered NCL commands
                        o  Interpreting NCL command output
                        o  Specifying access control for a single NCL
                           command
                        o  Setting default entity and access control
                           context to be used for a series of NCL
                           commands
                        o  Using snapshot commands to monitor counters
                        o  Methods of customizing the NCL environment

   Entity_Hierarchy -   Describes most network components manageable
                        using NCL.  Includes diagrams showing each
                        entity's location within the management
                        hierarchy.

   Network_Management - Describes network management concepts and tools.
                        Subtopics include:

                        o  Access control methods and policies
                        o  Management of naming services
                        o  Managing remote Phase IV and Phase V nodes
                        o  Logical names (OpenVMS)
                        o  Startup NCL Scripts (OpenVMS)
                        o  Shutting down and restarting DECnet (OpenVMS)
                        o  Managing MOP (OpenVMS)
                        o  Managing the Event Dispatcher (OpenVMS)
                        o  Running Over TCP/IP
                        o  The Tools subtopic includes descriptions of:

                           -  the Console Carrier
                           -  Network Management GUI
                           -  Decnet_migrate
                           -  Decnet_register
                           -  Configuration Monitor
                           -  NCP Emulator (OpenVMS)
                           -  DNS$Control (OpenVMS)
                           -  NET$Configure (OpenVMS)

   Event_Messages -     Details possible event messages for each entity.

   Directory_Module -   Describes the X.500 Directory Service
                        module and NCL commands to manage the Directory
                        System Agent (DSA) and its subentities.

   SNA_Peer_            Describes the SNA Peer Server Module and
    Server_Module -     applicable NCL commands.

3  –  Entity Organization

   Because DECnet-Plus software has so many manageable components, these
   entities must be organized into a logical structure.  The organization
   defined is a hierarchical one where there are top-level entities and
   subordinate entities.

   Each computer system in a DECnet-Plus network is a global entity
   which is represented by the node entity.  Each computer is given a name
   that is unique throughout the network.  That name is then represented in
   NCL commands as the "node node-id".  (The default node-id is 0, which
   represents the local node.)

   Below the node entity are modules, or entity classes, such as CSMA-CD,
   OSI Transport, Routing, etc.  You may type HELP ENTITY_HIERARCHY for a
   diagram of the modules beneath the node entity.  To obtain a description
   of any of those modules, you may use the HELP ENTITY <module_name>
   command.  For example, to obtain a description of the Routing module,
   type:

   ncl> help entity routing

   To obtain a diagram of the subentities beneath a module, use the
   HELP ENTITY <module_name> SUBENTITIES command.  For example, to see a
   diagram and descriptions of the Routing subentities, type:

   ncl> help entity routing subentities

4  –  Managing Entities Using NCL

   Once you are comfortable with the concept of the entity hierarchy, you
   may wish to browse the NCL_INTRODUCTION help topic to become familiar
   with how NCL is used to manage those entities.  The NCL SYNTAX help
   topic will be particularly helpful if you are not yet familiar with
   NCL.