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NETLIB -- A library for TCP/IP networking on OpenVMS

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.gitignore		.gitignore
check_version.com		check_version.com
compatibility.c		compatibility.c
connect.c		connect.c
copyright.sdml		copyright.sdml
descrip.mms		descrip.mms
dns.c		dns.c
dns_mxlook.c		dns_mxlook.c
dns_query.c		dns_query.c
generate_symbols.com		generate_symbols.com
kitinstal.com		kitinstal.com
linemode.c		linemode.c
mem.c		mem.c
misc.c		misc.c
nameaddr.c		nameaddr.c
netlib.alpha_opt		netlib.alpha_opt
netlib.h		netlib.h
netlib.ia64_opt		netlib.ia64_opt
netlib.opt		netlib.opt
netlib_doc.sdml		netlib_doc.sdml
netlib_get_version.b32		netlib_get_version.b32
netlib_inst.sdml		netlib_inst.sdml
netlib_install.com		netlib_install.com
netlib_login_template.com		netlib_login_template.com
netlib_startup_template.com		netlib_startup_template.com
netlib_ucx.c		netlib_ucx.c
netlib_ucx.h		netlib_ucx.h
netlib_user_install.com		netlib_user_install.com
netlib_vector.mar		netlib_vector.mar
netlibdef.bas		netlibdef.bas
netlibdef.h		netlibdef.h
netlibdef.r32		netlibdef.r32
netlibdef.sdl		netlibdef.sdl
readme.txt		readme.txt
release_notes.sdml		release_notes.sdml
ucx_inetdef.h		ucx_inetdef.h

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	NETLIB -- a library for writing TCP/IP based network applications

    Once upon a time, there were several TCP/IP packages available for VMS
systems.  Each provided a VMS-style programming interface, using the $QIO
system service, and most provided a "socket" programming library, based on
the communications model developed for BSD UNIX.

Unfortunately, there was no standard among any of the packages for the
$QIO-based programming interface (most, but not all, emulated Digital's,
at least to some degree), and the $QIO-based interface is not very easy
to use.

The socket libraries provided with these packages provided a somewhat
easier-to-use programming interface, but didn't permit VMS-style asynchronous
programming (using ASTs), and generally required at least a re-LINK, and
sometimes source modifications, when moving from one vendor's library
to another.

So, enter NETLIB.  NETLIB was originally developed to support MadGoat
Software's Message Exchange (now maintained by Endless Software Solutions)
mail package, which needed to support many TCP/IP packages doing VMS-style
asynchronous programming.  NETLIB provides a consistent, VMS-style
interface for TCP/IP-based network programs, operating with all of the
currently available TCP/IP packages available today for VMS (with one
minor exception).  In addition, NETLIB allows for flexibility in
in the use of a TCP/IP package, by selecting the vendor-dependent
library code at run-time, rather than link-time.

Now, fast-forward to the 21st century and OpenVMS is avilable on three
architectures (VAX, Alpha and Industry Standard 64).  There are only three
major TCP/IP interfaces still in development on OpenVMS.  These are:

    * HP TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS (formerly Digital UCX);
    * Process Multinet; and
    * Process TCPware.

The last two now have excellent emulation of HP TCP/IP $QIO-interface and
so support for all packages, except TCP/IP, has been dropped.  However,
NETLIB is still a relevant and useful package.  As well as being a major
component of MX and other TCP/IP based application it also now provides an
asynchronous interface to the OpenSSL package, as well as the existing API.