KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q63038: DEC’s PCSA Disk Server and Windows 3.0

Article: Q63038
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 13-DEC-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

Testing by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) has shown Pathworks version 4.0
and Microsoft Windows 3.0 (and Windows-based applications) to be compatible.

NOTE: This information is not valid for later versions of Microsoft Windows.
Later versions of Windows ship with drivers for the Pathworks network (version
4.0 and 4.1) provided by DEC.


MORE INFORMATION
================

DEC produces a mainframe communication package called PCSA that allows PCs to
access mainframes. The PCSA network is composed of two different servers, a disk
server and a file server. This network is not a supported network and Microsoft
does not make any claims as to its compatibility.

Windows cannot be installed on the PCSA Disk Server because Windows must be able
to create, read, and write to temporary files to swap its applications. Because
DEC's PCSA Disk Server is a removable media device, Windows cannot install.

Supported networks include the following:

- Microsoft Networks (or 100-percent compatible)

- Microsoft LAN Manager 1.00

- Microsoft LAN Manager 2.00

- 3Com 3+Share

- 3Com 3+Open LAN Manager

- Banyan Vines 4.0

- Novell NetWare 2.1 or later

- Novell NetWare 386

Users of DEC PCSA versions earlier than 4.0 should consider investigating the
upgrade to the later version because this later version is more compatible with
Windows 3.0.

PCSA (now called Pathworks) is DEC's client software loosely based on the LAN
Manager redirector that allows DOS and OS/2 machines to access DECnet. DECnet is
DEC's enterprise network that includes SNA connectivity and integration of
Macintosh machines (also a Pathworks product; although no Microsoft software is
involved.)

The products included here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft;
we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance
or reliability.

Additional query words: 3.00 3.00a 3.0 3.0a win30

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin300 kbWin300a
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.