[Simh] On MOP

[dave porter]

Paul Koning> You can think of MOP as a simple data transfer
protocol; the fact that clients use it to load executable bits
into memory is not required. The same is true for TFTP,
and there the name of the protocol makes the point explicit.
MOP doesn't say it quite so clearly but it is just as true there.

Timothy Litt> Yes, MOP is a data transfer protocol.
It's also more: "Maintenanceoperation" - we've talked
about the data transfer aspects, but it also
has built in the concepts of programs, loaders,
selective loads, providing time, loopback, redundant
servers via multicast, even a remote console service.

--
Something tells me Paul Koning needs no schooling on
the range of capabilities offered by MOP :-)

[Johnny Billquist]

Post by dave porter
Paul Koning> You can think of MOP as a simple data transfer
protocol; the fact that clients use it to load executable bits into
memory is not required.  The same is true for TFTP, and there the name
of the protocol makes the point explicit. MOP doesn't say it quite so
clearly but it is just as true there.
"Maintenanceoperation" - we've talked
about the data transfer aspects, but it also
has built in the concepts of programs, loaders, selective loads,
providing time, loopback, redundant
servers via multicast, even a remote console service.
--
Something tells me Paul Koning needs no schooling on
the range of capabilities offered by MOP :-)

Neither Paul, nor Timothy needs any schooling on MOP, really.

But Timothy have a point. MOP is not really like TFTP. TFTP transfers
files. MOP transfers data. The MOP server is normally expected to
understand and process the file requested, and MOP will provide the data
contents of the file to the client, along with information such as where
in memory this data should be placed, and at the end, the MOP server can
also provide the client with the starting address in the just
transferred data, which is assumed to be an executable image. (Not to
mention all the other functionality that Timothy touches on which is
also a part of MOP.)

Johnny