I am about to get out of my league here, but we are co-developing an
application using the 3K as a data server with another software company
(using IMAGE and COBOL no less!). One of their people wanted me to turn
on TELNET so that the client can talk to the HP across TCP/IP, replacing
the current DTC / serial connections currently used by the application.
Problem is, our IP addresses are real, and I don't want intrepid souls
hacking our 3K from some Internet connection. Their guy couldn't find
specs for NS/VT to use that as a service. But when I told him about our
IP addresses, he was less excited about turning on TELNET for much the
same security concerns.

I know that their must be more than one way to skin this cat (no
offense). We might be able to add filtering to the router, although that
is less than sure. I bet someone sells some products to do something
like this; but we are understandably reluctant to throw money at the
problem, especially without knowing the inner workings of the solution.
Perhaps we could write our own listeners, but I'm not that smart this
morning, and there is the same chance of someone smarter than us finding
the whole in our security. We could get the NS/VT spec and use that if
that can be done (Wirt?), although that locks that piece into only being
useful on the 3K. TANSTAAFL. Any ideas, anyone?


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