PMDF-MR is a collection of Message Router channels which link, through PMDF, Hewlett-Packard Corporation's Message Router and MAILbus to traditional networks such as BITNET, the Internet (TCP/IP), UUCP, and to UNIX and other non-OpenVMS machines. PMDF-MR provides bidirectional access between Message Router and MAILbus agents such as Office Server, ALL-IN-1 IOS, MailWorks (A1MAIL), MRX, MR/P, MR/S and the myriad of networks and non-OpenVMS machines and mail systems reachable with PMDF.

PMDF-MR is also capable of acting as a replacement for Message Router in conjunction with Message Router agents running on the same node. Theoretically any agent that uses the MRIF$ interface to connect to Message Router can be configured to talk directly to PMDF-MR instead. In practice each agent must be tested against PMDF-MR prior to operational deployment and use. PMDF-MR's Message Router replacement facilities have been tested and are now supported for Office Server on both VAX and Alpha platforms, for MailWorks on both VAX and Alpha platforms, and for ALL-IN-1 on both VAX and Alpha platforms.

Hybrid configurations, where PMDF-MR both connects to a remote Message Router as well as acting as a replacement for Message Router in conjunction with local agents, are also possible.

This chapter describes how to configure and use PMDF-MR. However, before configuring PMDF-MR, PMDF must first be installed; the PMDF installation will also install PMDF-MR. See the OpenVMS edition of the PMDF Installation Guide for instructions on installing PMDF.