I have a customer who uses Mentor/Link to connect three sites each
running an old Mentor 6000 (version 2.6). He had to replace a hard
drive and now can't run Mentor/Link without an "installation code."

Raining Data no longer has the capability of generating such a code,
but may be willing to deal if there is someone out there who can.

I doubt that this would be part of any of the code that Chuck Sables
produced but I tried his (old) phone number (seems to be disconnected)
and sent an email to what I assume is an old address. I understood
that he was retired anyway.

We've been discussing other ways to skin this particular cat, and also
talking migration, but I'd like to see if there's a quick, cheap, and
easy way to get him back up and running soonest.

Anyone have an idea?

Thanks,

Dan Molochko
Synapse Computer Solutions, Inc.

Dan, I hope you and other VARs use this experience as an opportunity
to contact end-users to see if they are using any hardware or software
that would similarly put them at risk of delays or data loss should
any specific component fail them.

A solution to this particular problem may not be quick, cheap, nor
easy - then again it might - as Mark says, pick one of the three. If
you can describe exactly how Mentor/Link was being used, maybe someone
here can suggest an alternative to accomplish the same functions.
AccuTerm and mv.NET may be good candidates for transfering information
to Windows files and other sites. Example:
Mentor>mv.NET>internet/phone>systemX ... or the reverse

I can't guarantee that mv.NET will work with an old Mentor but it's a
possibility. AccuTerm includes dialer features which can be scripted.

Please feel free to contact me to exchange notes on the matter.
Good luck.
Tony
TG@ removethisNebula-RnD.com

"Daniel S. Molochko" wrote:

Wow!

I can't believe that there ate Mentor 6000's still running anywhere...
They must be 15 years old+ ? I fondly remember these machines - which were
ultra reliable, but surely must have been "end of life" even 10 years ago!

I'm not sure if they can help you, but Via Systems/EDP used to distribute
Mentor/Link and they may have some experience still on the product...

Mentor/Link - IIRC - was a product that could be scripted to "dial" remote
locations and exchange files or accounts on an unattended basis. As such,
in more "modern" versions of MV it is normally easily replaced by ftp over
the internet or similar.

Surely it is time for the customer to move on to a more modern platform.
This problem (or maintaining the old environment) will surely only get worse
as the years go by!

Regards
Simon

--
================================
Simon Verona
Dealer Management Service Ltd
Stewart House
Centurion Business Park
Julian Way
Sheffield
S9 1GD

Tel: 0870 080 2300
Fax: 0870 735 0011

"Daniel S. Molochko" <danmolochko.nospam (AT) earthlink (DOT) net> wrote

(I must make a mental note not to write replies in the early morning - the
typo's in my reply are inexcusable!).

Simon <G>

--
================================
Simon Verona
Dealer Management Service Ltd
Stewart House
Centurion Business Park
Julian Way
Sheffield
S9 1GD

Tel: 0870 080 2300
Fax: 0870 735 0011

"Simon Verona" <nomail (AT) nomail (DOT) zzz> wrote

"Daniel S. Molochko" <danmolochko.nospam (AT) earthlink (DOT) net> wrote

I know of a site that used to use (they may have dumped it...they were
thinking of going to D3) Chuck Sables' "Infolink" software that grew out of
Mentor/Link. It is a Mentor version, I believe, that ran on mvBase. I
believe "Infolink" had the very same functionality as Mentor/Link. It may be
possible that this site would still have the installation diskettes (3.5")
and if they have indeed moved off of mvBase, they might be willing to part
with them.

Contact me offline at REMOVE-THISmvdbman (AT) REMOVE-THISyahoo (DOT) com

"Daniel S. Molochko" <danmolochko.nospam (AT) earthlink (DOT) net> wrote


Replying to my own post; bad form, I know.

This is a new customer who came to us to solve this particular problem so he
could get back on his feet. They had no VAR relationship so there was nobody
to advise them about the risk they were running.

I didn't make clear enough that I was only looking for someone who could
generate the installation code needed. We're confident that we can replace
the function of the Mentor/Link software in any of a number of different
ways.

And it all doesn't matter anyway as RD has decided that if they can't give
us the code we need, nobody can. They're not willing to allow the customer
to use a code generated by someone else for love nor money.

So pardon the interruption, if you will. If nothing else, as Tony points
out, let this be a lesson...

Thanks for listening,

Dan Molochko