mketch@pawl.rpi.edu (Michael D. Ketchen) (06/21/89)
I am currently working on a computerized directory for the lobby of one of the
buildings on our campus. It's basically just a small database, sitting on a
Zenith Z-248, but I need some way to update the files from a remote PC, since
the display case is designed to make it difficult, if not impossible, to get
into, and some of the files need to be updated on a regular basis.
I fugure that by running the directory program in the foreground, and having
MS-Kermit running in server mode in the background, I can update the files
remotely while the directory program is running. However, I need a cheap
way to do this, so running Xenix or PC-MOS is probably out.
Anyone have any info on how I can do this? Just three requirements:
1) It has to be secure.
2) It has to work.
3) It has to be secure.
Thanks for the help.
- Mike
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|XXX| __/\__ |XXX|----- v-"Dave" -----+-----------------------********==========
|XXX| \ / |XXX| Mike Ketchen | mketch@pawl.rpi.edu ********==========
|XXX| /____\ |XXX| R.D. #1, Box 60 +--+ ketchenm@rpitsmts ==================
|XXX| ][ |XXX| Duanesburg, NY 12056 +--------------------==================davidsen@sungod.crd.ge.com (William Davidsen) (06/21/89)
Have you considered having the PC run a client program which
interrogates the database on another system? You have lots of Suns and
stuff there, you could put the data on one of those and access by
PC-NFS, SLIP, or plain serial connection to a server.
Instead of running multitasking on the PC you can use it as a client to
another machine, and possibly really keep the cost down by not having a
hard disk, if this is a dedicated PC. I think the price of PC-NFS and a
hard disk are in the same range, given big educational discounts.
bill davidsen (davidsen@crdos1.crd.GE.COM)
{uunet | philabs}!crdgw1!crdos1!davidsen
"Stupidity, like virtue, is its own reward" -medavidr@hplsla.HP.COM (David M. Reed) (06/22/89)
Of course, I highly recommend DESQview. I have not used it specifically like you describe. I do know people who have a BBS running a background window continuously answering the phone while they do their normal PC functions in other windows. I have run an ftp server for my system in a background window that responded to requests for file system access from other systems while I have me editor, command shell, and other windows running. I thoroughly love DESQview and often wonder how people can be really productive without. It provides true multi-tasking inexpensively. However, if you want to run 2 or more big programs at the same time without the slow "swap-to-disc" process, then you need Expanded memory. I recommend an AST board (such as the RAMPage board) with at least 1 MByte of RAM. I use a RAMPage board with 2 MBytes of RAM. It certainly is far better than needing the 4+ MBytes and special programs and other software expense of UN*X or OS/2 (the former being my second choice if you want real overall functionality). DESQview runs MOST current DOS software without problem. Stay away from MS-Windows (even the 386 version) for it does not have real multi-tasking, does not properly run a lot of DOS programs, and is not easy to use (in my opinion). An alternative to DESQview is OmniView from SunnyHill Software.
keithe@tekgvs.LABS.TEK.COM (Keith Ericson) (06/24/89)
In article <5190024@hplsla.HP.COM> davidr@hplsla.HP.COM (David M. Reed) writes: >Of course, I highly recommend DESQview. My choice for a DOS multitasker requires a 386 machine and is known as VM/386. My preference is based primarily in that each virtual machine is constructed with its own individualized config.sys and autoexec.bat files, contrary to the WINDOWS-386 and DesqView. This means that the memory hogging drivers for [fill in the blank] program(s) can be restricted to that program's virtual machine and not waste space in virtual machines not requiring them. (Also, I'm not overly sold on multiple windows (yet) and find that multiple screens (each application/machine has its own full-sized "window") is adequate for most my needs.) kEITHe