leeke@cascade.UUCP (02/27/87)
We have a 5 Mac network with 2 LW's running TOPS and InterMail. We would like
to be able to access files on the server from off-site. Does anyone know if
there is a program for dialing up a Mac and using it remotely? One of our
users would like to be able to run TOPS remotely. I told him it was not very
likely such a thing could be done, and that his real concern seemed to be
being able to get at files from home. I do remember someone mentioning a remote
access capability on the net, but I don't have the article.
In summary, does anyone have any suggestions for Mac remote access? Should
we setup a bboard system (e.g. Red Ryder Host) so people can up/down load
over the phone? If the Host route seems the best currently available could
someone give me a pointer to a place to get RRH from with complete doc's.
Thanks for your help,
Steve Leeke
--
Steven D. Leeke, Center for Integrated Systems, Stanford University
{ucbvax,decvax}!decwrl!glacier!leeke, leeke@cascade.stanford.edu
"I suppose they don't use money in the 23rd century?"barry@reed.UUCP (02/27/87)
ctually, running TOPS remotely is easy (read trivial) -- all you need is two Hayes InterBridges, one on each end of the phone line. It's all transparent ... Some practical notes (you knew it wasn't that easy, right?) -- (1) You also need two modems, and the faster the better; we're running now with Hayes 2400 modems and TOPS keeps beeping about "attempting to connect to server". The server responds eventually, just not quickly. Possibly the US Robotics 9600 baud async modems would work; we haven't tried them or asked them yet. (2) It's not (by most users standards) cheap; list price for InterBridges is $699 (each), plus modems (Hayes 2400) list at $899 (again, each). (3) TOPS itself works fine, and the file transfers are pretty efficient. BUT -- if you want to see your desktop in the Finder, that implies the transfer of the Desktop file ... (let's see: 65K bytes [on my big disk] at 2400 baud is about 5 minutes, just to open the disk :-( ) A couple of other comments: -- things other than the Finder are great! It's neat to use the LaserWriter over the phone, the Chooser works fine, mail systems are fine, etc. -- AppleShare DOESN'T work, though. (Well, it tries ... you can connect to a server, etc., but transfers timeout way too fast for 2400 baud.) Barry Smith Kellerman & Smith