news@brl-smoke.ARPA (The News System <news>) (09/29/86)
A couple of departments at MITRE Washington have been using SUNs for several years. We've grown from SUN/100's, then upgraded them to SUN2's and now use SUN3's Etherneted with the SUN2's. Most users don't have a SUN terminal and use the CPU via either a SYTEK broadband network or an Ethernet TAC connected to dumb terminals (VT-100, VT220, Hazeltine ESPRIT, TAB-132, i100, etc.). The SUN/100's were slow but could handle 2-3 users each without objectionable delays. The SUN2's were much nicer, and when supplied with at least 4Meg of memory would handle 4-6 users each with out objectionable delay, except when we had multiple 'troff' running. The SUN3's are a breath of fresh air! I usually see 10-20 users logged on, several 'troff', 'emacs', and have only been annoyed once when the other computers in the department were down and everybody logged onto the SUN's. Sorry, I didn't check the loading factors. The primary SUN3 has mucho memory (16Meg ?), 800Meg bytes of disk (2 Eagles). What can I say? SUN makes a nice machine. But watch out for disk problems with older Eagles, they can't handle the speed. We've used the SUN's for development of software for 68K based network devices (PDP-11/70 Host-Front-End, Terminal Access Controller, Gateways, Network diagnostic systems) Programs were compiled, linked, converted to Motorola "S" records and downloaded at 19.2K baud. (NOTE: If you're interested in utilities to perform 'text', 'data', and/or 'bss' relocation, "S" record conversion, and downloading, contact me directly.) We also use the SUN's for all our document preparation, some remote procedure research, security experiments, ARPANET & MILNET mail, VLSI development. The VAX users who are doing vision and AI research are impressed and are considering converting to SUN3's. I'm not the system administrator, but if you have questions about specifics I can point you in the right direction. <Ad Astra Per Sciencia> Daryl Crandall ARPANET: daryl@mitre-gateway.org The MITRE Corporation 1820 Dolley Madison Blvd. Mailstop W429 McLean, VA 22102 (703) 883-7278