ajudge@maths.tcd.ie (Alan Judge) (02/09/90)
Here is a summary of the replies I got to my request for info/recommendations on good models of TCP/IP terminal servers. Most opinion seems to come down on the side of Xylogics and Cisco. Thanks to everyone who replied. >>> tcp:1 Date: Fri, 02 Feb 90 08:53:44 MST From: haas@cs.utah.edu Subject: Re: TCP/IP Terminal servers To: ajudge Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans,comp.periphs In-Reply-To: <1990Feb1.173403.8452@maths.tcd.ie> Organization: University of Utah CS Dept In article <1990Feb1.173403.8452@maths.tcd.ie> you write: >We are currently investigating various sorts of TCP/IP terminal servers, and >I am looking for people's experience/advice about the best available brands. The cisco is very popular; so is the Annex (originally made by Encore but I think now by somebody else). However we will be buying the Hughes LAN Systems (formerly Sytek) 4208 when they bring out the next software release due in April. The Sytek supports LAT and has full hardware flow control in both directions, unlike the competition. Cheers -- Walt Haas >>> tcp:2 Date: Fri, 02 Feb 90 16:37:38 PST From: Chris Ranchcsr <csr@ubvax.uucp> Subject: Re: TCP/IP Terminal servers To: ajudge MMDF-Warning: Parse error in original version of preceding line at Ukc.AC.UK Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans,comp.periphs In-Reply-To: <1990Feb1.173403.8452@maths.tcd.ie> Organization: Ungermann-Bass Enterprises Alan, Take a look at the Bridge Communications CS/210 (now the 3Com CS/210), and Ungermann-Bass' NIU-190. Both are good reliable products. Regards, -- Chris Ranch Ungermann-Bass, Inc (408)562-7957 csr@ubvax.ub.com >>> tcp:3 Date: Fri, 02 Feb 90 12:47:05 PST From: Carl Rigney <amdcad!cdr@relay.eu.net> Subject: Re: TCP/IP Terminal servers To: ajudge Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans,comp.periphs In-Reply-To: <1990Feb1.173403.8452@maths.tcd.ie> Organization: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., Sunnyvale, Ca. In article <1990Feb1.173403.8452@maths.tcd.ie> you write: >We are currently investigating various sorts of TCP/IP terminal servers, and >I am looking for people's experience/advice about the best available brands. >Does anyone have any recommendations/suggestions? We did an extensive review of the terminal server market last year and chose cisco Systems as the standout best - and we're delighted with our choice. I think its the best TCP/IP terminal server on the market, and they also make a terrific router. One of the things that makes them so good is that they're very good about listening to customers and providing support. They also know networking very, very well. cisco.com is on the Internet, if you send mail to customer-service@cisco.com I'm sure they'd be glad to send you further information. They make a tiny non-expandable 10-port terminal server, and then 3 different chassis that are expandable from 16 to 96 ports. Adding more ports is as easy as buying another 16-port board and plugging it in. They also make a combined Terminal Server / Router, but we haven't used that. The terminal server supports both telnet and rlogin, and is just in general as reliable and easy to use as anyone could ask for. One exceptionally nice feature is that you can open multiple sessions to different machines and switch between them with a couple of keystrokes. There are cheaper terminal servers on the market, but we figure the headaches we've saved more than make up for it. We have about 30 of them, and intend to buy more. -- Carl Rigney cdr@amdcad.AMD.COM {ames att decwrl pyramid sun uunet}!amdcad!cdr MS 167; AMD; 901 Thompson Place; Box 3453; Sunnyvale, CA 94088 1-408-749-2453 >>> tcp:4 Date: Fri, 02 Feb 90 13:12:29 EST From: Dan Butzer <butzer@cis.ohio-state.edu> Subject: Re: TCP/IP Terminal servers To: ajudge Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans,comp.periphs In-Reply-To: <1990Feb1.173403.8452@maths.tcd.ie> Organization: The Ohio State University CIS/IICF System Support Group We have Encore Annex I units and they're great. Xylogics bought the product, and continues to support the annex I admirally. (I just installed new boot code in our 3 units.) I have used the Annex II at Usenix, and it worked well even over a SLIP connection. I plan to buy another terminal server this year and it will definitely be a Xylogics Annex 32. On the downside you need some kind of Unix box to serve as a boot server for the things. (They boot off the ethernet from a server running their erpcd boot daemon.) On the slight chance you don't have a Unix box to boot it then this is not for you... --Dan -- Dan Butzer || butzer@cis.ohio-state.edu IICF/CIS Hardware Support || voice: 614-292-7350 fax: 614-292-9021 "Fire in the hole..." || 2036 Neil Ave, Columbus OH 43210 >>> tcp:5 Date: Fri, 02 Feb 90 12:55:00 MST From: Aaron Leonard at UofA Telecommunications <LEONARD@arizona.edu> Subject: Re: TCP/IP Terminal servers To: ajudge X-VMS-To: IN%"ajudge@maths.tcd.ie" X-Envelope-to: ajudge@maths.tcd.ie Alan: We are going to demo 4 different brands of terminal server (Datability Vista, Hughes [Sytek], Xyplex and cisco) starting next week, and we hope to come up with a pick within a month. If you would like, we can send a copy of our evaluation to you then; conversely, we would appreciate it if you could send us any information that you might garner. Thanks, Aaron Aaron Leonard (AL104) | leonard@arizona.edu / U of Ariz Telecom | LEONARD@ARIZONA.BITNET Tucson AZ 85721 | 47540::TELCOM::LEONARD >>> tcp:6 Date: Fri, 02 Feb 90 15:48:42 EST From: Hock Koon Lim <lim@cwlim.INS.CWRU.edu> Subject: Re: TCP/IP Terminal servers To: ajudge Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans,comp.periphs In-Reply-To: <1990Feb1.173403.8452@maths.tcd.ie> Organization: Case Western Reserve University I would said get a cisco box. We use it here and I like it very much. The software in the box is very good. You can do almost anything you want with it. The hardware did not give me any problem too. -- Hock-Koon Lim, Information Network services Case Western Reserve University; Cleveland, Ohio, USA 44106 (216) 368-2982 lim@cwlim.ins.cwru.edu >>> tcp:7 Date: Fri, 02 Feb 90 17:14:53 PST From: zardoz!uninet!neil@PARIS.ICS.UCI.edu Subject: Re: TCP/IP Terminal servers To: maths.tcd.ie!ajudge@PARIS.ICS.UCI.edu Source-Info: From (or Sender) name not authenticated. Sender: zardoz!uninet!neil@PARIS.ICS.UCI.edu Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans,comp.periphs In-Reply-To: <1990Feb1.173403.8452@maths.tcd.ie> Organization: Uninet Peripherals, Santa Ana, CA, USA I sure do 8-). Instead of clogging up the ethernet more, put in a SCSI serial expansion box on some workstation lying around on your network, and you will also get a Centronics parallel port. The big advantage, aside from lower cost per port, is that the ports are part of a computer system already, and are easily accessable and configured through standard stuff like /etc/ttytab and /etc/printcap. Read on ... We also have 16 and 32 port models coming out in a month or 2, and they will probably be expandable. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [[ Advertising blurb, giving details and prices for the SLAT (SCSI terminal board), SCSI disk and tape drives (!), etc.., deleted. Contact the address below for more info. -- Alan ]] For more information, contact marketing through any of the following: PHONE: (800) 433-6784 or use (714) 546-1100 from within California UUCP: uunet!zardoz!uninet!sales INTERNET: sales@uninet.cpd.com MAIL: Uninet Peripherals, 1209 E. Warner, Santa Ana, CA, 92705 >>> tcp:8 Date: Mon, 05 Feb 90 11:44:11 MET From: Dave Morton <dave@ecrcvax.uucp> Subject: Re: TCP/IP Terminal servers To: ajudge Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans,comp.periphs In-Reply-To: <1990Feb1.173403.8452@maths.tcd.ie> Organization: ECRC, Munich 81, West Germany Alan, also have a look at the Xylogics TS, it used to be called Annex II until Xylogics took them over a while back. Once upon a time it was acknowledged to be the best. I've no info. on what Xylogics might have done with it in the meantime. You used to get 16/32 ports and a centronics printer port as well. All ports can go at up to 38.4 k baud and you can load the thing from most unix boxes. I have this number in the uk if it helps 908-569-444. PS: It also supports remote modems. Hope this helps a little. Dave Morton, Sys Manager, European Computer Industry Research Centre Tel. + (49) 89-92699-139 Arabellastr 17, 8000 Muenchen 81. West Germany. USA dave%ecrcvax.uucp@pyramid.pyramid.com ..!pyramid!ecrcvax!dave EUROPE ..!unido!ecrcvax!dave dave@ecrcvax.uucp >>> tcp:9 Date: Mon, 05 Feb 90 13:09:31 PST From: walsh%sdcc18@ucsd.edu Subject: Re: TCP/IP Terminal servers To: ajudge Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans,comp.periphs In-Reply-To: <1990Feb1.173403.8452@maths.tcd.ie> Organization: University of California, San Diego There are dozens of manufacturers of TCP terminal servers. At the top of my list are Xylogics and cisco. The product from each of these companies is very good, and both companies are pretty responsive. I have had most experience with Xylogics and Ungermann Bass. I would not recommend Ungermann Bass. I heartily recommend Xylogics if you have a rich UNIX environment. Xylogics can be reached in the UK at (908) 569444 FAX (908) 560997 their product is call the Annex II 16 and 32 port flavors cisco 1350 Willow Road Menlo Park, CA USA 94025 800-553-NETS Good Luck. -- ##### ### ##### Kevin Walsh ########## # ########## University of California, San Diego \\\\\####### #######///// Library Systems Dept. C-075-T \\\\#############//// La Jolla, California 92093 \\\###########/// ||||||||||||| Voice: (619)534-2530 ###===UC SD===### Internet: kpwalsh@ucsd.edu ##===LIBRARY===## BITNET: kpwalsh@ucsd >>> tcp:10 Date: Mon, 05 Feb 90 13:54:34 A From: Robert Claeson <prc@erbe.se> Subject: Re: TCP/IP Terminal servers To: ajudge In-Reply-To: your article <1990Feb1.173403.8452@maths.tcd.ie> News-Path: maxim!sunic!mcsun!ukc!tcdcs!swift.cs.tcd.ie!maths.tcd.ie!ajudge Check out the Xylogics Annex II terminal server. It is probably the best TCP/IP terminal server you can find. Has all the features you can ask for and some more. Very reliable. Our Annex'es has been up since last summer (when we upgraded the software in them). Call: Xylogics International Ltd. Featherstone Road Wolverton Mill Milton Keynes MK12 5RD United Kingdom Tel: +44 (908) 222112 Fax: +44 (908) 222115 Robert >>> tcp:11 Date: Tue, 06 Feb 90 11:10:42 CST From: rackow@antares.mcs.anl.gov Subject: terminal servers To: ajudge You might want to check out xylogics annex terminal servers. We have a number of them and they are great. --Gene Rackow Gene Rackow email: rackow@mcs.anl.gov Math & Computer Science voice: 708-972-7126 Argonne National Lab FAX: 708-972-5986 9700 S. Cass Ave. Argonne, IL 60439 >>> tcp:12 Date: Tue, 06 Feb 90 13:44:20 EST From: Michele Hoven <hoven@Xylogics.com> Subject: TCP/IP terminal servers To: amjudge@cs.tcd.ie cc: hoven@Xylogics.com Alan, I saw your posting to comp.dcom.lans asking for information on TCP/IP terminal servers. I work for Xylogics, Inc. which makes the Annex II terminal server. It is available in 16 and 32 port configurations. We have an office in the UK you could contact for more information: Xylogics International Ltd. Featherstone Road, Wolverton Mill, Milton Keynes MK12 5RD, United Kingdom (908)222112 TLX (851)825279 FAX (908)222115 Don't hesitate to contact me if I can be of further help. Michele Hoven Annex Technical Support Xylogics, Inc. Burlington, MA e-mail: hoven@xylogics.com phone: (617)272-8140 ext. 256 >>> tcp:13 Date: Tue, 06 Feb 90 08:39:56 PST From: Larry Snyder Subject: Re: TCP/IP Terminal servers To: ajudge I have attached excerpts from a preliminary TSU (Terminal Server Unit) evaluation performed by my department. Executive Summary: best system - Xylogics, does it all best choice - CMC, best bang for $$ - hope this helps. TSU EVALUATION REPORT (excerpts): Below, we have listed the strong and weak points for the Sytek (Hughes), Xylogics, and CMC Ethernet terminal Servers. Strong points are preceeded with a +, weak points with a -. I. Sytek (Hughes LAN Systems) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + Easy installation + Supports fast toggle (user can switch to another session with one key stroke) + Supports both Ethernet and cheapernet connections + 8 serial ports - Downloaded from a PC - Inaccurate documentation - Ports 2-8 would not toggle back to the server's command shell (consequently, these ports could only support 1 session) - Flaky hardware - Unreliable (server would crash every few hours) Summary: Engineers refused to continue using the Sytek. II. Xylogics ~~~~~~~~ + Downloaded from UNIX + Easy installation + Good documentation (documentation is clear and sufficient) + Good on-line help + UNIX daemon uses a registered tcp service number + Reliable (server has never crashed) + Supports up to 32 serial ports via 4 octopus trunks + Maximum of 16 sessions per port + UNIX-like user interface (many of the server's commands are similar to commands in UNIX. Examples: netstat, ping, su, who, kill, stty) + Server supports both printers and modems - No cheapernet port (only supports Ethernet AUI connection) - No fast toggle (user must return to the server's command shell before switching sessions) - Large (the size is comparable to that of an IBM PC) - Most of the server's administration is done from a UNIX host - Administration requires some technical knowledge Summary: The Xylogics server supports a WIDE variety of features. As such, the administrator can configure the server in any way that he or she wishes. The user needs little technical know-how; the administrator, however, needs some technical knowledge. III. CMC ~~~ + bootp or ROM boot option + Very easy installation + Simple user interface + Good documentation (documentation is clear and sufficient) + Good on-line help + Reliable (server has never crashed) + Maximum of 4 sessions per port + Compact ( ~ 12 * 8 * 2" ) + Administration is simple + Server supports both printers and modems + 10 ports - No Ethernet port (only supports cheapernet connection) - No fast toggle (user must return to the server's command shell before switching sessions) Summary: The CMC server does not support as many features as its Xylogics counterpart. Its features are, however, sufficient for most purposes. Its strongest point is simplicity; the users and administrator need little technical knowledge to use this product. -- Alan Judge, SysAdmin, Dept. of Maths, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. ajudge@maths.tcd.ie a.k.a. amjudge@cs.tcd.ie also, Distributed System Group, Dept. of Computer Science, TCD.
phil@pepsi.amd.com (Phil Ngai) (02/13/90)
I don't think anyone mentioned the following point: are you going to
ever run a WAN? If there is the slightest chance that you will, consider
strongly the advantages of going with a company that makes both terminal
servers and routers. Not only do you reduce finger pointing, your staff
has less learning to do and you will probably have more commonality of
equipment, improving your spares situation and configuration
flexibility. Of course you will save time working with only one vendor
instead of two and the fact that your purchases are lumped with one
vendor should mean you get more attention from him. If you only buy two
router boxes from a vendor, it's not as interesting as if you buy 50
boxes from the vendor (2 routers and 48 terminal servers).
--
Phil Ngai, phil@amd.com {uunet,decwrl,ucbvax}!amdcad!phil
When guns are outlawed, only governments will have guns.