rg@gandp (Dick Gill) (06/24/91)
My original posting: >Several of our clients have the need to connect existing Novell >networks to IBM RS/6000 systems. The primary functionality >needed is to allow PC's on the network to (1) login to the >RS/6000 and (2) read/write files on the RS/6000 that are also >available to programs running on that machine under AIX. The >networks already have sufficient file servers, so the RS/6000 >does not have to act in that capacity. In all cases the >environment is a busy law firm that puts heavy demands on the >equipment and has little tolerence for failure or glitches. > >Reports of real-world experience would be appreciated. Please >e-mail and I will summarize to the net if there is interest. > I received several very interesting responses that show different approaches to this problem, and, in response to several requests, I am posting a summary here. One approach was based on Netware 3.11 which, according to David Hayes (uunet!sulaco.lonestar.org!merlin), includes TCP/IP routing. He suggests a Netware Loadable Module (NLM) which allows the Novell server to act as an NFS server, making files available to both the RS/6000 and the PC's. Steve Kavrak (uunet!griffin.UVM.DCU!cavrak) uses TCP/IP with the Clarkson package but notes that other commercial products (PC/NFS from Sun) could also do the job. A long response from Daniel A. Graifer (uunet!fciva!dag) offers the previously mentioned alternatives as well as a product called ProLinc from Hughes Lan Systems that permits a PC to have simultaneous access to LAT, TCP/IP, NFS and Netware. He also notes a freeware DOS based NFS server called SOSS. Finally, he notes that he an a number of comp.dcom.lans readers are about to get ready to do the same thing. A phone message from an IBM'er suggested a product called Atlantix Axcess. According to published write-ups about that product, it `enables any combination of AIX, UNIX, DOS, Macintosh or OS/2 computers to talk across TCP/IP, Novell, LAN manager and NetBIOS networks on Ethernet, Token Ring, ARCNET and StarLAN.' Diane Calleson (uunet!hal.econ.Virginia.EDU!diane) writes: `Here at UVA we have RS6000s connected over a TCP/IP network. We have a bunch of Novell file servers on ethernet... which serves PC Telnet to the PCs. The PCs then connect to the RS6000... via the tcp/ip network.' Finally, Lon Stowell (uunet!pyrnova.pyramid.com!lstowell) suggests Portable Netware on the RS/6000 to stay totally within the NOS and to allow both unix and Novell access to the same files. As to installation, he says that `...setting up the permissions can be a bit tricky but not much harder than programming a VCR..' Thanks to all who responded. It appears that there is substantial interest and knowledge about the subject in this forum and I look forward to further correspondence and postings. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dick Gill Gill & Piette, Inc. (703)761-1163 ..uunet!gandp!rg