tpmsph@ecsvax.UUCP (Thomas P. Morris) (08/17/87)
The University of North Carolina School of Public Health, Division of Computing and Information Services, runs a 3-node VAXcluster (8530, 2 750's), with interactive terminals and remote printing being connected via DECserver 200's, with interactive terminals being contended for via a Develcon Dataswitch. (>300 accounts, 10 DS200's, 40 DZ-type ports, 16 print queues) We're in the process of having new office, classroom and laboratory space built, in which we plan to run an independent Ethernet to be bridged/repeater-connected to our existing 500M Ethernet segment. We expect to attach another 200-300 terminals and printers in the new building, along with various ethernet (DECnet/ethernet) devices. Now for the question: are there less-expensive alternative solutions to Ethernet terminal servers than DECservers? DEC's "software" licensing of DECservers is just killing us now, and with an additional 10-20 DS200's, would only get worse. (Having to pay an additional annual maintenance cost ___per server___, rather than per load-host, is just plain ridiculous!) Are there TCP/IP--talking terminal servers available? Will they work with the CMU/Tek or CMU or Wollongong TCP/IP packages? What type of cost, service, reliability, transparency, etc, is involved? Please post replies to tpmsph@ecsvax or tmorris@uncsphvx.bitnet. If there are enough replies, I'll post a summary to the net. Tom Morris. .