zrzr0111@rusux1.rus.uni-stuttgart.de (Kurt Jaeger aka PI) (11/17/90)
Hi !
Here comes a problem I don't know any cheap (in terms of money)
answer for:
The PC-pool of our math. dep. consists of a few (20?) Mod.50 PS/2
with IBM Token Ring cards and a file server Mod.80. The server
is connected to the Mod.50's with TR and with a ethernet card
to the campus LAN.
We want to provide all of the Mod.50's with IP-connectivity,
to connect to the rest of the LAN. Preferably we want to use
NCSA-Telnet (v2.3b7 aval.).
As far as I see, ncsa-telnet can make use of TR-cards.
So we would need some sort of router-sw for our Mod.80 ?
Where can we get some ? Should we use AIX for that purpose ?
The Mod.80 is a file server with some IBM-sw (dont know it
personally ;). Will it work in combination with IP ?
What about using PC-NFS afterwards/instead ?h
In case someone just knows a bit about it, please reply via
mail. I'll summarize if there's enough interest.
Comments like "forget it", "will never work" etc are
highly welcome, because it will give me some hint, too !
aTdHvAaNnKcSe, PIjbvb@FTP.COM (James B. Van Bokkelen) (11/19/90)
The 'from' address was incredibly bogus (no username), so I'm posting...
If you want to use NCSA, you have to get the Clarkson Packet Driver collection
and use the "ibmtoken" driver. This simulates Ethernet on 802.5, translating
the headers for NCSA. It works for a while, but on the 17th different host
you try to connect to its "RIF caching" logic will come into conflict with
NCSA's ARP code and you won't be able to get through...
FTP Software, IBM, Wollongong and Beame & Whiteside all offer commercial
DOS TCP/IPs for 802.5. All can use drivers that conform to IBM's "ASI"
spec (TOKREUI or the LAN Support Program), PC/TCP at least can use 802.5 NDIS
drivers as well. Because the ASI or NDIS driver allows interface sharing,
you ought to be able to use TCP/IP concurrently with mounting remote volumes
on your server.
You will need a router of some sort. Proteon, cisco and Wellfleet all offer
high-performace routers with 802.5 interfaces. IBM and TWG will sell you
low-performance PC-based routers. A Banyan VINES server can act as a router
between Ether and 802.5. You can use a PC/RT (at least if it runs the
"academic 4.3" Unix). If AIX supports routing, you could put that on
a PS/2 with two interfaces as well. I don't know offhand if "PCRoute" can
hack 802.5, or if it is too simple to handle RIFs (for bridged rings). I
don't believe KA9Q does 802.5. Unless AIX can also act as a fileserver,
you will need to put it on another machine...
James B. VanBokkelen 26 Princess St., Wakefield, MA 01880
FTP Software Inc. voice: (617) 246-0900 fax: (617) 246-0901