schultz@grebyn.com (Ronald) (01/05/90)
I am looking for any products that assist in the planning and integration of computer networks. We are looking for, in particular, an environment that provides for the presenting, review, selection, and evaluation of different kinds of networks based on a set of supplied requirements. For example, if the requirement is to interconnect 10 PCs and provide file transfer and E-Mail, the environment should propose a number of conceptual frameworks that I could explore. These may be: o Peer to Peer o Client-Server o SubLan o Others as deemed appropriate I should then be allowed to explore each presented framework to see what basic services each supplies, and how they represent different things such as mail, files, a connection, ... The environment should also provide a means of intersecting different frameworks to identify differences between frameworks. The specifying of additional requirements should result in the narrowing of conceptual frameworks presented. As frameworks are explored, additional information should be made available to assist me in selecting an appropriate configuration. Also, assistance shoud be provided if I have to migrate from one framework (say TCP-IP) to OSI. Does anyone know of any such product/environment ? Is anyone working in this area ? Also, what common denominator does one use in evaluating different networks ? For example, SNA, TCP- IP, and OSI all have a different definition of the object 'file'. How can one reconcile these differences ? I will post any received information back to the net. Thanx in advance. Ron Schultz schultz@grebyn.com