JOHNSON@nuhub.acs.northeastern.EDU ("I am only an egg.") (06/13/88)
Hello.
I'm looking for information. I'm told Cisco makes TELNET terminal
servers. This I didn't know. Is it true? Are they good (I know they
make very good routers)? Do they do the WHOLE standard and not just the
mandatory parts (i.e. do they do things like Interrupt, Abort etc like
UNIX TELNET)? What's the failure rate? What are the common failure
modes? Do they diagnose easily? Can their parameters, i.e. port
characteristics and IP characteristics, be changed from a central
location? Does it burn up what gets plugged into it? What's the
software complexity? Is it ROM based, does it load from disk or is it
downlined? How is Cisco at repair and support? Anything else you can
think of would be helpful.
I'll summarize the results for the net if anyone wants it.
Thanks much.
Chris Johnson
Northeastern University.roode@orc.olivetti.COM (David Roode) (06/19/88)
I've used the cisco Terminal servers for 2 years now, and been very happy with them. It's the same box as their gateway, and the code load etc. is the same, so if you deal with both your personal system-entity count is only incremented by one. . It either boots from PROM or down from the net. The configuration can be changed from any terminal by entering a password. The normal method is to download a modified configuration file from a Unix server. They also offer their normal bubble memory option so the configuration doesn't have to be downloaded either, but it always can be, if desired. The reliability is excellent, as is the performance (can put up to 96 terminal lines in a single box, though I only put 80 and in our (typical) situation rarely saw more than 40 active at once. They now offer a 68020 option on the processor, and the terminal server supports SLIP to typical PC-based products or compatible. Estimate is that not too many of these should be flying full tilt at once-- about 8 or so is the estimate I had, for the 68000 CPU. Main memory is 1mb, and the configuration and operation is fairly user friendly. Each port can support a practically unlimited number of connections (telnet) simultaneously, with the ability to cycle between them conveniently, optionally notify if output waiting, etc. They also implement RLOGIN, and they can use multiple flavors of name servers or support hard-wire host name. They support milking machine mode to make RS232 ports in hunt groups available to provide Telnet server access to remote access to RS232 devices that do not support Telnet--such as dial out modems, devices with RS232 monitoring available, and the like. The devices can have their own unique emulated IP address or answer on alternate TCP service ports of the main boxes address. Finally, they also support parallel printers connected to the box and accessible to the network, as well as printers accessed over an ordinary serial port.
mkhaw@teknowledge-vaxc.ARPA (Mike Khaw) (06/20/88)
> TCP service ports of the main boxes address. Finally, they also > support parallel printers connected to the box and accessible to the > network, as well as printers accessed over an ordinary serial port. Not all serial printers work with Cisco boxes. In particular, we were interested in moving our Apple LaserWriters off direct lines on one of our VAXes and putting them on a Cisco box so that they'd be more accessible over our LAN. We were told that it wouldn't work because the LaserWriters need to send data back to the host, and the Cisco serial printer connection didn't support that direction of data flow. Mike Khaw -- internet: mkhaw@teknowledge.arpa uucp: {uunet|sun|ucbvax|decwrl|uw-beaver}!mkhaw%teknowledge-vaxc.arpa hardcopy: Teknowledge Inc, 1850 Embarcadero Rd, POB 10119, Palo Alto, CA 94303
lougheed@CLASH.CISCO.COM (06/20/88)
Hello Mike - cisco Terminal Servers have always supported data flow in both directions when attached to a printer. In house we use a Laserwriter attached to a Terminal Server in just such a manner. We can print to the Laserwriter from UNIX and TOPS-20 systems. You may wish to send mail to "customer-service@cisco.com" if you need some pointers in setting up such a printing arrangement. Kirk Lougheed cisco Systems