RACKLEY@MSSTATE.BITNET (Mike Rackley) (05/20/88)
We are in the early stages of implementing a campus fiber optic backbone that will link a variety of equipment together using TCP/IP as the protocol of choice. We are also connecting to one of the NSF regional nets, SURANET, sometime this summer. As is the case with most university environments, we have a rather chaotic mix of hardware and software that we are trying to bring together. We are also fairly new at the TCP/IP game and have many more questions than answers. In general, I am looking for a UNIX box such as a MicroVAX, IBM RT or SUN workstation to fulfill several requirements. I want a stable, up-to-date TCP/IP implementation that I can use as a benchmark when diagnosing problems. That is, I want the TCP/IP on this box to be a known commodity that I can depend upon to perform as it should. Next, I want to have available a large suite of software "goodies" that I can use in conjunction with the network to gain experience with the capabilities of TCP/IP. Things in this category might include a file server capability like NFS, and network monitoring/diagnostic software. Next, I want this box to be able to provide some routine, network-wide services such as domain name server and time server. And finally, I want this to be a box from a vendor that is likely to stay on the leading edge of TCP/IP and OSI developments. I would appreciate any suggestions as to vendor, hardware and software that might satisfy my requirements. Although I would hope to spend less that $20,000 for such a system, please do not let cost affect your recommendations. Thanks, Mike Rackley Mississippi State U. Computer Center