kenw@noah.arc.CDN (Ken Wallewein) (04/19/89)
What is the best machine to serve as a host for an AppleTalk/AppleShare - /Email mixed network? We are currently using a uVAXII in that capacity... and capacity is what we're running out of. That unit provides AppleShare file service and print spooling. We also use it, via terminal emulation, for electronic mail such as this, and for local and external bulletin board/conferencing/news. We have a number of Suns around, and are trying to evaluate uShare and Pacer's Appleshare for Unix (now in beta test). The uVAXII also runs TCP/IP (optionally NFS clint) to those systems. Other issues: - lan-based email with server-based mail storage and gateways - bidirectional personal network fax - unattended automatic space-efficient network backups - X-based network news/conferencing interface - high general 'interoperability quotient' The Macintoshes provide the interface of choice, and we would like to standardize on that, putting the host/server in the background. So the question is, all things considered, which machine makes the best host? This newsgroup seems to be oriented toward large universities running KIP/CAP and aufs, so I should probably expect some bias in that direction. As far as I can see, those packages are some what manpower-intensive to look after, and require a pretty high degree of expertise. On casual observation, it looks to like there are many more commercial products available for VMS than for Unix, but does that hold true when one evaluates by quality/functionality rather than quantity? Who actually has experience, or has even done much looking, outside of his own back yard? /kenw Ken Wallewein A L B E R T A kenw@noah.arc.cdn R E S E A R C H (403)297-2660 C O U N C I L