R.J.Letts@sysc.salford.ac.uk (05/30/91)
Subject: LAN MANAGER Questions. the from:field on the original message was so munged, I couldn't feed it into my mailer. > 1> Is it absolutely necessary to have an OS/2 server to run LAN manager ? > We would prefer to be able to run with our UNIX box (SUN 470) as the > main server. This isn't a major point though so if there are a lot of > other advantages we will run with it :) I don't know about the SUN, but HP produce LM/X which in Lan Manager for Unix boxes. you can also get Portable NetWare from most of the main unix vendors now, however SUN haven't YET announced they will be supplying it > 4> Does LAN manager provide file services to UNIX boxes via NFS or does > it implement its own protocol ? I'm not sure which of these would be > preferable, perhaps you can offer some opinion ? It implement's its own protocl called 'Server message Blocks' I would not even consider Lan Manager for serious sharing of network resource's by PC's. There are too many limitations; cut below the ------ if you don't want to know my response if you had asked the same questions about NetWare Richard ----------------- If you are interested in Novell, the use the list Novell@suvm (BITNET) contact Listserv@suvm to find out how to join. > 1> Is it absolutely necessary to have an PC-Based server to run Novell? > We would prefer to be able to run with our UNIX box (SUN 470) as the no it isn't, though with the MAC and NFS support in a dedicated box it will probably out perform the SUN 470 as an NFS server if you buy a decent server > 2> Which ethernet cards are supported by Netware ? You name it, they probably support NetWare. If Packet Drivers are available for the card, then they can be used as well > 3> Is there any packages (Comercial/Shareware/Freeware) that provide > TCP/IP over LAN manager ? yes, if you use Packet drivers then you can use multi-protocol support, using KA9Q, Clarkson, of NCSA these are free - but you must support them alternatively you could purchase Novell's LAN WorkPlace for DOS which allows PC's access for unix hosts using TCP/IP > 4> Does NETWARE provide file services to UNIX boxes via NFS or does > it implement its own protocol ? I'm not sure which of these would be > preferable, perhaps you can offer some opinion ? see the anser to (1) the cost is high though (prices in GB pounds) #8k for Netware #5k for NFS the design aim in the NFS was to build a server that would out-perform a SUN 4/470. I haven't checked out if they have met it ! > 5> How does the allocation of resources work ? Does LM allow any user to users access for disk resoucres using Access Rights, there are much more powerful than those found on UNIX boxes access to QUEUES are similarly controlled. Printing is distributed across the network using the PSERVER software included in NetWare 3.1x > Does LM allow access to printers on remote UNIX/VMS machines ? ONE of the following works - I cannot rememebr which 1. the DOS users can access the UNIX queues 2. The Unix users can access the NetWare Queues > 6> How good are the mail facilities ? Is it possible to send mail > to/from internet machines ? This is a sepaarte add-on from many third parties. David Harris (?) at Otago in New Zealand has a fairly good, and improving mail program called Pegasus, which interfaces with the Charon gateway from Clarkson for SMTP capability > 7> Is it possible to connect to the LAN from a terminal ? How would this > be set up ? Is it possible to connect to the LAN through TCP/IP > (telnet) ? These are picky questions and not that important :) Difficult, if you get it working tell me > 8> What is the availability of sercer/connection software for > Sun SPARCservers server - SUN aren't saying yes or no are present, but I belive there is a SPARC version of NetWare connection - YES LOTS > DEC VMS VAXes server - yes, but poor performance connection - using TCP/IP ? yes - using decnet - unknown > IBM VM Mainframes Server/Connection - through a Novell dedicated server running the SNA services [this could be the same one that runs the NFS and MAC support !!] Novell also offers Remote-boot of diskless/ floppy only PC's a 3.1x server supports 250 simultaneous active [NetWare] users Richard