bundalo@iitmax.IIT.EDU (Predrag S. Bundalo) (07/11/89)
The subject and Keywords just about explain it all. I need some help (info) with connecting my 286 or 386 to one of the VAXes (a 3600) we have here via an EtherNet card and some TCP/IP software. I need advice on: o Which card to buy for this particular setup o Which software to buy Would software be included with the card by any chance?? Would I be able to use some of the VAX's resources (such as: o disk drives o 9-trak tape drives o DEC Compactape II o Gigatapedrives), or am I pushing it? BTW, the VAX is running WIN TCP/IP and has an Ethernet connection. -- ______________________________________________________________________________ Predrag S. Bundalo BITNET: SYSPredrag@IITVax.edu.BITNET IIT Vax Systems Staff UseNet: bundalo@iitmax.iit.EDU Academic Computing Center Chicago, Illinois
jbvb@VAX.FTP.COM (James Van Bokkelen) (07/14/89)
Date: 10 Jul 89 21:24:39 GMT From: "Predrag S. Bundalo" <zeek!spl1!iitmax!bundalo@uunet.uu.net> The subject and Keywords just about explain it all. I need some help (info) with connecting my 286 or 386 to one of the VAXes (a 3600) we have here via an EtherNet card and some TCP/IP software. I need advice on: o Which card to buy for this particular setup The "3rd generation" cards all share a similar architecture: smart LAN controller chip but no processor, 8K to 64K of on-board RAM buffer, usually memory mapped (DMA or programmed I/O is usually a speed disadvantage). These include U-B PC/NIC, Interlan NI5210/NI9210, 3Com 3C503 and 3C523, W-D WD8003 family, AT&T NAU family, clones of the Nat. Semi. DP839EB (Novell NE-1000, D-Link), Acer, Gateway, Tiara, IMC Networks, etc. This is in my experience the cheapest and fastest architecture, with raw TCP speeds in excess of 300Kb/sec on 386 hosts. The lowest cost I've seen advertised is $220 or so for the WD8003 (a distributor's ad in PC Week), but Novell has recently announced rather low prices for the NE-1000. o Which software to buy Depends on what you need: Everyone has Telnet and FTP clients; not everyone has FTP servers, PING, TN3270, TAR/RMT, Berkeley R-utilities or SMTP support. Some vendors offer NFS and/or RFC 1001/1002 NETBIOS support. Some vendors support more boards than others. Some offer interface sharing with Netware and/or VINES and/or 3Plus. Some don't bother with the Domain Name system, or IP subnets, or ICMP redirect routing. Would software be included with the card by any chance?? Some of our OEMs (W-D, AT&T, Interlan) bundle PC/TCP with their cards. NRC sells Fusion bundled with a WD8003. TWG, 3Com, IBM and Sun offer hardware with their packages. Excelan, U-B, CMC, Interlan and 3Com/Bridge intelligent cards come with software, too. Would I be able to use some of the VAX's resources (such as: o disk drives With a DOS NFS client, and VMS support, you can use the Vax's disks like your own. Otherwise, you need to use FTP to move files back and forth individually. o 9-trak tape drives o DEC Compactape II o Gigatapedrives), or am I pushing it? With TGV TCP/IP and our TAR/RMT, you could do backups. Otherwise, you can only use it indirectly, via FTP and logging in to the Vax. James B. VanBokkelen 26 Princess St., Wakefield, MA 01880 FTP Software Inc. voice: (617) 246-0900 fax: (617) 246-0901