[bit.listserv.novell] Netware 326 support of TCP/IP

MENTER@UNLVAX3.BITNET (PAUL MENTER) (01/15/90)

What does netware 386 v3.1 support for TCP/IP really mean?  Do it mean:
1) I can FTP to a novell server
2) I can Telnet to a novell server and run a DOS session from a VT-100 on
   a terminal server
3) my DOS workstation talk to a novell server with TCP or IP protocols
   rather than IPX, SPX protocols

Paul Menter

MOLTA@VAXB.ACS.UNT.EDU (01/16/90)

>What does netware 386 v3.1 support for TCP/IP really mean?  Do it mean:

As I understand it, Netware 386 v 3.1 will not actually include support for
TCP/IP.  Rather, it will include hooks so that the TCP/IP NLMs will be able
to be loaded, once they're released later this year.  As far as your specific
questions are concerned, I'll speculate based on what I've heard, but if anyone
from Novell is listening, it would be real helpful to hear more specifics on
this issue.

>1) I can FTP to a novell server

I would assume that this would be a fundamental component of any TCP/IP
implementation that they would release.

>2) I can Telnet to a novell server and run a DOS session from a VT-100 on
>   a terminal server

This is not very likely and if it were implemented, would have a significant
negative impact on server performance.

>3) my DOS workstation talk to a novell server with TCP or IP protocols
>   rather than IPX, SPX protocols

There has been some talk about a pure IP client, but there are serious problems
in terms of memory overhead.  I think Novell would like to see a university
work on this.

Dave Molta
University of North Texas

wittmann@ENGR.WISC.EDU (art wittmann) (01/16/90)

>
> >What does netware 386 v3.1 support for TCP/IP really mean?  Do it mean:
>
> As I understand it, Netware 386 v 3.1 will not actually include support for
> TCP/IP.  Rather, it will include hooks so that the TCP/IP NLMs will be able
> to be loaded, once they're released later this year.  As far as your specific
> questions are concerned, I'll speculate based on what I've heard, but if
 anyone
> from Novell is listening, it would be real helpful to hear more specifics on
> this issue.
>
> >1) I can FTP to a novell server
>
> I would assume that this would be a fundamental component of any TCP/IP
> implementation that they would release.
>
> >2) I can Telnet to a novell server and run a DOS session from a VT-100 on
> >   a terminal server
>
> This is not very likely and if it were implemented, would have a significant
> negative impact on server performance.
>
Agreed, Don't look for telnet services, SMTP mail, on the other hand may
be a possibility.

> >3) my DOS workstation talk to a novell server with TCP or IP protocols
> >   rather than IPX, SPX protocols
>
> There has been some talk about a pure IP client, but there are serious
 problems
I'd guess PC-NFS would be the product to use here.

> in terms of memory overhead.  I think Novell would like to see a university
> work on this.
>

I imagine the most significant part of Novell's TCP/IP support will be NFS.
They've licensed the RPC/NFS stuff from sun, so they should then be allowing
Unix clients to mount Netware file systems.  It's going to be interesting to
see just what they will support along with NFS.  NFS alone doesn't make
up a fully distributed filesystem.  You need something like yellowpages for
distributed security and rights data.

(The following is only opinion - Don't expect that I know what I'm talking
about)
Another interesting possibility is that of mounting Unix filesystems on a
Novell server and then allowing DOS clients to access those mounted
directories.  I'd be pretty suprised (somewhat delighted) to see this.
Clearly, for Netware 386 to be the LAN OS of the '90s, Unix filesystems
will have to be treated with some respect, I haven't seen anything that would
indicate how Novell will provide that respect.  I suspect that the TCP/IP
services will be marginally acceptable and that Novell's true interests are
in ISO protocols.  If BSD 4.4 offers good support for ISO protocols, TCP/IP
may become a protocol on it's way out.

Art

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Art Wittmann                                  Phone: (608) 263-1748
Network Manager                               Email: wittmann@engr.wisc.edu
Computer Aided Engineering Center                or: wittmann@cae.wisc.edu
University of Wisconsin, Madison