RUTHERFORD@CTSTATEU.BITNET (John Rutherford/Faculty Computing Center) (02/08/90)
----------------------------Original message---------------------------- While I haven't yet actually set up the Virtual Microsystems Vserver box, I have dialed into a VAX at Virtual which was connected via a Vserver to a Novell network. On the Novell network a CBIS cdrom server (see PCMag. for a review of the CBIS unit, latest issue). We used a DEC VT220 terminal in VT100 mode (it will also allow vt220) and accessed the cdrom databases on the CBIS server. It works quite well, though it is expensive (about 15,000 for a vserver with four simultaneous user capability). As for the CBIS unit, we purchased one but have not set it up yet. It is the unit that Silver Platter now uses. It is fairly conservative on memory, and if you use lanspace etc. on your workstations you can move some of the network overhead into expanded memory etc. CBIS allows you to run the MS Extensions from the server, which saves some memory also. As far as I know this was the only practical way of connected VT terminals on the DEC side to a LAN for purposes of sharing lan resources such as cdroms. It allows multiuser use of the cdroms unlike the Logicraft boxes that can be connected directly to the VAX. Of course, this has probably changed by now. ] (If we ever collect all of the parts I will post a full report on installing the unit) John Rutherford Central Conn. State Univ. rutherford@ctstateu