thomas_m@WUMS2.WUSTL.EDU (Matthew L. Thomas) (04/29/91)
Does anyone out there on the net have any experience with OS/2's Lan Manager application? I currently have seven PS/2 systems ranging from Model 70s to Model 80s with a minimum RAM of 6Mb. Each system is running OS/2 1.3EE and contains 3270 emulation boards to communicate with a host System 370 located several hundred miles away. We have eight 3174 controllers which are on a Token Ring. We have been told that it is possible to remove the 3270 emulation boards, replace them with Token Ring boards, hook into the Token Ring network the 3174s are on, bring up a server on the Token Ring, and communicate with both the host and the server. My ultimate goal is to network the PCs together to allow filesharing, printer-sharing, and possibly a distributed database application using OS/2's Database Manager. The problem which I have stems from having Model 70s with only 3 expansion slots and no room for a Token Ring card in addition to its current 3270 card, Tecmar Tape Drive card, and 8514a XVGA card. One of two things can happen: 1) I can network the PCs together with a Token Ring by dropping the Tecmar card and replacing it with the Token Ring card, this would allow me to keep the 3270 card and continue communicating with the host without connecting to the Token Ring the 3174s are on, or 2) dropping the 3270 card and replacing it with the Token Ring card. Situation one would require me to perform server-based workstation backups due to the absence of the Tecmar card, but the software to allow me to do this is 60-90 days away from completion, and is obviously untested. Situation two requires that I get on the Token Ring with the 3174 controllers and possibly create additional traffic which could slow the response time of the 100-150 dumb terminals attached to the 3174s. If anyone would recommend one method over the other , has experience with either method, or could recommend some other solution, I would appreciate your comments. Please E-Mail me with your responses as I do not read the net often and I will summarize for everyone else. Note: This question was posed by a friend of mine and I am gathering responses for him. Please send your E-Mail to "thomas_m@wums2.wustl.edu". Thanks in advance for your responses.