CAD LAN
Ralph,
Well, you've gotten some good advice from the replies I've seen here
so far. Now a few questions for you.
1) Why are you thinking about Novell Netware v 2.2 instead of the 5,
10, or 20-user versions of Netware 386 v 3.11? <Novell just announced the
5-user version last week, I believe, at about $1500>.
2) What type of network are you planning on installing? Twisted pair,
coax, what? (coax is probably the easiest – until you need to hook up those
machines on the other end of the building…)
3) What version of ACAD will you be running on the network? r10? r11
stand-alone copies, or an R11 network license?
4) Do you need the peer-to-peer connectivity that Lantastic (or even
Netware Lite) provides, or do you really need more cenralized data
management (such as a dedicated server-based network like netware provides)?
5) What about your plotting needs? will you have a single plotter or
multiple plotters hooked up to the network?
6) …and the same questions go for printing…
7) How do you intend to manage all of your drawing and data files
once the network is put in place?
These are just a few of the questions you will face as you begin to
enter into this networking project. It will work out best for you if you
have answers to these and many other questions before you jump in. The
answers to these questions are as subjective as your own busuness needs are.
So, there isn't any single set of "right" answers to these questions. Now,
I don't mean to intimidate you into not networking your CAD
stations/department, just to open your eyes to the issues you WILL face.
You are starting out fresh now. The decisions you make NOW are going to become
VERY important in your success down the road. Take the time to really plan
ahead. That's the best single piece of advice I can give.
Regards, Mark Burns [Network TM]