CompuServe Thread

#CDROM & Novell 3.11

6 messages in this thread
#21377From: Danny J. LAneMay 14, 1992 7:59 PM
I'am looking for several pieces of information concerning CDROM technology: A. Is their a CDROM standard? B. Brief history of how CDROM technology for computer evolved? C. How to use CDROM's with Novell 3.11? Multiple access?!# D. Do "disk changers or multi-CDROM" units exist and work on Novell 3.11? What's Opti-Net? E. Listing of vendors of CDROM's (in Canada)? F. Listing of computer related CD's available on the market? G. Pitfalls/benefits of CDROM technology? Thanks
#21387From: Albert DayesMay 15, 1992 12:46 AM
There is a CD-ROM media standard ISO-9660 (file format basically) it this standard that is really helping CD-ROMs take off. Benefits is a CD-ROM has lots of information and relatively cheap for the amount and its very reliable. The only problem is you can not record on them.
#21413From: Derek C. ErbMay 16, 1992 6:51 AM
Your questions would require some major downloading time to reply to all of them!!! A. There is no OFFICIAL standard for CD-ROMs today and it's one of the major problems in the expansion of this technology. The same holds true for Sound boards. There are two basic de facto standards that I've seen the ISO-9660 (which you've seen mentioned) and the High Sierra formats. Most "multimedia" CD drives accept both of these standards. However, note, there are others! C. There are quite a few options of using CD drives with NW3.11. There are a few options of connecting it directly to the server with a SCSI interface and an NLM (for more information on this check the NETWIRE forums (NOVA, NOVB and NOVC). It can also be installed on a dedicated workstation and shared using Map Assist from Fresh Technology. I have installed this solution a few times and am quite pleased with it. In addition there are quite a few CD drive manufacturers who have created shareable CD servers for NW3.x which include proprietary softare and/or "jukebox" devices (multiple CD drives in one chasis). D. When you say "multi-CDROM" I assume you refer to jukebox drives which can hold many CD disks in many drives at once. These do exist and they are "NetWare Aware"! If you're really interested I'll go rumaging through my brochures to send you some names. What's a "disk changer"? F. What do you consider a "computer related CD"? One which has information about computers on it? A good example would be Microsoft's Programmer's Library which contains tons of PC programming reference material "at your fingertips". – Let me know if you need more info, I'm running out of space… 😉
#21430From: Danny J. LAneMay 16, 1992 7:47 PM
Thanks for all the information… We have approximately 30 LAN servicing approximately 800 users, if we get a CD-ROM player on our LAN… all the other LANs will want one as well. Thats why I had so many questions on this technology. What would you recommend for CD-ROM player on Novell 3.11? I heard that Multi CD-ROM players being accessed by several users at a time create network errors such as Drive MAP No Longer Found ?#!@ DJL
#21480From: Mark PierceMay 18, 1992 6:40 PM
Danny, Look into SCSI Express.. I have many 3.11 Lans running SCSI Express without any problem. It mount like a volume and totally transparent. Just connect it to the server and off it goes.
#21568From: Danny J. LAneMay 20, 1992 7:40 PM
Do you have the Companys name and telephone number?? (that produce SCSI express)… Thanks