#Corel vs SCSIexpress
9 messages in this thread
Any preference of CorelSCSI over SCSI Express or any other competitor? Do you
know of any reviews of these products in magazines? Thanks.
Bruce,
Corel SCSI and SCSI Express take different approaches. I mentioned both of
these approaches my recent magazine article.
Before I answer your question…. are you looking for a software solution for
Novell Netware???
Howard [Computer Digest]
Yes, Novell Netware 3.11 I'd also like to find an easier way to
change the CD's in the drive. Currently, we have to dismount the
CD-ROM drive, switch disks, load a new file set, remount the drive,
and log in again so the new CD is recognized.
This is the situation we are faced with SCSI Express. Is it any
different with Corel? Any info would be appreciated. Where can I get a copy
of your article?
Bruce,
I do not know of any other way around this situation, especially knowing the
structure of Netware. In fact, this same approach has to be taken with the
CDROM.NLM that comes with Netware 4.0. You have to dismount, change CD's,
re-mount. The only thing I have never had to do with SCSI Express is log back
in again (unless you mean re-MAP your drive). Corel SCSI does not have any
other approach either.
One solution you might want to look into is to place a multi-unit (TowerDrive)
on the server. This might save changing CD's if it's a big problem.
Howard Johnson [Computer Digest]
Well, our Meridian Data CD NET FOR NETWARE has one solution. We include two
NLMs in our package. One mounts the CD-ROM drive as a native netware volume,
and requires the usual time to remount the directory tree. The other NLM
(CDNETSVR.NLM) mounts the disc immediately, without having to scan the
directory tree. You can use either or both NLMs on the same file server.
The disadvantage to using the faster CDNETSVR.NLM is you must load a TSR
(CDNETEX) on the workstation to access discs mounted using CDNETSVR.NLM.
However, the TSR can be unloaded to free up memory, then reloaded if you want
to access the CD-ROMs again.
Bruce,
Why do you need to "load a new file set" each time you change CD's? You only
need to make a file set the FIRST time a CD is mounted – from then on you never
need to make the file set again unless you want to change the attributes of the
CD volume (Volume name, trustees, etc.). Mount times are usually very fast –
SCSI Express does not traverse the CD directory structure when mounting the
CD-ROM – it does that during the file set creation process. Novell does need
to load the FAT and traverse the directories – but that is obtained from the
hard disk where the file set is stored. Volume mount times are usually VERY
fast. Less than 5 seconds in most cases.
Once a file set has been made for all the discs you use – switching discs can
usually be accomplished in 30 seconds or less.
Howard,
I get the feeling that you will say that your article is in a US mag/paper,
making it very difficult for us in the UK and other parts to get access to it.
Can you cover both aspects, and if you feel that it is going to be a recurring
question, as I expect it might be, why not upload the reply to one of the
libraries, saving both time and money….
Thanks in Advance…..
Chris Morgan (London,UK)
Chris,
What I will do is type a summary of the pertinent parts of the article and
upload it. The article itself is a review of the CDROM.NLM for Netware 4.0. In
that review, I listed several desireable aspects of how the software should
act.
Based upon these things, Corel SCSI does not do as well as SCSI Express.
Although SCSI Express is going to be faced with some competition…. of their
competitors want me to review their product (new on the market) that is
supposed to be better than Express.
Guess you can't stay on the top very long.
Film at 11:00.
Howard Johnson [Computer Digest]
Don't think that we're standing still… <G!>
David