#NETWORKING ADVICE
9 messages in this thread
To all,
We are about to install some sort of network for 40 plus 386-486 sysytems.
What is the recommendation of the gurus here.
Choices are
1.Novell
2.MS NT server
3.Lantastic
4.Unix
5.other -OS2 etc
We are looking at acad win, 3ds, win31, wp etc and other sware for a full
function DTV and DTP visulization learning lab setting.
Several plotters and various printers.
Also would you choose thin net coax or 10 based tee. tp etc.
I really need help on this and ease of use is a big iten naturally.
PAT
My recommendation is Novell 3.11 or 4.0, dedicated server. We've had
R3 running across 45 nodes simulatneously under this setup and it
worked extremely well.
Paul,
This may be a little off the specific subject here, but here goes. When
rendering in a networked environment, what is most important for the
slaves?(nodes,terminals?) I'm assuming that hard disk size is not important?
Is mega-RAM required at each machine? My first guess is that fast 486's loaded
with RAM would give the best performance.
I know I could probably look this up, but I hate to tear myself away from the
tutorials(g). I thought some real-world experience might also be useful. BTW
where are you located?
Bob W.
Bob,
The most important aspects of such an environment include speed/ram/
and system stability. If the network is designed to be a "rendering"
farm then nothing else really matters. You'll need a small hard disk
in each box to facilitate having the R3 executables on each machine,
but beyond that, you don't need anything else.
In fact the best thing to do if you're going to set up such a network
specifically for rendering, then I'd say avoid buying monitors and
keyboards and just use a swithbox tying every ten systems into a
single monitor and keyboard. That'll leave you more money for
motherboards and ram. We rackmount everything, bring the systems on
line, and then dump everything to a network cue. It's fast, little or
no maintenance, and unbelievably stable. (As in NEVER a single
problem).
Additionally, if you're about to buy systems, check out the Pentiums!
We've got a number of them running and our performance increases are
FAR beyond what some members have reported. Not to mention that while
everyone talks about bus throughput for seeing great things on screen,
if you're interested in speed, you're looking for sheer processing
power, and periphials are not a major factor. You can find Pentium
Boards for around $1500 and they are stable and really fly in the
rendering world. I've had boards from 5 different manufacturers
running for a couple of months now, and haven't had a single problem.
Hope I managed to answer your question, I just got up.
Paul
Thanks for the reply. That is exactly the information I was looking
for-including the (unasked but answered anyway) question about the
keyboards and monitors! However, you did neglect to tell me where
you are located! Thanks again,
Pat:
>> install some sort of network-What is the recommendation of the gurus here.
My recommendation is to go with option #4, Unix. Get a Sun SparkStation as
a server and hang as many PCs off it as you need to.
>> Also would you choose thin net coax or 10 based tee.
No question, 10-BaseT is the way to go, _especially_ for a classroom
setting!
Pat,
1 & 4 require somebody with the appropriate experience to oversee operations
on a regular basis.
2 is not yet proven in my humble opinion.
3 is capable and easier to maintain than the others (guess what I use<G>)
5 there are others, OS/2 isn't a network as such though.
10baseT is the only way to go!
Dennis
P.S. Run a dedicated server
regardless of which
network you choose.
Pat:
My recommendation is #1 (Novell 3.11). Definitely a dedicated server,
too. Get one with good bus speed (EISA, w/32-bit EISA SCSI disk
controller and EISA network card). Lots of memory helps, too. Novell
has a formula for figuring out how much memory you should have, and I
can't remember it, but figure at least 16 MB. Yes, Novell can create
a very complicated setup, but only if you want to. The install for
3.11 is easier than you think.
I was amazed how easy it was to do 10BaseT wiring. Get a good RJ45
crimping tool and spend a few more dollars for Level 5 cable (so it
will support 100 MBit/sec transfer in the future). Most 10BaseT cards
and hubs have builtin diagnostic LEDs – if you get a green light at
both ends when you plug in the cable, you're all set. If not, cut off
the end, re-crimp a new connector (no stripping required!), and try
again. I wired up 11 machines in a couple of hours without a single
error.
Install Windows, AutoCAD, 3DS, Softdesk, etc., on the server and run
from there. So much easier to maintain.
PC Magazine just did an article on Network systems, but I haven't had
a chance to get to that layer of my mail pile yet, so I can't tell
you what's in it. That's what I get for leaving for a week!!
Good luck, and let us know what you decide.
-KLF