#NETWORKING ADVICE
5 messages in this thread
Hi Pat! I think I'll just reiterate what KenF said – go with Novell
(3.11 is fine) – even if you do go NT, Novell makes it better. I
have used/abused Lantastic and AIX – I like Novell. As stated,
10baseT is superb, but keep to Category 5. We use isolated wiring
closets with all rack mount patch panels – you can even put patch
panels in the labs if needed. I buy all my patch cords – we pay $7
for a 10' cat. 5 with RJ45s or $3 for a 3' one. I use 110 punch down
terminations on the harmonicas and data poles – still meets Cat. 5
but faster than other methods. Data poles – we run 6 jacks in a
data/power pole so you can cluster 6 workstations at a time. We
found that wall jacks are a pain. You could also run a $ubfloor
$ystem. I recommend the EISA servers with a SCSI drive as well –
minimum 16Mb RAM. I'm now installing my fourth network this year
with another to go – it isn't all that difficult as Ken said. We are
running Windows 3.1 on the local drives with program items being
called from the server – flawless to date. DOS Acad is a bit trickier
– you have to take care of passwords – I can email you the details
if/when you need them. We are using Intel internal hubs on the
servers and Intel FlashC NICs – can't recommend them enough! 3Com
and others have similar h/w. The cards are self configuring – what a
dream! Take care John
John and Ken F. and others who have provided answers,
What is the primary advantage that Cat. 5 10baseT has over Coaxial bnc
thin ethernet? I have 40 machines in two rooms and others to link on
line at a later date. We are basically going in rows with short runs
between machines. I have a price of 65.00 per card per machine. The
server is being built as a Vesa-Eisa Machine with SCSI-2 controller
with a scsi-2 compatible 1 gig drive, plus additional dual 350mb scsi
drives as backup. Why the 10baseT? how much do the concentrators add
to the cost. We have a 100 person cost of 4000.00 for the Novell
license but that is the big stumbling block (Lack of Cash).
Other questions, 1. Do you run acad resident at each station or over
the net? 2. If over the net are you using a network version with
multiple password authorization? 3. What is the need for wiring
closets?
What about access to a modem on the net for all to access? and what
about use of HP jet direct cards and setup of various printers and
plotters?
Needless to say I have a bunch of questions. Thanks for all the help
to all
No problems on the questions, bud. That's what we're here for. You've
certainly helped us out once or twice, so it's time to return the
favor…
Not totally sure on the answer on advantages of 10BaseT vs coax except
that the twisted pair stuff is real easy to run and terminate. I got
a slick crimping tool that cuts the wire, measures and strips the
outer jacket off, aligns the wires (4 pairs), and crimps the RJ45
connector. Takes seconds to do. Coax does have a maximum length
advantage, I think, but I can't remember what it is. But you have to
be more careful about running it near power cables etc. and how sharp
you bend it. Theoretically, you can use existing phone lines to
network via 10BaseT, but I've never tried it.
The cable closet and punch down blocks are a luxury, I believe. I
don't have one, all my wiring is hidden under the floor, and I hid my
hubs under a return arm of one of my stations. I suppose if I was
gonna do 40+ stations, I'd investigate these items. Be aware that if
you lose power on the hubs, you can't communicate on the net, so put
them on a UPS too, if you can. They draw almost no power. Our hubs
were only about $700 to do 12 stations.
On the other questions: I run all software from the server. My lab is
very bulletproof, and I have a standard setup for each machine, which
I can restore in a matter of seconds. The only thing I have on the
local drives is the Windows INI files and the permanant swap file,
and the INI and CFG files for AutoCAD. Be sure to configure AutoCAD
to place it's temporary files locally, too.
Yes, if you want to run AutoCAD from the server, you need to get an
authorization code for the number of nodes you need. But it does seem
to run quite well.
Can't help you on the network access to modems. I have all my printers
and plotters connected to the server directly (2 parallel and 4
serial ports!). I just took delivery of a HP LJ 4M printer yesterday,
which I may get a JetDirect card for. Depends on the performance of
the existing setup, via parallel from the server.
Hope this is helpful. Keep us posted on progress…
Thanks for the help here. This is the year of the network aye?
According to all the trade rags atleast.
I spoke with a guy today who said to use coax because it is capable of
carrying multimedia files since it is broadband. He explained it like
this 10 base t where 10 is speed and base is base band and the t
should be a number that indicates the max length. Coax is 10base2
whre 2 is for 200 meters max warranted run length. But many have it
running a 100 meters.
According to this guy the only advantage is in finding a break in the
system and making connections, but the advantage came with video
transmission. All news to me I still feel a bit unceartain on the
best way to go.
Glad to share the experience(s) – Wish I had had similar knowledge to
draw on when I started – ended up doing a lot of research which did
pay off. I've been taking out our old coax lines. As Ken said, the
UTP cabling is easier to work with. Most of my network problems in
the past stemmed from crunched BNC connections. You can combine the
two cabling types using the coax as a backbone but we opted against
that because of maintenance – you just don't need as many tools. We
went with the wiring closet arrangement in order to isolate the power
– each room has it's own power panel along with an APC SmartUPS for
each server. In the past, instructors attempting to locate a breaker
have dumped our servers (onto the UPS). Didn't want to take a
chance. We run workstation and network modems. Typically a
secretary will want a modem for file transfers to/from the board
office so we put in a local modem. I use a 19200 Norcom(?) network
modem which sits in the base of my telephone. Anybody on the network
can access this unit if they have the authorization and my machine is
on. The software is Modem Protocall out of Toronto – you can support
quite a number of modems on the net as well. Hope this helps John