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From: pag@tcsc3b2.UUCP (Philip A. Gross)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Re: Starlan/Ethernet compatibility
Summary: AT&T StarLAN 10 == Ethernet
Message-ID: <244@tcsc3b2.UUCP>
Date: 20 Jun 89 17:03:37 GMT
References: <2009@wasatch.utah.edu> <19449@cup.portal.com>
Organization: The Computer Solution Co., Inc. of VA
Lines: 57

In article <19449@cup.portal.com>, John_Robert_Breeden@cup.portal.com writes:
> >We're in the market for Ethernet over twisted pair products.  The
> >guys from AT&T want to sell us Starlan-10 (surprise!) but I have a few
> >questions about compatibility with Ethernet in general and 10BASET in
> >particular:
> >

You will find that the AT&T StarLAN 10 hardware is in fact Ethernet Network.
The StarLAN software which you may purchase from AT&T uses the OSI Transport
Layer instead of TCP/IP.  Of course, you could implement your network using
TCP/IP, if you chose to do so.  But beware, TCP/IP from AT&T is mucho $$$
and is the Wollongong TCP/IP (gug), and for the AT&T 3B2, it is available
ONLY from AT&T (darn!).

Proof of point:

I implemented an Ethernet Network using the AT&T StarLAN hardware with an
NCR 32/650 Tower as a server.  The Tower used Excelan's Ethernet board and
TCP/IP as the transport layer.  At the end of the transceiver cable was an
AUI from which UTP cable was led to the StarLAN 10 HUB.  From the HUB we
connected a number of PC's with AT&T StarLAN 10 NAU cards over UTP.

Now the network software was an interesting task, to say the least.  With
AT&T's StarLAN 10, they nicely bundle all of the software and document (?)
the installation of it so that it is a fairly straight-forward task to get
the network operational.  Well, since we were using an NCR Tower, we were
not able to use any of the AT&T StarLAN software, particularly since I was
unable to find the OSI transport layer for it.  We also needed the
capability to mount virtual drives on the PC's to certain directories on
the NCR Tower, ie, a RFS/NFS look and feel.  Well, in order to do this, we
obtained PC/TCP from FTP Software for the PC.  This completed the TCP/IP
transport layer interface end-to-end.  Next, in order to provide the
functionality of RFS, we installed Syntax's SMB Server on the NCR Tower
and 10Net Communications 10Net+ Software on the PC's.  Through SMB
protocols, this software permitted us to link virtual disk drives on the
PC's to certain directories on the Tower.

Through the use of all of this software, not only is the PC user able
to use the disk storage and file sharing capabilities of the NCR Tower
but they were also able to hot key in telnet to provide them access to
a login on the NCR Tower.  PC/TCP also comes with a version of tar
which permits the user to back the hard disk on the PC to the streaming
tape drive on the NCR Tower.

All-in-all, it was a very interesting task taking approx. 2-3 months to
research, purchase, and install.  Any questions, drop me a note.

===============================================================================
Philip A. Gross       The Computer Solution Co., Inc.       Voice: 804-794-3491
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        The opinions expressed here are strictly mine and nobody elses.
        << I haven't heard what I have to say about that yet. >> :-)