Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!centaure!cliff
From: cliff@centaure.UUCP (Clifford Dibble)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Seeking advice on a class project
Keywords: Internet, IBM, Sun, TCP/IP
Message-ID: <123@centaure.UUCP>
Date: 13 Nov 89 03:26:36 GMT
Reply-To: cliff@centaure.UUCP (Clifford Dibble)
Distribution: na
Organization: Centaure Systems, Irvine, CA
Lines: 26

Dear NetXperts:

I'm taking an "Introduction to LANs" class, and the instructor has
suggested the following research topic: given an Ethernet full of Sun
workstations and a stand-alone IBM mainframe, how best to connect them
for simple applications such as file access and transfer, e-mail, and
remote login.

We think that hooking the IBM directly to the Ether and cajoling it run
Internet protocols (ftp, smtp, Telnet, TCP/IP, ...) is a possible
solution. I know that earlier this year IBM announced TCP/IP support.

Is this reasonable? Would we be better off buying some sort of 
gateway? Or perhaps setting up a direct serial link and
making do with some simple file-transfer protocol like ZMODEM
or Kermit?

I'd be grateful for any pointers or advice.

Thanks!!

Cliff Dibble
Irvine, CA.
USA.
714-859-1172 P.D.T
uunet!centaure!cliff