Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!snorkelwacker!apple!ames!ai.etl.army.mil!john
From: john@ai.etl.army.mil (John Benton)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc
Subject: Need help with networking personal computers
Keywords: tcp ms-dos mcintosh networking serial
Message-ID: <371@ai.etl.army.mil>
Date: 27 Nov 89 15:23:20 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: USAETL, Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Lines: 34

We are a DoD laboratory with a problem.  We use TCP/IP for all our
networking on workstations and minicomputers, but we have lots of MS-DOS
machines around as well as McIntoshes.    We want to network everybody
together. 

Some of the constraints that we are working under are:

1.  We must have compatibility with our existing TCP/IP network with the full
suite of protocols available on all computers.  This includes telnet, FTP, and
SMTP.

2.  To keep cost down, we do not want to buy ethernet boards for all the pcs
and McIntoshes, though we may be able to buy some boards if many of these
computers can go through one computer for net access.  Most of the network
links for the small computers will therefore have to be done through serial
ports.

3.  The proposed solution must initially be able to support connection of at
least 50 personal conputers with an expansion potential for 200 connections.

It looks like SLIP might be useful, although it seems as though you still need
TCP/IP software on the small computers.  Informed comment (i.e. experience) is
preferred, but I will take any help that I can get. 

John R. Benton  		Internet: john@etl.army.mil
Engineer Topographic Labs 	UUCP:     ...!ames!ai.etl.army.mil!john
Ft. Belvoir, VA 22060-5546 	BITNET:   john%etl.army.mil@CUNYVM
(202) 355-2717	 		CSNET:    john%etl.army.mil@RELAY.CS.NET

-- 
John R. Benton  		Internet: john@etl.army.mil
Engineer Topographic Labs 	UUCP:     ...!ames!ai.etl.army.mil!john
Ft. Belvoir, VA 22060-5546 	BITNET:   john%etl.army.mil@CUNYVM
(202) 355-2717	 		CSNET:    john%etl.army.mil@RELAY.CS.NET