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From: cook@sybil.cs.Buffalo.EDU (John M. Cook)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: NOVELL(Netware 386 vs Adv 2.15)
Message-ID: <21096@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU>
Date: 8 Apr 90 15:39:08 GMT
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Organization: State University of New York at Buffalo/Comp Sci
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     The company I am working for has asked me to upgrade our current
ELS II Network to an Adv 2.15.  They were budgeting for a 25Mhz-386
fileserver with a 160 Meg HD running Adv 2.15.  Now my first of a
series of questions was "How much faster will 386 run with 386 Netware
vs 386 with Adv 2.15 in 286 mode?"  The load on the network will
consist of 8 286 machines.  Software will be mainly Invoicing and
Inventory control programs.  These programs will have will have more
than 1000 items in their databases.  The plan is to bring dial-in
remote lines and a couple more local 286/386s.  
     We currently use our ELS II server as a workstation (Non-Dec),
will Netware 386 allow us use the server as a workstation?
     I still can't see how an 386SX-16Mhz would be faster than a
286-16Mhz.  I do understand the features of 386 machines, but if you
run in 286 mode do you gain anything by having a 386 machine?  Since
my company was not prepared to buy Netware 386, what would I gain or 
loose by running Netware 386 on a 386SX-16Mhz vs Adv 2.15 on a
286-20Mhz. (There are no type-o's yet I am talking about many
different server options.)
     If I go with a 386SX and Netware 386, I can put in for larger
server next year and already have Netware 386.
     Since the company mainly has 12Mhz 286 machines, what size of
server would be best with out over kill.  I was tempted to just get a
20Mhz 286 server because the workstations will only be as fast as
there 12Mhz clock.  Since the load isn't that great but file activity
will be quite often, should a larger machine be purchased?

To summarize:  Netware 386
                   Non-Deciated mode?
                   features above Adv 2.15?
                   Should it be used with a 386SX?
                Adv 2.15
                   Does running this on a 386 perform better than 
                       on a 286?
                   If workstations have top speed of 12Mhz is a
                       20Mhz-286 server a fast enough server?

     One last thing how much RAM will I need for a 160Meg HD in the
Server?  My current estimate is 4Meg.

Thanks for any and all your help.

John Cook