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From: nestor@NMS.HLS.COM (Nestor Fesas)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc
Subject: Re: PC-NFS
Message-ID: <9009250038.AA11998@nms.>
Date: 25 Sep 90 00:38:48 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 84


> 	I've been hearing a lot about PC-NFS, which I believe is a file
> server scheme from SUN workstations(please correct me if I'm worng).

Shawn,

You're not wrong.  More specifically however,  PC-NFS is SUN's NFS client
software for DOS.  It allows a PC to store/retrieve files on an NFS server,
be it a SUN workstation or not.

> ... We run NCSA Telnet(Packet drivers), WIN/TCP(for token ring to
> ethernet hosts), and PC/IP(for Sytek broadband ethernet card) to get to
> out major hosts.  After a lot of headaches with Novell I'm looking for an
> alternative that has a bit more flexibility.

When you say "more flexibility,"  just what do you mean?  Do you wish to
run Novell and TCP concurrently?  Do any other protocol stacks come into
play, e.g. LAT?  Is support for different network adapters a problem?

Making Novell and TCP "play" together peacefully is a feature provided
by Wollongong's WIN/TCP and our own ProLINC (which includes an oem version
of FTP Software's PC/TCP).  There may be others that provide this
functionality but I don't recall any at this time (I'm sure they will
quickly refresh my memory if they're out there).  Additionally,  ProLINC
supports the LAT protocol,  and it allows you to run Novell Netware
concurrently with the 3+ Open and Banyan redirectors.

With the introduction of NDIS,  the Clarkson Packet Drivers and ODLI,  the
old "will it run with brand x adapters?" problem is quickly disappearing.
Most of the popular TCP products for the PC,  including ProLINC,  support
one or more of these standard network adapter interfaces.

> 	1)Exactly how does PC-NFS work?

I don't know how PC-NFS works on a detailed basis because I have never
used it.  Generally speaking however,  PC-NFS and other like products
provide two conceptual components.  The first is a DOS file i/o redirector.
This redirector intercepts the DOS INT21H api and monitors file related calls.
When it detects i/o to a file residing on a remote machine, i.e. the NFS
server,  it "redirects" the i/o by passing the request to the NFS protocol
component which then packetizes it and sends it to the corresponding server.
Upon satisfying the request,  the server packetizes its response and sends
it to the requesting client.

> 	2)I assume it can run on a Packet driver?

I don't know if SUN's PC-NFS supports packet drivers but FTP Software's
PC/TCP with Interdrive (FTP's NFS implementation) does.  However,  keep
in mind that the functionality you desire can be attained with NDIS as
easily as it can with the Packet Drivers.  As such,  our ProLINC package
can provide you with NFS connectivity over NDIS.

> 	3)Where and how can it be obtained?

PC-NFS can be obtained directly from SUN (I don't have their number),
ProLINC (includes NFS, LAT TCP,  Novell client software,  terminal
emulation software and other utilities),  can be obtained directly from us
(415-966-7300),  PC/TCP and Interdrive can be obtained from FTP Software
(617-246-0900)

> 		I was of the understanding that the software was
> available public domain from some sites.  In fact I got a file called
> sos_pkt.arc that talked in a readme file about being a PC-NFS server,
> but alas I couldn't untar it.

Both commercial and pd versions of NFS are available.  Honestly,  I don't
know where you might find a pd version of the NFS client,  however,  a pd
version of the NFS server can be ftp'd from dorm.rutgers.edu.  The files that
you need are pcnfs_pkt_v2.tar and pcnfs_server.tar.Z.  I'll be perfectly
frank in telling you that I haven't had a chance to play with this software
yet.  As such,  there may be other files that you will need.

I hope this information is useful to you.

Nestor.

-- 
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
        Nestor A. Fesas, Jr.           =         Hughes LAN Systems
        nestor@hls.com                 =         (formerly Sytek)
                                       =         1225 Charleston Road
                                       =         Mountain View, CA 94043
                                       =         415-966-7473
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