Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!hybrid!scifi!bywater!uunet!bbs!karl
From: karl@naitc.naitc.com (Karl Denninger)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc
Subject: Re: TCP/IP for DOS software packages
Summary: No problems here with BWNFS
Keywords: NFS TCP/IP DOS
Message-ID: <1990Nov20.164334.4346@naitc.naitc.com>
Date: 20 Nov 90 16:43:34 GMT
References: <1026@sppy00.UUCP>
Reply-To: karl@bbs.naitc.com (Karl Denninger)
Organization: A.C. Nielsen Co.
Lines: 46

In article <1026@sppy00.UUCP> ljt@sppy00.UUCP (TOMS LAURA) writes:
>I am in the process of evaluating TCP/IP for DOS packages, and so far
>my findings have been rather discouraging.  So far I've done preliminary
>testing on SUN's PC-NFS, Wollongong's WIN/TCP and PathWay, FTP Software's
>PC/TCP and InterDrive, and Beame & Whiteside's product.  
>
>SUN's PC-NFS looks terrific, but ideally we'd like to be able to unload
>network drivers from memory without rebooting.
>
>The other three packages seem terrifically buggy regarding network drive
>compatibility.  To be specific, when we mount remote directories to look
>like DOS disk drives and then run simple DOS commands to manipulate the
>files, things break.  It's not hard to hang the PC with either the
>Wollongong or the FTP Software product.  Beame & Whiteside's stuff did
>much better, except that we couldn't access files in UNIX directories
>that had long UNIX names mapped to PC-style names by the software.  That's
>somewhat of a problem!  And one of these packages managed to screw up the
>file system on the NeXT we're using for testing.
>
>Has anyone else had any of these experiences?  Just looking for a sanity
>check here.

BWNFS hasn't caused any problems like this for me.... I can access the files
just fine.

However, be aware that some PACKAGES (ie: Wordperfect) barf internally on
files with strange names.  This is NOT BWNFS's fault!  Blame stupid
applications writers for programs which insist that you use all alphanumeric
filenames.....not the Net software!

One other thing -- BWNFS works (and supports) packet drivers, which means
you don't have to monkey around with buying only the card(s) that the vendor
wants you to.  This is a big plus.  And the support has been outstanding.

Mr. Beame deserves public kudos for the things he's done for us.  I can't
think of another vendor I've dealt with here that has been as responsive 
to our needs and bug reports.  Heck, he's fixed bugs that we haven't found 
yet!  When was the last time a vendor told you about a problem and offered 
a fix before you even encountered the bug?

--
Karl Denninger	AC Nielsen
kdenning@ksun.naitc.com
(708) 317-3285
Disclaimer:  Contents represent opinions of the author; I do not speak for
	     AC Nielsen on Usenet.