Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!ira.uka.de!smurf!urlichs From: urlichs@smurf.sub.org (Matthias Urlichs) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps Subject: Re: 4th Dimension & Networking over the phone Message-ID: Date: 28 Nov 90 09:08:54 GMT References: <1990Nov23.000340.1514@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca> <10381@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu> Organization: University of Karlsruhe, FRG Lines: 43 In comp.sys.mac.comm, article <10381@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu>, bmartin@uhccux.UUCP (Brian Martin) writes: < In article <1990Nov23.000340.1514@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca> judge@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca (Peter Judge) writes: < > < > Does [ 4D ] contain routines to implement networking < > over phone lines, or do I need a bridge? < You would need a bridge. < 4D does have some procedures to talk to the modem port. (They don't help in this case, however...) < >2) Is there recommended networking software < > to use with 4th Dimension (Appletalk, TOPS...)? < Data corruption problems have occurred with TOPS. In the past, this was because Tops implemented record locking in a way which is incompatible with the way Apple does it. < < A more expensive approach is to use 4D as a front end to an Oracle database, < which should support the distributed databases. < For this, 4D looks like the wrong solution. < Alternatively, you could run "headless" macs at your central < site, each with timbuktu/remote or carbon copy mac running, and access < these macs via v.42bis modems from your remote sites. That may < be a reasonable implementation, since you transfer screen images rather than < data across the phone lines. You could enter and review data on-screen, but < you wouldn't be able to print at a remote site using this approach. < Also, screen access should be significantly slower than shipping the raw data over the line. You'd also tie up one mac per remote user, which is prohibitively expensive. What I would use is a mac or two with Liaison, and/or a bridge which can be connected to a modem (NetBridge, whatever). Use this to access a file server. (AppleShare-compatible. If you wait a few more months you can use FileShare from System 7.0.) Anything below a 9600 Baud V.32 modem is not a good idea -- file server access is impossibly slow with 2400 baud. -- Matthias Urlichs -- urlichs@smurf.sub.org -- urlichs@smurf.ira.uka.de /(o\ Humboldtstrasse 7 - 7500 Karlsruhe 1 - FRG -- +49+721+621127(0700-2330) \o)/