Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!julius.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!motcsd!dms!shepperd
From: shepperd@dms.UUCP (Dave Shepperd)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.admin
Subject: Re: Terminals Servers: Datability Vista or Xylogics Annex IIe ?
Message-ID: <1198@dms.UUCP>
Date: 24 Jan 91 20:13:09 GMT
References: <1991Jan24.014306.5826@DMI.USherb.CA>
Organization: Atari Games Inc., Milpitas, CA
Lines: 37

From article <1991Jan24.014306.5826@DMI.USherb.CA>, by bussiere@ganymede.DMI.USherb.CA (Luc Bussieres):
> 
>      We want to buy a terminal server and we don't know which one to 
> choose the Vista or the Annex IIe. 

I know nothing about the Annex, but I know more than I want to know about the
Vista.

We have 2 128 port dual protocol Vistas here. They were cheap and they do
work, sort of. I'd say the documentation is poorly organised, but you can
mostly find what you are looking for unless its TCP/IP related. The TCP/IP
manual is separate from the main manual and is supposed to be a list of
command suppliments. It is rather confusing and troublesome to have to have
both books open to get details on a specific command. In addition, the
TCP/IP manual is inaccurate and incomplete.

The messages the server emits are terse, not particularly helpful and there
are no time stamps on any of them. The online help in the server is almost
useless. They will crash occasionally (about once a month but one crashes
more often than the other one). My particular applications required the use
of reverse telnet to allow the Unix system to talk to a "smart" box via a
serial line. The Vistas allow for this, but it isn't at all obvious how one
sets up the ports to make it work. In addition, you need to setup the (TCP)
ports then REBOOT THE SERVER! You cannot add or change a (TCP) port while the
system is running and have the change stick! Grrrr... The TCP/IP socket
connection to the server is not free of problems either.

Their tech support is there, but I'm not convinced they know what's going
on. I've had several calls with them about several problems with only
a smatering of success in getting some of the problems corrected.

Now I can't be sure the Xylogics would be any better, but I'm inclined
to give 'em a try just to see.
-- 
Dave Shepperd.	    shepperd@dms.UUCP or motcsd!dms!shepperd
Atari Games Corporation, 675 Sycamore Drive, Milpitas CA 95035.
Nobody knows what I'm saying. I don't even know what I'm saying.