Xref: utzoo comp.protocols.appletalk:5455 comp.sys.mac.comm:2782 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!sdd.hp.com!ucsd!scripps!jwk From: jwk@Scripps.EDU (John Kupec) Newsgroups: comp.protocols.appletalk,comp.sys.mac.comm Subject: Re: Gatorbox v Fastpath Message-ID: <1120@riscsm.scripps.edu> Date: 7 Mar 91 15:46:34 GMT References: <63066@bbn.BBN.COM> <1991Mar5.220625.6493@cns.umist.ac.uk> Followup-To: comp.protocols.appletalk Organization: Research Institute of Scripps Clinic; La Jolla, CA Lines: 45 In article <1991Mar5.220625.6493@cns.umist.ac.uk> jf@ap.co.umist.ac.uk (John Forrest) writes: >Would anyone like to advise me on the various merits of >Gatorboxes and Fastpaths. I'm hoping we will get some money to >buy a couple, but it not clear which is the most appropriate. >The price here seems about the same (#1850+VAT), so some >clue as to which to buy would help. > >John Forrest >Dept of Computation >UMIST OK, my two cents on this: First, both MacUser & Macworld have articles about LocalTalk-Ethernet gateways/bridges in the April 91 issues. I have configured/used both FastPaths and GatorBoxes. The functionality provided (GB easily, FP with work) is Telnet connections to unix hosts, using unix hosts as NFS fileservers, printing to unix machine printers, printing to Mac laserwriters. The FastPaths are used in conjunction with CAP running on a Sun 3/60. The GatorBoxes run GatorShare which includes GatorPrint. If you want all of the above features then the GatorBox is the hands-down choice between the two. It's easier to configure, maintain, and (IMHO) has a better future. A GatorBox with GatorShare software would be your ticket. If all you want is TCP/IP connectivity for Telnet connections I would say that it's a toss-up. In fact there may be better solutions (the EtherRoute box perhaps?) If you like job security and being "the keeper of the knowledge" then be the person who maintains/installs CAP (lwserv, pap, aufs, etc)! There are a number of other boxes out there now. The GatorBox is a one-stop solution. It may still be a little more expensive, and possibly a little slower (it does a lot of work). I'm planning on buying two GB's (with the works) for a network installation I'm doing later this year. I'm still investigating the market but I haven't seen a box that will do everything that the GB does. -- John Kupec, Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., La Jolla, CA jwk@scripps.edu or uunet!agouron!kupec