Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!udel!brahms.udel.edu!sylvia
From: sylvia@brahms.udel.edu (Sylvia M Berta)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Re: Avoiding the bandwagon
Message-ID: <20387@brahms.udel.edu>
Date: 12 Apr 91 15:38:55 GMT
References: <1991Apr12.082529.20689@beach.csulb.edu>
Organization: University of Delaware
Lines: 35


Regardless of the size of the network, I would still recommend ethernet
over Arcnet...the latter is SLOW!  I have one location here on campus
that only has two stations, and no access to the backbone...we have the
cable running through the ceiling from one adjacent office to the other,
and  have had no problem (thin coax).  We also have situations where the
entire floor of a medium sized building is cabled with thinnet, using a
Cabletron MR9000-C Multiport repeater (we use them all over campus for
our Novell nets) using all 8 ports for the different legs, supporting
about 70+ machines running Novell on DOS machines (and Macs), and
including a small cadre of Sun's (about 8).

We have two other locations where we're using UTP instead of thinnet,
and things are no problem there, either.  IMHO, UTP is as good as
thinnet, if the circumstances dictate its use (i.e., large setup with
offices scattered all over...it's much easier to manage with UTP).  But
for a small setup, why bother?  Thinnet is inexpensive and practical.
As for people pulling connections apart, with a little practice, it's
easy to make a good connection with BNC's...I've done hundreds of them.
Our standard was that it had to stay together when you pulled hard on
it.  If it didn't, then you didn't do it correctly, and had to do it
again.  We tested every connection we made...sure, it took a little more
time to be careful, but once it was done...clear sailing! 8-)

So don't be afraid of ether...it's a proven standard, and reasonably
priced, to boot.  And running on 10-base-T is fine, too...perhaps unnecessary
in this case.  As for the network itself,  I am admittedly partial to
Novell.  With the new pricing structure (a 10-user package of 2.2 SFT
for $1995 list...and who pays list?), it's a bargain for the security
and features that you get!   

Oh well...sorry for the soapbox attitude, but why settle for less, when
you can have so much more for a minimal increase in cost? 

Good luck  ...  Syl