Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: An informal survey
Message-ID: <1991Apr23.164512.6551@zoo.toronto.edu>
Date: Tue, 23 Apr 1991 16:45:12 GMT
References: <9104182050.AA07838@desktalk.com> <5634@eastapps.East.Sun.COM>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology

In article <5634@eastapps.East.Sun.COM> ckollars@east.sun.com (Chuck Kollars - Sun Technical Marketing - Boston) writes:
>... The spec (see drawing on page 94, just
>above section 7.6.2) says that the connector should go on the _outside_
>of the backpanel.  But in order for printed circuit boards to be
>stuffed and soldered by automatic machinery then married to the system
>later, the connector is often mounted on the _inside_ of the
>backpanel.  Result -- the connector wobbles and makes poor electrical
>connection...

There is absolutely no problem with having the connector on the inside
of the panel provided the slide lock is mounted there too.  Manufacturers
have been known to get this right.  Of course, it's harder, and we all
know that most manufacturers would rather do things the easy way than
the right way.  Especially a certain workstation vendor whose name starts
with S...

The *intentions* of the slide-lock advocates were good.  All too often,
screw-equipped connectors aren't screwed in because the relevant screwdriver
is not handy.  A poor locking system which gets used is better than a good
one that doesn't.  Unfortunately, they didn't realize that (a) transceiver
cables are sufficiently heavier than rs232 cables that use of locking is
effectively mandatory anyway, and (b) the slide locks are flimsy and easily
damaged.
-- 
And the bean-counter replied,           | Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
"beans are more important".             |  henry@zoo.toronto.edu  utzoo!henry