Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!ucbvax!PSUORADM.CC.PDX.EDU!a2mp
From: a2mp@PSUORADM.CC.PDX.EDU (Michael Perrone)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.appletalk
Subject: Re: AppleShare (on a Mac) vs Netware's Mac VAP/NLM (on a PC)
Message-ID: <9105072121.AA10952@psuoradm.cc.pdx.edu>
Date: 7 May 91 21:21:52 GMT
References: <42706@netnews.upenn.edu>
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Distribution: world
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Lines: 48

> There's a group here on campus that is in the process of putting together
> an AppleTalk network.
> 
> They have hired a consultant who has a background with Novell's Network
> (and is a Novell VAR).
> 
> He is suggesting to use Netware and Mac VAP/NLM instead of Apple's
> AppleShare file server software.
> 
> >From what I understand, Mac VAP is used with Netware 286 while Mac NLM is
> used with Netware 386.
> 
> The consultant has indicated to me that Netware is a better performer
> and have increased security features than AppleShare file server.
> 
> QUESTION:  Is the consultant correct?  is a Network server running
>            Mac VAP/NLM (on an 80x86 system) better than AppleShare
>            file server (on a Mac)?
> 

1) Are there going to be DOS machines on this network? 
2) Is it a localtalk only network?

If you answer NO to 1 and YES to 2, Netware doesn't make any sense at all
compared to Appleshare.

Novell is great for networks that bring PC's and Mac's together on the same
file server. Otherwise Appleshare costs less and it *so much easier* to 
administer than novell  (although I must say, the new release (v 2.2) of 
netware 286 has an easier to use "netgen," than the 2.15 releases).

Is Netware a better performer than appleshare?

It depends. If you are running a small network over localtalk, then
localtalk's slow speed is your bottleneck, an no amount of cache, speed,
etc. on the server is going to do you any good.

Novell security features are more extensive than AppleShare. But the
features of Appleshare may be adequate for the task. What good are 
extra options if you don't need them?

Another thing- Appleshare 3.0 will come out in a few months, and have some
things that Netware doesn't- like network booting support.

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Michael Perrone                      PSU Computing Services
a2mp@psuoradm.cc.pdx.edu             (503) 725-3112
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