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From: Jons@cup.portal.com (Jonathan S Spangler)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.novell,comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Re: Netware 386 NFS capabilities
Message-ID: <42249@cup.portal.com>
Date: 12 May 91 10:39:45 GMT
References: <1991May7.170934.18198@amd.com> <42116@cup.portal.com>
  <1991May8.184807.29998@dsuvax.uucp>
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 62

>If you only want file services, NW/386 is great.  I think you've understated
>the price, since NetWare 386 is now priced at $12,000 (+$3K to $8K for a 486,
>$2K to $3K for 16 to 32Mb memory, and $5K for disks) for 250 users, and

Since we are talking about price, let's look at all the options here.
Novell 386 is now referred to as NetWare v3.11.

It is available in 3 levels, based on number of users:
20 user  $3500
100-user $6500
250-user $12,500

Also, whoever said anything about 16-32 meg? The amount of RAM required
is dependent on size of disk. Use this forumla to calculate RAM
under NetWare v3.11:

(.023 x M)/B + 4 = T

Where M=total # of megabytes of storage
      B=block size 
      T=Total RAM required.

Let's assume 2 1.2 Gb disks. This is 2400 megs.

(.023 x 2400) /8 + 4 = 11 megs RAM

Also, how did you get $5K for disks? I can buy some pretty big drives for
tha price -- probably 2 1.2Gb  drives, giving me 2.4 Gb total drive space.
Not bad for 5 grand...
  
>Novell is going to get you again someday with expensive upgrades when
>the next big revision of NW/386 comes out or when you need to add
>services to complement the file services.  (NetWare is going to be a big
>thorn in my side until a solid network name service exists for it,
>and when it becomes available you can bet it's gonna cost bucks).

I agree with you on the upgrade pricing.
Novell has a naming service now.

>On the other hand, buy an $80K Sun server and you get an order of magnitude
>more functionality (compute services, database services (for some $$), backup
>capabilities, mail services, and so on), with the advantages of being
>able to upgrade a good share of the network services by just compiling
>new sources.

So, let's see -- even if we take the high end of the NetWare server:
12K + 8K + 3K + 5K = 28K, right? 

Are you trying to say that it is justifiable to spend more than 2 1/2 times
as much to get a Sun server? 50K difference in price...hmm that would
buy ALOT of Novell upgrades, my friend...

>You've got to match the server with the needs, and if you're a bigot
>for either solution, you're probably doing your users a disservice.
>
>Guy Helmer, Dakota State University Computing Services
>helmer@sdnet.bitnet, dsuvax!ghelmer@wunoc.wustl.edu, wupost!dsuvax!ghelmer
>"I'm a cowboy, on a keyboard I ride..."
>                                        -- with apologies to Bon Jovi

Jonathan Spangler
jons@cup.portal.com