Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!ganymede!roselin!mazu
From: mazu@roselin (Marc Mazuhelli)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.appletalk
Subject: Webster Multiport Gateway opinions wanted
Message-ID: <1991May24.124056.12175@DMI.USherb.CA>
Date: 24 May 91 12:40:56 GMT
Sender: Marc Mazuhelli
Distribution: all
Organization: Universite de Sherbrooke
Lines: 59
Nntp-Posting-Host: roselin

Hi there NetLand,

I am considering buying a Webster Multiport Gateway for our network. 

We already have a GatorBox with GatorShare and GatorPrint (which we
would keep), but we are gradually switching to CAP.  

Before I decide, I would like to know a few things:

1) will the AFP servers simulated by GatorShare be made available to
the LocalTalk Macs hooked-up to one of the 4 LocalTalk ports of the
MultiPort Gateway? (I don't see why not, but who knows? - I know it
adds a lot of network traffic, but it would be just until we switch to  
CAP and AUFS)

2) I know it can be configured using an HyperCard stack; is it easy to
set up and configure (compared to a GatorBox which I already know)

3) I think it downloads its code from a Mac or a Unix box (like the old
GatorBox); it that reliable?  Does it always come back on line
*without user intervention* after a power failure?

4) Since one box will handle 4 LocalTalk segments, if the box breaks
down, it affects a lot of people (and I will be in trouble, since I
will be the one they come yelling to...); so is the box as reliable as
Webster tells me it is (both hardware and software)

5) 2 EtherRoutes would provide support for 4 LocalTalk ports at a lower
cost and potentialy more reliability (1 failure affects only half the
people) but with less LaserWriter security (which we need) and without
a few other things like async appletalk; is the higher price of the
Webster box worth it?  With its DMA design, would 1 Webster box be as 
fast as two EtherRoutes?

6) Is async appletalk really usable?  (probably not a 2400bps, but what
about 9600?)

7) Support by Cayman is pretty good; how does Webster's support
compare?  I know they distribute their software updates by anon ftp
and provide support via e-mail but I would like to know if they really
answer our questions with real solutions and in a timely manner.


I didn't think I would have so many questions...  Don't fell like you
have to answer to all of them; if you have info on only one or two
points, I would like to hear from you.

You can answer via private e-mail, I will post a summary of the answers
I get in a week or two.

Thank you very much for your help.  We can't afford to make a mistake
with this purchase...


-- 
{  Marc Mazuhelli                   |  professeur                  }
{  internet: mazu@dmi.USherb.CA     |  Departement de math-info.   }
{  <this space intentionaly ...     |  Universite de Sherbrooke    }
{                   ... left blank> |  Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada  }