Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!uunet!mcsun!ukc!acorn!ixi!ixi!pd From: pd@pd@x.co.uk (Paul Davey) Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions Subject: Re: Workstation def Message-ID: Date: 5 Jun 91 09:41:22 GMT References: <1991May31.143233.25042@linus.mitre.org> Sender: paul@x.co.uk (Paul Davey) Organization: IXI Ltd. Lines: 55 In-Reply-To: cazier@mbunix.mitre.org's message of 31 May 91 14: 32:33 GMT >>>>> On 31 May 91 14:32:33 GMT, cazier@mbunix.mitre.org (Cazier) said: Cazier> Originator: cazier@mbunix.mitre.org Cazier> Nntp-Posting-Host: mbunix.mitre.org Cazier> I would like to get a feel for what netters consider a "workstation." Cazier> Since the DOS and Mac's have increased in power with the development of the Cazier> '386 and 030's, it would appear that the PC vs. workstation lines are Cazier> a bit blurred. Cazier> Would a good definition of a workstation include or exclude the PC and Cazier> Mac's? Can a workstation be a server or multiuser system and still be Cazier> considered a workstation? Cazier> Would the following definition adequately fit "workstation"? Cazier> A configuration of a high performance, microcomputer-based hardware and Cazier> software functional unit providing an integrated desktop service to one or Cazier> more users at a time. I belive that the classic workstation definition used to be: >= 1 Meg of RAM >= 1 Meg of Pixels Networking hardware and software The memory restriction might be considered too little now that 4 or 8 or 16 Mb of RAM is the norm. I think a large area of screen real estate is an important part of the concept. Cazier> Does "workstation" include the IBM 3270 terminals? IHMO No, smart terminals are smart terminals, I would not class X terminals as workstations in the computer science sense either. A workstation should be able to locally process data in many ways. IHMO High end PCs and MACs running a mutli-tasking, multi-user operating system do qualify as workstations, but would require at least VGA graphics. Cazier> Are workstations only Cazier> single-user systems, although capable of multi-user use? I think a workstation is primarily designed for single user use, but in a multi-user environment, eg sharing data, resources etc. The potential for simultaneous multi-user use, whether via ethernet or serial lines should be supported in the operating system It needn't be put to its designed use to be a workstation. -- Regards, pd@x.co.uk IXI Limited Paul Davey pd@ixi.uucp 62-74 Burleigh St. ...!uunet!ixi!pd Cambridge U.K. "These are interesting times" +44 223 462 131 CB1 1OJ USA: 1 800 XDESK 57