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From: dan@gacvx2.gac.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: Network management from NeXT
Message-ID: <1991Jun7.215346.233@gacvx2.gac.edu>
Date: 7 Jun 91 21:53:46 -0600
References: <1991Jun7.051355.9380@sol.acs.unt.edu>
Organization: Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota
Lines: 54

In article <1991Jun7.051355.9380@sol.acs.unt.edu>, kev@sol.acs.unt.edu (Mullet Kevin Wright) writes:
> 
> NeXT World:
> 
> Is anyone doing SNMP network management from a NeXT?  I don't suppose anyone's 
> ported Sun-Net manager to Mach have they?

I have ported the cmu-snmp libraries and applications.  They are very raw when
compared to a graphicly oriented manager like sun-net, but it works.  I hope to
write a NeXTstep front end for them later this summer.  I use them now for
network monitoring, and crude statistics gathering.

> also...
> 
> ... does TCP/IP on the NeXT support logging of incoming syslog messages?

Yes, it works.  See /etc/syslog.conf as the place to configure it, and checkout
the syslogd man page.

> ... how viable would a NeXT be as a "normal use" workstation while also
> serving as a bootp server (possible?) and domain name server (possible?).

I am using my next for the above and it also runs CAP so the NeXT network here
can use the Apple LaserWriters.  I would not attempt this with 8meg of memory.
I have a 040 cube with 16 meg, it also worked well with the 030, and a 660 hard
disk, I don't have any netboot clients off of this machine, but all the NeXTs
in our network nfs mount their mail spool directory, some user files, and our
NetLibrary directory from this machine.  I will probably increase the memory in
this machine as the number of NeXT increase on our campus.
 
> .. has anyone ported CMDF to the NeXT yet?  If so how well does it work?

It compiled, but when I needed it I didn't know the insides of sendmail and the
sendmail.cf chants (programming, sometimes called rule encryption.)  I nolonger
need to use it, so I cannot tell you if it works.  My current leanings would
cause me to use UUCP if I were to set up a dial up link for mail.
 
> What kind of upgrade path is there for processing power and disk space on 
> the NeXT?

If you want upgradeability, buy a cube.  The cube has a removable CPU card and
a bus with extra bandwidth (when compaired to current need and use.)  My cube
has already been throught the 030 to 040 upgrade.  If rumors of an 88000 cpu
are true, I suspect that you will see an upgrade for the cube.  The cube has
more simm slots for memory (16 slots that take either 1 or 4 mb simms.)  The
cube has space for a full height 5-1/4 in drive.  As a bad omen for the
possibility of a slab upgrade, take to heart that there is no upgrade path from
the basic Black and White NeXTstation to a Color NeXTstation.

-- 
Dan Boehlke                    Internet:  dan@gac.edu
Campus Network Manager         BITNET:    dan@gacvax1.bitnet
Gustavus Adolphus College
St. Peter, MN 56082 USA        Phone:     (507)933-7596