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From: mark@dmcnh.UUCP (Mark Roddy)
Newsgroups: net.dcom
Subject: Re: protocol simulators
Message-ID: <236@dmcnh.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 14-Mar-86 09:05:09 EST
Article-I.D.: dmcnh.236
Posted: Fri Mar 14 09:05:09 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Mar-86 21:15:18 EST
References: <126@banyan.UUCP>
Organization: Datamedia Corp, Nashua, NH
Lines: 48

> I am interested in hearing about protocol simulators. 
> ----
> Mike Procopio, Banyan Systems, Westboro, MA + 1 617 366 6681
> banyan!procopio, procopio@banyan.UUCP

Idacom PTS2000	-

	This looked like the absolute tops in protocol simulators
	when I was researching the subject (about 1.5 years ago,)
	but it wasn't ready for shipping (i.e. vaporware.)
	It is supposed to support all common protocols, 
	run unix, provide C, Forth, and maybe
	Basic programming interfaces, and support high speed monitoring
	and simulation.

ARC Interview -

	Supports all common protocols - X.25, SNA/SDLC, and Bisync,
	good for futzing with DLC layers, very difficult to program
	and I hate tape storage.

Northern Telecom (DataScope)

	Worthless, the sales-people couldn't get it to do anything.

Digitec

	Similar to the chameleon, I used one about three years ago and
	wasn't terribly impressed, maybe it has gotten better.

HP (various models)

	Great monitor!  I wasn't convinced about its value as a simulator.

Conclusion: if Idacom still hasn't got it together, the chameleon, with all
its quirks is still the tops. The ARC is number two, but they really should
scrap the whole user interface for something programmer friendly.

For evaluation we had demo units plugged into our prototype comm board,
which ran bisync, x.25, and sna/sdlc. 
The prototype  had flakey hardware and flakey software, 
i.e. it looked exactly like what you might find in a lab situation.
This drove some of the sales people nuts because it was not a controlled 
situation.

	

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