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From: jgd@uwmcsd1.UUCP (John G Dobnick)
Newsgroups: net.lan
Subject: Ethernet connections for mainframes
Message-ID: <1104@uwmcsd1.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 16-Apr-86 17:53:41 EST
Article-I.D.: uwmcsd1.1104
Posted: Wed Apr 16 17:53:41 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 18-Apr-86 08:55:31 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: U of Wis - Milwaukee, Computing Services
Lines: 38

We are looking for a mechanism to connect 4.2bsd systems currently on an
Ethernet to a Sperry 1100.  The 4.2bsd systems are no problem.  Our specific
need is a hardware/software solution to connect the Sperry 1100 system to the
Ethernet.  The required protocol is TCP/IP, since that is what we use on the
4.2bsd systems that we wish to communicate with.

We would like to hear from other sites that have such a configuration [mainframe
(of any sort) to Ethernet], preferable by means of an IO channel connection,
since our application requires the bandwidth of an IO channel.

We know of a few solutions already:  There is a channel interface designed
by a DoD agency (Naval Ocean Systems Center?) that connects a PDP/11-23
(or some such machine) to an IO channel.  An alternative version of this is
to connect the PDP/11-xx to a communications port on the Sperry 1100. Both of
these configurations use a software package called "fuzzball".   There is also
one commercial solution that we know of; INTERnet Systems Corporation uses a
micro-VAX II to drive an IO channel interface.  (These channels, by the way,
are "IBM"-type byte channels.)

The information we need includes required hardware and software, supplier,
availability, approx. cost (if available), mainframe type (mfg. and model,
if applicable).  We would also like to know if you are actually using this
in a test or production mode, and what the data traffic and throughput are.
Feel free to include any other information you may think appropriate or
useful.

We have an INTERnet box on-site, but it is not performing to our expectations.
We would *really* like to hear from other INTERnet users!  Please!

If there is sufficient response, I will summarize to the net.  
Responses by e-mail preferred.

Thank you.
-- 
--
John G Dobnick
Computing Services Division @ University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
UUCP: ...ihnp4!uwmcsd1!jgd	INTERNET: uwmacc!uwmcsd1!jgd@rsch.wisc.edu