Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!utcs!mnetor!seismo!nbires!hao!hplabs!hplabsc!michaels
From: michaels@hplabsc.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.dcom
Subject: Re: TCP/IP terminal concentrators
Message-ID: <485@hplabsc.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 20-Jul-86 00:10:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: hplabsc.485
Posted: Sun Jul 20 00:10:46 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 21-Jul-86 03:10:44 EDT
References: <890@bu-cs.UUCP>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Laboratories
Lines: 27
Summary: another tcp/ip terminal concentrator to consider...

In article <890@bu-cs.UUCP>, bzs@bu-cs.UUCP (Barry Shein) writes:
> 
> Besides the Bridge TCP/IP terminal concentrators you might want to
> compare the Annex made by Encore Computers (Something, Mass.)

I have noticed in the discussion of tcp/ip terminal concentrators that
a new company called cisco Systems has not been mentioned. Their box, ASM
has 32 lines for $8K which is cheaper per port than Bridge or Encore.
It is a diskless system which can be configured manually or via some
server(s) on the network. It uses standard arpa protocols to accomplish
its configuration  ( ie: bootp, RARP, tftp, domain name server, IEN-116 name ). 
It will also have non-volatile RAM so that once configured it will not
depend on a server in the event of a power loss.

The disadvantage is that it doesn't support things like rwho or gnu-emacs
like the Encore. I haven't had an Encore in here to test so I can't comment
on its merits. I have tested both a CS/1 and CS/100 and found them to be
not all that great. I'm not crazy about Bridge's command language, the
maximum packet size on the CS/100 is a pain, and they tend to do strange things
like send out bogus arp replys. 

cisco Systems is located in Menlo Park CA. 

- Robert  (michaels@hplabs)