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From: vjs@sgi.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Re: Beginner networking questions
Message-ID: <1627@sgi.SGI.COM>
Date: Sat, 14-Mar-87 17:22:57 EST
Article-I.D.: sgi.1627
Posted: Sat Mar 14 17:22:57 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 15-Mar-87 07:45:17 EST
References: <1612@bunker.UUCP> <57700002@umn-cs.UUCP>
Organization: Silicon Graphics Inc, Mountain View, CA
Lines: 48
Summary: IRIS uses 4.3bsd TCP, not Excelan

In article <57700002@umn-cs.UUCP>, wsmith@umn-cs.UUCP writes:
> It should be noted that the software for the VAX/VMS on an Excelan card
> is quite a bit better than for the IRIS.  When you buy for a VAX, you buy
> from Excelan and get the newest software.  When you get an IRIS (we have
> several) you get the software SGI gives you (which is AGES old Excelan
> stuff).  Silicon Graphics newest software release supposedly incorporates
> the newer Excelan code.
>
> Randy Smith
> wsmith@umn-cs.arpa
> ...!ihnp4!umn-cs!wsmith

The much of the preceding is not true, tho a year ago it was less untrue.
- In ages past, we used Excelan's 4.1a-bsd TCP in their board.  It was the
	most current stuff we could get.  I trust Excelan has better now, but
	that no longer affects SGI or our current customers.  
- Since 3.5/2.5, the IRIS uses 4.3bsd networking.  Some of the user code is
	from the 4.3beta tape, but all of the kernel code is 'real' 4.3, with
	IF_NET domain sockets, select(2), network ioctl()'s, and everything.
	It includes the 'three important bug fixes' for 4.3 published last
	fall.  IRIS XNS is still available.  (The IRIS 3.5/2.5 kernel is
	System 5, with lots of 'other' stuff.)
- The link-level driver for the Excelan board still used in IRIS 3000's and
	2000's is derived from a 4.3bsd VAX Excelan link-level driver.  The
	major changes were to improve performance.
- We are currently shipping 3.5r2.
- We have measured RCP transfer rates comparable to our XCP rates, which
	are quite respectable.
- Since 3.5, Sun Microsystems' NFS is available for the IRIS.  We are pleased
	with the performance of our NFS implementation.  3000's served by
	3030's with Eagles can certainly do lots of compiling and system
	building.
- 3.5 serial I/O is much improved.  I have transfered large files using dumb
	things like 'cat /dev/ttym2 > /tmp/foo' at 38,400 bit/sec, and lost
	at most 1 or 2 bytes every 30 seconds as update sync's the disk.
	9600, even using such stupid 'protocols' as cat-ing to disk, is clean.
	(Since then, we have reduced the latency caused by disk cache
	flushing.  It also helps to use raw instead of cooked mode.)
- Our uucp/usenet gateway is currently a 3030, connected to a network of
	hundreds of workstations, running SMTP, XNS, UUCP, RIP (routed), and
	NFS.  (For 6 months, it was a 'bubble', which is not even a 1400!)
	We use IRIS workstations to gateway among ethernets.

Please, upgrade your IRISes.

Vernon Schryver
Silicon Graphics, 2011 Stierlin Rd, Mtn.View, CA 94043
vjs@sgi.com     or   {pyramid,ucbvax,adobe,sun,ames,mips}!sgi!vjs