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From: jeff@trwspf.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Networking with PC's -- inquiry
Message-ID: <200@trwspf.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Feb-87 15:37:00 EST
Article-I.D.: trwspf.200
Posted: Wed Feb 18 15:37:00 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 20-Feb-87 02:33:40 EST
Reply-To: jeff@trwspf.UUCP (Jeff Spahn)
Distribution: world
Organization: TRW - Data Systems Lab., Redondo Beach, CA
Lines: 73

I've recently had a very painful experience with 3Com's network software,
and thought I should pass along some warnings to anyone thinking of buying
it.

First, 3Com's 3+Plus(tm) server software takes a LOT of memory.  The name
server (required on every network) needs 400k of memory, the file/print
server needs 382k, and the mailer needs 371k.  When combined these take
less memory; 539k for the file/print server and the name server, 528k for
the name server and mailer, 510k for the file/print server and the mailer,
and 667k for the file/print and name servers and mailer (yes, that's
right, since the maximum memory on the PC is 640k, this configuration is
not supported).  There won't be much memory left for anything else on the
server computer.

Second, 3Com's 3+Plus file/print server is copy protected.  While this by
itself is not bad, it can be very serious if the copy protection software
gets cranky.  A month ago, in mid-January, I attempted to install a 3Com
3+Plus system (name, file, and print servers) on a group of IBM-PC/AT's
and clones with 3Com's Etherlink boards here at work.  I ran into several
snags, and in the course of trying to track down the problem (later found
to be due to a bad cable) reformatted the hard disk.  

According to the documentation, the file/print server can only be
installed at a single ethernet address (obtained from the ethernet board
during installation), and once it is installed it can NOT be de-installed
and installed at another address.  However, it can be re-installed as long
as the ethernet address remains the same.  Or so says the manual.  But
when I went to re-install the file/print server I got a message informing
me that I was trying to install the server on a different ethernet board
than it had originally been installed on, and the software refused to
re-install.

At that point I tried calling the dealer we bought the software from and
3Com to find out what the problem was, which brings me to my third warning
about 3Com's software. It turns out that 3Com no longer provides direct
support to users (unless you have a support contract), so they wouldn't
help me.  After several phone calls to the dealer who sold us the software
and to 3Com it was finally agreed that I would send 3Com the original
floppy disk, they would repair it and send it back, and we would all live
happily ever after.

Would that it were so.  When the floppy came back (a week later, they were
quick), it still refused to install.  Somewhere around this time (my notes
are a bit fuzzy) the installation package also developed the amusing habit
of hanging the system, so that I had to turn off power to reboot.

At that point I told the dealer I wanted to return the software.
(Preferably in exchange for some other, installable, package.  Novell
perhaps?)  They persuaded me to talk to 3Com's local sales representative.
He called (several days later than promised) and said their local engineer
was not available but that he would call me Tuesday and we'd work out a
solution.  It's Wednesday afternoon (2/18), and I still haven't heard a
word.

Now, I probably did make some errors while trying to install the 3Com
software, and some of their people did try to be helpful, but I've been
working with computers a long time and should be able to handle a simple
software installation without it blowing up in my face.  With the
exception of one or two individuals 3Com has been uniformly unhelpful and
uninterested in anything but getting money out of me. (One of the things
they would tell me for free was that there is a new version out which is
SOOO much easier to install, and which only costs an additional $200.)

I don't know if I'll ever get their system running.  But I'm still trying
and will report any major developments to the net.  Are you listening
3Com?

In summary:
    - 3Com's 3+Plus network server software requires a lot of memory.
    - 3Com's 3+Plus network file/print server is copy protected and the 
      copy protection has blown up at least once.
    - Don't expect any free help from 3Com if you have problems with their
      software.  You probably won't get it.