Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!cmcl2!rutgers!ames!sdcsvax!ucbvax!A.ISI.EDU!LYNCH From: LYNCH@A.ISI.EDU (Dan Lynch) Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip Subject: [VWHITE@NSWC-G.ARPA:] Message-ID: <8709102353.AA14513@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> Date: Thu, 10-Sep-87 19:39:48 EDT Article-I.D.: ucbvax.8709102353.AA14513 Posted: Thu Sep 10 19:39:48 1987 Date-Received: Sat, 12-Sep-87 11:20:37 EDT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Organization: The ARPA Internet Lines: 107 I'm forwarding this to this list because I think most of the answers can come from it. These people are building themselves a marvelous environment and are looking for the superglue. Of course, not one brand of superglue exists to solve it all, but I think the components are present here. Each one contribute one idea and we can build them a viable internet. Thanks, Dan --------------- Return-Path: <@wiscvm.wisc.edu:BIG-LAN@SUVM.BITNET> Received: FROM WISCVM.WISC.EDU BY USC-ISIA.ARPA WITH TCP ; 10 Sep 87 18:39:54 EDT Received: from SUVM.BITNET by wiscvm.wisc.edu ; Thu, 10 Sep 87 11:39:07 CDT Received: by SUVM (Mailer X1.25) id 5087; Thu, 10 Sep 87 11:19:29 LCL Date: Thu, 10 Sep 87 09:48:19 edt Reply-To: Campus-Size LAN Discussion Group Sender: Campus-Size LAN Discussion Group Comments: Resent-Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1987 11:16:00 LCL Comments: Resent-From: John M. Wobus X-To: Campus LAN Discussion Group , BIG-LAN%SUVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU From: VWHITE@NSWC-G.ARPA To: "Kevin M. Leahy" , Dan Lynch Request for Information 10 September 1987 We are currently investigating methods of providing networked services to PC users at a large government installation and would appreciate any leads anyone could give us. BACKGROUND: The user community may eventually number 2000-3000 persons using IBM compatible PCs primarily for word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications (WordPerfect, Lotus, and DBASE). We must allow these users to share files, printers, and other resources and to exchange mail with one another and across the MILNET. These users are located in multiple buildings at two geographic sites separated by over 50 miles. We have a large base of installed minicomputers (VAXen, CCI Power 6, Pyramid, Sun) which run Unix (4.1c, 4.2, Ultrix, Pyramid's OSX) and which we want to reuse to the greatest extent possible as servers for the PCs. These minicomputers are connected via an 802.3 baseband network using the DoD TCP/IP protocols; the two geographic sites are connected via a T1 microwave link. Required capabilities include: Transparent file service. The user should be able to access the server's disk as if it were a hard drive on on the workstation. Telnet and ftp-type applications are welcome, but alone are not sufficient. Transparent print service. At the least, the user should be able to send documents from his PC to a shared printer with a simple command. It would be nice if all his applications (WordPerfect, DBase) could do the same thing. A mail service which receives and stores the user's mail even if the PC is not online, allows the user to read his mail from his PC, and uses or can interface to smtp mail. Acceptable solutions must adhere to IEEE 802.3 and must use the DoD TCP/IP protocols or provide gateway services to a TCP/IP network. They don't have to work with Macintoshes, but that would be an added plus. We have looked or are now looking at Novell NetWare, the IBM PC Network, 3Com 3+Share, Sun NFS, Locus PC Interface, Syntax SMBserver, and several public domain packages (CMU PCTCP, CMU Repository Mailer, Phil Karn's KA9Q PCTCP). REQUEST FOR INFO: Has anybody out there solved a similar problem? If so, what did you use and how would you rate your solution? Does anybody have a lead on a product not in the list above which would meet all or most of our criteria? How important is NetBIOS compatibility? From what we've seen, nobody as yet is adhering to the RFCs from the NetBIOS over TCP Working Group. We are also concerned about the advent of OS/2 and the LAN Manager and what that will mean to NetBIOS. Is NetBIOS an emerging/existing standard for PC networking, or will it go away? Thanks for any help you can offer. vwhite@nswc-g.arpa Vicky White Code K33 NSWC Dahlgren, VA 22448 (703) 663-7745 -------