Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!cmcl2!rutgers!topaz.rutgers.edu!ron
From: ron@topaz.rutgers.edu (Ron Natalie)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.wizards
Subject: Re: Ethernet Terminal Servers?
Message-ID: <14575@topaz.rutgers.edu>
Date: Wed, 9-Sep-87 13:38:18 EDT
Article-I.D.: topaz.14575
Posted: Wed Sep  9 13:38:18 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 11-Sep-87 03:46:45 EDT
References: <106600015@datacube>
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
Lines: 57

I have direct experience with the following servers:

    CISCO ASM
    Bridge CS-whatever
    Ungerman/Bass NIU-180

CISCO ASM:  This box is nice.  It's our mainstay at Rutgers.  It supports
Domain Name Server look-ups of host names.  The price is a bit high for small
implemenations as you get a box that can probably hold over 100 lines.  CISCO
is working on an smaller eight line version at a substantially chepaer price.
Very Reliable.  You can set configuration either by non volatile memory board
in the box (optional) or by automatic tftp of the file.  Software bootable
from ROM's or via tftp.Ability to milk (connect to computers) but these
connections must use a different port than "telnet" as internet addresses
apply to the entire box.  You can also telnet to the box to check the status
or even telnet out again from there.  There is a provision for restricting
classes of terminals to particular hosts and networks.

BRIDGE CS-*:  Pretty flexible.  Bridge equipment is fairly reliable but they
don't always get the protocols right.  The box also broadcasts bogus datagrams
every 30 seconds or so, but this seems to be benign.  Available with various
numbers of terminals.  Does not answer ICMP echos.  Control is done via a
"udp" telnet like protocol or by locally attached terminal.  No security,
anybody can connect to the box.  Can also be used as a milking machine.  Boots
off floppy disk or from CS server depeding on system.

Ungermann/Bass NIU-180 Terminal Server:  Eight lines (30 line version rumored
to be comming out).  Nice eight line box.  We had problems with it for a
while, but they seem to have gotten their act in gear.  Box is the most
flexible.  Outgoing (user telnet) or incoming (milking) available on a port by
port basis.  Each line may have it's own address.  Just about every feature or
thing that you would want to change can be defined on a line by line basis.
Doesn't use the domain name server (yet) but does use an IEN116 server.
Configuration must be done on a PC running their network monitoring software
which is also required to boot the device.

And now a few that I've not used (much):

Encore Annex:  16 lines, fairly nice.  UNIX-like feel to it.  Supports
Rlogin.  Does not use any kind of name server.  Nasty rumor is that it
wiretaps rwho packets to load the host name cache.  This is a serious
deficiency.  Has some smarts for off-loading stuff like GNU EMACS edit
work into the server.

CMC:  CMC gets an award for the neatest packaging.  This terminal server
is not much larger than a standard DEC Ethernet transceiver but has a row
of RJ11's for the RS-232 connections.  This would be real nice for wiring
up buildings as it could just hang on the cable due to it's size, but they
also do not use anysort of name server.  Hosts must be manually entered into
their table.

and just for jollies:

BBN-TAC:  Available in configurations of 16-64 lines.  Doesn't use a
name server.  Doesn't use names.  1822 interface supported.  NCP protocol
also available in some locations.  64 byte window sometimes causes problems.
Very expensive.