Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!ames!ucsd!ucsdhub!jack!nusdhub!rwhite
From: rwhite@nusdhub.UUCP (Robert C. White Jr.)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.att
Subject: Re: AT&T 3B* networking
Message-ID: <1114@nusdhub.UUCP>
Date: 25 Jul 88 22:28:26 GMT
References: <1098@woton.UUCP>
Organization: National University, San Diego
Lines: 50

in article <1098@woton.UUCP>, riddle@woton.UUCP (Prentiss Riddle) says:
> Net-Unemployed: "Bob"
> (3) I have some experience as a user of 4.2BSD NFS, and know about
> "rcp", "rsh", ".rlogin" files, etc.  Does that bear any resemblance to
> RFS?  How can I find out what RFS looks like to the user and to the
> administrator (especially security features)? 

RFS dosn't look like anything in particular to a user.  The S.A.s
of the RFS system decide what will be available over the network,
and (potentially) to which systems these things will be available.

Further, the SAs will decide that user 200 on system A is equavilant
to user 531 on system b.  Everybody not spesifically so designated
will become a "guest" login and Group ID on teh shared system.

The thing (directory) from system A is mounted on System B and all
File permissions are evaluated like it were a local resource;
give or take the abofe potential translation.

> (4) How does RFS interact with my plain old System V mail software? 

It does not, but the network provider over which you implement will
maos likely support "cu" and "uucp" throught the network.  Therefore
by buying the network soft/hardware you get mail, cu, uux, uucp et al.
RFS simple allows Remote File Sharing (including devices, pipes, and
other special files and modules.)

> (5) The cells of the above chart marked "yes" without "(RFS)"
> apparently refer to the ability of Starlan to let a 3B2 or a 6386 act
> as a file server for DOS machines.  Correct?  Does this interfere with
> the use of Starlan to provide RFS and other goodies among Unix
> machines? 

NO.  RFS and DOS Server are *both* seperate packages which must
be purchased outside of your network service.  Any network which
is "TLI Conformant" (or can be made so useing Streams Modules -- an
advanced topic...)  Will support RFS.  The DOS Server Package is only
available on STARLAN Networks.

> (6) Is there some basic document, article or book I should read so all
> this will be clear to me and I won't have to ask silly questions? 

Your Talking AT&T here, there is no offical doccumenataion for AT&T
products which:  1) makes things clear,  2) can be used as a difinative
source,  3) accurately reflects current pricing,  4) represents
current availability,  or 5) provides accurate projections on
possible product availability.  Points 1 through 6, 6 not usually
being available to the public, are offical AT&T polocy [sic] and
are fully explained in item 6 ( 1/2 B-} )

Robert White.