Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!ukma!husc6!husc4!kovar
From: kovar@husc4.HARVARD.EDU
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.misc
Subject: Re: Connecting a Novell network to a TCP/IP network
Message-ID: <468@husc6.harvard.edu>
Date: 13 Oct 88 15:01:22 GMT
References: <431@husc6.harvard.edu> <457@husc6.harvard.edu>
Sender: news@husc6.harvard.edu
Reply-To: kovar@husc4.UUCP (David Kovar)
Organization: Graduate School of Design, Harvard University
Lines: 36


  I initally asked how to connect a Novel network to a TCP/IP network
to allow machines on the Novell side to exchange files with machines
on the TCP side. Several suggestions came in, most saying "Call
Excelan". As I should have done in the first place, I called them
and discovered that they have a product called "LAN Workplace for
Netware" that consists of an Ethernet card with a processor and
memory on board and some software that is downloaded into that
processor. It retails for $1045.

  If you want to buy only one of these devices, you put it in
your server and then you can transfer files via a two step process
from a client to a TCP site. One step takes the file to the server
from the client and the next step moves it from the server to the
TCP host. Excelan is shipping me more detailed information and, if
you're interested, I suggest that you call them and request the
packet. Call 1-800-EXCELAN.

  Someone else is using a product from Micom-Interlan and experienced
two problems with it: 1) It dies in dirty, heavy traffic, about two
times a month and 2) There is an intermittent problem with FTPing
from hosts with Excelan cards. Despite these problems, they like the
product a lot. It is cost effective and has the required functionality.
It is rumored that #1 has been fixed.

 Another person mentioned using Micom/Internal TCP/IP gateways that
reside in the Novell server. Anyone on the Novell net can access
TCP/IP hosts by using provided software to go through the server
gateway. It can handle approximately 32 Telnet and 16 FTP connections,
though those numbers might be flipped. This route is $2000+. It may
be the same product as mentioned in the previous paragraph.

  Again, thank you very much to all who replied.

-David Kovar