Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!husc6!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sm.unisys.com!oberon!pollux.usc.edu!burke
From: burke@pollux.usc.edu (Sean Burke)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: LAN suggestions for Mac,PC,SUN site?
Message-ID: <13285@oberon.USC.EDU>
Date: 7 Nov 88 05:53:31 GMT
Sender: news@oberon.USC.EDU
Lines: 28


  My company wishes to set up a local network to which we can attach our
Macintoshes, PC-compatibles and a SUN workstation.  Our goals are to support
	> file sharing between all nodes
	> use of the SUN as a file, database server
	> sharing of our Apple Laserwriter
	> email

  Note that we will also have an NFS network among other SUNs and some PCs
running PC-NFS, and we would hope to use the SUN to bridge between NFS nodes
and the new network.

  I am soliciting suggestions from readers of this newsgroup regarding network
solutions that would be appropriate to our needs.  I am especially interested
in comments on TOPS, which is currently our favored option.  We favor this
system (mistakenly?) for the following reasons:

	> all nodes may perform server/servee functions
	> Macs, PCs, SUNs are all fully integrated
	> SUN/TOPS provides Netprint so that PCs can print to LaserWriter
	> cost/node  $250 per Mac (software only)
		     $600 per PC  (software, Appletalk card, Netprint)
		     $??? per SUN

  I am eager to hear your comments, criticism, suggestions and alternatives.

Thanx,
Sean Burke