Xref: utzoo comp.dcom.lans:2091 comp.periphs:1336 comp.terminals:988
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!convex!argos!venters
From: venters@argos.uucp (Jeff Venters)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans,comp.periphs,comp.terminals
Subject: Re: Terminal Servers?
Keywords: terminals unix server
Message-ID: <756@convex.UUCP>
Date: 9 Dec 88 14:28:40 GMT
References: <147@iquery.UUCP>
Sender: news@convex.UUCP
Reply-To: venters@convex.COM (Jeff Venters)
Distribution: na
Organization: Convex Computer Corporation, Richardson, Tx.
Lines: 31

In article <147@iquery.UUCP> matt@iquery.UUCP (Matt Reedy) writes:
>We have about 15 *nix boxes running a variety of flavors (Sys V/BSD/Xenix).
>We'd like to have a single terminal in each programmer's office allowing
>connections to any one of these machines (without having to run 15 cables from
>each office).  I've vaguely heard of something called "terminal servers".  Is 
>this what I'm looking for?  Anyone have any info on any brand in particular?
>
>TIA.
>
>matt

There are several approaches you can take.  Here at CONVEX, we use both a
switch type and ethernet terminal servers.  The switch type requires more
cables since you must run one cable for every terminal you intend to support
(in all likelyhood it would be located in you computer room).  You then run
N lines to each host you want to serve.  With the ethernet terminal servers
you only need run one ethernet connection from each host.  The terminal
servers can be placed closer to the actual terminals (i.e., less wire).  As
for the user interface whenever you are not connected, if you type any key,
a menu of available hosts is presented.  These servers use "rlogin" to login
to the host.  I have been told by our operations folks that this approach
has a much smaller incremental cost per terminal than the switch type
server.  The ethernet terminal servers we use are made by CISCO (sp?).  The
switch type is made by MICOM.  I will say one good thing for the MICOM
server, it has been very reliable.  I can only recall it going down once or
twice in the last 2 years.

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Jeff Venters, Convex Computer Corporation, Richardson, Texas	    
Internet: venters@convex.COM  |  UUCP: {uiucuxc,sun,rice}!convex!venters
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