Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!RELAY.NSWC.NAVY.MIL!snorthc
From: snorthc@RELAY.NSWC.NAVY.MIL
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc
Subject: Re:  NEED Network for AT&T and IBM computers running Unix and DOS
Message-ID: <8902210731.ab12713@Obelix.TWG.COM>
Date: 21 Feb 89 13:26:54 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 41

In response to "GRegg Thompson's" request:

1.) I am replying by EMAIL, there is no waste of bandwidth, many of
us face similar requirements and can use the info.

2.) Unless I missed something obvious... you have already decided
on TCP and NFS.

3.) If 2 then the question is simply which vendors: 
	- for MSDOS I think the only game in town is SUN PC NFS, I wish
there was an option, I detest single source products.
	- for the 3B2... I am no expert on SYS V, but I would start
with Wollongong and Lachman.  That Air Force contract might have
stimulated some 3B2 development (AFCACs or some such).
	- for the ATT box, I know western bell sells an NFS for
UNIX SYS V rel. 3.2 try calling 1 800 for unix.
	- MACs can be NFS'd with the gator box, I am sure there is
a more elegant solution somewhere.

NFS could care less if the file is a DOS or UNIX file so sharing disks
in one sense is trivial.  File naming can be sticky, but what are a
few tildes among friends?  PC NFS is client only, you will have to share
those PCs "virtual disk".

The bigger issue will be administration.  Solutions like Novell, allow
for administration.  This can be very important to novice users (keep
them in a menu shell).  It has security implications, will you require
audit trails???

Trivia:
Will next sell to gov't agencies?  We have all read that they won't,
but I suspect this is subject to change if universities do not overwhelm
them with orders.

Desktop publishing... that is a sw question.  Aldus Pagemaker is
tolerable and can (sort of) interchange files PC <-> MAC.

Good luck, let us know how your solution works out.

Stephen Northcutt (snorthc@relay.navy.mil)
Disclaimer: I speak only for Stephen, am not in bed with any vendor.