Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!lll-winken!uunet!mfci!bronson From: bronson@mfci.UUCP (Tan Bronson) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans Subject: Thin ethernet questions Message-ID: <724@m3.mfci.UUCP> Date: 24 Mar 89 23:02:36 GMT Organization: Multiflow Computer Inc., Branford CT. 06405 Lines: 79 Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans Subject: Thin ethernet question Expires: References: Sender: Reply-To: bronson@mfci.UUCP () Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: Multiflow Computer Inc., Branford Ct. 06405 Keywords: We're getting ready to wire our new building for ethernet. We'd like to have five physical networks (for each group of workstations), these networks will be linked to a backbone using Retix 2244 bridges. The backbone will exist in the computer room only. We have closed offices in this building, so we want one or two ethernet taps per office. It's a new building, so adding the wiring is easy so long as I decide in the next week or two. I've looked into several options: 1) Using twisted pair ethernet. I looked at Cabletron's system as an example, but the cost to maintain multiple networks was too high. The cost for the twisted<->thinethernet converter was $450, and we needed one per office... 2) Having multiple yellow cable backbones thoughout the building. This involves using a Delni (or a thin ethernet repeater) port for each office. Thin ethernet is nice because a single connection in a office can be used for more than one workrstation, but the cost of a thin ethnernet repeater is $2300 versus $850 for a Delni. This scheme relies on the locallity of people who should be on the same network for efficiency, but people could move easily. The cost of adding a user ranges from: adding another node on an existing Delni if there is room, adding another tap on the appropriate yellow backbone for a single user, and adding a tap and a Delni for two or more people inthe same group. 3) Having multiple(many) thin ethernet `backbones'. The involves wiring groups of 5-8 offices with one `backbone' and then running this backone back to the wiring closet. The nice part is we can have up to 8 thin backbones leading into a single thin ethernet repeater, and we only need one thin ethernet repeater per network. The bad parts are: 1) if someone moves into an office which has the `wrong' backbone in it we're going to have to create another backbone, and 2) we're going to have to get a TDR to ensure this all works! My boss likes 3) as it's a bit cheaper, and once done it should not require going into the ceiling again. I like 2) using Delnis and tranceiver cables, because it's easy, flexible, and I've has some bad experience with thin ethernet. The major disadvantage of 2) is that dual person offices require two tranceiver cables. (I'd prefer to do 2) using thin ethernet cable, but the thin ethernet repeaters are too expensive! I'm looking for experience and wisdom to help decide between 2) and 3) (or a better cost effective way of doing it.) I also have a few questions about thin ethernet: - How do other people wire large groups of workstations using thin ethernet ? - it looks like I need a 30' loop in each office so I can connect a workstation 15' away from where the wire enters the building, and I'd like to make the wiring neat! If I were to put a panel with a pair of coax connectors in each office: - would I be decreasing the number of nodes I can have ? - I would effectively add a minimum of two segments to add node onto the network. Is this fatal ? thanks in advance ------- Tan Bronson Multiflow Computer Inc UUCP(work): {yale,uunet}!mfci!bronson 175 N Main St UUCP(home): {yale,mfci}!bronson!tan Branford, Ct 06405 Phone(work):(203)-488-6090 -- Tan Bronson Multiflow Computer Inc UUCP(work): {yale,uunet}!mfci!bronson 175 N Main St UUCP(home): {yale,mfci}!bronson!tan Branford, Ct 06405 Phone(work):(203)-488-6090