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From: dd@ariel.unm.edu
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Request For Opinions:  Terminal Servers vs. Dataswitches
Message-ID: <4748@charon.unm.edu>
Date: 30 Mar 89 18:47:57 GMT
Sender: root@charon.unm.edu
Reply-To: dd@ariel.unm.edu
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Lines: 41

At the University of New Mexico, we invested in campus-wide LAN
technology back in the dark ages, when all terminal servers
spoke a proprietary protocol.  We had a crappy dataswitch, that
for a number of reasons, could not have been upgraded.  We
migrated to a terminal server environment, therefore.  We
actually still have some of those original terminal servers (is
there any market out there for low-serial-number Ungermann Bass
NIU-2As?? ;-).

I was hoping that by sticking my head in the sand far enough, we
would see all RS232-based things on campus disappear - no such
luck!  At this time, we are reevaluating the provision of RS232
services on campus.  Among the viable options are:

[1] TCP/IP-based terminal servers.  I have evaluated some of
    these, and I think I have found the best bet for us.  There
    are problems with this idea, though:  I have to find an
    inexpensive (read "free") implementation of TCP/IP for VMS
    systems (and it would be best if it worked with VMS 5.x), or
    I have to front-end those systems with a TCP/IP terminal
    server (the "milking machine" configuration).  And the same
    for other systems which are not TCP/IP capable, although
    these present much less of a problem.

[2] A dataswitch.  My first reaction was to grimace and shudder,
    but the economics of data switches aren't real bad, and you
    can avoid a lot of the normal problems of LOTS of wire going
    EVERYWHERE through the intelligent use of multiplexers.
    I also get to avoid all the problems of protocol - I just
    have to put a lot of RS232 on every machine in sight :-{.
    Obviously, there are still some reasons not to do it, but
    I guess it isn't as ugly as I originally thought it was.

I would sure be interested in hearing from people who feel
strongly either way - and please tell me why.  As always, I will
provide a summary to anyone interested.  Thanks!

Don Doerner				dd@ariel.unm.edu
University of New Mexico CIRT
2701 Campus Blvd, NE
Albuquerque, NM, 87131			(505) 277-8036