Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!usc!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!fox!portal!cup.portal.com!John_Robert_Breeden
From: John_Robert_Breeden@cup.portal.com
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip
Subject: Re: RE: Network Wiring Scheme
Message-ID: <25075@cup.portal.com>
Date: 15 Dec 89 23:53:55 GMT
References: <8912150445.AA04122@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Distribution: usa
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 51

>
>Ken,
>
>Until the IEEE 10baseT specifications are published next year there really is 
>no standard for ethernet over twisted pair.  Many vendors seem to have defined
 
>what they think the proposed standard will be and are at least announcing 
>products to support it.  Most vendors are producing products to work on UTP
>(unshielded Twisted Pair) for ethernet and even big blue has it's type 3 media
>filters to allow Token Ring to work on UTP.  
>
>We have
>started to test different vendors UTP ethernet products but as yet have not 
>made a decision as to which one to support.  Many of the Research Labs and 
>departments have chosen to install departmental/building thick coax with AUI
>bulkhead mounts off xceiver taps instead of attempting to "beta test" the as
>yet unpublished 10baseT standard for UTP Ethernet.
>
>We have tested or have currently installed on UTP the following LANs;
>
>Arcnet UTP hubs and PC cards using LANtastic's Software
>Arcnet UTP Hubs & PC cards using Novell Software
>Arcnet UTP Hubs & PC cards using Arcnet Software
>Cabletron UTP Ethernet concentrator & UTP transceivers
>Synoptics UTP Ethernet concentrators & UTP transceivers


WHAT IN GOD'S NAME WILL CHANGE BETWEEN THE 10BASET DRAFT AND THE FINAL
STANDARD THAT WOULD OBSOLETE THE EXISTING VENDOR'S PRODUCTS THAT CONFORM
TO THE 10BASET DRAFT TODAY??? - NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!

None of the basic specs for 10baset in the drafts has changed (or will
change) before the standard is voted on - and the proof of that state-
ment is the ability to "plug-and-play" with the conforming vendors
who manufacture to the 10baseT draft today (AT&T, HP and UB to mention a 
few). Given that ability I'll beat the cost of hardware by having MANY 
vendors to choose from today over using those vendors that keep users locked 
into TRUE PROPRIETARY architectures (read Synoptics and Cabletron). Don't 
knock those vendors that are trying to level the playing field by activly 
supporting and MANUFACTURING to standards (or well defined draft standards) 
by buying into the hype "that the draft isn't defined well enough to build
product to" - that's hog wash!

But then if I supported ARCnet, Novell, Cabletron and Synoptics standards
would a moot point.


standard 
IBM Token Ring MAU's and IBM Token Ring PC cards using Novell software
	The MAU's between floors are connected using IBM type 1 cable
AT&T StarLAN using AT&T Hubs, PC cards, & software