Xref: utzoo comp.sys.mac:47725 comp.sys.mac.hardware:1432
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!mcsun!ukc!tcdcs!tcdmath!mlloyd
From: mlloyd@maths.tcd.ie (Michael Lloyd)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Networking Options
Keywords: AppleTalk, AppleShare, Alternatives to ...
Message-ID: <1328@hamilton.maths.tcd.ie>
Date: 1 Feb 90 15:55:25 GMT
Reply-To: mlloyd@maths.tcd.ie (Michael Lloyd)
Organization: Maths Dept., Trinity College, Dublin
Lines: 43

Hi.  This is a request for opinions and/or experiences which would be of use
to me in advising my administrators on what to spend our (v. small) research
grants on.

The kinds of things I am talking about are Shared Volume systems, Networking
hardware and the like.

We are a small research group (in Statistics), using a collection of 4 MacIIs
of various flavours, a couple of Pluses and an SE.  Recently, we added an
AppleShare system, with a 100Mb shared hard disk and a 45Mb removable drive, 
all serviced by a Plus (yes, a Plus).

This is slow, small, and inefficient.

We are also connected into a simple building-wide AppleTalk network, so that
every Mac in each office can talk to the secretarial LaserWriter.  We have
no zones or bridging, and the network is out there at the limit of the
physical and logical ability of AppleTalk.  This may be resolved when we get
our own LaserWriter for the Research Lab.

So: what are the weak points we can work on?  Obviously, bridging is a good
idea, but how about EtherNet as a replacement for the smaller (research)
network?  Is this appreciably faster?  For that matter, can we ever expect
international e-mail to work, and at what (approximate) cost?

How about an SE/30 as a server?  I take it that its internal drive is also
available, making a very handy large temp folder...  Is it a waste of money
putting this on the (apparently) very slow AppleShare system?

I can't really discuss our budget options in detail - it's a case of pleading
for as much as we want, making a case on cost-effectiveness.  For this
reason, the decision on buying more speed or much more space (say a 300Mb
or 600Mb drive) must rest with us, but all your opinions are welcome.

Many thanks for reading this far.  Now, if you feel you can add some comment,
PLEASE E_MAIL, as I may never have time to read the net :-(  :-(

Mike.

Mike Lloyd, Dept of Statistics, |
Trinity College, Dublin,        |      "COGITO, ERGO CHICO & ZEPPO"
Ireland.                        |          Tonio K.
(mlloyd@maths.tcd.ie)           |