Please report back any signficant progress from Gradient as I'm sure we'd all
like to hear it. Also, it may be of interest for people to know we are actively
evaluating a product that looks very promising for DOS/Windows to AFS.
Consequently, we are also considering dropping our own internal DOS/Windows
project. The product is called PC Interface 5.0 and the developer is Locus Inc
(contact Mike Smith, [EMAIL PROTECTED], 310-337-5005 for anyone who is interested).
The product was just announced and released in late June. Its a translator
based solution much like our own. Right now it tests fairly
solid, but we are trying to understand the problems that we will encounter if
we scale it up. If others get an evaluation copy of this product, we'd be very
interested in hearing your experiences before we make a final decision.
[off the top of my head from our experiences so far]
Advantages:
Small client footprint (64K).
Bundled with LanWorkPlace for DOS (or you can use NDIS driver)
Works with Netware for those who care.
Translator gives ability to run a script when connection is made.
You can then do more user screening, klogging, version checking,
stat gathering, etc.
Ability to pass back messages to Windows users at both connection
time to the translator as well as anytime you are on the translator.
Translator software currently runs on Suns and IBM AIX.
Translates all non 8x3 pathnames into an 8x3 pathname (this also
has a disadvantage)
Translator based concurrent licensees (unlimited is also an option
if you can afford that kind of money).
Locus has been a very responsive company for our test inquiries, and
willingness to do what it takes to have us use the product. They
claim they are going to start the port to Chicago and also make sure
it talks to DFS on translators which can run DFS.
Although we won't use it, it will support printer sharing, has a terminal
emulator.
Disadvantages:
When client connection is established, username and password are
transmitted to the translator in a scrambled format. It would be nice
if it used Kerberos instead. Locus has indicated they are interested
in doing this work in a future release.
No acl changing tool.
No protection group setting tool.
Translation of 8x3 pathnames are somewhat crytic. There is a DOS
utility to see the translation, but no windows utility. The
translation can cause some strange effects when a program removes
and recreates the file (thus recreating the cryptic name literally).
Can't use a DNS translator name from DOS (you can from Windows). They
also ship a PCLIB (API) which allows one to write their own connection
program.
Mark Giuffrida
University of Michigan
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
------- Forwarded Message
>
>Robert,
>
>is it possible to send me a phone # from Gradient ???
>
>thanX
>peter
>
>
>On Tue, 31 May 1994, Robert G. Moskowitz wrote:
>
>> Date: Tue, 31 May 94 06:24 EST
>> From: Robert G. Moskowitz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> To: "p.lister" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
>> info afs <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> Subject: Re: Windows client for AFS (and VMS)
>>
>> >a) A Windows AFS client. Looking back in the info-afs archive throws up PC
>> >Venus from umich.edu. Is this available, umich guys? Or we can wait for
>> >Windows OSF/DFS client (but I'd like to get this working before I die).
>>
>> At INTEROP, I was told that Gradient is working on DFS for Windows. The
>> person I spoke to was a little unsure if it could actually be done in
>> Windows or if it would be a Chicago only product...
>>
>> Bob Moskowitz
>> Chrysler Corp
>>
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
__
>This does not reflect the | Peter Revay <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>opinions of my employer. | Internet: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>I am busy enough by talking | Tel: (Vienna) 21145-3235
>about my own ... | IBM-Austria, AIX-SSC / Obere Donaustrasse 95
------- End of Forwarded Message
