[EMAIL PROTECTED],
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [SURVPC] I need a good Serial LAN software,.
Great ideas - thanks !
Perhaps I have to mention some of the limiting conditions which make
that I think in the first hand about serial or even twisted-wire
(telephone-like) physical connections:
(a) The potential participants (5) are equipped with rather varing
machines, but all have modems and (or thus) a serial port available; it
seems a bit of a hassle to install additional network cards in these
individual machines; I have to consider too that each on the users has
very individual needs, habits, etc., very much linked with "his/her" -
individually fitted - equipment.
(b) The physical wiring is the most "intruding" part of the thing, and
of the three possibilities (coax, 8-wire shielded serial, or two-wire
telephone cable), laying coax would be the most difficult; one
additional aspect is that this is not an "office" environment where
connections are fixed and decided by some hierarchical administration
(or par orde de mufti) - people like to move their things around in their
dwellings. In addition, there is already a shielded telephone-type
connection drawn between the backyard house (ie., my "office") to the
main building. But sure the 10Base-T setup would be the most elgant -
and certanly the best in throughput: one aspect (additional again) is
that the "dedicated" line could well be the faster/broader of the two
channels one gets with an ISDN telco connection (which is what I
consider as alternative to getting a second anolgue line).
(c) Fluctuation among participants has to be taken into account from
the beginning (two parties just moved in, may stay perhaps not more
than a year; the three others have no plans to move but that could
change too). A modem/serial connection may be the easiest to "plug in"
with changing participants.
It seems quite obvious that the Linux router/gateway solution would be
the most approriate for the outward connecting machine. Here, Steven's
already working model would be the evident way to go about. (I join
his earlier decription from the "Cybercafe" thread in SurvPC).
However, Klaus Wegge's hint to an "industry made" plug and pray solution
is startling, and I sure have to have a close look into that.
(Internet Sharing Box, ISB - http://www.nexland.de|com)
He joined another hint which is revealing of how administrative terror
can interfere with good technical solutions...
> But attention, many ISP in Germany exclude ISB explicitely from contracts.
> But they are not able to figure out, if there is a single user machine
> connected or a ISB.
Luckily, the latter is just too logical too; but it can be a hassle with
some telcos being net access providers too, they reserve the right of
"inspection" of downstream connected equipment when there is some line
problem.
// Heimo Claasen // <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> // Brussels 1999-10-10
HomePage of ReRead - and much to read ==> http://www.inti.be/hammer
--------------------quote:--------------
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 14:30:31 +1200
From: Steven <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Reply-To: Steven <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [SURVPC] Cybercafe with SurvPC thin clients
<snip>
> ... a "cybercafe" where each of the clients has access to the internet
> (via a graphical browser). All this requires is DOS, Arachne and an
> appropriate packetdriver (on the clients) and CLI Linux (on the server).
<snip>
> All of us agree that Linux should be used on the server. The only question
> is whether it should be an expensive P-class server or a cheap survPC.
>
> > If you think X-windows will only work with a Pentium based > system, I
> suggest you experience FreeBSD...
>
> We are talking about providing multiple sessions of real-time Netscape to
> a cluster of X terminals. You'd have to be insane to try that with
> anything less than a solid P-class machine. Even with FreeBSD.
>
> The alternative (my alternative) is to use the server as a TCP/IP router
> and let each of the clients do its own processing (with Arachne). In this
> case an ordinary 486 (or even a high- end 386) running CLI Linux can be
> used as the server.
-------------------unquote.-------------
Though for the "house ISP coop" this does pose a problem: sure some of
the participants want/are used to use the N$/M$ bloatbrowsers. -hc
To unsubscribe from SURVPC send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with
unsubscribe SURVPC in the body of the message.
Also, trim this footer from any quoted replies.
