Organization: SYRACUSE UNIV RESEARCH DATA CENTER
X-Acknowledge-To: <METRMDHM@SUVM.SYR.EDU>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.ibmtcp-l
Date:         Sat, 21 Nov 1992 06:55:09 LCL
From:         "Mark D. H. Miller" <METRMDHM@SUVM.SYR.EDU>
Subject:      Re: a short survey on file transfer
              20 Nov 1992 09:52:18 CST from <TROTH@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>

>
>        What method do you use most frequently for file transfer?

       Since "file transfer and conversion" is a key element of
  what I do for a living (at the Research DATA Center), I use them
  all and I use them often -- i.e. I probably use each method at
  least once per day but usually several (or many) times.

       Frequency of use varies between time periods depending on
  the particular work agendas.  For a specific situation, the
  method employed is dependent on the origin(s), the
  destination(s) and the nature of the connection(s) between them.
  I always try to use the fastest method that can be supported.
  On BITNET (MVS,CMS,VMS), NETDATA transport is obvious,
  convenient, and fast.  FTP transfer is used to/from UNIX,
  to/from PC/MAC with ethernet(locally), for all platforms: MVS,
  CMS, VMS, UNIX(SUN,AIX, etc).  MAIL is used as a last resort in
  cases where immediate transfer is required and one of the
  preceding methods is not available.  Removable media are used
  when the volume exceeds the prudent capacities of more immediate
  channels or when sending and receiving systems have no effective
  connection.  Removable media use in any particular case is
  limited by what is available on both systems, so certain media
  (like 9trk or 3480 tape) which may be de facto standards
  (no-brainers) for moving data between some systems, are (de
  facto) almost never available as a PRACTICAL option (if at all)
  on other systems like PC's or UNIX workstations (including big
  workstations masquerading as timesharing servers).

    RANK
> Volume Freq
>  3      2  o   SENDFILE (BITNET)
>  4      4  o   MAIL (as in mailing encoded binaries)
>  2      1  o   FTP
>  1      3  o   removable media (tape, floppy, etc)
>            o   other (please specify)
>
>        What types of files do you transfer?   (other than mail)
>
 Volume Freq
> 3      1   o   plain text (program source, etc)
> 4      4   o   raw binary (GIFs, spreadsheets, etc)
> 1      3   o   record oriented (Fixed or Variable)
> 2      2   o   TAR, ZIP, or other "archives"
>            o   job entry (including print, but not LPR)
>
>        FTP requires administrative arrangements and some people feel
>that some files aren't well suited to mail transfer.   Would you find a
>TCP/IP based SENDFILE useful?
>
>  YES ****  o   yes   (particularly wrt/ UNIX systems)
>            o   no
>
>        At least one scheme for unsolicited file transfer has been
>developed which falls-back to mail if a direct TCP connection cannot be
>established.   Is this a good idea?   (why or why not?)
>
>  (ME --------- yes  (mail needs auto reasssemble on receive end)
>  (SysOps ----  no   (great way to junk up mail queue/spool areas)
>
> ------


  *------------------------------------------------*
    Mark D. H. Miller (metrmdhm@suvm.syr.edu)
    Syracuse University, Faculty Computing Services
    Research Data Center   { +1 315 443-1144 }
  *------------------------------------------------*