From: randy@megatek.com (Randy Davis)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.sun.admin,comp.sys.sun.apps,comp.sys.sun.managers,comp.sys.sun.wanted
Subject: Sun Dialback Software
Summary: this is it, the summary
Date: 6 Oct 92 20:08:35 GMT
Reply-To: randy@megatek.com
Organization: Megatek Corporation, San Diego, California


  Three weeks ago, I posted a note asking pointers and recommendations for
dialback software that runs on Suns and uses off-the-shelf modems.

  I received twenty responses.  The answers fell into one of five catagories:

1) Six respondents recommended the "TermServ" software package from QualTrak
   Corp. of Sunnyvale CA.
2) One respondent (the Vice President of Marketing and Sales of the company
   that sells it, and who I am personally aquainted with) recommended the
   "CoSecure" software package from CoSystems, Inc. of Santa Clara, CA.
3) One respondent provided source code of dialback software.
4) Three recommeded using the built-in dialback capabilities of the Telebit
   Trailblazer T1600, T3000, or WorldBlazer modems.
5) Nine respondents of, "ME, TOO!!" :-)  (this posting is to cover this)


  Details (by catagory):

 1) The TermServ product was the most popularly-recommended package.  A summary
of the marketing blurb one respondent sent described it as "the complete modem
software pool security and management system".  Features included software
dialback, extensive audit trails, idle user logout, powerful configuration,
versatile user interface, rlogin and telnet support (and others), "session tap"
(which allows full recording of all I/O for easy tracking of suspicious system
activities), unlimited number of users, and unlimited number of modem ports.

  "The system is currently available for Sun-3, Sun-4, and Pyramid machines;
a SCO UNIX version will be available shortly.  Call for availability on
other platforms."

  Note that this is out of date, since it also states it is the "only" such
product for UNIX, and I received information on a new product from CoSystems
that also does this function.

  "Demonstration copies are available at no charge."

  Address / phone given on the marketing blurb:

          QualTrak Corp.
          3315 San Felipe Road, Suite 16
          San Jose, CA  95135-2036
          USA

          (408) 274-8867 voice
          (408) 274-0231 fax

  More than likely a more current address / phone given by another respondent:

          Qualtrak Corporation
          1250 Oakmead Parkway, Suite 210
          Sunnyvale, California
          94088-3599.

          (408) 730 -2670.

Reported Costs are :              1-2 lines     $1,250
(From this respondent)            3-8 lines     $2,500
[may be out-of-date]              9+ lines      $4,000


2) The CoSystems "CoSecure" system was recommended by the Sales and Marketing
VP of CoSystems :-).  I would not discount it because of this, though, since I
am a VERY happy customer of the CoSystems "CoALM" board - an add-on 16-serial-
port asynchronous board for Sun systems (it works much better than the ALM
board Sun sells, for cheaper, and installs with no hitches).

  Its features read similar as the QualTrak product, with the following
prices (from the current pricelist I received in the mail):

  single line              $595.00
  four   lines            $1995.00
  eight  lines            $2995.00
  unlimited               $3995.00

  CoSystems can be reached at

           CoSystems, Inc.
           2250 Scott Blvd, Bldg. 61-01
           Santa Clara, CA  95054
           Tel: (408)748-2190
           Fax: (408)988-0785


3) Steve Beaty actually provided source code to one he wrote himself (thanks,
Steve).  Steve's email is Steve.Beaty@ftcollins.ncr.com should he want to
distribute it.  I'll let him post it if he wants to.


4) I don't like the idea of using the built-in dialback features of some
models of TrailBlazer modems because of the inherent security problems of
calling back on the same phone line, not to mention the more difficult
problem of administering a pool of modems separately, instead of one central
software package, and lack of logging, etc...  We will possibly be buying
TrailBlazers to use for the modems in any such system we put together, but
I do not plan on using the built-in dialback capabilities of any modems.


5) "ME TOO" respondents - an email of this should appear in your mailbox if
your email address worked.

Thanks to:
 Frank P. Bresz <fpb@ittc.wec.com>
 Rod Rebello -- CAD Development <titan!rrebello@enuucp.eas.asu.edu>
 Steve Beaty <beaty@ncr-fc.ftcollins.NCR.COM>
 cary@rosevax.rosemount.com (Cary Yamanaka)
 davies@gest20.SINet.SLB.COM
 devil@imp.HellNet.org (Gil Tene)
 ems@ccrl.nj.nec.com (Ed Strong)
 etnibsd!vsh@uunet.UU.NET (Steve Harris)
 jeff@auratek.com (Jeff Martin)
 jgp@moscom.com (Jim Prescott)
 jh@cadre.com (Joe Hartley)
 koreth@spud.hyperion.com (Steven Grimm)
 meth@uebemc.siemens.de
 musac@chaos.eng.wayne.edu (Carlo Musante )
 rrg@fibercom.com (Rhonda Gaines)
 wadams@jupiter.nmt.edu (Wayne Adams)


Randy Davis                            Email: randy@megatek.com
Corporate Network and System Administrator    megatek!randy@uunet.uu.net
Megatek Corporation, San Diego, California    ucsd!megatek.uucp!randy
Newsgroups: comp.sys.sun.admin