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Date:         Wed, 15 Apr 1992 09:23:00 PDT
From:         Robertson@SSC.SSCNET.UCLA.EDU
Subject:      Minimum Mac apparel
X-To:         BANYAN-L@VM1.CC.UAKRON.EDU

Here are my understandings from reading the docs/release notes, and from what
I've actually seen.  The release notes say that the system extension (and
therefore all the VINES software that you might run on the client) is
compatible with System 6.0.7 and up, and System 7 and up.  There are some
caveats with System 7: the System 7 tuneup laserwriter driver is NOT
compatible with the VINES 5.0 print service support for Mac clients.

On hardware suppport, the release notes say that VINES is certified to run on:

II and IIxx family
LC
SE and SE/30
Classic and Classic II
Plus
Portable
PowerBook family
Quadra family

If hd means hard disk, all Macs basically need one these days, if for nothing
else to hold all the inits you're likely to be running in addition to your
system software itself.  There's no such thing either as a diskless Mac.  A
floppy only Mac is possible (in older models, must current models already
have a minimum hard disk standard), but very inconvenient for the user.
Most apps don't run off floppies anymore (witness Word 5.0 which takes MB
on the hard disk.  Also many Mac applications are only single user loadable
and not multi-launch (multi-user for those not used to the Apple terms), so
you can't realistically put them on the server hard disk for sharing.
Finally, if the Mac is only networked with the slow LocalTalk built-in,
loading applications from the file server will be tedious.  I'd recommend
a 40 mb minimum disk for new purchases, but you can get by with less; it just
seems that the economics favor getting larger drives these days.

RAM is another interesting question.  My MicroSeeds INITPicker log shows that
the VINES init takes 45448 bytes of System Heap.  So about 45 extra Kb for the
priviledge of doing a VINES login.  You don't have to have this init if you
don't want that user using VINES mail or the VINES utilities (a Mac SETARL
program).  Regular drive mapping is done through the AppleShare chooser icon,
and printer connections thru the LaserWriter chooser icon, not through the
VINES chooser icon.  But, how much RAM should a Mac have?  As much as you can
fit in the Mac, and as much as you can afford, whichever comes first.  Your
users will be happier with more; they can run more apps simultaneously under
multifinder, and newer apps are often taking over 1 MB of RAM to run at all
(Word 5.0, More, Excel, etc. all take above 1 MB by default).  So, don't
skimp; not because of the VINES connection software (which is basically
negligable in size) but just because you want happier Mac users.  For what
it's worth, the VINES docs say a minimum of 2 MB of RAM is required.

All Mac cards that run AppleTalk will work with the VINES servers:
LocalTalk built-in, Ethernet, and TokenRing.  AppleTalk is what the VINES
connections are using too, so at least this part is a no-brainer.  Much nicer
than the PC world, anyway. But, be careful about other protocols you might
want to run, particularly over Token Ring:  there is not yet TCP/IP support
from Apple for Token Ring and Banyan doesn't support the IBM TR source level
routing from a Mac node.  Localtalk nodes will need gateway approaches for
TCP/IP, and Banyan doesn't provide that either.

Keep the Mac questions coming folks.  I'm volunteering, since we had such good
success with the Mac panel at ABUi yesterday, to try to keep up with questions
for a while.  I'd also love to hear of other people's trials and tribulations
with VINES 5.0 in general.  I'm finishing up a review for Network Computing of
the 5.0 release, and would love any words to the wise that you internet folk
can give me.  Thanks.

- Bruce Robertson, Senior Editor, LA Labs
    Network Computing Magazine
    Phone: 310 206-9059
    FAX: 310 825-4936
    Internet: robertson@ssc.sscnet.ucla.edu
    MCI: 479-4334

   Mailing Address:
     c/o UCLA-SSC
     2121 Bunche Hall
     Los Angeles, CA 90024

-------------------------------------------------------------------
From: SOHIER_DANNY%CTI%ULAVAL%CAMPUS.ULAVAL.CA@VM1.CC.UAKRON.EDU

Subject:      Minimum Mac apparel
To: Multiple recipients of list BANYAN-L <BANYAN-L@AKRONVM>

Does anybody know what is the minimum requirement for a mac in terms of
hardware under MAC OS 6.07 to run the Vines Net shell ?

- model
- hd ?
- memory ?

Thanks as always,

Danny J. Sohier
Laval University
DSOHIER@CTI.ulaval.ca

- "Viva Las Vegas"   - Elvis.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU