From: robinson@knuth.mtsu.edu (David Robinson)
Subject: EISA server with 8-bit SMC clients
Summary: query value EISA server with 8-bit client network
Keywords: EISA server 8-bit user performance
Organization: Dept. of CS, Middle TN State Univ, Murfreesboro, TN
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 03:09:17 GMT

We are putting together specifications for a new server for our Novell
lan.  We're running 2.15c right now, but will probably upgrade to 3.11
this fall.  Our current network consists of about 30 users,  all 8-bit
NIC clients (our current server contains 2 8-bit Western Digital
(ahem, SMC NICs)

Apologies if this is elementary, but I have several questions.

1)  Is it worthwhile for us to bother with an EISA bus in our new
server?  Considering that all the current client workstations are 
running on 8-bit ethernet NICs... with the exception of 12 WD 
microchannel ethernet NICs in some IBM PS/2 client machines? 

2)  We'd also like to put a 1.2 Gigabyte or better disk in this new 
server.  Would we be advised in specifying SCSI or ESDI controller
for this disk?  EISA concerns we should be aware of?  Any brands we 
should specifically avoid?   Until we go to 3.11 are we asking for
trouble aiming for such a large disk?  I'm assuming we can break it up
into multiple volumes...

3)  I've been told to get as much memory as we can afford to stuff into
this server... I'm planning on 32Mb, 'cause i'm greedy.  Am I also 
being unreasonable?

4)  I've heard that a potential bottleneck in a server is the video
adapter.  This seems sort of peculiar to me, since in our present
server, we don't even *use* the server video for anything.  Pardon my
ignorance, but is this true, or am I being sold a bill of goods?

5)  I've heard contrary reports regarding the relative merits of tape
backup on the server vs. tape backup on a client station.  Which is
better? (I don't ask for much do I?)

I apologize if these questions have all been covered before, I'm
relatively new to this group and naturally I have to get the ITB onto
the street *last* week :-/  We don't have access to FTP here, so I can't
look in the group's archives for old FAQs.  Not only that, our news feed
here is sort of sporadic, so I cannot count on seeing all (any?)
responses to this query, so if you wouldn't mind, would you please cc me
directly via e-mail to    robinson@mtsu.edu  

If these questions are excruciatingly boring to the group, and they are
covered in some archive somewhere... I'd really appreciate it if some
kind soul would e-mail me a copy of the archive.

All responses will be gratefully appreciated. TIA


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 David Robinson                         |   robinson@mtsu.edu
 Automation Librarian                   |   615/898-2572 (voice)
 Middle Tennessee State University      |   615/898-5551 (FAX)
 Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37132          |   P.O. Box 13  (snail)
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