From: bradford@ncs.dnd.ca (Bob Bradford)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.banyan-l
Subject: Interoperability Advice Needed
Date: 2 Oct 92 21:47:51 GMT
Organization: Software Kinetics Ltd.


We have an interesting challenge here and I am looking for some
information to help us meet the challenge. We have a small
peer-to-peer local network that appears to be no longer suitable due
to changing requirements that the network can not meet. The new
requirements are:
	1. Provide a link between the local network and a wide area
	   TCP/IP network. The client PCs on the local network require
	   access to hosts on the TCP/IP network using, at the minimum,
	   remote login, file transfer, and email services.
	2. A new data base server (VAX running VMS) is to be installed
	   on the local network. Users on the local network and users
	   on the TCP/IP network require access to the data base
	   server for data lookup purposes.
	3. A new CD-ROM server (a Meridian product) has been installed
	   on the local network. Local network users require access to
	   it immediately. There is a plan in the works to allow users
	   on the TCP/IP network to access the CD-ROMs in the near
	   future.

These are not difficult to meet except for:
	1. The Meridian product supports clients using Novell NetWare
	   IPX or NetBIOS/NetBEUI only.
	2. Users out there on the TCP/IP network are using many
	   different systems and local networks and many of them are
	   known NOT to support NetBIOS/NetBEUI or NetWare IPX. (PC-NFS
	   is used at many of the sites on the TCP/IP network, and
	   PC/NFS does not support NetBIOS or IPX)

So, can Banyan offer the solution I need. I understand that a DOS
client can attach to a VINES server and a TCP/IP host if the correct
software is installed (true?). Thus requirement 1 is satisfied.  I
think that the VAX data base server can be set up with TCP/IP so the
workstations can get to the data base server that way. That solves
requirement 2. Now what about requirement 3?

The local workstations are directly supported so there's no problem
there. But, how can remote hosts on the TCP/IP network be supported.
I can't see a way to directly access the CD-ROM drives from the remote
sites, but I thought there might be a way to set up a local system to look
like a client to the VINES server. If so, then perhaps I could set up a
Unix (or other) box that users on the TCP/IP network can log into and
then access the CD-ROMs from there as a VINES client.

So, is this plan workable, and if so what products (Banyan or
otherwise) will I need? Are there other options that I might have
missed? What "gotchas", if any, should I be on the lookout for? And,
finally, what are the specific Banyan parts (that is, the software
options needed in addition to VINES) that I will need to make
this work. Is Vines 4.11 or 5.0 the correct choice?

Thank you for any information and advice.  I will summarize responses
to this list.

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Bob Bradford                             Internet: bradford@crc.sofkin.ca
Senior Software Specialist               Phone:    (613) 831-0888
Software Kinetics Ltd                    Fax:      (613) 831-1836
65 Iber Road
Stittsville, ON
Canada         K2H 5S1
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Newsgroups: bit.listserv.banyan-l