HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: john@physiol.su.OZ.AU (John Mackin)
Subject: Re: Slip latency times..
Organization: Department of Physiology, University of Sydney, Australia
Distribution: aus
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 02:22:57 GMT

In article <BtAF5M.6EL@phoenix.pub.uu.oz.au>,
	hunter@phoenix.pub.uu.oz.au (James Gardiner) writes:

>I was just wondering what the best expected latency you can
>archive over a slip connection?

220 milliseconds ping latency is the best I've measured on a 9600-baud
SLIP connection.

>And, what is the best possible combination you can have to
>get the best interactive responce over a network which
>depends highly on slip.

I'm not sure what you mean, but good `interactive response' and SLIP
just do not mix.  SLIP is a dog, a hideous orangutan.  If you want
real networking, get a real network.

-- 
John Mackin <john@civil.su.oz.au>
`Computer scientists don't have balls.'  -dhog
Newsgroups: aus.comms
From: dazz@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au (Mr D.K. Woodman)
Subject: Token Ring cards
Organization: Monash University, Melb., Australia.
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 23:01:25 GMT

I am about to implement a token ring network of about 40 users and
am after opinions on what people think are the best AND most
cost effective brand of Token Ring card available in OZ.

any replies appreciated
dazz

Newsgroups: aus.comms
From: tim@cs.su.oz.au  (Tim Nicholson)
Subject: Re: A reliable 9600 modem
Organization: Basser Dept of Computer Science, University of Sydney, Australia
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 00:18:57 GMT

In article <8289@sirius.ucs.adelaide.edu.au>, jamesp@iagu.itd.adelaide.edu.au (James Pickering) writes:
>
> You say they do V.42bis - do they do V.42 as well? Modems go much faster
> with V42bis if they have V.42.

I am not sure this is true.  Those modems which support V.42bis over both MNP4 and
V.42 seem to run faster when using MNP4.  A major supplier of modem firmware
in the US has recently announced that it will be supporting this setup.  It has been part
of Microcom's (who own the MNP protocols) specs for some years now.

> >Technically I think they're very similar
> >to the Scitec modems that David Bennett notes in a previous posting. I have
> >had very good experiences with these modems, they hold onto circuits very
> >well indeed, and will talk to practically anything (except for
> >those darn Netcomm 9600 modems that won't talk to anything except another
> >of themselves, argh).
>
> Extend that to "anything except another Rockwell" - if you don't have
> them set up right they don't talk to other modems except Rockwells. I've
> managed to get them connecting from 300 to 9600 fine to everything, it's
> just as soon as you go above 9600/MNP4 they have problems.
> With another 12K Rockwell they're brilliant if you can't afford a V.32bis
> modem.
>

Complain to NetComm.  They have had a fix for this for some time now.
It is a Rockwell problem, but NetComm has a workaround.

Tim Nicholson.
Newsgroups: aus.comms
From: miw@cc.uq.oz.au (Mark I. Williams)
Subject: Re: Modem recommendations wanted
Organization: Prentice Centre, University of Queensland
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1992 23:54:56 GMT

hamish@cloud.pub.uu.oz.au (Hamish Moffatt) writes:

>While these two should be good modems (I believe netcomm own avtek anyway), they
>are some what overpriced. $400+ for a Netcomm? You can get a modem with V21,
>V22, V22b, V23, V32, V42 and V42b for $599, or $580 without V42b/V42.

This is something which goes right to the heart of the issue and which
has caused us and a lot of others heartache over the years. We have come
to the conclusion that, if you are offering a service, you should avoid
the cheap modems like the plague. If you want to buy a modem to dial
BBSs or work from home, you should buy the cheapest modem that gives you
decent performance on your home exchange.

Now you might say "but the 'cheap' modems use the same chipset - they
should be just as good."

Unfortunately, this is a fallacy. What makes a modem good is not just
the modulating chipset but also tne controlling firmware, which tells
the modem how to recover from bad events, and the line transformer,
which protects the modem from common-mode noise on the telephone line.
The cheaper modems (netcomm, avtek, maestro, and friends) all have cheap
(read nasty) line transformers with high capacitances which therefore
have an unacceptably low common mode rejection ratio (CMRR). This makes
them liable to drop carrier if there are any spikes. Some of them have,
in addition to this, firmware which lets them hang given certain
glitches.

This isn't necessarily a problem if you are dialling up. You can always
power-cycle the thing and start again. However, if you have a bank of
modems which are used to provide a service, if you don't buy *good*
modems, you will be sorry. Having somebody continually checking out the
modem pool costs money, too. In addition, the grade of service will drop
substantially.

cheers,


--
Mark Williams         The University of Queensland       miw@cc.uq.edu.au
+61 7 36 54012   (w)  Prentice Centre
+61 7 36 54477  (fax) Qld 4072  Australia
Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit.  -- Seneca
From: G.Huston@aarnet.edu.au (Geoff Huston)
Newsgroups: aus.comms
Subject: Re: Proposal: OSI Addressing on AARnet
Date: 25 Aug 92 22:32:42 GMT

Mark Prior writes...

> This is my proposal for running ISO protocols over AARNet. At present
> I have a number of DECstations running DECnet/OSI using this scheme
> and it seems to work OK.
> 
> Comments welcome.

Mark, just a few open comments in response...


1. What is the level of demand for this switching capability within AARNet?

   
2. NSAP AFI allocation

   I note the Internet Society is eligible for an AFI allocation
   (at _no_ charge) and evidently intends to obtain an AFI for Internet
   use. What are the arguments in favour and against using a number space
   from a nationally allocated AFI vs an Internet AFI


3. NSAP address schema

   I see frantic activity within various strands of the IETF to devise
   a workable implementation of CLNP (or a derivative) which can
   provide possible answers to the IP V4 problems that are emerging.

   Is any national NSAP addressing strategy premature given the ernest
   desire of the IETF groups to devise an Internet-wide NSAP numbering
   strategy?

   My question is not whether a geographic fixed length numbering
   scheme is better ort worse than other possible Australian schemes -
   it it whether a short delay may be better in order to evaluate the
   output of the "IP V7" groups which are looking at NSAP allocation
   schema across the entire Internet.


Unlike ESnet or the NSFnet there is no funding or government mandated
requirement to support OSI protocols within the production platform of
the Australian national network. The criteria for such support are
therefore more pragmatic considerations of:

	level of demand

	cost of provising the service

	risks to overall reliability of service

	compatibility with related efforts

Of all of these I would indicate that level of demand is perhaps the
single deciding factor - which brings me back to comment 1:...

   1. What is the level of demand for this switching capability within AARNet?

(These are not "hostile" comments by any means - indeed setting up a
switching capability for CLNP could be a lot of fun. But the aim and
objective of the network is not to amuse Geoff and Pete - ultimately
there has to be reasonable levels of justification for such activities,
and it is only through this form of exchange that we can establish
whether there is a real need for such a switching service on the
network)


thanks,

Geoff
Newsgroups: aus.comms
From: miw@cc.uq.oz.au (Mark I. Williams)
Subject: Re: A reliable 9600 modem
Keywords: Modem, 9600baud
Organization: Prentice Centre, University of Queensland
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1992 23:52:11 GMT

simon@ucs.adelaide.edu.au (Simon Hackett) writes:

>I'd be very happy to recommend either the Dataplex DPX-496's or
>the Scitec 14.4K's. Either way, you might as well get the ones that
>can go to 14.4K, they don't cost enough more than the 9600's do to be
>worth *not* getting them. Half as fast again...

And since Scitec is an Australian company, and Dataplex modems are
really American Octacoms.....

Having said this, here at UQ we use Octacoms (you can't get Dataplex
rack-mounted) for historical reasons. They are seriously good modems.

cheers,

--
Mark Williams         The University of Queensland       miw@cc.uq.edu.au
+61 7 36 54012   (w)  Prentice Centre
+61 7 36 54477  (fax) Qld 4072  Australia
Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit.  -- Seneca
Newsgroups: aus.comms
From: ggm@brolga.cc.uq.oz.au (George Michaelson)
Subject: Re: terminal servers
Organization: Prentice Centre, University of Queensland
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 07:49:15 GMT

beam@peg.pegasus.oz.au writes:

annex III (xylogics) works fine. very unix-oriented, dead simple to config.
slip works a treat. modem control & serial config is by stty when dialled in
and dedicated services etc is a synch. full modem control.

xyplex also works, more VMSlike interface, can boot from unix fine, does
kerberos and per-user scripting. newer units have full modem control

netblazer does ppp/slip but is quite complex to configure.

Its a growth market. you wont find it hard to get a box which does the trick.

	-George
--
                         George Michaelson
G.Michaelson@cc.uq.oz.au The Prentice Centre      | There's no  market for
                         University of Queensland | hippos in Philadelphia
Phone: +61 7 365 4079    QLD Australia 4072       |          -Bertold Brecht
From: peaki@cs.uq.oz.au (Ian Peake)
Newsgroups: aus.comms
Subject: 101 Ways to Use a Modem - any ideas?
Keywords: online services modem cheap
Date: 17 Aug 92 23:22:07 GMT
Reply-To: peaki@cs.uq.oz.au
Distribution: aus

Hi all,

A friend of mine without access to the net asked me to
as the net community: what are some good [ways to find out about]
"public online services"?

Here "public online services" means ``modem-sites generally accessible to the
public, supplying interesting/useful information, interactive tools and
the like''. 

Of particular interest:

* Services of interest to non-hackers (ie: the general PC populace).
* Free and low-cost services.
* Phone numbers, data rates and the like.

In order to prime the process, here are the few examples we could think of:

* Queensland State Library has an online-catalogue accessible by modem,
  as does Queensland University Libraries.

* Westpac Handyline has a (fee-paying) modem option.

* Discovery (previously Viatel, I'm told),
  although probably expensive, was fairly broad (back when I used it :-)

What is not of interest are the usual bulletin boards,
which already have a listing service (I've seen lists in Your Computer
magazine), have tended to cater for the hacker (original sense)
population, and used mainly as public-domain software repositories.

Does anyone have any other information or pointers?

Please email or post; I will summarize..

Ian Peake
-- 
Ian Peake
Language Design Laboratory                        PHONE:  + 61 7 365 1127
Department of Computer Science                    FAX:    + 61 7 365 1999
University of Queensland  AUSTRALIA  4072         EMAIL:  i_peake@cs.uq.oz.au
--
Ian Peake
Language Design Laboratory                        PHONE:  + 61 7 365 1127
Department of Computer Science                    FAX:    + 61 7 365 1999
University of Queensland  AUSTRALIA  4072         EMAIL:  i_peake@cs.uq.oz.au
From: mrp@itd.adelaide.edu.au (Mark Prior)
Newsgroups: aus.comms
Subject: Re: Proposal: OSI Addressing on AARnet
Date: 28 Aug 92 06:43:10 GMT


     Mark Prior writes...

     > This is my proposal for running ISO protocols over AARNet. At present
     > I have a number of DECstations running DECnet/OSI using this scheme
     > and it seems to work OK.
     >
     > Comments welcome.

     Mark, just a few open comments in response...


     1. What is the level of demand for this switching capability within AARNet?

I have no real feel for this. I expect sites that still run DECnet
will want to transition to DECnet/OSI and would like to use an
officially allocated NSAP rather than the local 49:: prefix. Having
renumbered IP a couple of times I want to avoid renumbering DECnet a
couple of times :-)

     2. NSAP AFI allocation

        I note the Internet Society is eligible for an AFI allocation
        (at _no_ charge) and evidently intends to obtain an AFI for Internet
        use. What are the arguments in favour and against using a number space
        from a nationally allocated AFI vs an Internet AFI

I expect there are two basic issues
        1. cost
        2. routing

The ISOC method is cheaper than SAA but using the SAA defined NSAP
could give us a simpler routing interface with the rest of the world.

     3. NSAP address schema

        I see frantic activity within various strands of the IETF to devise
        a workable implementation of CLNP (or a derivative) which can
        provide possible answers to the IP V4 problems that are emerging.

        Is any national NSAP addressing strategy premature given the ernest
        desire of the IETF groups to devise an Internet-wide NSAP numbering
        strategy?

The question here is whether we can wait that long, and will the IETF
solution to IP give us anything useful for OSI?

As far as I am concerned, I can't wait that long. I want to start
using these suckers, and transition my DECNet Phase IV nodes to
DECnet/OSI now.

I also don't feel that the IETF's solution to the IP address
exhaustion problem will provide anything useful to an OSI backbone.

     Of all of these I would indicate that level of demand is perhaps the
     single deciding factor - which brings me back to comment 1:...

        1. What is the level of demand for this switching capability within AARNet?

     (These are not "hostile" comments by any means - indeed setting up a
     switching capability for CLNP could be a lot of fun. But the aim and
     objective of the network is not to amuse Geoff and Pete - ultimately
     there has to be reasonable levels of justification for such activities,
     and it is only through this form of exchange that we can establish
     whether there is a real need for such a switching service on the
     network)

Well as I said I don't know what demand exists at other sites but I
have reasons for wanting it now, hence my interest in doing something
now.

Mark.
From: hamish@cloud.pub.uu.oz.au (Hamish Moffatt)
Newsgroups: aus.comms
Subject: Modem recommendations wanted
Date: 23 Aug 92 02:47:44 GMT

In a msg on <Aug 06 03:57>, Liron Lightwood (lightw@cetra.trl.OZ.AU ) writes:

 LL> So far, I have seen an AvTek modem for around $300 and a NetComm 
 LL> modem for about $100 more.  Does anyone have any 
 LL> recommendations on these and other similar modems?

While these two should be good modems (I believe netcomm own avtek anyway), they
are some what overpriced. $400+ for a Netcomm? You can get a modem with V21,
V22, V22b, V23, V32, V42 and V42b for $599, or $580 without V42b/V42.
I believe AMSTRAD's SM2400 is about $240 these days.. They're made overseas but
they do have AUSTEL approval. I bought one 2.25 years ago for $400 (a pretty
good price at the time), still happy with it. I'd like something faster, but for
a 2400, it's good. It's not a perfect modem for running a BBS (ie taking calls)
- it can die and need a power off/on if some other modems just drop carrier. it
doesn't have busy, voice, no dialtone detect, but these things aren't essential
for merely calling BBSs.


Hamish Moffatt
satisfied amstrad (modem) user.
Newsgroups: aus.jobs
From: kma@mullian.ee.mu.oz.au (Keith Adams)
Subject: software engineers
Keywords: C++, Ingress, 4GL, X Windows
Organization: Electrical and Electronic - University of Melbourne 
Distribution: melb
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 00:25:47 GMT

The following job opportunities are available in a dynamic Australian company:

Cirrus Adacel specialises in UNIX-based real-time environment management 
systems for airports. As a result of recent contracts in Australia and Europe
the company is expanding its staff. It has positions available for highly 
skilled persons with a solid UNIX and C background and specific expertise 
in or more of the following:

	Configuration Management / Systems Integration & Testing / Maintenance

	Designer / Systems Analyst

	Graphics X11/ Motif, Interviews, C++

	Database analysis, coding

Please send resumes to Andrea Iden, Cirrus Adacel, 6/875 Glenhuntly Road, 
Caulfield South 3162.
Newsgroups: aus.jobs
From: veronica@hydra.maths.unsw.edu.au (Veronica Paul)
Subject: Computing Centre Manager
Organization: school of Mathematics UNSW
Distribution: aus
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 03:50:30 GMT

			COMPUTING CENTRE MANAGER

The School of Mathematics, University of New South Wales, requires an 
experienced UNIX Systems Administrator to replace the Computing Centre
Manager, who will be on long service leave, for a period of 11 months
commencing November 23 1992. 

The School of Mathematics Computing Centre has about 3500 staff and student
users.  It has a Sequent Symmetry S81 multiprocessor and 4 DEC 5000/200(240)
systems all running flavours of BSD UNIX.  All of these systems run X11R5 and
user access is mainly through 120 Xterminals.  There are also 60 PC's and
Macintoshes in the School networked with tcp/ip and Novell.  The Centre
employs 7 staff.

The successful applicant will have had several years experience as a systems
administrator on UNIX systems of a comparable scale as well as proven management
skills.

Salary is upto $47,480 p.a. depending on experience.

If you are interested please contact Veronica Paul on (02) 697 3238 or
email to veronica@hydra.maths.unsw.edu.au to arrange an interview.

Veronica Paul			Mail:	veronica@hydra.maths.unsw.OZ.AU	
School of Mathematics		ISD:	+61 2 697 3238
University of New South Wales.	FAX:	+61 2 662 6445
NSW. 2033 AUSTRALIA.
Newsgroups: aus.jobs,csiro.general
From: samy@rp.CSIRO.AU (Shaun Amy)
Subject: Postdoc on Visualization in Radio Astronomy
Organization: CSIRO Division of Radiophysics/Australia Telescope National Facility
Distribution: aus
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 11:27:10 GMT

THE AUSTRALIA TELESCOPE NATIONAL FACILITY 
MARSFIELD NSW 

POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP ON VISUALISATION IN 
RADIO ASTRONOMY 

$36K TO $39K + SUPERANNUATION 


The Australia Telescope (AT) is a major new national astronomical research
facility operated by CSIRO.  It is an earth rotation synthesis radio telescope,
and consists of an array of 6 new 22-m antennas near Narrabri, a new 22-m
antenna near Coonabarabran, and the existing 64-m antenna near Parkes. 
Observation facilities include both long baseline (300-km) and compact (6-km)
arrays, spectral-line and continuum modes. 

In spectral line mode, the AT produces large three-dimensional data cubes of a
size which inhibits the use of traditional techniques of viewing data.  The
Australia Telescope National Facility is therefore offering a post-doctoral
fellowship for a research in the use of advanced visualisation techniques in
radio astronomy, such as manipulating data cubes and using stereoscopic vision.
We are looking for a person who has experience in astronomy (particularly
spectral-line radio astronomy) and in application programming, and who enjoys
tackling challenging problems. 

As part of the fellowship you will develop software and techniques on
specialised hardware, and later extend these techniques to other hardware and
software packages.  You will need to interact closely with other astronomers,
and share ideas on how images and data may best be communicated from the
computer to the user.  You will also be encouraged to conduct your own
astrophysical research programs.

You will need a PhD in science, engineering, or computer science, and must have
had no more than three years of relevant post-doctoral experience.  The
position is for two years, with the possibility of a further term of one year,
and you will be located at the ATNF headquarters at Marsfield, in Sydney. 
Relocation expenses and assistance with accommodation will be provided. 
Further details of the position can be obtained from Dr. Ray Norris by
telephone (+61 2 868 0222), fax (+61 2 868 0400), or Email
(RNORRIS@ATNF.CSIRO.AU). 

Please send your application to: The Director, CSIRO, Australia Telescope
National Facility, PO Box 76, Epping, NSW 2121, by 1 November 1992 and quote
Ref. no. 118/92.  You should include details of your personal particulars,
skills, qualifications, achievements, research interests, and the names of two
professional referees.
-- 
+- Shaun W. Amy.  Computer Systems Manager, ------ Telephone:  +61 2 868 0222 -+
|  CSIRO Division of Radiophysics/Australia        Facsimile:  +61 2 868 0400  |
|     Telescope National Facility,                 X.25:         505228621001  |
+- P.O. Box 76,  Epping.  2121.  Australia. ------ AARNet: samy@atnf.CSIRO.AU -+
From: joef@mel.dbce.csiro.au (Joe Flood)
Newsgroups: aus.jobs
Subject: URBAN SYSTEM MODELLING AND OPTIMISATION, $A36K - $A46K, AUSTRALIA
Keywords: optimisation, urban systems, modelling
Date: 2 Sep 92 07:09:15 GMT
Organization: CSIRO, Div. Building Constr. and Eng'ing, Melb., Australia

POST DOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW, URBAN SYSTEM MODELLING AND OPTIMISATION

CSIRO, HIGHETT, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, $A36K - $A46K + Superannuation

The Urban Studies for Productive Cities initiative of the Division of Building,
Construction and Engineering, is concerned with advancing the science of urban
systems to make Australian cities more productive, more livable, fairer and
more ecologically sustainable, and to reduce capital and operating costs.

We wish to appoint a post doctoral research fellow with up to 3 years post
doctoral experience to undertake research in the development of urban systems
and their simulation and optimisation using advanced techniques including
artificial intelligence.

A PhD in computer science, mathematics systems, engineering or urban studies is
essential with experience in mathematical modelling or mathematical
optimisation.  You will need the ability to initiate and carry out original
research and to work effectively in a team.  You will also need to have
experience in, or knowledge of, the development of commercial grade software
of the models and their documentation plus knowledge of the relevant
terminology and have effective oral and written communication skills.
Knowledge of design, planning, operation and modelling of land use/transport
systems and related infrastructure is essential.  Knowledge of computer
graphics, building construction systems, artificial intelligence techniques
such as expert systems, neural networks and fuzzy logic is an advantage.

The appointment is for a period of 3 years.  Superannuation benefits are
available.

Your application should be framed against the selection criteria, and should
state relevant personal particulars including details of qualifications and
experience.  For a copy of the selection criteria and duty statement contact
Ms H Smith on +61-3-252 6000 or by fax +61-3-252 6241.  For further information
on this position Dr John Brotchie can be contacted on +61-3-252-6025, Dr John
Roy on +61-3-252-6149, each by fax on +61-3-252-6249 or email via
Joe.Flood@dbce.csiro.au

Please send your application quoting BCE92/8 to:

The Chief, CSIRO Division of Building, Construction and Engineering,
P.O. Box 56, Highett, Victoria 3190, Australia.

Closing Date 11 September 1992.

CSIRO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

-- 
|  Joe Flood                      Email Internet:    Joe.Flood@dbce.csiro.au  |
|                                 Phone: +61 3 252 6068  Fax: +61 3 252 6249  |
|  CSIRO,  DBCE,  Post Office Box 56,  Highett,  Victoria,  Australia   3190  |
|_____________________________________________________________________________|
Newsgroups: aus.jobs,csiro.general