Via:        UK.AC.LE.CSD.SYS; 21 JUL 92  9:34:15 BST
Via:        [143.210.72.189] (pcmmac); Tue, 21 Jul 92 09:35:40 GMT
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.novell
Date:         Tue, 21 Jul 1992 09:41:55 +0000
Reply-To:     Novell LAN Interest Group <NOVELL@SUVM.BITNET>
From:         pcm@SYS.CSD.LE.AC.UK
Subject:      Re: Boot ROMS how do they work?

>
>>  I'm new to novell and have been following this list with interest for
>>  months.  One topic I've seen mentioned a number of times is boot roms.
>>
>>  What are they, and how do they work?
>
>Boot ROM chips are placed into a network interface card via the slot made
>available by most manufacturers.  They allow a computer to boot using files
>(called image files) found on the attached file server, rather than system
>files found on a disk.  For more technical information regarding the
>generation of a boot image, you'll have to consult a novell manual--I've
>havn't done it personally.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+
We have boot ROMs in about 50 of our machines, but none of these have hard
disks. They make life is a lot simpler in terms of management, but there
are a few tricks needed with DOS to get them to work simply.  If your PCs
have hard disks then you probably won't be able to persuade them to boot
from the ROMs anyway.  If your going to use OS/2 then I guess the hard
disks are mandatory anyway.  Macs can be persuaded to remote boot, but it
is very costly.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+
>
>>  I gather they fit on the network card.  Our network is 10-Base-T ethernet,
>>  we will be running v3.11 (w/Mac support), and would like to run OS/2 v2
>>  on the PCs (386 Dell 333P).  The PCs will be using a word processor
>>  (word), and spreadsheet (excel), and printing to a ApplelaserWriter IINT
>>  using the netware. I need students to enter a unique logon id to use
>>  the machines.
>>
>>  Is what I wan't to do possible?
>
>These demands do not present any particular difficulties.  We currently
>support 60 PCs, and 60 MACs.  In about a month, this number will increase
>to about 170 PCs/170 MACs (including previous count).  These will be,
>generally, 80486dx IBM compats, and MAC CIs.  50+ MACs are planned to be
>supported by Novell, the rest via an AppleTalk based network.  Our IBMs
>will, however, run under straight DOS, and Windows 3.1--can't help you
>with OS/2.  Software supported will include WP51, Word, MacWrite, various
>Adobe products, Corel Draw, Draw Perfect, various Borland, and Microsoft
>compilers...   I don't think the demands that you plan to place on your
>network should be a problem.
>
>One thing, however, how many students do you plan to be having access
>you network?  If each one must have an ID, then you will be limited by
>the number of accounts available on your version (ie. if you buy the
>250 user release...thats how many accounts you can have.)
>
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++
This is wrong, you can have as many accounts as you like but the netware
management utilities fail with numbers around 4000, depending on the amount
of free RAM (in the 640k) that is available.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++

>>  Who are good manufacturers? What ethernet cards do you use them with?
>
>We havn't made a final decision on the actual computer systems.  Our
>ethernet cards, however, are generally 3Com, and Gator cards.
>
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+
The cards we use are from a company call Research Machines, but a guess you
can't get those in the states.  Stick with the major manufacturers and you
can't go far wrong!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+

================================
   Paul C. Manning
   Senior Computer Officer
   Dept. of Computing Studies
   University of Leicester
   University Road
   Leicester LE1 7RH
   U.K.
================================
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU