Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 00:28:10 -0400 From: Mike Tancsa <mike@sentex.net> To: Vincent Poy <vince@mail.MCESTATE.COM> Cc: isp@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Some advice needed. Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.19970411002810.00a6f100@sentex.net> In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSF.3.95.970410205341.11771Z-100000@mail.MCESTATE.COM > References: <3.0.1.32.19970410210238.00b5d100@sentex.net>
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At 08:56 PM 4/10/97 -0700, Vincent Poy wrote: >On Thu, 10 Apr 1997, Mike Tancsa wrote: > <stuff about getting a dedicated terminal server> > > Hmmm, the only problem I see with this is that the startup costs >would be a lot higher if he went with a Livingston Portsmaster or even a >Xylogics Annex-3 terminal server. But the unix box will only be a >terminal server and also a router using a ET Serial card and probably will >have a telnet program just so people can use their shell account on >another box without using ppp. Price it all out... Remember, you will have to get a faster PC to handle all those connections on a serial card. The initial cost of buying all those decent quality external modems, cables, serial cards and so on can really add up. Also, there is the maintainence issue as well. External modems can hang and must be monitored. Also, if users have problems connecting, its easier to track down on a PM3 since you get connect speeds etc in the log files... You also have a lot of flexibility as to how to restrict your users.. eg.. only shell, only ppp, only email, only web and so on via user filters.... Also the cost of the telco lines. Depending on your area, 1 PRI with installation costs and monthly fees etc, _can_ be less than buying 24 analog business lines. If you aim to grow, you will eventually want to move to a terminal server.. That means essentially eating the cost of the serial card, or selling it... Check to see how easy it is to sell these things used. I dont know in your area, but in our region, a lot of our customers are asking about 56K modem support. If you go the analog route, you will be going into a dead end because in order to support either of the 56K standards (X2 of 56K.Flex), you *MUST* be totally digital on your end of things. Livingston, Cisco, Ascend, USR and now Multitech all offer PRI solution terminal servers (be careful of which Ascend you go with though)... My personal preference is the PM3 by Livingston. Remember, think where you will be in 6 months.. If at that point you need more than 24 lines, you will be sorry you started with just a serial card... ---Mike ********************************************************************** Mike Tancsa (mike@sentex.net) * To do is to be -- Nietzsche Sentex Communications Corp, * To be is to do -- Sartre Cambridge, Ontario * Do be do be do -- Sinatra (http://www.sentex.net/~mdtancsa) *
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