>From: IN%"freyberg@CEBAF.GOV" "Arne Freyberger" 6-FEB-1997 11:20:35.90
>To: IN%"chambers@CEBAF.GOV", IN%"linux-users@CEBAF.GOV"
>CC:
>Subj: PC support?
>
>
>
>I am thinking of trading in my X-term for a PC which will run
>windows and eventually Linux. Before I order the PC, I have some
>questions.
>
>a) I'd like to buy a 100base T ethernet card, (which also supports 10base-T)
> But the 100base T cards that I've seen do not have the BNC connector
> but have the twisted pair connector. Would it be possible to have
> the BNC socket in my office converted to a twisted pair???
We have plans underway to recable CEBAF Center to support 100 Mbps
Ethernet, however, the cost in both manpower and cable is significant
and may take into FY98 to complete. So, no, we cannot right away
provide you with a twisted pair connector to your wallplate. There are
2 alternatives: (a) Many PC users are buying the 3Com Combo Ethernet
board which has a BNC, AUI, as well as twisted pair connector. That
way they can run BNC now and twisted pair later. However, this is
only 10 Mbps. If you want to buy a 100/10 Mbps card now, then you can
buy a 4-port hub that will convert from twisted pair to BNC. About
$90. (The 4-port hub is cheaper than the single adapter!). The part,
which you can buy from Anixter (a vendor in the REQS system) is:
Allied Telesyn 10-BASE-T workgroup hub,
model AT-MR820T-15,Anixter p/n 139131
>
>b) I expect NO support on Linux from the computer center, however what
> support do you provide on the Windows side of the world? Is there
> someone on staff available to get the PC on the network?
>
Diann Dicesare supports both PCs and Macs. We concentrate on supporting
what has come to be called the "Jefferson Lab Standard PC Software
Configuration." Up until now, it has included Windows for Workgroups, but
Diann is working hard to develop a supported configuration for W95.
She has already created a document about networking Windows 95 at
Jefferson Lab. This document is available on our documentation shelves
as well as on the handout page on our web pages. Diann should be able
to assist you with Windows & Windows-95 related questions.
>c) NFS mounting jlab disks: I realize this was discussed at the Linux-at-JLAB
> meeting, but I forgot the decision. Can I NFS mount the home directory
> from my Linux box???? Which disks can be NFS mounted from a Linux box?
>
What we agreed to at the meeting regarding the use of Linux in the
farm environment was:
* We would first of all bring up the farm in the standard CUE
environment -- Solaris and AIX (and some HP). Once that was
up and running well with the JOBS software under development,
we would look into the feasibility of a portion of the farm
running Linux. That, of course, would imply that we have
a few Interactive Farm systems available -- and would consequently
require us to invest Computer Center staff time into managing
these systems. We are willing and interested to do that, but we
must postpone it until we have the first phase of the farm in
a robust configuration.
* We also agreed that we would in the near future (following the
purchase of the large central RAID to support the farm) make
a read only area (world-read) that would be available via NFS,
for Linux users plus potentially for other non-supported UNIX
platforms. This would provide the capability to distribute standard
software (perhaps a specific Linux area) as well as to pull raw
data tapes from the silo. We agree that putting any files back to
the silo would have to come through a CUE system -- however, the
Linux user could certainly ftp any output file to the correct
location to re-store output to the silo. This whole jput/jget
capability is under develpment -- we intend to have a first
implementation running in March. The JOBS software and jput/jget
will use Java -- do you know if this is running on Linux?
>d) Can one Print from a Linux box to a JLAB printer on the ethernet???
> or should I buy a printer and hook it up locally to my PC??
I believe this will work. I think the only print controls we have limit
the source to a cebaf.gov address only. You might check with some of
the other Linux users like Steve Wood and Larry Doolittle about how
to do this.
>
>e) PC-Xware....is this available once the box arrives??
>
We have a group license (vs a site license). We get a good discount
by buying in group purchases only. Diann DiCesare (x7158, dicesare@cebaf.gov)
can provide you the details of the costs, next group purchase date,
time to receive, etc.
>f) Micro-soft licensing: I plan on purchasing this PC from Gateway2000
> and it will come with Windows95, office.... Now I am guessing that
> JLAB has a site license for these products, are there any issues
> regarding this???
There are no site licenses for either W95 or Office. We explored this
in depth more than once in the past and it does not become either
possible or cost effective until you are buying at least 500 copies
at once. We do get academic pricing on Office which makes it fairly
cheap. Again, Diann can give you current pricing.
>
>g) of course there are no licensing issues with Linux.....
>
>thanks...
>
>Arne
>
>--
>Arne Freyberger
You're welcome! (I'm exhausted...)
Rita