Newsgroups: comp.sys.novell,alt.cd-rom Path: cdrom.com!barrnet.net!decwrl!hookup!swrinde!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!sunic!trane.uninett.no!eunet.no!nuug!EU.net!uunet!utcsri!newsflash.concordia.ca!hutchin From: hutchin@cs.concordia.ca (Fraser Hutchinson) Subject: Re: CD-ROM Jukebox on the Network Message-ID: Sender: usenet@newsflash.concordia.ca (USENET News System) Nntp-Posting-Host: iota.cs.concordia.ca Organization: Concordia University, Montreal, Canada References: <2q3baj$lfj@panix.com> <1994May12.174359.7424@es.dupont.com> Date: Fri, 13 May 1994 15:50:26 GMT Lines: 51 Xref: cdrom.com comp.sys.novell:9773 alt.cd-rom:3817 In article <1994May12.174359.7424@es.dupont.com> watsonsk@engg.dnet.dupont.com (Shannon K. Watson) writes: >In article , dhsmith@cambridge (Dave Smith) says: >> >> >>>>If I attach everything to the server, I could use SCSI Express, but it's so >>>>damn expensive. >> >>>I vaguely recall that at a previous job, the netware server adminstrator >>>was using SCSI express in preferance to all other NLM drivers. >>>The drivers for the CD-ROMs allowed netware clients to use the >>>CD-ROMS via the network with no change of client software. >> >>I've been down this road for years. I have 600 users in four buildings >>that want access to dozens of CD's. >> >>Originally, MapAssist (Fresh Technologies, now Fresh NetSoft) was the best >>solution. Then SCSI Express took the lead providing Netware-like volumes >>on the server. >> >>The current favorite is DiscPort from Microtest, a printserver-like >>box that plugs in anywhere on your LAN. (no server slot required) This puts >>the CD's away from the servers (our servers are locked up for security). >>And, much as I hate to say this since it can change daily, it's cheaper. >> > >I agree with your overall opinion. We currently use SCSI Express, and I >think that the software is easily installed and works well. However, >we are looking at DISCPORT for the price and access for changing the >CDs (our servers are in a secure area as well). > >I have not installed a DISCPORT. We are hoping that with the price and >portability comes performance. If you have any opinions on this topic >please respond. I use the Dsicport, and love it - it apparently requires less RAM than SCSI Express, and installed in 10 minutes, no problem. I have 10 or so users accessing the same CD roms constantly (they are doing database queries against CDs), and I have noticed very little performance degradation. I highly recommend the Discport. Fraser > >Shannon -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fraser Hutchinson hutchin@cs.concordia.ca #include Godot: Sorry I'm late..... -------------------------------------------------------------------------