Conference rocks::uk_digital

1418.0. "DEC 5000s and Netware Integration" by CHEFS::GALLAGHER_D () Wed Apr 09 1997 18:53

    Like my last strange query this one is even stranger and (like the last
    one) I also don't know what else I can do with it.....
    
    
    My customer (a UK SI partner) has an installation in Saudi Arabia.
    
    They have a load of PCs on a Netware v3.1 network using a CBT
    application.
    
    They also have 12 DEC 5000 workstations with ULTRIX (I don't know what
    version).
    
    They don't use the DEC 5000s for anything at the moment.  But are
    interested in using them for the CBT application as "extra seats".  So
    they would like to know if:
    
    1. There is any way of running the CBT application on the DEC 5000s.
    
    2. What the communications method would be.
    
    My pragmatic answer is to get rid of them and buy some Digital PCs but
    I would like to check in case there is any way the DEC 5000 - Netware
    integration could be achieved.
    
    My only idea at present is to:
    
    a. Run Insignia on the DEC 5000s for PC emulation.
    
    b. Run the CBT application in emulation mode.
    
    c. Achieve the link to the Netware 3.1 server with Pathworks
    Netware/Coexistance on the DEC5000s.
    
    Does anybody know please if this really stand a chance of working?   AT
    the very least I can see real problems with software versions etc. etc.
    
    As mentioned above my pragmatic view is to stop messing around and buy
    some more PCs.  
    
    thanks for any help.
    
    David Gallagher

    There was an application called SoftPc for the Ultrix box which
    emulated a PC environment (probably emulated DOS 5 and Windows 3.0
    however!) - did that grow up to become Insignia? I dont know. Anyway,
    my feeling is that it would run so slowly that even a modest PC could
    outrun it, also the CBT is probably written to run under newer PC
    environments and so it may not run on that environment anyway. If these
    are 5000/260 then it might be worth looking into. If they are 5000/200s
    then I really wouldnt bother.   .....And they used to seem so fast....
    
    
    
    Regards
    AT
    

    Last time I ran SoftPC on an Ultrix system it had the power of a
    486/25. This was on a 5000/200 (I think).  You can by a PC with this
    spec for about 500 pounds, so unless you customer is really cash
    strapped (is anyone cash strapped in Saudi?) I don't think it would be
    worthwhile.
    
    They make quite good X-terms,  but this is not likely to help.
    
    Jc
    

    From what I can remember of Soft PC and other such "DOS EMULATORS" was
    that they could not use the network of the host. ie it could run a dos
    based app that was put on it but not access any other networks servers
    ie the novell ones. For what you are asking I would agree with the
    others and trade them in for PC's
    
    Trev.

    Thanks very much to everybody for your helpful responses.
    
    regards
    David Gallagher