Re: [WinMac] Mac's on an NT Network...need some suggestions

Dan Schwartz(expresso[at]snip.net)
Wed, 16 Sep 1998 20:12:21 -0400

        Dear Al:

        One of your problems is too much packet traffic on each LAN segment:
Divide and conquer.

        Go to:
 <http://www.onsale.com>, navigate to "Networking" and grab a couple of
USRobotics 8 port 100Base-TX switches for about $220 apiece. If you choose
not to go the auction route, then get a few switches from your favorite
distributor. Personally, I like Asante's offerings, since they have a
lifetime warranty.

 -----------

At 07:57 PM 9/16/98 EDT, Al Sills wrote:
>I’m trying to improve the performance of my school’s network. When users
login
>on a Mac (even our G3’s) the process is often slow, and sometimes gets
delayed
>while the workstation communicates with our Mac Server.
>
>To describe our situation: We have an NT server, Ethernet 10/100base T
>connections and 100 base T hubs, AND a Mac 7260/120 Server running System
>7.5.5, Appleshare 4.2.1, and AtEase 5.0, 145meg RAM. We have about 150 Mac
>computers, and 200+ PC’s.
>
>Presently we are using AtEase on the Mac’s for desktop security, I understand
>that we need the Mac Server, and we need to run Appletalk as long as we
>continue to use AtEase.
>
>We have found that Appletalk is about 50% of the communication across the
>network. We are thinking that IF we could eliminate Appletalk, and
communicate
>only by IP, we will improve performance for ALL our PC’s and Mac’s that our
>staff and students use.
>
>I know that IF we get rid of our Mac Server, we will need to find another
>desktop security program to replace AtEase. I know that NT can manage the
>school’s 150 Mac computers and with DAVE (from Thursby systems) we will still
>be able to access network files, folders, and printers from the Mac’s.
>
>My questions are as follows:
>
>1. Can I still run Apple Network Administration (Network Assistant 3.0, which
>does communicate by IP) without a Mac Server? We like the “interact” feature
>where the teacher can manage/control/share his computers screen with the
>students on their computers. We also like the ability to distribute software
>to all the Mac’s from one “master” computer.
>
>2. Am I right in thinking that by eliminating our rather old Mac Server, and
>attaching the Mac’s to NT directly and employing the use of DAVE will result
>in an improvement (hopefully significant) in our network’s performance for
>BOTH our PC’s and Mac’s?
>
>3. Are there any “downsides” to our plans?
>
>4. Any suggestions for a desktop security replacement (for AtEase) for the
>Mac’s?
>
>Did I forget anything? Please don’t hesitate to write me back and ask!
>
>Any and all advice is welcome.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Al Sills
>Tech Specialist
>West Essex Regional School District

        Yours truly,
        Dan Schwartz

        Dan's Macintosh Consulting
        Suite 1306
        1840 Frontage Road
        Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-2205

        609-795-8965

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        <mailto:expresso@snip.net>

                Webmaster for <http://www.faulknerstudios.com>

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This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b2 on Wed Sep 16 1998 - 18:37:25 PDT