[WinMac] Recommendations for internet gateway
Victor Forberger(vforberg[at]lynx.dac.neu.edu)
Thu, 18 Feb 1999 18:23:14 -0500
I'm looking for recommendations and advice on which platform I should install
and run the internet gateway software from Vicom (http://www.vicomsoft.com).
The gateway is for six Gateway Pentium II computers (333 mhz and 350 mhz)
running Windows98 and one Mac (which will also be an intranet server). I want
the computers on the network to be able to share a modem and hence an internet
connection.
The office used to be all Mac, but the new president did not like Macs and so
despite my protests and suggestions jettisoned all the Macs. I convinced her
to hang on to one (to be used for the intranet -- Netpresenz 4.1 -- and
general office work), and I would like to use a second of the old Macs (Quadra
605s with 20 megs of memory but tiny hard drives) for the internet gateway.
1, Is this setup doable? Will the windows PCs be able to get TCP/IP through
the Mac? I know in theory it should work, but has anyone done it?
2. If the performance hit is not bad, shouldn't I use one of the Wintel
computers as the internet gateway (two of which already have internal modems)?
Is the performance of the internet gateway much better or worse on the Mac or
Wintel platform?
3. On which platform, Mac or Wintel, is the software easier to set up? One
caveat: WindowsNT is out (too complex and new for me) and all the Unix
flavors are out as well (it's been too long since I've done anything but type
an ls command in Unix). For other reasons, the variations of AppleShare are
out as well (will need a new Mac, which the president of the company will not purchase).
4. What other internet gateway options are there? The product from Vicom
strikes me as competent, well priced, and thorough. Plus, I like the
cross-platform nature of it even if I end up using the Wintel version. But,
I'm new to this kind of software, and I don't want to make a career out of
being a computer consultant. I do this stuff to make ends meet while I try to
finish my degree, and, frankly, while I like all the money I'm making from
setting up the Gateways I prefer the days when the Macs just chugged along
with my occasional assistance.
5. Finally, what advice and precautions do you experts out there have for an
interloper like me?
Some final notes. The office does mostly general business work (work
processing or spreadsheets). There is no server, and the printers (HP4ML,
HP5MP, and a new HP6xli) will be run as shared devices off of three of the
Wintels (I'm still trying to figure out how the Mac will print to one of the
postscript HPs via localtalk and be the intranet server as well. I think I
have a problem here unless I get an ethernet bridge or move the intranet to a
second mac that does not print.). Some file sharing will occur as well. The
network will run at 10 mbs(?) and not 100 (the hubs are still too expensive
and Mac LC/PDS cards at that price are way too expensive), but an upgrade may
happen down the line.
And one more final note. The office is extremely new to computers and the
president comes from a previous office that relied on a terminal/mainframe
approach. Solutions that seem to obvious to you or me are not so obvious to
her. Initially, despite my efforts to convince her about needing a network,
she did not want to spend the money. Then, when she had to take a disk to the
computer that was hooked up to a printer, she wanted to get a printer for each
computer. After pointing out she could have two networks for the price of one
$400 laserjet and then everyone could print did she understand she needed a network
Thanks for your help,
Victor
P/T computer consultant
--
Victor Forberger
Law, Policy, and Society Program Northeastern University
Dept. of Anthropology and Sociology
500 Holmes Hall
Northeastern University
Boston, MA 02115 617-373-4994 (office) 617-373-2688 (fax)
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