My original post:
I have become involved in a project that is attempting to use US Robotics 4
port modem cards together with a Gandalf Xpressway with GPS Plus 16 port
terminal server to provide telnet, SLIP, & PPP access to a UNIX cluster.
We're not having a lot of luck with getting reliable dialin to the Gandalf,
and I was hoping someone could point me in the direction of making this
work. We have not yet purchased the Gandalf, and would consider an
alternative if someone knows of one with similar features, especially the
macro capabilities.
Questions:
1.) The GPS Plus is apparently something Gandalf picked up from Penril, as
the manual is a photocopy of a Penril manual. How long has this been on the
market, has Gandalf had good results with it, and is anyone using it
successfully for this type of operation?
2.) Does anyone have any macros they are currently using with the Gandalf
that work and we could take a look at. The explanation of using them in
the documentation is very brief, and the few examples very buggy.
3.) Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I will summarize to
the list.
Stan Huhman
John Deere
Waterloo, Iowa 50701
319 292 8687
huhman_at_ee.deere.com
My solution:
With the help of Gandalf technical support we have been able to get
reliable dial in access. What Gandalf defines as "macro" is the ability
to present the dialin user with a menu of choices rather than a terminal
server local> prompt. A very handy feature for our application, which
involves providing internet access to the computer illiterate. Dialup
accountability such as Seldon describes below is also of significance to us.
Now that basic communications are working, I will turn my attention to
other areas such as this. A quick check of the Gandalf user's manual shows
a section on accounting & reporting, which I think will provide what we
need. A comment about Gandalf support, we have found their support reps
to be of top notch caliber. My thanks to those who responded, your
comments appear below.
Stan
Replies:
I can't tell you about macros & stuff, but you might want to have a look
at the DECserver 700. It supports SLIP, Telnet, and PPP.
-rob urban
I fear you may have received no responses from OSF/1 Gandalf users
because there are very, very few or none. Many large multi-vendor
sites use Annex. (As does Cornell's central network support)
Small sites tend to use direct connections to Unix hosts.
Both of those choices provide full dialup accountablility through
usernames, passwords or other security methods.
Our lab happens to use a DECserver700, but we do not provide Internet
access through it.
Selden E. Ball, Jr.
> We have not yet purchased the Gandalf, and would consider an
> alternative if someone knows of one with similar features, especially the
> macro capabilities.
didn't see this in the original question. i've been getting xylogics
micro annx xl terminal servers for a few years now. just purchased
my fifth box. i really recommend these things. i use them for modem
dialin and modem dialout. supports telnet, rlogin, slip, ppp, etc.
i also run the serial line for the console of all my servers in to
the annex. this way i can have xterms running on my workstation with
a telnet to the annex connecting to the particular serial port. i'v
also used two annexes "back-to-back" to provide a very long virtual
serial cable, about 20 miles over and 3 miles up a mountain.
i have no idea what you mean by "macro capabilities" so can't comment
on that.
they're wonderfully flexible. highly recommended. my only relation
to xylogics is as a satisfied customer. did i mention they have very
good technical support as well?
Jim Wright
Received on Thu Mar 09 1995 - 15:46:59 NZDT