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- From: mspace@netcom.com (Brian Hall)
- Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system
- Subject: Re: Help: Hayes Connect 3.0 vs AE/ShadowLan
- Keywords: appletalk network connect shadowlan
- Message-ID: <1992Dec14.210844.17521@netcom.com>
- Date: 14 Dec 92 21:08:44 GMT
- References: <1992Dec14.204322.14368@netcom.com>
- Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
- Lines: 58
-
- friedman@netcom.com (Greg Friedman) writes:
-
- >I'm trying to decide on a product that allows me to share non-networkable
- >serial devices on a small appletalk lan. The two commercial products
- >I am considering are Hayes Connect 3.0 and AE/ShaodowLan. Both products
- >claim System 7.x compatibility as well as CTB compatibility. I am looking
- >for any and all feedback/comparisons between these products. Please
- >let fill me in on any of the following issues:
-
- I don't have Hayes Connect, but I do have an AE QuadraLink, Shiva NetModem,
- Shiva NetSerial, and another (generic) netserial like device.
-
- >+ compatibility issues - init conflicts, application conflicts, etc.
-
- The AE drivers conflict with Shiva drivers. I don't know who is to blame,
- but you can't use both of them at the same time. I have a number of other
- problems with Shiva drivers, so that is what I would consider most likely,
- but I am not sure.
-
- >+ ARA - do these products work well in an ARA environment? One of the
- > devices I want to share is a high speed modem that I use for
- > incoming and outgoing data and ARA calls. Any problems here?
- > Do these products correctly handle "busy" devices?
-
- I don't use ARA often, but the last time I did, I found out that Shiva
- 3.7.3 won't let you use ARA with a NetModem!
-
- >+ performance degradation - how much of a performance hit does the
- > server mac take when a virtual session is in progress? Would
- > a high speed modem connection (14,400+) cause a serious hit?
- > Does intensive cpu activity on the server affect connections?
- > [Anyone know if either of these products attempt to work at
- > interrupt time?]
-
- If you are really concerned about server performance degradation, I would
- take a serious look at a Shiva NetSerial. I hate the drivers, but the
- NetSerial and a fast modem might fit the bill for you. I also use the
- device that comes as the LabelWriter AppleTalk option in this capacity,
- but to use with a modem, you must use a CTB tool - which is not an option
- for everyone. I happen to use lots of CTB aware apps, so it is my preferred
- solution. If you need something that can pretend to be a printer or
- modem port, and you want to offload the work, go with the NetSerial.
-
- >Both products are comparable in price (~$70 street).
-
- Maybe the software is about $70, but you ought to figure in the
- cost of the QuadraLink. I happen to think the QuadraLink is worth it
- (and pay the extra for the DMA version), but you should also look into
- the other options I mentioned (NetSerial and CoStar) if you really
- don't want to take resources aweay from some host machine.
-
- --
-
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