In article AA06174@public.btr.com.BTR.COM, a9@public.btr.com (Ashar Nisar) writes:
>
>
>Question: What is the MAXIMUM number of workstations that a 486 MSDOS server
>can handle and still give reasonable performance with Novell network?
>
>We want to setup a lab with 486 50Mhz (or better) file servers and
>286 DOS workstations for students doing (mostly) editing and compiling.
>The number of workstations will be anywhere from 75 - 100.
>
>Any information and suggestions about the optimal way to handle 75+
>workstations with a server (or maybe we will need more than one)
>wil be appreciated.
>
>I contaced a local Novell dealer and he told me that they only sell
>network hardware for upto 20 users. According to him a 50 user system
>is also out there but is not common (so he does not carry it).
>
>Is it possible (at all) to have a 75+ workstations system?
>
>Thanks
>
>Ashar Nisar
>a9@btr.com
>
A colleague of mine and I just designed and implemented a new public computer lab system. We have three 486-33 EISA servers, Adaptec 1742 SCSI disk controllers, 32MB RAM, NE2000 ethernets (bought NE3200s...threw them on the shelf after 3 weeks). Each of these currently supports about 80 mixed Mac and Diskless Windows clients. We have
yet to have a single performance complaint. We will probably upgrade to 3c509 ethernets in the near future (or at least WD/SMCs).