- Located at Wide Band
- Effective Color X-terminals
- Access to DOS/Windows and Macintosh Software
During the E687 data run we made good use of about a dozen Codonics Graphics terminals,
as well several large screen Color displays
( Ramtek, Megatek, Envision, VaxStation GPX, Tektronix, SunOS Workstation).
This equipment is all obsolete and has been retired.
We propose to replace part of the lost capacity with a mixed Workgroup of
PC
and
Macintosh
systems, with a common file and license
server.
The latest generation of PC's are capable of providing X-terminal functionality
at a lower cost than dedicated X-terminals.
In addition, the PC and MAC systems are much more widely used within the Lab and the
Collaboration, increasing the need for some access to such systems at Wide Band.
The much threatened merger of PC and MAC hardware has not quite happened.
Apple is making Power-PC MAC's, but on NUbus.
And PCI bus PC's are available, but not with the PowerPC processor.
Therefore we must configure the PC and MAC systems separately.
There are some common elements to the requirements.
- Ethernet network connection.
- Fast and large graphics adaptor.
- Keyboard with the full 18 key keypad, and full arrow and control keys.
The DEC LK4xx and Apple Extended keyboards are good examples.
The exact arrangement of the upper functions keys is not critical.
- 16 MBytes memory free for X-server software.
- Standard 21" SVGA Multisync monitors.
We should use the same monitors for both PC and MAC systems.
- Local window management and terminal emulation.
This reduces the network load.
- Pentium 90 MHz or faster
'486 based systems are not fast enough.
Alpha and MIPS Windows NT systems exist, but are too expensive.
Pentium gives good performance, best DOS/Windows binary compatibility.
- LK411 or Microsoft Ergonometric Keyboard (full keypad)
- 24 Mb memory ( 8 for system, 16 for X )
- Windows NT client system
Best X-server software
Easiest integration with NT Server
True multitasking of X-server and DOS/Windows applications.
Pentium/NT vs DOS compatibility better than with Alpha or MIPS.
Can retain option to boot DOS/Windows/OS2 if desired.
- Hummingbird's eXceed X-server software
- Power Mac processor
- Mac Extended II or better keyboard
- 32 Mb memory ( 16 for system, 16 for X )
- White Pine's eXodus X-server software
We discuss here the
budget ,
system choice , and
server .
According to the PREP list, the Codonics terminals cost about $15K,
the Ramtek about $11K, the Envisions about $2K
(we got them cheap, going out of business).
My guess is that the Megatek system was about $20K,
the Vaxstation about $20K,
the Tektronix about $15K,
the Sun about $10 K .
The net was over $ 80 K, with about $40K from Fermilab.
Let us assume, for reference, that we are working with a $40,000 total budget.
Based on price guesstimates below, this would purchase a server plus 9 workers.
A rough guess as to X-station costs, after Fermilab discounts is $3500 :
- $ 1500 - Basic CPU, 16M memory, disk, software
- $ 500 - Additional memory
- $ 1500 - 20" MultiSync Color Monitor
The Server probably costs an extra $5K beyond the base price, net $7.5K
- $ 500 - Another 16 MB memory
- $ 2000 - 4 Gb disk
- $ 2500 - EXB-8505 tape drive
The Pentium PC systems are better for the X-server task, and cost less.
We include some MAC's just so that we can run native MAC programs on occasion.
- There are many good X-server packages, versus only one for the PowerMac.
NT's multitasking makes management and operation of the system
much easier than on the single-task MAC system.
- Strangely, NT is said to be a much more familiar operating system
at the management level,
being sort of a combination of VMS and DOS with good Unix compatibility.
The MAC OS is unique, without true multitasking, and single user only.
- We have the option of running Linux on the PC's for free,
giving a full Unix environment with X11R6 windows.
- most of the important MAC software we might want to run, like
Word and Excel, is really PC software ported to the MAC.
The Server is intended to provide network file serving for all the
application files, and basic backup services for the workgroup.
We do not expect heavy file activity, because the workgroup will
be used mostly for X-services rather than PC or MAC programs.
We plan to follow the lead of the PC Support Group and use an NT server.
The server system can be a PC X-server upgraded with extra
memory, disk, a tape drive, and NT-Server software.