Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 02:16:03 -0800 (PST) From: Veggy Vinny <richardc@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU> To: Jim Dixon <jdd@vbc.net> Cc: isp@FreeBSD.ORG, Chad Shackley <chad@gaianet.net> Subject: Re: Decision in Router Purchase Message-ID: <Pine.PTX.3.95.961114021136.6675C-100000@soda.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU> In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSI.3.91.961114092855.14610D-100000@avon-gw.uk1.vbc.net>
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On Thu, 14 Nov 1996, Jim Dixon wrote: > On Thu, 14 Nov 1996, Veggy Vinny wrote: > > > > Don't buy a 2501. You can get a lot more performance for the same > > > amount of money using FreeBSD and sync serial cards. > > > > Yeah, that's what we have been considering. We are planning to > > dedicate a P5-75 with 16MB ram just to use as the router. What we are > > worried about is when the ISP asks us what router we're using, what would > > be a good description of this thing? > > "UNIX-based router"? Hmmm, do you think they will know what a Unix-based router is? ;-) > Nothing to be ashamed of. Two of the largest networks in the world, > IBM and ans.net, use UNIX-based routers running gated. Really? I thought they used Cisco's or Cascade. > > > We use a variety of sync serial cards. The ET card is an old design, > > > takes up two ISA slots (one for each port), and has other problems. > > > The SDL Communications cards (N2d, N2pci) are better hardware. > > > > Hmmm, ET takes up two ISA slots? What are the problems with the > > ET? > > The boards that we have -- I think that the date on the PCB is 1992 -- > have one connector on the backplate. The second port is on a very short > ribbon cable that just barely makes it to the next ISA slot. Hmmm, this is interesting. > Other problems: the logic for each port is on a small daughterboard. > This is held in only by friction. There is a device below one of the > daughterboards -- the one for port 0, unfortunately -- that is too > high (because it is socketed), so you can't get the daughterboard all > the way in without causing it to bow. Then over time it gradually works > its way out. So it actually has physical problems that can be costly over time? > We also had support problems with ET (we bought three boards and ET > adamantly refused to supply three sets of documentation) but YMMV. Hmmm, I emailed Dennis at ET and the only problem we had was the COD only policy for payment. > > > The problem with the SDL cards is the lack of FreeBSD drivers. There > > > is a driver for the N2d but not for the N2pci. The ET driver software > > > suppports more protocols and some degree of compression. > > > > > > So generally SDL wins on the hardware side and ET on the software > > > side. We prefer SDL but are not happy with the lack of software > > > support. > > > > Hmmm okay, but is the ET still better than a Cisco? and does the > > SDL cost less or more than the ET? > > The Cisco 2501 would be my last choice. If you are using PPP or Cisco > HDLC to talk to your provider, I would recommend the SDL card plus John > Hays' FreeBSD driver. If you are using frame relay the ET card is the > only choice with FreeBSD. > > Last time I checked the ET card was significantly more expensive than > the SDL card. Hmmm, what are the differences between the two cards anyways? We're gonna have either a Full T1 or a Frame Relay T1. So the SDL card doesn't support FR? As for the SDL, is the RiscSomething mentioned on the ET homepage actually the SDL card? Vince GaiaNet Corporation - Unix Networking Operations - GUS Mailing Lists Admin
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