Date: Mon, 24 Mar 97 14:03:51 CST From: Joe Greco <jgreco@solaria.sol.net> To: spork@super-g.com (spork) Cc: richard@pegasus.com, freebsd-isp@FreeBSD.org, freebsd-hardware@FreeBSD.org Subject: Re: reliable modems? Message-ID: <199703242003.OAA18596@solaria.sol.net> In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSF.3.95.970113152309.18937D-100000@super-g.inch.com> from "spork" at Jan 13, 97 03:28:24 pm
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> --> you said: > > > I'd recommend against rack-mount modems. I've used them in the past > > and always wished I hadn't once they get older. Once they get outdated > > single modems can be spread around and used in other places -- rack-mounts > > become large expensive boat-anchors. :-( > > > > Rows of single modems may not look as cool, but they usually make more > > sense. > > I can't agree with this... Just figuring out a way to *power* 200 > modems in a standalone config is a nightmare. I've blown circuit > breakers while plugging in new ones. The cube power supplies are very > unreliable, and very innefficient. Nowt to mention that you have no way > of having a modem busy itself out if it stops working. UUNet, PSI, etal. > are all going for the Ascend Max, which when purchased used, is a pretty > good deal. Not to mention they perform well. My sportster (which has > never given me any problems) is dialed into one now, happily talking with > a Rockwell chipset. > > Why do I say all this? I'm in charge of 200 stand alone modems. > Nightmare, nightmare, nightmare. I won't even start on the Xylogics > RA4000.... I'm coming in a bit late on this :-) I'm sitting about 30 meters from a room where there are TWELVE HUNDRED Courier modems. A local ISP used a bit of creativity and developed a nifty way to set up arrays of 120 Courier modems, complete with phone, power, and network wiring for the four Portmasters on each array. It's a bit scary to see 120 modems all powered by a single step-down transformer (10 identical racks). The modems kick off a bit of heat, too. On the other hand, it's very easy to debug, and is a relatively inexpensive per-port solution to the problem. It's quite impressive to see a telco demarc for 1200 analog lines. They no longer do this: they are running out of room and are exploring other alternatives. They figure that they can either sell the modems to their users (X2-ready!) or sell complete racks to other startup ISP's. ... Joe ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joe Greco - Systems Administrator jgreco@ns.sol.net Solaria Public Access UNIX - Milwaukee, WI 414/342-4847
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