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- NetWare Asynch Remote Router
- Rules of Thumb
-
- Novell has endeavored to make the NetWare Async Remote Router reliable,
- efficient, and easy to use. To aid you in configuring the Router for
- optimal reliability and performance, we asked our engineers what components
- they would use and what hints they would give if they were installing the
- product. Here's what they said.
-
- LAN to LAN Connection
- The NetWare Async Remote Router connects two or more LANs, typically remote
-
- from each other.
-
- NEW FEATURES
- This release of the Async Remote Router software contains the following
- features:
- <Support for
- - V.32 modems
- - 9600 bps Hayes and Telebit modems
- - the WNIM+ adapter in 80386 based personal computers
- - modems that require Data Terminal Ready (DTR) to hang up
- - hardware flow control
- <Improved reliability
-
- NETWORK PROTOCOLS and LAN ADAPTERS
- Novell NetWare network products are optimized for use with the IPX/SPX
- protocol. For this reason, we recommend that you use IPX/SPX with the
- Async Remote Router; NetBIOS is no longer supported. We also suggest that
- you use LAN adapters from the recommended list in this document. Each has
- been tested thoroughly with the Router.
-
- PERSONAL COMPUTERS
- For an external router (one installed in a LAN workstation), we recommend
- any IBM PC/AT or compatible from the list of recommended PCs. If you
- choose not to use one of the recommended machines, router performance may
- be degraded.
- The router PC should meet the following minimum requirements:
- o Minimum of 512K RAM for a dedicated external router (real mode)
- o Minimum of 640K RAM for a nondedicated external router (real mode)
- o Minimum of 1MB RAM for a dedicated external router (protected mode)
-
- We recommend a dedicated router for optimum system performance. You may
- use the PC as a nondedicated external router and also as a workstation on
- the LAN, but if you do so, you may not have sufficient memory to run
- applications on the workstation. The router software (ROUTER.EXE) takes up
- to 350KB of RAM, NET3 takes up about 20KB, and DOS takes up 40 to 60 KB, so
-
- as little as 170KB may be available for applications.
- For an internal router (one installed in a file server), we recommend a
- minimum of 512KB of additional RAM. We do not recommend internal routers
- because of potential file server problems if modems malfunction.
-
-
- HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE RECOMMENDATIONS
- The personal computers, LAN adapters, and modems listed below have been
- tested by Novell and are recommended for use with the Async Remote Router.
-
-
- Standard Test Bed Environment
- Network Operating Systems
- SFT NetWare 286 v2.12 and 2.15 E
- NetWare 386 v3.0 (external router only)
- Network Protocols
- IPX/SPX
-
- Personal Computers
- IBM PC/AT (8MHz)
- IBM PC/XT (4.77 MHz)
- IBM PS/2 Model 30/286
- Compaq DeskPro 386S
- Compaq DeskPro 386/25
- Compaq 386/20e
- Compaq 386/16
- Zenith Z-386AE
- Novell 286B
- Novell 386AE
-
- LAN Adapters
- Novell RX -NET
- Novell NE1000
- Novell NE2000
- IBM token ring Adapter 16/4
- Standard Microsystems Arcnet 100, 110, 120
-
- Modems
- Hayes SmartModem 2400
- Hayes SmartModem V9600
- Hayes V-series ULTRA 96
- MulitTech MultiModem V.32
- Telebit Trailblazer Plus
- Telebit T1000
- Telebit T2500
-
- HOW TO CHOOSE A MODEM
- Several factors may affect your choice of modems:
- o Cost
- o Error correction
- o Data compression
- o Speed
-
- If cost is a concern, you may want to buy a high quality standard 2400 bps
- modem from the list above and not worry about features such as error
- correction or data compression. Such modems provide reliable service over
- the high quality phone lines in most parts of North America, and
- can achieve throughput of 120 to 240 characters per second with minimal
- delays.
-
- If you are concerned about reliability, you can purchase a modem that
- supports error correction or data compression at 2400 bps.
-
- If you do so, we recommend that you choose an MNP standard modem. With
- error correcting protocols, you will experience far fewer, if any, errors
- on your connection. You may notice a slight increase in response time due
- to the data being organized into packets for error correction.
-
- If speed is your greatest concern, choose one of the V.32 9600 bps modems;
- performance suffers with most non V.32 9600 bps modems. V.32 modems are
- full duplex and offer high throughput with no line turn around delay.
- However, they are more expensive. Most V.32 modems offer error correction
- and data compression and are compatible with 1200 bps and 2400 bps modems.
-
-
-
- MNP Modem Configuration
- When using modems that support MNP protocols, the modem response codes
- should be set to Basic, not Extended.
- Example setting: Microcom: ATX0
-
- Failure to set for Basic Hayes type responses could cause the router to
- hang.
-
- SUPPORTED CONFIGURATIONS
- This release of the Async Router supports the following configurations:
- INTERNAL ROUTER
- 1 COM port and up to three LAN adapters
- 1 WNIM+ multiport adapter and up to three LAN adapters
- Maximum of four communication lines
-
- EXTERNAL ROUTER
- Up to two WNIM+ multiport adapters and one COM port
- One LAN adapter
- Maximum of nine communication lines
-
- CONFIGURATION NOTES
- When configuring the Async Remote Router, ACONFIG and ROUTER.EXE must be in
- the same directory.
-
- OPERATION NOTES
- If you are installing this release of the Async Remote Router software on a
- PC that has a previous release of the router software already installed,
- you must delete the older release and reboot the PC before you install the
- new software.
-
- LIMITATIONS
- This release of the Async Router software has the following limitations:
- o It supports the COM1 and COM2 ports only up to 2400 baud.
- o If you are using Telebit T1000 or T2000 modems, you must disable hardware
- flow control.
- o For Telebit T1000 & T2000 modems, the Reset option of LCONSOLE does not
- operate correctly.
- o You can set Idle Time Out only to one minute.
- o When using the COM1 or COM2 port and you want to set Not Enabled, you
- must use the Special Configuration option.
- o When you configure an internal router with a WNIM+ adapter, the router
- aborts if the modem fails or you are using a modem that is not
- supported.
- o Each port on the WNIM+ adapter and each COM port must be configured with
- a different server name because each is treated as a separate LAN.
- o NetWare for the Macintosh is not supported across the Async Remote
- Router.
- o For WNIM+ adapter, all ports must be at same baud rate.
- o In the "Special Configuration" modem type, the "Modem Initialization
- String" option is not supported. Characters entered into this field
- are NOT sent to the modem.
-
- README FILE
- Most products released by Novell include a README file to include up to the
- minute corrections and additions, and to assist you in configuring and
- troubleshooting. Please read this file before you attempt to install the
- Async Remote Router as it will alleviate many problems during installation
- and operation.
-