HIT--> CD-Rom Ntwrkng Prt 2

["Lorna J. McCloud" <lmccloud@TJHSST.VAK12ED.EDU>]

Here's the second part of the HIT on CD-Networking.  I ran into
problems on my pc, and couldn't include it in the first part of
the "HIT".


> > SIRS will do custom networks--using what you have and designing new
> > system that is compatible.  They are wonderful to work with.
> > We have 15 workstations, 486 SX, Server is 486 DX and CD server. We are
> > now running 7 products and plan to add more--can go up to 21.  I see
> > by disscussions on net there are many problems running multimedia on network
 .

> > Pat
> > Patricia Hooker  Media Specialist  Mt. Hebron High School
> > 9440 Route 99 Ellicott City, MD 21042  410-313-2880 Fax 410-313-889
> > Internet: phooker@umd5.umd.edu
_________________________________________________________________________
> > DON'T DO IT!!
> > Keep your circulation system and the proposed CD-ROM network separate!
> > This will incurr greater up-front hardware costs but will pay off in the
> > long run with MUCH better performance on both systems.
> > Just as a personal note, I run five CD-ROM  stations as stand-alones.  So
> > far, I have not seen a CD-ROM changer that is faster that a human in
> > swapping discs.  I'm a fan of Novell, so I think you are on the right
> > track there.  You will need a 486 as your file server (you might want to
> > upgrade your 386 as well as long as you are at it-- you will notice the
> > difference!)  I know that in a year or two, the hardware problem (access
> > time disc to disc) will be solved, but I intend to wait a bit before
> > installing a new network for the CD-ROM stations.  Meridian has a brand
> > new unit that looks good, but I only saw a BRIEF demo at a conference, so
> > real world performance may be different.
> >
> >Mark Williams
> >Librarian
> > Colton High School,
> > Colton, CA 92324
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 -----------
 > From: Barbara Carey <bcarey@eis.calstate.edu>
> > Subject: Re: Need tech advice on netwk. CD-Roms!
> > To: "Lorna J. McCloud" <lmccloud@TJHSST.VAK12ED.EDU>
> > Date: Sun, 13 Mar 1994 19:27:55 -0800 (PST)
> >
> > I am also using Follett products with a 486 server and 11 workstations
> > (various flavors) and also have a Meridian CD tower in the network.  We
> > added it last summer after Follett announced that they would support the
> > Meridian with their products.  So far, it is working well with very good
> > speed.  We are using, so far, however, CD's that are just text, like
> > Ebsco's Primary Search and Wilson Education Index.  Other programs, with
> > graphics - I don't know yet how they will work.  As you know, when you
> > purchase, you must ask specifically how the product will work in a
> > network.  Good cd'ing!     Bcarey@ctp.org

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> > Subject: Re: Need tech advice on netwk. CD-Roms!
> > To: "Lorna J. McCloud" <lmccloud@TJHSST.VAK12ED.EDU>
> > Date: Sun, 13 Mar 1994 22:29:22 -0600 (CST)
> >
> > Lorna,
> >   I don't know that your server will be the "slow" spot with the
> > CD-ROMs.  Our experience seems to indicate that the slowness is related
> > to the drives themselves.  I would get the fastest drives you can.  We
> > are currently running our entire HS network on a 386DX/40.  We run
> > Follett Circ/Cat, all of our subject area software, and have a 4 stack
> > tower CD with Hitachi drives.  We have 45 computers connected to the
> > network using a combination of thin coax and 10BaseT.  We are pretty
> > satisfied with the setup, although we get a network slowdown from about
> > 12 noon until 2 PM almost every day.  We are seriously considering
> > putting the CD drives on a dedicated server.  We think this will help
> > with the slowdown.
> >
> > Hope this helps!
> >
> > David Hollingshead
> > Gideon #37 School District
> > dholling@services.dese.state.mo.us

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> > Lorna,  My one comment would be to note that I had Tandy computers as the
> > patrons stations with 1 MB of RAM and this kept causing a problems,
> > particularly because the cpus could not be upgraded past 1 MB.  I believe
> > that Magazine Article Summaries was the real culprit, but others probably
> > contributed.  We had to reboot constantly to be able to access the other
> > applications.
> >
> > Finally, we were able to replace the computers with new units -- started
> > with 4 MB of RAM and have not had any problem.  We, too, are running a
> > separate file servers for the ROM tower and the OPAC.
> > ****************************************************************************
 **
> > Floyd Pentlin, Library Media Specialist
> > Lee's Summit High School, Div. II, 400 Blue Parkway, Lee's Summit, MO 64063
> > Internet: fpentlin@hobbs.leesummit.k12.mo.us -OR- Pentlin@CMSUVMB.CMSU.EDU
> > Voice:  816-251-3418 / Fax:  816-251-3419