HIT:> WINNEBAGO: Good mixer?

[Jeffrey Hastings <jhasting@EDCEN.EHHS.CMICH.EDU>]

Here's the deal: I was told that our new tech administrator was going to
reduce the processing abilities of my library's proposed
workstations and rebid them.  The workstations were going to be used to
run winnebago circ/cat on a novell network and that platform, I thought,
would be used for other products as well, such as networking some of our
cd-rom databases.  I'd wanted to make sure that the system was beefy
enough to handle chunky data like sound and video images from multimedia
products as well as run the relatively simple winnebago program.  The
tech administrator that she had been recommended not to run
winny with other programs on the same server and therefore, it was
reasoned, why try and get more processing power than you will use?

So, I asked LM_NETTERS: are you using winnebago on a novell network and
sharing the platform with other applications and, if so, how are things
working?

The response was wonderful, and, most people said, "yes we are and it's
working great."

Now-- I am no computer expert, and though I have hacked my way around
everything thrown at me thus far, I have NO LAN experience.  I will: Do
my best to summarize the many responses and thank those who responded, as
promised, stating publically that they are digital demigods and my
personal heroes for sharing their expertise.  Questions? You may want to
contact some of them directly--they really know their stuff! By the way,
winnebago responded as well--though I didn't really want their input-- I
wanted the USERS input.. they concurred saying that winny mixes very well.

Thanks:
-Mary Anderson who said she uses Information Finder, Biology Digest,
Discover and MAS with Winnebago on a Novell 3.2 network. "not to buy
something that has room for growth is foolish.."
-Roxanne Boyce, who runs winny with PC Globe, PC USA, Culturegrams and
more and, as a few people reported, uses a separate server attached to
the main server and CD-ROM management software called OPTINET (I'm
looking in to this now) to doll out cd-titles.  Also attached to the main
server: another server offering access to three modems[these
overacheivers make me sick.]  She says, "stress network security!!" and
uses AUTOMENU by Magee as her user interface (as others do)-- I presume to
keep what's available and only what is meant to be available at the
patron's fingertips..She adds, "It's not neccessary to purchase a
separate tower for your cd-roms, simply purchase SCSI CD-ROM drives or a
tower--I recommend quad speed drives- available in a seven drive tower
for circa $4,000."  I love ya, Roxanne! contact: mex1zo@nevada.edu
-Mary Fitzgerald, who reminded me: "make sure you get tape backup"
-Deborah Cooke, who mentions that "if you haven't already invested in a
cd-rom periodical index, check out Winnebago's UMI index.." which is
designed to interface seamlessly with the catalog..
-Lois Roberts, who has been running several cd's on her network, fed from
a separate server because, "that's the way it evolved.." and seems very
happy with it.
-Pat Walker, who (where do these people get the money?) runs winny, plus
accounting software, lotus 1,2,3, Word Perfect, Microtype and has an
optinet tower that runs cd-rom products like Groliers, SIRS, InfoTrac,
and Biodigest.  Is she satisfied? Hell,no! "As soon as I get another
caddy, I'll add another program," she declared! (now her principal wants
to network the whole school to her server! contact: pwalkeri@cyclops.pei.edu

Listen I'm about to be disconnected--thanks to all who responded that I
couldn't mention!  I love ya!

--

----JEFFREY G. HASTINGS -- E-MAIL: JHASTING@edcen.ehhs.cmich.edu --------
or 73164.423@compuserve.com  -Hell is other people.- FAX: (517) 545-1407
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