Problems connecting clients to file servers

[Stefano Normani]

I'm currently attempting to connect Polaris machines to a file server still
on the old WatStar system through PowerLAN. I have no difficulties sharing
a disk when the clients are located on the old WatStar system, but
when I am on a Polaris client, the server cannot be found.

I had a similar problem a few months ago with the old WatStar, which was
fixed by looking at TESTIP, a program which allows packet broadcasts beyond
the local domain.

Thanks

Stefano

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Stefano Normani | Office: E2-3313 (519) 888-4567 x3828 *
* Water Resources Group | E-Mail: sdno...@bridge.watstar.uwaterloo.ca *
* University of Waterloo, | *
* Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA | *
* N2L-3G1 | *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

[Erick Engelke]

Stefano Normani <SDNO...@BRIDGE.watstar.uwaterloo.ca> wrote:
>I'm currently attempting to connect Polaris machines to a file server still
>on the old WatStar system through PowerLAN. I have no difficulties sharing
>a disk when the clients are located on the old WatStar system, but
>when I am on a Polaris client, the server cannot be found.
>
>I had a similar problem a few months ago with the old WatStar, which was
>fixed by looking at TESTIP, a program which allows packet broadcasts beyond
>the local domain.
>

Hi Stefano,

PowerLAN used a 1985 version of the SMB protocol over a proprietary
netbios implementation (written by powersoft). Waterloo Polaris
supports the 1980's and 1990's version of the SMB protocols, but
only Netbios over TCP (an Internet standard) (this particular
implementation was written by Microsoft).

Waterloo Polaris supports peer-to-peer in place of PowerLAN. Or
it can be used with Watstar, NT, Unix or other server technologies.
Converting the old workstations forward to 95 is probably the best bet.

If you deeply wish to continue with Watstar + DOS (ignoring the fact
that it is being phased out), I can only offer suggestions and wishes
of luck. It may be possible to move your Watstar PowerLAN stations
to the TCP Netbios supplied in Novell's LWP, then they would be
communicating over the same protocol as the Windows 95 machines.
I have not successfully done it, and I can offer no help other
than to say it could possibly work.

I would recommend that no one spend a lot of time trying to come
up with a solution for Watstar, it's time to move on and inherit
all the benefits which come with Waterloo Polaris. File sharing
is one of many examples.

Erick
--
Erick Engelke Engineering Computing
University of Waterloo
Network Systems Manager er...@uwaterloo.ca