Our Livingston PM2 does this very nicely for our Unix users now
through the in.pmd process. Unix users get ppp, cu and uucp access
nicely managed through /dev/ttyxx entries.
Something similiar for Windows is needed (access via comx: entries).
There is something called comt that is supposed to do this for
Windows, but it does not install or run on NT.
We have a separate router for our ISDN traffic (Ascend 400). It would
seem to me to make a great deal of sense to merge these two functions
into one box. Have only ISDN lines coming in. Handle analog and ISDN
traffic. Get better utilization over all.
We are quite willing to buy another terminal server/router. I had
looked at the Ascend 1800, and although it has the WindowsNT problem
resolved. They do it by ignoring the Unix people (cannot access the
modems as a /dev entry). It seems to merge the ISDN and analog modem
traffic ISDN lines. No analog modem lines appear to be needed (Unless
I misunderstand something)
Is there any other terminal server (router) that allows both WindowsNT
and Unix users access to a modem pool as local devices? (Cisco?
Gandalf? Bay Networks? Others?) I have had a look, but either they
do not support what I want, or their marketing people do not mention
these types of features in their feature sheets. I cannot tell which.
We need to support ppp (os independant, built into the terminal
server/router), cu, uucp (for unix), pcanywhere and kermit (for
Windows). Both dial *in* and dial *out* are essential. We would like
ISDN (ppp only, no OS specific access) and analog modem access (very
OS specific access) in the one box.
The ISDN vs. analog modem issue is one that I can live with if it
cannot be resolved. I can continue with the Ascend 400. But the
windows users really need access to all the modems in our modem pool.
What to do!
Kind regards,
Larry
PS. I subscribe to both the portmaster-users and ascend-users mailing
lists. I am wondering if there are other router/terminal server lists
that I might subscribe to?