Handbook of Local Area Networks, 1998 Edition:Advanced LAN Interconnectivity Issues and Solutions Click Here! Search the site:   ITLibrary ITKnowledge EXPERT SEARCH Programming Languages Databases Security Web Services Network Services Middleware Components Operating Systems User Interfaces Groupware & Collaboration Content Management Productivity Applications Hardware Fun & Games EarthWeb sites Crossnodes Datamation Developer.com DICE EarthWeb.com EarthWeb Direct ERP Hub Gamelan GoCertify.com HTMLGoodies Intranet Journal IT Knowledge IT Library JavaGoodies JARS JavaScripts.com open source IT RoadCoders Y2K Info Previous Table of Contents Next INETIX (MCS) I include Inetix in the NetWare-hosted category, because they have a solid, no-frills product, but they offer a options for companies wishing to support a single gateway client solution with multiple gateway host options. MCS, a pioneer in communications programming for LANs, uses the same IPX/IP client software for each gateway host platform. How many platforms? NetWare 3.x, NetWare 4.x, Windows NT, and every major Unix operating system. Inetix offers IPX/IP translation and a graphical FTP program to find your own WinSock-aware applications (there are plenty, and the best sites are pre-configured in the FTP program). There is little else. You can block access to certain resources, but the process is time consuming. You do, however, get a solid, cross-platform product for a very reasonable price. •  http://www.mcsdallas.com INSTANT INTERNET (BAY NETWORKS) Another merger saw Bay Networks (itself the merger of Synoptics and Wellfleet) buy up Performance Technology, Inc., in 1996. The most important Performance Technology product for Bay Networks was for their Instant Internet turnkey gateway/router. A true turnkey solution, Instant Internet ships as one hardware box shaped like a small PC system, but without monitor or keyboard. Software is preloaded, and management happens across the network via a graphical application. The first Instant Internet came with a 28.8 modem for Internet connection and a 10Base-T Ethernet connection. New models offer dual network connections, internal ISDN routers, load balancing between systems, and impressive management and user control. •  http://www.perftech.com •  http://www.baynetworks.com IPEXCHANGE (CISCO) Another merger, or more accurately buyout, since Cisco is huge and Internet Junction was tiny when purchased. Originally software that ran on NetWare, Windows NT, and a few Unix platforms, Internet Junction morphed into a turnkey hardware solution similar to Instant Internet. Cisco certainly has the expertise to develop, sell, and service small routers, and IPeXchange is a solid product option in this market. Continuing the Internet Junction tradition, Cisco still supports the software-only solution for both NetWare 3.x and 4.x servers and Windows NT. All have information available on their Web server, but the software versions can be downloaded for a trial. Can’t figure out how to download the hardware router, however. •  http://www.cisco.com IWARE CONNECT (QUARTERDECK) Yet another merger result, InternetWare was a small startup in the IPX to IP gateway market when purchased by Quarterdeck. This turned out well, since Quarterdeck added their strong InternetSuite of applications to the product, making a nice, all-in-one Inter/intra/extranet connection product. IWare Connect runs on any NetWare 3.x or 4.x server equipped with Novell’s TCP/IP protocol stack. IWare doesn’t have the IP address flexibility of NOV*IX, but does have excellent user monitoring and management features. •  http://www.quarterdeck.com WEBRAMP IPX GATEWAY (RAMP NETWORKS) Another new, all-in-one box comes from Ramp Networks. Called WebRamp, this futuristic looking box includes eight 10Base-T LAN ports as part of the box, along with the ISDN plug. A free Internet browser is the only client software included besides the installation and management utilities. Small offices and home offices (the SOHO market) often need a few computers tied together, and WebRamp saves the cost of a small network hub. Several other WebRamp products offer IP to IP routing, with the included 10Base-T hub. While the routers support up to 253 connections, the IPX Gateway box is limited to 50 simultaneous sessions. •  http://www.rampnet.com SUMMARY An IPX/IP Gateway, no matter the vendor, saves you time, money, and security headaches. Yes, the world may be moving to native IP, and yes, Novell has stated a plan to run all NetWare services over native IP in some future version. However, there are 60 million IPX NetWare clients around the world, and the vast majority are unable to reach the Internet or any other TCP/IP-based host. If your clients are among that group, check out one of these IPX/IP Gateways and pull your clients into the future of computing today. And do so easily, cheaply, and safely. Previous Table of Contents Next Use of this site is subject certain Terms & Conditions. Copyright (c) 1996-1999 EarthWeb, Inc.. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of EarthWeb is prohibited. Please read our privacy policy for details.