MSDOS PC Network -- Xenix?

[Karl Denninger]

Hello!

We are considering integrating several PCs together to share files and the
like.  We would like to stay AWAY from Novell products if possible; in
addition to being very expensive and having limited capability for the money
(ELS in particular), their support policies are unacceptable.

What other solutions have worked for you?  Is anyone running the "Coconet"
setup?  Does it work well?  Our needs are simple, we need:

o	To share data files among multiple PCs.  This is mainly in the area
	of word processing, so record-level sharing is not necessary.  File
	locking IS required to prevent corruption.

o	Minimal memory usage on the client systems is desired.

o	The implementation should permit virtual drive mapping (ie: Map
	drive "M" to a directory on the server) and virtual printer support
	(ie: redirect LPT1 and LPT2 to printers on the server if desired).

o	Some security, such as login/password level, is desired.

o	The system needs to be able to support 4-6 PCs at the outset, with
	perhaps as many as 20 in the future.

o 	The company has to have a reasonable support policy.  $200/hour
	to fix bugs is NOT reasonable.  We aren't terribly interested in
	"support" per-se, we are a knowledgable group and can resolve
	problems providing the documentation is adaquate and the trouble
	lies with our installation or procedures.  Above all, the product 
	has to WORK.  Crashing servers and workstations are not acceptable.
	This is going into an office full of secretaries that know how to
	work with MSDOS and nothing more, and has to be usable in that
	environment.

o	The product(s) should be willing to co-exist with high performance
	hardware, such as 386's (including cache), RLL or ESDI disk drives, 
	etc.   Novell fails here with their ELS systems which require an
	exact match in the BIOS for your drive on the server (that is 
	a rediculous requirement in this day and age!).

Suggestions?  I am interested in people who have USED the products, not 
sales-hype.  Please forward suggestions to me, and I will summarize if 
there is interest expressed.  Firms, phone numbers, and reviews are most 
helpful.

--
Karl Denninger (karl at ddsw1.MCS.COM, <well-connected>!ddsw1!karl)
Public Access Data Line: [+1 312 566-8911], Voice: [+1 312 566-8910]
Macro Computer Solutions, Inc.		"Quality Solutions at a Fair Price"