Hampton University

Computer Science
NeXTSTEP passes security and network management tests

Reproduced with permission from NeXT Computer, Inc.
A Reference Guide to NeXT in Higher Education, Fall 1992
ยช 1992 NeXT Computer, Inc.

Hampton University senior computer science majors Al Thompson and Sherman White describe themselves as "creative students and computer enthusiasts with a love of dirty work."

That, they say, explains why they undertook the arduous, year-long task of creating a local area network, the Hampton University Local Area Network (HULAN). Computer Science Chair Mary Ellis, System Administrator Tushar Majithia, and Computer Science Professor Robert Willis guided the two students throughout the process.

HULAN is a heterogeneous network featuring VAXen (VMS and Ultrix), DEC, Sun, AT&T, Apple, and NeXT machines. The network also incorporates several subnetworks, including Decnet and Starlan; and installed UNIX services, such as Usenet news groups, e-mail, back-up services, Telnet, Finger, Talk, and FTP.

"The computers on the network interoperate using the TCP/IP suite of protocols," explains Thompson. "To maximize the functionality of smaller machines, NFS stores applications on a Sun file server for use by other machines with smaller disk capacities." Thompson adds that if HULAN fails, most machines can execute autonomously without benefit of network services. The mail systems are coordinated around a central machine that redistributes mail to other machines. However, if necessary, the route can be bypassed, and mail can be handled by individual machines.

"The access to resources has increased tremendously because of HULAN," says Thompson. "Before the creation of HULAN, labs were usurped for presentations or classes, much to the chagrin of students working on programs and other assignments. Before a presentation or in-lab lecture, you'd see students file out of the lab moaning and groaning because they had to leave the lab for an hour or so. With HULAN, students can jump from the main lab, filled with terminals connected to the VAX computers, to another lab from which they use Telnet to connect other computers on the network."

"The real magic," says White, "is everything talks to everything else, and our current configuration was achieved through minimum expenditure. The creation of HULAN is also significant because it represents wide-scale cooperation among departments. It's probably one of the most unifying forces our campus has seen in a while."

HULAN currently connects the five departments in the School of Pure and Applied Sciences. According to White, "In the past, the different departments created separate networks to suit their own needs." For example, the Engineering Department used AT&T's Starlan network while the Chemistry, Physics, and Math departments used AppleTalk. Terminals in the Computer Science Department are connected to hosts via DECnet, and NeXT and Sun machines are tied to the main TCP/IP network. Department PCs talk to a file server, which is also tied to the main network.

"The subtotal of all this mixing and matching is that point-to-point communication is achieved in one or two hops depending on how much translation is needed to get to the main network, the backbone of the system," says White. "If you are on a terminal or PC, two hops are required because you must first log into a host on the main network. The Apple machines use Shiva Ethergate to access the backbone directly, and thus only require a single hop. NeXT and Sun machines are also directly on the network and need only a single hop. A fiber optic link connects the different buildings in the School of Applied Sciences so equal access is guaranteed from all points."

White says that "of all the platforms we've tinkered with during the past year, NeXT was by far the easiest to work with. It is definitely our platform of choice."

Adds Thompson, "NeXT computers have also proven superior in the areas of security and network management. And, contrary to what advertisements for the Macintosh say, students seem to prefer the NeXTSTEP interface to all the others available on campus, as witnessed by the constant contention over the NeXT computers we've installed."

White continues, "Our main NeXT network is the most reliable system we have. It's never been down. On the other hand, our Sun network, which we set up last summer, still has problems. Maintenance on the NeXT is much easier than on the Sun. You have to be a guru to work a Sun effectively. Let's just say the Sun has been a bear to work with."

For more information, please contact:

Al Thompson and Sherman White
Senior Computer Science Majors
Hampton University
Hampton, VA 23668
(804) 727-5552
swhite@next.cs.hamptonu.edu
rtosten@cc.gettysburg.edu