1237ca08512c
tech



Hello David - 

DD>>> Apparrently PLIP is still offered with Slackware 8.1 

CA>> Those who build intranets within their homes are happy
CA>> campers when it works. At that time it is "the only way to
CA>> go". 

DD> Tough if one has more than two machines to network or
DD> requires greater than 5 metre distances. 

I was referring to the use of network cards, not parallel or
serial cables. I thought everyone in this echo would realize
the difference between a direct cable connection and
'networking'. I do and I do know connecting multiple machines
to one another isn't usually an option. 

CA>> When it won't work or stops working they suddenly realize
CA>> what a pita it can be trying to find out why it won't
CA>> work. Seems to happen frequently even though most would
CA>> deny it. 

In the above I should've replaced "it" with "network cards". :-\ 

DD> We never had any trouble with SLIP way back when we used it
DD> with a modem. Can't comment with PLIP - can't see why it
DD> would be any less stable than any other parallel port
DD> connection. 

CA>> I think PLIP and SLIP are there for those times when the
CA>> 'lesser gurus' can't get a NIC installed or they "lose the
CA>> network" and can't figure out how to get it back again. ;-) 

DD> If they can install and configure PLIP, I'd think they
DD> could do NICs. 

It would seem that way but my observations point in the
opposite direction. Many who do get networking to function do
so because they got lucky or at least one machine was already
setup and they only had to mirror that to the other machine
with minor modifications if any. 

CA>> I've seen the book required to study for CNA rating. It
CA>> looks like an unabridged dictionary and I'd wager few, if
CA>> any, have ever actually read all of it. Was quite
CA>> expensive too if I remember correctly. 

DD> CNA rating is an ego badge - usefull perhaps if one was
DD> chasing jobs a few years ago. I doubt it would be of much
DD> use nowdays. 

Understanding the basics and not only how things work but why
things work makes dealing with the unexpected a bit less trial
and error. 

DD> It is not a necessary qualification to set up a small home
DD> network. I have no CNA rating, and even I can do it. 

I believe that you have done it. I also suspect that if you
were confronted with unfamiliar software and unfamiliar
hardware the results would be much less predictable. 

In the shops where I come from there are many who say they
don't need the schooling to be a journeyman. Given enough time
and opportunity they hit the wall over and over again because
they lack the basic understanding required to accomodate all of
the possible variables. :-) 

In the Linux echo there is one person who has lost a machine
from his intranet who has no idea why or how to get it back.
The 'master of Windows' lost his network connections a month or
so ago and finally re-installed the OS and let _it_
resestablish his network for him. Here in the tech echo, same
story. If you pay attention you will see that the networks that
work work by random chance. The ones that don't work are often
abandoned and never do get setup. 

>
>        ,                          ,
>      o/      Charles.Angelich      \o       ,
>       __o/
>     / >          USA, MI           < \   __\__
 

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