Emulation cards & Rumba vs Client/Server

My employer desires a cost comparison between using emulation cards over 
ethernet w/ baluns and having a true Pentium file server/gateway with TR 
adapter connection to the network for access to a 9402-200 running V3R1.  I 
currently have a single PC using an emulation card, (old IO brand) with 
CA-v3r1m1 and Rumba.  Not too shabby a connection and even four sessions 
doesn't seem to tax the Pent-120 processor too badly.  The setup and 
configuration wasn't that difficult once I downloaded a WFW311 driver for 
the card.

The fly in the ointment is this, however.  The comptroller and corporate 
office want to migrate all divisions to WIN95 and Office97.  So the 
comparison I have to come up with needs to include a pnp compliant emulation 
card vs whatever a minimally configured file server/gateway would cost.

What I am desparate for help on is this...am I better off ($-wise) 
attempting to purchase and configure a handfull of emul.cards keeping the 
twinax - balun - ethernet connection and worry about the future cost of 
connecting the other 15 users at a later date or taking the file server 
plunge and being able to connect future users anytime I wish?  The obvious 
choice to me would seem to be the later.  Am I on track here or heading for 
a train wreck??? %P

TIA to anyone willing to tackle this one!


Jera Anderson
IS MANAGER (he says, laughing maniacally)

-------------------------------------
E-mail: calvert1@teclink.net
Date: 05/07/97
Time: 17:40:08

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