DRAFT

                     These are several reasons on the future

                        direction on HEP PNPI computing

                            for the nearest time


                               Chevel Andrei

                           Creat. 25th May 1994
                           Corr.  26th May 1994
                           Corr.  31th May 1994
                           Corr.  22th December 1994
                           Corr.  14th June 1995
                                  24th November 1995
                                  27th June 1996     


    In current HEP PNPI situation we can designate a few main lines
concerning the computing. 

    First of all, we have now a local TCP/IP network (LAN) consisting of
several computer stations (HP-9000/720, RS-6000/320, Pentium/60MHz, SGI
Power Series), a few tens of PCs. 

    It is possible to say that in reality HP-9000/720 is dedicated mainly to
CERN activity; RS-6000/320 - to FERMILAB activity, SGI - to HERMES activity,
and Pentium/60MHz is opened almost for all members of HEP PNPI. I can say that 
about 100  physicists use Pentium/60MHz every month.

    At second, we have the IP satellite connection to DESY (Hamburg). 

    At third, we have new types of service: i mean terminal emulation
through dial-up telephone lines. The several dial-in modems are attached
to Pentium/60MHz. From Pentium/60MHz anybody can achieve any computer
workstation in our LAN and the WAN. 

           What we will need in computer area in nearest future ?
           ------------------------------------------------------

    We will need for a continuation a good channel to Western Europe and
USA.  I mean a channel for IP with a throughput at least 64 Kbit/sec. I
would like to emphesize "at least 64 Kbit/sec" for only HEP PNPI. Right
now PNPI has more than 10 GB IP traffic a month.

    In nowdays situation this (IP connection) is one of the most important
component of computer infrastucture of any scientific laboratory. The
importance of the IP connection will grow drastically with the time.

    Next important component is Local Area Networking (LAN). It should be
improved and maintained regularly (i mean mail routing, name server
establishing and maintaining, cable connecting, network troubles
investigating, etc.). 

    It is apparent we should have the reasonable number of X-terminals to
supply convenient access to computer resources. 

    Finally, we will need for the modern computer station with multimedia
tools.  I mean, for instance, station with type SunSparc-10 or Indigo or
INDY SGI with videoblasters, vdeo camera, microphones, and speakers. In
reality audio channel can be realized with 64Kbit/sec. Video can be used
in snapshot mode. 

    In future it will be important to use MBONE facility which transmits
the scientific conferencies.


                             Particular things
                             -----------------

    It is remained particular internal interests:  modem connectivity
upgrade (to change and to add modern modems), to upgrade the small PCs (if
it will be needed) and so on. 

    It is needed to install the Ethernet cards into PCs (at least 386) and
TCP/IP software to get access to www service and other type of services. 

          What we will exactly NOT need in nearest future ?
          -------------------------------------------------

    I think we should NOT to buy the PCs with

 smaller than Pentium/120MHz  microprocessors, recommended Pentium/200MHz,
 smaller than    16 MB memory,                recommended  32 MB,
 smaller than  500 MB HD,                     recommended  4 GB.

    We should NOT buy the modems with speed less then 28800 bit/sec (V34)
and probably should analyze: is a modem really needed ?


                           The first range requirements
                           ----------------------------

    I think we have to emphasize the first range requirements which are of
general interest.

      1. X-terminals (more preferable NCD 17 or 19) the more - the better. 

      2. The CD ROM disk drive.


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If somebody wishes to add something please send me a mail :
shevel@pnpi.spb.ru