Old Skool DOS based networks with switch

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ant101

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Hi,

I've been tasked with upgrading 6 individual DOS based networks from co-axial cable to a switch/hub with RJ-45 connectors and new network cards. There are approx. 4-5 pc per network, with 1 file server. The current co-axial cables and cards are giving intermittent problems leading to down time. ( not to mention they can't be purchased anymore!)
The pc's are real crap, generally the old 486's. The dos based software has com port dongles etc, so the guy does not want to upgrade the software. (simply not an option.)

I have quite a bit of dos experience from my day, but this can be tricky as it is not plug 'n play, tried to trouble shoot the current network when there have been problems, and it's quite a mission.

Has anyone got some advice to offer on which method is easiest?
Drivers, software, cards etc ?
Any advice appreciated greatly.
Thanks!
 
You must be a glutton for punishment! Tell your people to get with the times, buy new pc's.
 
How about using dosbox or something similar? then you can run dos on new hardware? or setting up new hardware and running dos on vm?
 
lol, yip it is total punishment !! This I know ! Everyone else has already run away from the systems.
The software upgrade is just not an option at all - I've tried to push this as much as possible ( for the last 3 years!), might look into dosbox or vm.

The next best option to the software upgrade was to upgrade the network hardware, so it's give less problems, which is where I am now. :sick:
Thx pjjdp - will take a look at the link :)
 
This is far beyond Old School... more like Stone Age.

A company that doesn't know how to invest internally (systems upgrades), won't know how to invest externally... Doesn't sound like they'd get far...
 
With VM you are going to have the same problem, cause the only difference is the network card then...
 
Try to get network cards that has dos drivers. The "net" command will become your next best friend :D
 
If need to stay on Dos, then NE2000 compatible cards are the only safe option. I still have one, you can buy it for R10k :p
 
Have a look at Edubuntu?

DOS networking is a PITA as DOS was not designed for networking.

Had a client who was running coax - and had frequent network issues. Thrown the coax out and pulled CAT5 - and never had any issues before.

DOS will work with coax networks although finding network cards and DOS drivers will be an issue.

Another option you have is to buy a couple of OS/2 licences and run DOS in OS/2...
 
Ah, so there is hope on the CAT5. :)
The_Librarian sounds like you've been down this road before?

Hopefully it won't get to messy !
 
Run WFW 3.11. This will work as well.

There was a product called lantastic years ago. Worked well.
 
<points at ant101> HA HA.

(I can laugh cause I'm still running some DOS software :-)
 
;) yeah yeah

It's a super sh1tty task - no if's and butt's there..

Like I said, no other willing idiot actually wants to take it on -for obvious reasons!

Also needs to be said that the girlfriends nagged me to take on this exercise for over a year.

mmm fiddle with computer pieces or listen to nagging girlfriend?

puter pieces please!
 
ant101 said:
Ah, so there is hope on the CAT5. :)
The_Librarian sounds like you've been down this road before?

Hopefully it won't get to messy !
Click to expand...

Yes, I've been down this road. So glad I left it :D because it got really messy at the end - Novell 3.12 + modern hardware doesn't go together well as you battle your a$$ off to find drivers - same for the DOS workstations. :o

We used Accton NE2000 compatible network cards - some had coax and RJ45 connectors, the latest only had RJ45's.

I highly doubt if you'll be able to find network cards with DOS drivers nowadays.
 
ant101 said:
;) yeah yeah

It's a super sh1tty task - no if's and butt's there..

Like I said, no other willing idiot actually wants to take it on -for obvious reasons!

Also needs to be said that the girlfriends nagged me to take on this exercise for over a year.

mmm fiddle with computer pieces or listen to nagging girlfriend?

puter pieces please!
Click to expand...

listen to the girlfriend, slog out on the exercise and have lekker rumpypumpy afterwards :p :D

computers can wait, they're patient, girlfriends aren't...
 
Do those 486 machines even have PCI slots? Because there's not much chance of finding 16-bit ISA network cards...
 
Nod has one for sale for R10k, I've got two (although I can only find one) available for R9.99k.
 
I hope for your sake you don't spend weeks overhauling the network only to have a couple of the old 486's go belly up on you. Just what is this uber-special dos program they simply can't live without?
 
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