Communications Group - Termly Report ------------------------------------ Personnel --------- Since Bill Byers and Peter Kirkby joined us in December the communications group is now complete again. Service Software Support ------------------------ TCPs ---- The software is stable and only a small amount of effort is being put into its support. FEPs ---- The increasing load has been causing some problems but they are under control although a fair amount of effort still has to be put into front end support. XGate, PSSE ----------- These machines have not been providing a reasonable level of service although PSSE has at last stabilised. D. Walker is now helping R. Holland part of the time with G. Howat looking after both of them. Projects -------- OSLAN ----- The Deuna board for the VAX has been delivered and installed and W. Byers is well on with the code for Transfer level. The Ethernet cable should have arrived last week but is expected very soon and a major delivery of hardware from ICL is expected in April. P. Kirkby will start work on EMLAN after the 'black box' is completed. Chanlan ------- ICL have still not given us a quote for the hardware. IBM Study Contract ------------------ A fair bit of my effort has gone into this project with the visit to the USA in January but this phase will be completed by the end of February. From this effort it is established that the Auscom or Scicon solution to the Ethernet to IBM channel connections would both be applicable to the local needs if the ICL solution is not satisfactory. Black Box Converter ------------------- P. Kirkby now has a new release of the software and is about to test it at Glasgow and Liverpool. Intel TCP --------- The software is progressing for the new TCP, a first version being available in late March or April. There are, however, two problems. First, the cost has gone up considerably since the project started and secondly, the metacomp board is not performing at the anticipated level. B. Gilmore 15th February, 1984.