Edinburgh Regional Computing Centre
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            For the attention of the Edinburgh Computer Users Committee
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                              Report on Communications
                              ------------------------


TCPs     An extra TCP has been installed in the Appleton Tower to spread
----     the load around.   An experiment with better support for screen
         packages is being tried on a TCP.

FEPs     The FEPs on the 2988 have been more stable although there is still
----     an unresolved hardware difference between the 2988 and the 2972
         which has been causing crashes.
         The 2972 FEPs have been very reliable over the period except for
         the File Transfer service which has given a few problems in the
         last couple of days.

PSS      No change
---

Nodes    The load on the nodes has been much lighter since the last report
-----    and consequently the reliability has been better although we have
         had a number of problems with the Discs on Node 9.
         A fault in the synchronous multiplexor on Node 6 was fixed last
         week, it is now realised that this fault, which had made multiplexor
         communication with Unix systems very difficult, had also been
         causing other problems, especially with micro commnications, over
         a long period. This fault would have caused either rubbish data
         to appear in files or 'hangs' in terminal conversations.

X25     The JNT pad is now working and any JCMB user can be switched to it
        at 9600 baud for a trial period if desired.

        A verbal report will be given at the meeting over the future of the
         X25 network.


                                                            B. Gilmore
                                                            Feb. 1983