Our Network

We are frequently asked what we use for our Internet, Intranet, and user setups. This web site, and the network that it was built on was created with the help of a number of talented, hard working folks working with some great products. The overall design of the site was created by Xplain Corporation (publishers of MacTech and NetProfessional Magazines) staff. The site is maintained by Xplain Corporation staff.

Network Design | Internet/Intranet Hardware | Internet/Intranet Software

Design and Network

Design

The Xplain network uses just about every major technology. On average, there is nearly 1/5 of a mile of cable for each employee in the company. The overall hardwire and network design was done by Wayne Correia -- and a most amazing job he did.

 

Special thanks to Bill Woodcock of Zocalo whose expertise in not only IP, but AppleTalk routing, WANs, router configurations, etc... was extremely useful.

 

The internet connection and wide area network is a Frame Relay network comprising several T1 and 56k lines provided by both GTE and Pacific Bell. For more information on Frame Relay, check out Steve Neil's Frame Relay Page on Motorola's site, or the Frame Relay Overview Page.

 

 

Net Access

Internet Services are provided by Zocalo.

 

 

Routers

WAN routers are provided by Engage Communications which manufactures a line of LAN and WAN internetworking products for the Macintosh, UNIX, and Windows platforms. The ExpressRouter product family is designed for ease-of-use, performance, and cost-effective expansion. WAN support includes ISDN (BRI and PRI), Frame Relay, T-1 and Fractional T-1 applications.

 

Top level router is a bulletproof Cisco. And, we also use Compatible Systems routers in our LAN.

 

EtherNet to LocalTalk conversion is handled by several routers including Shiva FastPath 5 and Sonic Systems microBridges.

 

 

Web Architecture

Internet services consulting provided by Jon Wiederspan. Jon was invaluable in creating the overall architecture of the systems behind the site.

 

Butler SQL/Tango programming created and maintained by Donal Corcoran. This includes the banner ad system, online shopping basket, news and more.

 

Additional help in constructing the original MacTech web site by Simon Higgs, of Higgs America.

 

Internet/Intranet Hardware

Servers

The entire network is Mac OS-based. The server hardware for the internet zone comprises of various flavors of Apple Macintosh. Some machines are legacy desktop equipment that is too slow for daily human use, and but is still perfectly usable, finding a second life as an internet server:

Apple Power Macintosh G3

Apple Power Macintosh 8500/180

Apple Workgroup Server 8150/110

Apple Workgroup Server 6150/66

Apple Workgroup Server 60

Apple Macintosh IIfx

Apple Power Macintosh 6100/60

Apple Power Macintosh 7200/90

Apple Macintosh Quadra 800

Apple Macintosh LC 475

Apple Macintosh Centris 610

Apple Macintosh SE/30

Apple Macintosh IIci

Apple Macintosh IIcx

Apple Macintosh IIsi

User Machines

Again, the entire network is Mac OS-based. User machines range from Macintosh SEs to Power Macintosh G3s and high-end PowerBook G3s.

Storage

Most add-on hard drives are APS Technologies. This includes traditional hard drives, DLTs, tape drives, and more. FileServer CD drives are usually the NEC 7-disc CD-ROM player.

Power

All of our servers use Power Key Pro 600 power strips which allow us to restart the servers by telephone, by schedule, or automatically after detecting a crash.

Internet/Intranet Software

OS

System Software: All internet servers are Mac OS based systems. The current configuration ranges from Mac OS System 7.1 to Mac OS 8.x

 

 

Web

Server Software: Our primary WWW content is served with WebStar -- the famous web server on the Mac.

 

Search Server: Our search engine server runs on a web server hosted by WebTen by Tenon. We run ht://Dig under WebTen's version of Apache.

 

CGI/Plug-ins: The CGIs we commonly use include: Lasso from BlueWorld, and NetForms from Maxum Development Corp.

 

Web Design: All WWW content is created using the unbelievably excellent BBEdit by Bare Bones Software. Some pages are also designed using Claris Home Page.

 

 

Mail

Server Software: Both primary and secondary mail servers use Eudora Internet Mail Server. In addition, LetterRip by Fog City Software is used for our large mailing lists like MacDev-1 and NetProLive.

 

Fax Gateway: We use the CommuniGate fax gateway by Stalker Software to service our SMTP to fax needs.

 

Client Software: The bulk of our mail is handled by Eudora or Claris eMailer.

 

 

Database

The Industry News updates as well as the banner advertisements at the top of each page, are served via Lasso.

 

 

DNS

Primary and Secondary Domain Name Service is served with QuickDNS Pro by Men and Mice.

 

 

FTP

FTP for both the Internet and Intranet is served by Maxum's Rumpus.

 

 

File Server

The main office file sharing system is based on multiple AppleShare servers.

 

 

CGI's

The most commonly used CGI's are Lasso and NetForms.

 

 

Database

There are several databases - Now Up-to-Date (Calendaring, To-Do), Now Contact (Contact Management), FileMaker Pro (General), 4D and InHouse Subscription Manager (Magazine Subscriptions) by Sapphire Systems, FlexWare (General Accounting), and SalesMaker (Order Processing/Fulfillment) in use on the intranet. Each performs a different task.

 

 

Daily Back Up

The entire network is backed up on a daily basis with Retrospect and Retrospect Network Backup Kit. Additional back ups and custom CD-ROMs are created using Sony Hybrid CD-ROM software.

 

 

Monitoring

Several of the machines on the network are checked (to see if they are running properly) by Maxum's PageSenty.

 

In addition, we use CyberGauge by Neon Software to monitor our bandwidth usage. This is a great application -- you just double click it and you are nearly instantly monitoring in an intuitive way.

 

Lastly, we use Netopia's Timbuktu to remotely control servers and workstations from anywhere on the network.

 

 

Graphics

The primary graphics tools that we use are GraphicConverter by Thorsten Lemke, Adobe PhotoShop, JPEGViewer by Aaron Giles, and DeBabelizer by Equilibrium.