ABSTRACT
For many, the advent of the Local-Area Network (LAN) has brought with it the promise of improved productivity, shared peripherals, common databases, distributed processing, simplified software distribution, better communications, instant access to computer resources - all at rock-bottom prices and from inception to implementation in a matter of months or even weeks. No doubt these expectations can be satisfied, but it certainly is not as easy and straight-forward as some vendors and computer gurus would have us believe. We know.
We installed a LAN to replace a superminicomputer, time-sharing system used primarily for engineering, word-processing and telecommunications. The project was successful, yes, but not without a host of trials and tribulations.
