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RE: Managing Computing Equipment of SOHO



Hello,

Great idea.

I would like also to recommend a KVM switch from the Israeli based company -
Minicom - minicom.co.il (KVM switch - A switch that enables you to access
few computer boxes with one set of monitor, keyboard and mouse).

For various reasons, these times, when you purchase a switch for two PCs
from them you receive a switch for 4 PCs, which is usualy much more
expensive.

As a network administrator, I used to buy these switches from foriegn
companies, and bought many types until I found one that works good. The
cheap mechanical switches are no good since many PCs will not work well with
them and not recognize the keyboard and mouse during boot.

Recently I found an Israeli company that develops and manufactures quality
switches. The only company in Israel (Jerusalem) as far as I know.

Their phone no. 02-6518593 - Strange, but you can't find that on their web
site !!!

Warm Regards,

Oved

-----Original Message-----
From: root@main.aquanet.co.il [mailto:root@main.aquanet.co.il]On Behalf Of
Eli Marmor
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 7:54 PM
To: linux ILUG
Subject: Managing Computing Equipment of SOHO


I want to share you with my experience with something which may look
off topic, but I believe that may be very useful for many of this
list, especially people who manage home networks or small networks
of small businesses (or in short - SOHO - Small Office Home Office):
Network Cabinets. From any unknown reason, it is believed that only
big companies need it, but the opposite is true: Only small offices
or houses with limited space and no infrastructure in the walls,
need it. (at least I hope that this issue is more on-topic than the
previous - the Israeli encryption laws...).

As one who develops for many UNIX platforms, connected to the Net
through a frame-relay line, and also uses the usual equipment
(printer, scanner, etc.), I had zillion of boxes at home, and many
of them were not useful because there was nowhere to put them. So I
ordered a tall (40U) 19" cabinet (from "Solomon & Sasbon", Or-Akiva,
if you are really curious... But there are competitors too, like
Bynet Yissum, though a little more expensive), and received it
yesterday. Instead of ordering a ready cabinet, I asked to get it in
parts, and I composed them according to the sizes of my equipment.
Now most of my equipment fits into it ("most" means 3 of 4
computers, a hub, a  Cisco router, a frame relay DTU, a screen, 2
keyboards, 2 mouses, a lazer printer, 2 switch-boxes, a scanner,
external disks, a UPS, etc.). Of course, I chose shelves according
to the equipment; For example, the scanner is placed on a moving
shelf (sorry, don't know the exact English word), so it takes only
10 cm in height, and when I need to scan anything, I pull it and
open it to it full height (48 cm; Amazing, isn't it?).

The price was looked very expensive from first look. But many parts
are not important (for example, there is no reason to buy doors,
side walls, etc.). After I removed them, the price became more
rational. Then came a price cut (after all, it is a computing
equipment...) and 10% additional discount is given for cash payments
(including checks). After I already decided to buy it, they were so
generous (and frayers...) to give me yet another discount, and the
final price reached $400 (instead of $1000-$2000, before all the
discounts). Much less than the monthly communication costs (frame-
relay alone - Bezeq+ISP - is $300-$400, add cellular/phone/ISDN/etc.
to it, and you end up with a lot of money...).

Since it is a real magic for me, and I am very happy with it, I am
curious to know: Why isn't it popular?  Why did I hear about it
only recently?  I'm sure that many of you (yes, especially
Linuxers!) face similar problems (too much equipment, too less
space); Do you have other ways to compete with them (except for
contributing your equipment to poor people)?

--
Eli Marmor
marmor@elmar.co.il
El-Mar Software Ltd.

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