LAT on Suns

[Douglas Floer]

I'd like to find out what LAT software people are using on Suns.  We are
predominantly a VAX shop and have LAT terminal servers everywhere for both
terminals and printers.  In fact, almost all printers used by our Suns are
either connected directly to the VAXes or to LAT-based terminal servers.
We currently use Sun's DECnet implementation to print via the VMS queue
but this eliminates the possibility of using lpr needed by applications
such as WordPerfect and Framemaker.

We purchased Ki Research's LAT software about two years ago and have had a
good 20 updates since then.  It still does not work as advertised and the
Ki people don't seem to be able to fix the problem.  We find printing to
LAT based printers using the Ki software so flaky that it's unusable.
Terminal connections via Ki's LAT software are fast and usable but not
completely reliable.

Meridian Technology Corp is offering a SuperLAT product that claims to do
everything we need:  printer support, incoming terminal connections, and a
beta version for outgoing terminal connections.  They also appear to have
a proven, reliable product and supply source for a number of LAT hardware
vendors.

I'm interested in hearing about experiences, good and bad, with both Ki
and Meridian LAT products and any other LAT products that you mightknow
of.  I'd also like to hear from anyone with experience using dual protocol
terminal server (TCP/IP and LAT) with printers accessed using both LAT
from VAXes and TCP/IP from Unix.

[[Ed's Note: The last time this was discussed (v8n226) - the consensus
seemed to be that these were the only makes of LAT for Sun products. -bdg]]

Thanks for any advice you can give.
Doug Floer, MDA, Richmond, BC, Canada             ..!uunet!van-bc!mdavcr!dougf