Upgrading CD‐ROM networking at South Bank University Library
| Pages | 6-9 |
| Date | 01 April 1995 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb040580 |
| Published date | 01 April 1995 |
| Author | John Hardy |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
Upgrading CD-ROM
networking at South
Bank University
Library
by John Hardy, IT Librarian, South
Bank University Library
The library
at
South
Bank
University has
recently installed a
new
CD-ROM networking
system.
This report gives
a short
description
of
the thoughts that
lay behind the
recognition
of
the
need for
change,
features
of
the
new
system,
the process
of installing
and
setting
up the
server,
a brief
appraisal
of
the
network operating system
—
Windows
NT,
and general thoughts
on
future CD-ROM
developments.
Although
operational
the
system
has
not,
at
the time
of
writing,
gone
live.
A full
analysis
of
the system
in
the
light
of
operating experience
will be
given
at a
future
date.
Introduction
South Bank University Library first installed a
CD-ROM network in 1990. An overview of the
development of
the
network since then was cov-
ered by
a
previous article in
19931.
By 1995 time
had caught up with
us.
What was once the state of
the art was falling short of
the
service level de-
manded of
a
busy academic library. An awareness
of the need for change began to grow as the
demand for more CD titles expanded. Also,
library users were asking for a greater degree of
access to the system from both within the library
and throughout the University as a
whole.
These
considerations apart, it was becoming increasingly
obvious that given the improved level of
hardware and software performance available in
the world of information technology, the time to
upgrade the existing CD system was fast ap-
proaching.
The thinking behind the need
for change
In the early days of
CD-ROM
databases it seemed
that the pace of
change
was not that fast. Today
there are hundreds of
titles
on offer. Clearly the
existing library CD network, based on thirty-seven
single speed CD drives, would need to be up-
graded in order to make even a fraction of these
titles available. It was becoming something of a
juggling act with titles being moved to standalone
CD workstations to allow for any new titles or
backruns of existing CDs.
More drives?
One solution, to increase the number of networked
drives was a possible option. However, although
the existing Hitachi drives had given nearly five
years of trouble free service, it was clear that it
would soon be time to think about replacement. To
do this, in addition to the cost of extra drives,
would have represented a high level of investment
in a system that might be falling short in other
areas within the near future.
Upgrade of the optical servers?
The extra drives would also put increased pressure
on the existing equipment. The two optical servers,
486,
33MHz, with 16Mb of
RAM,
were beginning
to show their age and would undoubtedly have
struggled with a much higher system load. This
too would mean additional expenditure on a
system with a possibly limited future.
Greater access from outside the library?
The Logicraft Omniware servers used with the
existing system each allow a single session only.
Expanding this provision could only be on a one
extra unit for one extra session basis. This did not
seem to represent a serious solution to the needs of
wide area access.
The way forward
Having enjoyed a high level of satisfaction and
support from the supplier of our existing CD
1 CD-ROM networking developments at South Bank University Library.
VINE 93
(December 1993) pp 31-35.
6—VINE
101 (December 1995)
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