[deanrantala]

I am about ready to get my SDS (C3) system put together and all ready.

Before I do, I just want to be sure I have "all my ducks in a row" and have a few questions I need to ask...

1) Xentry/DAS

I understand DAS is accessed via Xentry, but is there a seperate license process for each? Again, I am using a C3 mux - so I want to be 100% clear how many serials/keys/etc I will need to get DAS/Xentry working.

2) Using under VMWare

I have heard mix success with this. Just how A) Safe and B) Reliable is running the Xentry/DAS setup under VMWare?

3) Putting it all together

In order to get my Xentry/DAS setup working with my C3 mux, is there anything else (additional software), pills, prayers, etc needed to make these 2 (err 3?) main pieces "work together"?

4) Advantages to using pre-installed images

I am a seasoned conputer tech/programmer and so manipulating the computer-side of things is no problem. With that said, what are the advantages (if any) to using a pre-installed image such as Vmware, Dell 630 or IBM?

5) Using Serial-to-USB adapters

I hear some people talk about how "not to use usb-to-serial" adapters, then I hear others say it works fine. As a computer programmer, I can say this: from the perspective of software, a program typically does not know the difference if you are using a usb-to-serial interface or a pci-to-serial interface. Hardware abstraction (within the OS) completely hides this from the application.

Is there ultimately any issues running DAS/Xentry to the C3 mux via usb-to-serial, or should I stick with an old-fashioned serial interface?

IN CLOSING:

I plan to put all this information together in one neat little spot WITH the complete installer images, etc and upload it as a SINGLE archive to save people in the future from having to pull their hair out getting this set up.

Many thanks in advance!

- Dean