Your quite right if you want to link to NHSnet and meet the current "Code of Connection" you need a strongly authenticated connection which mean either ISDN OR a smart card if you want to use the PSTN. This does not require MS Exchange.
As I said in my post "It's certainly nicer to have ISDN and a router or even a faster connection if you can afford it". My point was that a PSTN link will provide adequate performance for a small number of simultaneous browsers and all the email likely to be generated by a practice (even if everyone want's GP-UK).
To quote Ian McNicoll's recent posting
">Also the added complications of Exchange server, X-400 and security make even
>die-hard techies like me go very pale indeed. Practices are going to need a
>great deal of support with this technology"
We use MS Exchange to link our complex office network to the world and have it installed in a few customer sites. My experience convinces me that it is not an appropriate solution for the small networks in general practice.
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Ewan Davis - Personal email address [log in to unmask] Also at [log in to unmask]
PGP key available from ldap://certserver.pgp.com
Work Phone numbers - Voice +44 (1) 527 579414 Fax +44(1)527 833188
Affiliations:
Chairman AAH Meditel (www.meditel.co.uk) supplier of primary care information systems.
Chairman Peak Systems (www.peaksystems.co.uk) supplier of community care information systems
Chairman PharMed (www.PharMed.org.uk) Promoting GP-Pharmacy links
Chairman CSSA Primary Care Group (www.cssa.co.uk) the trade association of GP System suppliers.
-----Original Message-----
From: Trefor Roscoe [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 1998 9:55 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: Cost of linking practices to the Internet
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ewan Davis
> Sent: 24 November 1998 11:56
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: RE: Cost of linking practices to the Internet
>
> There is a lot of duff information in this thread.
>
big snip
>
> Of course GPnet is coming soon and this will provide all of the above and more free. It won't need NT and MS Exchange either.
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So why do NHSTB insist that this is the only way that the CHAPS security will work to allow connection to NHSnet? What is it about
the connection that requires exchange server? Will a 56k link running at 44000 at best some of the time handle four or five links to
the local hospitla to look at bed states, path results, OPD availability, etc.? A clean 56k link is very different form the average
PSTN dial up. Anyone consistently get 50k or better?
We have been told there are cheap simple ways of doing things in the past and that they might work. The suppliers (your goodself
obviously accepted) seem to go for the complex bells and whistles approach to allow future expansion etc.
If we are going to go for the distributed electttronic patient record then we will need a highly flexible, high volume connection, I
can't see the point of bolting on a system that will work for the moment to our current systems when we have the opportunity to get
it right first time.
Trefor
Dr Trefor Roscoe
Beighton Health Centre
Queens Road, Beighton,
SHEFFIELD
GP Tutor Informatics - N Trent
Member of the BHIA
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