🚀 go-pugleaf

I help maintain two Novell Netware 3.11 networks that each have a
number of Macintoshes attached.  I would like to know if there is a
way that I can have individual workstations "hunt" for the next
available instance of a program.

The problem is this:  Quark XPress is not a shareable program.
Quark, in their infinite wisdom or mistrust, chose _not_ to allow
the system administrator, me, the opportunity to prove my
trust-worthiness.  Thus, I must either install the program on each
workstation (not desirable) or install it the registered number of
times on the server (also not desirable given a limited amount of
hard disk space on the server, but at least I'll know that the
program will be there when the user calls).


Now the fun begins.  In my instructional lab, I have as many copies
of the program as there are Macs.  No problem, I have room enough,
grudgingly, to fit 22 copies of the program.  In my general access
lab, I have more Macs than copies of Quark.  I could restrict the
seating for Quark to only a certain set of Macs, but this is
clumsy.  Obviously, I could set up two Macs per individual copy of
Quark, with only the first person getting to use the copy, but it
seems silly to me that someone should have to wait or change chairs
when I _know_ that there are copies enough to satisfy demand.

So...  Is there a program that will allow a "hunt" for an available
copy?  E.g. User 1 calls for Quark and gets copy one.  User 2 calls
for Quark, the program looks at copy one, sees it is busy and goes
to copy two.  User 3 calls, finds first two busy, finds copy three,
etc.


Many thanks in advance.

Paul Gunderson
Computing Services Division
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
paulg@convex.csd.uwm.edu