---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash SunConnect Expands And Upgrades FDDI Offerings SunFLASH Vol 34 #9 October 1991 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- On Oct 8th, 1991 SunConnect, a new Sun Microsystems, Inc. business, released four product announcements, which are attached for your reference. 1. SunConnect Expands and Upgrades FDDI Offerings 2. SunConnect Introduces High-speed Serial Interface Card 3. SunConnect Releases New Version of SunNet Manager; Initiates Sunconnect Partners Program for Network Management 4. New Sunconnect PC-NFS Programmer's Toolkit Aids Development of Distributed Applications in DOS-to-UNIX Environments SMCC currently resells and offers complete support for all of the SunConnect products. Users should expect to be able to take full advantage of SunConnect products through the SMCC price list and world-wide customer service, although each product decision will be made on a case-by-case basis. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SunConnect Introduces FDDI/S Interface With Single-Attach Capability for SBus-based Systems -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Upgrades FDDI/DX Interface Software for VME-based Systems MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- October 8, 1991 -- SunConnect, a Sun Microsystems, Inc., business, today expanded its Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) product line with the introduction of the FDDI/S(TM) network interface card for single-attach FDDI connectivity for SBus-based systems. The FDDI/S product represents a significant step forward in bringing low-cost, high-speed fiber optic networking to the desktop. SunConnect also released a software upgrade to its FDDI/DX (TM) interface for FDDI connectivity to VME-based systems. FDDI is the high-speed LAN technology most experts agree will eventually replace Ethernet and token ring for bandwidth-intensive network applications. The 100-Mbps performance and reliability of FDDI is particularly attractive to customers with applications in areas such as imaging, computer-aided design, multimedia and animation, where high sustained data rates are critical. Client/server distributed applications also benefit from the high network performance of FDDI. Many organizations are now in the process of migrating to FDDI while continuing to use Ethernet for some applications. With today's announcements, SunConnect addresses customer demand for high-speed networking to the desktop and increases the options for customers who wish to integrate their Ethernet-based UNIX(R) systems with FDDI LANs. FDDI/S The FDDI/S interface fully meets American National Standards Institute (ANSI) specifications. It provides superior performance through the use of a specially-developed custom ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit). The SunConnect FDDI/S product supports the FDDI Station Management (SMT) 6.2 standard and includes an SMT proxy agent for SunNet(TM) Manager, a leading network management platform. The FDDI/S interface card and the SunNet Manager platform allow systems administrators to easily manage any FDDI node running SMT 6.2 on a heterogeneous FDDI network. The high-performance FDDI/S interface can be used with any SBus-based system, including the Sun(TM) SPARCsystem(TM) line of workstations and servers that support the SunOS(TM) operating environment (4.1 or higher). The FDDI/S controller will be available in January, 1992. It will be sold and supported through SunConnect resellers including SunExpress and Sun Microsystems Computer Corp. The SunConnect U.S. suggested retail price is $2,995 for the adapter board and associated software and documentation. FDDI/DX Software Upgrade SunConnect also presented today a software upgrade to its FDDI dual-attach interface for VME-based systems, the FDDI/DX interface. The FDDI/DX product is a full-height (9U) VME printed circuit board with associated driver software and network monitoring utilities. With the upgrade, the product now supports FDDI SMT 6.2, the current industry standard for station management. Like the FDDI/S product, the FDDI/DX interface includes proxy agents for the SunNet Manager platform, enabling system administrators to integrate nodes quickly and easily into multi-vendor FDDI networks. The software upgrade significantly improves the performance of high-end servers in FDDI LANs. The FDDI/DX interface can be used with any VMEbus product, including all Sun-4(TM) and SPARCsystem workstations and servers as well as the recently-introduced SPARCserver(TM) 600 MP series. It is sold and supported through SunConnect resellers including SunExpress and Sun Microsystems Computer Corp. The U.S. suggested retail price is $12,500 for the VME board and the driver software. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SunConnect Introduces High-Speed Serial Interface Card ---------------------------------------------------------------------- HSI/S Product Enables Entry-Level SBus Fileservers to Perform as Communication Gateways in a Variety of Networks MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- October 8, 1991 -- SunConnect, a Sun Microsystems, Inc., business, today unveiled the High-speed Serial Interface/SBus (HSI/S) interface card, a four-port serial SBus communications card that permits high-throughput network communication between desktop SPARC(R) workstations and servers and a variety of heterogeneous computer resources. The HSI/S interface card enables desktop SPARCsystem(TM) workstations and servers to utilize T1-speed (1.544 Mbps) and CEPT-speed (2.048 Mbps) lines, allowing the system to communicate at high speeds with large public data networks or computers at remote sites. The product can be used in conjunction with any of four different SunConnect(TM) software packages: SunConnect's Internetwork Router (IR) for communicating with remote LANs and SBus workstations and servers; the SunConnect X.25 package for access to international public data networks; the SunLink(R) SNA 3270 gateway for connectivity with IBM mainframes; and the SunLink SNA Peer-to-Peer gateway for communication with distributed applications. The HSI/S interface card can accommodate any of the software products separately or, since there are four ports, can run all of them simultaneously. Thus, a SPARC system equipped with the HSI/S interface card can act as a high-speed communication server for a variety of networks. "Any customer who needs high bandwidth capability for communication with large networks or remote resources will benefit from today's announcement," said Cheryl Vedoe, vice president and general manager of SunConnect. "The HSI/S product supports SunConnect's charter of providing products for integrating and managing UNIX systems in heterogeneous environments." The HSI/S interface card is available now through local Sun Microsystems Computer Corp. sales offices, SunExpress, and SunConnect resellers. The SunConnect suggested U.S. retail price is $2,500, which includes the interface card and the associated patch panel, software, cables and diagnostic software. Hardware requirements include a SPARCsystem workstation or server with available SBus slot and a local disk; boot PROM revision levels 1.x or 2.x; and access to a CD-ROM drive for software installation. The SunOS(TM) operating environment (4.1 or higher) is also required for operation. SunConnect was formed in July 1991 as a business unit of Sun Microsystems, Inc. The company develops and markets products that enable customers to reliably and transparently integrate UNIX systems into mixed-vendor environments and efficiently manage enterprise-wide networks. Sun Microsystems, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., is a leading worldwide supplier of network-based distributed computing solutions, including professional workstations, servers and UNIX operating system and productivity software. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- SunConnect Releases New Version Of SunNet Manager ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Initiates SunConnect Partners Program For Network Management MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- October 8, 1991 -- SunConnect, a Sun Microsystems, Inc., business, today introduced a new version of the SunNet(TM) Manager platform, the leading open platform for network management, and launched a partnership program that provides marketing and technical support for third-party SunNet Manager distributors and application developers. SunNet Manager 1.2 The SunNet Manager product is an integrated platform for heterogeneous network management. Based on a distributed management architecture, the SunNet Manager platform offers rich support for industry standards and protocol independence. The product includes SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), and DECnet(R) NICE and FDDI Station ManagemenT (SMT) protocols are supported through other SunConnect products. Among the SunNet Manager platform's features is a Discovery Tool that actively seeks out elements on the network and displays them on the screen for the user. Also included are Browser and Grapher tools which provide static and dynamic event analysis. The SunNet Manager platform supports multiple protocols through the use of proxy agents in the manager/agent services API. SunConnect and third-party vendors will continue adding support for additional protocols in order to assure protocol independence for the product. The SunNet Manager platform can communicate to any private network management protocol through a proxy written to its own agent services API. The product also maintains a cache of information about the network to allow diagnostics when other systems on the network are inoperable. Version 1.2 of the SunNet Manager platform significantly increases the functionality of the product over the previous release. The table below summarizes the principal enhancements: NEW FEATURE: Database API BENEFIT: Lets value-added applications access and modify data in a SunNet Manager database at runtime. NEW FEATURE: Bundled SNMP agents for SPARC(R) workstations and servers BENEFITS: Allows Sun(TM) SPARCsystem(TM) workstations and servers running SunOS(TM) 4.0 or higher to be managed by any SNMP management station. Users can copy and distribute agents openly at no charge. NEW FEATURE: On-line help BENEFIT: SunNet Manager manual pages are accessible from the administrator's workstation. NEW FEATURE: OpenWindows(TM) 3.0 support BENEFIT: Users can take advantage of the current window environment release for the Sun operating environment. The SunNet Manager platform, version 1.2, is available immediately through local Sun Microsystems Computer Corp. sales offices, SunExpress and SunConnect resellers. The SunConnect suggested U.S. retail price is $3,000, which includes a single right-to-use license, a CD and documentation. SunConnect Partners Program for Network Management To foster the creation of network management solutions based around SunNet Manager, SunConnect has initiated the SunConnect Partners Program(TM) for Network Management. The program offers marketing and engineering development support for qualified third parties. Under the program, distributors who license the SunNet Manager platform to end users and other distributors receive marketing support in the form of electronic access to SunNet Manager materials and collateral. Distribution partners are included in the annual Partners catalog and receive a subscription to the quarterly SunConnect Partners Program for Network Management newsletter. Development partners, including application developers, system integrators and porting partners, receive the same benefits as distributors, plus electronic access to the development support database, technical support, and an invitation to an annual Development Partners meeting. The SunConnect Partners Program for Network Management has already signed on more than 35 partners, several of whom are introducing their SunNet Manager products at the Interop '91 trade show in San Jose, Calif. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- New SunConnect PC-NFS Programmer's Toolkit Aids Development Of Distributed Applications In DOS-To-UNIX Environments ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Adds New Network-Independent APIs, Improves Microsoft Windows Compatibility MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- October 8, 1991 -- SunConnect, a Sun Microsystems, Inc., business, today introduced the PC-NFS(R) Programmer's Toolkit(TM) 2.0, providing new APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) and libraries for easy development of distributed applications in mixed-vendor networking environments. Applications created with the PC-NFS Programmer's Toolkit can connect MS-DOS(R) and Microsoft(R) Windows systems with more than 90 ONC(TM) (Open Network Computing) implementations, including the Solaris(R) operating environment from SunSoft, and all other major operating systems. The PC-NFS Programmer's Toolkit 2.0 allows independent software vendors and MIS organizations to build network applications that run on PC-NFS, the highest-volume platform for DOS-to-UNIX client/server computing. The toolkit is the first product to bring industry-standard XTI (X/OPEN Transport Interface) and TIRPC (Transport-Independent Remote Procedure Call) APIs together with TCP/IP (Transport-Independent Protocol/Internetwork Protocol) on the DOS platform. The result is easy, transparent application portability across a wide range of network transport protocols. The TIRPC APIs are supported by SunConnect, SunSoft, Novell and other leading vendors of development products for network computing. With the addition of the new APIs, the toolkit now supports all transport-independent and transport-specific RPC client calls; XDR (Sun's standard for data interchange between dissimilar machines); XTI (the X/OPEN specification for transport independence); additional transport sessions; and the NIS network-wide naming service client interface -- all of which facilitate development of distributed services and applications. The new version of the PC-NFS Programmer's Toolkit is compatible with Windows 3.0 and allows developers to run multiple toolkit DOS applications within Windows, eliminating the full screen mode requirement. Version 2.0 allows for network selection of APIs, letting developers select the network transport protocol at compile time or run time. Name service APIs enable applications to share information such as names, passwords and host names. Version 2.0 also allows multiple toolkit applications to share the toolkit's resident naming and transport services. A wide range of multiuser, multisystem software already has been developed with the PC-NFS Programmer's Toolkit, including X Window System applications and programs for desktop publishing, computer-aided design and manufacturing, database management, document control and terminal emulation. SunConnect publishes a catalog that provides information on SunConnect third-party partners and their products supporting the PC-NFS platform. NEW FEATURE: New architecture with loadable modules BENEFIT: More than one toolkit application can now share resident naming and transport services. NEW FEATURE: TIRPC APIs BENEFIT:Single, high-level interface to multiple transport protocols; over-the-wire compatibility with TSRPC. NEW FEATURE: XTI X/OPEN Transport Interface APIs BENEFIT: Standard interface independent of specific transport protocols; allows more control of transport protocol than RPC; supercedes sockets. NEW FEATURE: Supports MS-DOS 5.0 and Microsoft C 5.0 and 6.0 BENEFIT: Uses latest available technology and environments. NEW FEATURE: DOS Terminate and Stay Resident APIs BENEFIT: Simulate multiple processes in DOS for background processing tasks. NEW FEATURE: Improved MS Windows Compatibility BENEFIT: Developers can run multiple toolkit DOS applications within Windows. NEW FEATURE: Up to 16 transport sessions (sockets or XTI) BENEFIT: Allows flexible and easy migration from Version 1.0 socket applications to Version 2.0. NEW FEATURE: Network Selection APIs BENEFIT: Allows network applications to select the network transport protocol at compile time or run time. NEW FEATURE: XDR (External Data Representation) APIs BENEFIT: Transform data to and from machine-dependent forms for transmission over a network. NEW FEATURE: Transport-specific RPC API BENEFIT: Permits easy migration from Version 1.0 to Version 2.0. The PC-NFS Programmer's Toolkit 2.0 works with PC-NFS 3.0.1 and PC-NFS 3.5. Applications developed with the toolkit compile with Microsoft's C compiler 5.0 and 6.0. Sockets or TSRPC-based applications built with PC-NFS Programmer's Toolkit 1.0 can usually be migrated to Version 2.0 by recompiling. Applications can also be easily re-written to support the new APIs. Version 2.0 is compatible with MS-DOS Version 5.0, and can be loaded into DOS 5.0, DR DOS 6.0 or upper memory blocks using third-party memory managers. The PC-NFS Programmer's Toolkit, PC-NFS, and other SunConnect products can be ordered through SunConnect resellers including SunExpress and Sun Microsystems Computer Corp. SunConnect was formed in July 1991 as a business unit of Sun Microsystems, Inc. The company develops and markets products that enable customers to reliably and transparently integrate UNIX systems into mixed-vendor environments and efficiently manage enterprise-wide networks. Sun Microsystems, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., is a leading worldwide supplier of network-based distributed computing solutions, including professional workstations, servers and UNIX operating system and productivity software. Sun Microsystems, Sun, the Sun logo, SunConnect, the SunConnect logo, SunSoft, Solaris, ONC, PC-NFS, PC-NFS Programmer's Toolkit, and NFS are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX System Laboratories, Inc. All other products or services mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners. Press Information: SunConnect Erica Vener (415) 336-3566 Hi-Tech Public Relations Claudia Carasso (415) 864-5600 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For information send mail to info-sunflash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Archives are on solar.nova.edu and paris.cs.miami.edu. All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in your region. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or publication by Sun Microsystems. John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. (305) 776-7770.