---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash SunFLASH Vol 55 #20 July 1993 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary 55.20.A Iona announces Orbix(tm) - Object Request Broker first full and complete implementation of the Object Management Group's (OMG's) Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA). With Orbix, programmers can develop distributed applications using object-oriented client-server technology 55.20.B Antares Cuts Prices Up to 50% on SBus Boards Antares designs and markets the industry's broadest line of SBus enhancement products. 55.20.C Aurora adds RS422/485 support Options add long-distance and multi-drop terminal and peripheral links to SPARC workstations via low-cost SBus sync and async cards 55.20.D New Aurora 64-port SBus Terminal Server The 6400S provides 64 serial ports for terminals, modems, and other RS-232, RS-422, or RS-485 devices, and occupies just one SBus slot. 55.20.E MAGMA: Low Cost Sbus High Speed Serial and Parallel Ports Mesa Ridge Technologies announced price reductions on it's MAGMA serial and paralllel port product line. From low cost serial/parallel to 128 port serial. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Details -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Iona announces Orbix(tm) - Object Request Broker Newsgroups: comp.newprod From: baker@iona.ie (Sean Baker) Org: Iona Technologies Ltd. Contact: Chris Horn or Annrai O'Toole Org: O'Reilly Institute Address: Westland Row, Dublin 2, Ireland fax: +353-1-6798039 tel: +353-1-6790677 email: info@iona.ie IONA ANNOUNCES ORBIX(tm) - OBJECT REQUEST BROKER DUBLIN, Ireland -- Iona Technologies Ltd. announced Orbix, the first full and complete implementation of the Object Management Group's (OMG's) Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA). With Orbix, programmers can develop distributed applications using object-oriented client-server technology, and use object technology to compose new applications from existing components and subsystems. Orbix has been demonstrated and formally launched at the "Object World" trade show in the Moscone Centre, San Francisco, June 15-17 1993. Orbix provides a C++ language binding for CORBA and is supported on SunSoft Solaris 1.0.1 (SunOS 4.1.2.). The C++ binding was recently submitted jointly by Iona together with SunSoft Inc. and Hewlett-Packard to the OMG. Orbix has been, and is being, ported to other UNIX and non-UNIX platforms. Orbix provides all the functionality of the OMG CORBA specification: o Interface Definition Language (IDL) compiler: The IDL compiler generates all the necessary code to enable transparent client interactions with potentially remote objects. o Dynamic Invocation Interface (DII): Alternatively, requests can be composed, and dynamically type checked, without prior knowledge of operation signatures. o Interface Repository, including update facility: Provides information about available interfaces at runtime. Orbix also supports many beneficial extensions to CORBA: * Implementation Repository and administration tools: This Repository is used to locate the executable code for an idle server when a request arrives for one of its objects. * A stream based interface to the DII: Orbix provides an additional, stream based, interface which makes writing DII clients considerably easier. * Programmer control over "proxies"/"surrogates": Proxies are local representatives for remote objects. In performance-sensitive applications, server programmers can override the standard proxy code (using inheritance) and implement strategies to cache state and accept call-backs from server objects. * Collocation of client and server code: Orbix code is highly symmetric between clients and servers, to the extent that they can be linked together in the same address space, and interact directly. Collocation can be used to help debug an application prior to the distribution of its components, and for programming non-distributed applications in the large by using IDL. * Process level filters: Programmers can develop their own filter code for incoming and outgoing messages for both clients and servers. This facilitates integration of thread packages, monitoring and debugging, auditing and authentication/authorization/encryption. * Object level filters: Further, filters can also be attached to individual objects. * Location Service: A simple, but flexible, facility is provided to locate a server when the name of the host(s) providing the service is unknown. * Loaders and Object fault handling: For servers with a large number of objects, it might be impractical to hold all of the objects in memory. When an invocation on an object arrives at its server, application specific 'loader' code can be used to load the object from a file or other storage. A single-seat Orbix developer's kit, together with documentation and sample tutorial (source-code) examples, has a list price of US$5,000. A runtime license costs US$100. Volume reductions are available. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Antares Cuts Prices Up to 50% on SBus Boards From: sales@antares.com Org: Antares Microsystems, Inc. Contact: Ed Brodnicki, Sales Manager Phone: (800)726-SBUS or (408)370-SBUS Antares Cuts Prices Up to 50% on SBus Boards LOS GATOS, CA, July 1, 1993 -- Antares Microsystems, Inc. announced today that it is cutting prices on its SBus products by up to 50%, with new pricing starting at $149. "We want our customers to know that we intend to match our competition on price, and beat them on support and service." stated James Ludemann, President. Antares, founded in 1989 by the co-designer of the SBus itself, designs and markets the industry's broadest line of SBus enhancement products. All products come with a 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee, a one-year no-questions-asked replacement warranty, and free telephone support. Antares is a member of Sparc International and Sun's third-party Catalyst developer program. New Pricing is as follows: -------------------------- ConServer-ESP $695.00 Buffered Ethernet, 10 megabyte-per-second SCSI, 4 megabyte-per second bidirectional parallel on a single-slot board requiring no driver installation. Compatible with SS10, 600MP, Classic, LX under Solaris 1 or Solaris 2. Comes with AUI port, includes Thin or 10Base-T Ethernet Transceiver. Cheaper than Sun's X1053A, and you get a free parallel port! SCSI-FNS $545.00 Fast, Narrow, Single-ended SCSI Host Adapter. 10 megabytes per second, driver included for SS1, SS1+, SS2, IPC, and IPX under Solaris 1. SCSI-NS 345.00 Narrow, Single-ended SCSI Host Adapter. 5 megabytes per second No driver installation required on SS1, SS1+, SS2, IPC, IPC, SS10, 600MP, Classic, LX, under Solaris 1 or Solaris 2 ConServer-ES 425.00 Ethernet Controller plus 5 megabyte-per-second SCSI Host Adapter. No driver installation required, compatible with SS1, SS1+, SS2, IPC, IPX under Solaris 1 and Solaris 2, and with SS10, Classic, and LX under Solaris 2. Available with Thin or 10Base-T tran- sceiver built in. Ethernet Controller 325.00 No driver installation required for SS1, SS1+, SS2, IPC, IPX under Solaris 1 and Solaris 2, and for SS10, Classic, and LX under Solaris 2. Available with Thin or 10Base-T tran- sceiver built-in. Bidirectional Parallel Port 149.00 Low-cost, Centronics-compatible bidirectional parallel port for printers and scanners. Runs on SS1, SS1+, SS2, IPC, IPX, SS10 under Solaris 1. AntareScan Software Package 195.00 OpenLook graphical scanner control and imaging software package for HP ScanJet and compatibles. FastSerial-8 $595.00 8-Channel terminal server operating at up to 230 kilobits per second, with full modem controls on every port. Runs on SS1, SS1+, SS2, IPC, & IPX under Solaris 1. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Aurora adds RS422/485 support From: balasco@auratek.com (Alfred P. Balasco) Contact: Aurora Technologies phone: (617) 290-4800 fax: (617) 290-4844 email: sales@auratek.com AURORA TECHNOLOGIES ADDS RS-422 AND RS-485 SUPPORT TO SBUS EXPANSION PRODUCT FAMILY Options add long-distance and multi-drop terminal and peripheral links to SPARC workstations via low-cost SBus sync and async cards Waltham, MA, July 12, 1993 -- Aurora Technologies announced the addition of RS-422 and RS-485 signal support to its family of SBus expansion products. The options provide end users and systems integrators greater flexibility in implementing advanced, client-server systems without the cost, complexity and overhead of ethernet-based expansion. In manufacturing applications and multi-office LANs, RS-422 is an ideal solution for connecting SPARC systems to dozens of terminals, modem banks, and other peripherals at distances up to 4,000 feet. The multi-drop capability of RS-485 is suited for applications requiring numerous peripheral connections along a single serial line, a configuration typically found in financial and telecommunications applications. Both signals are designed to protect data transmission in noisy environments. The new options meet EIA standards RS-422-A and RS-485, and are CCITT V.10, V.11, X.26, and X.27 compatible. All Aurora SBus synchronous and asynchronous serial expansion boards support RS-422 and RS-485 as options, with RS-232 support standard. Jumper-configurable RS-485 line termination is available as an option. The Aurora SBus expansion boards can be configured with any combination of serial signal support in four port increments. Unit price for each four port module, which supports both RS-422 and RS-485, is $499. Field upgrades are also available. Aurora Technologies, Inc., engineers, manufactures, and markets a complete range of workstation performance enhancement and expansion products that provide the foundation for business-wide open systems solutions based on the SPARC architecture. These include SBus terminal and peripheral servers, system expansion products, networking communications products, and imaging and OCR software. Aurora products are designed to offer users, resellers, and OEMs broad functionality and easy systems integration. Founded in 1988 by members of Sun Microsystems' marketing and engineering teams, Aurora is a member of SPARC International and a Strategic level member of Sun's third- party developer Catalyst program. # # # RS-422 / RS-485 Specifications Mechanical Specifications Configurations: RS-422, RS-485, RS-232 ports configurable in four port increments via breakout boxes Connectors: DB-25 (DTE) - EIA 530 compatible Dimensions: 4 port - 6 3/16" x 3 1/2" x 1 7/8" 8 port - 11 1/4" x 3 1/2" x 1 7/8" 16 port - 11 1/4" x 7" x 1 7/8" Compatibility: Operating System - Solaris 1.X, Solaris 2.X Hardware - SS1, SS1+, SS2, IPC, IPX, MP600 series, SS10, SPARCserver 1000, SPARCserver 2000, SPARCclassic, and SPARCstation LX Power Supply Specifications Power Supply: External universal auto-sensing 15 Watt DC Output: 5 V, 3A AC Input: 90-260VAC / 47-63 Hz Operating Temp: 0o to 50o C Humidity: 0-90% Dimensions: 5 3/5"L x 3 1/3"W x 2 1/2"H Certification: FCC Class B and VDE 0871 Class B rules using static load Approval: UL, CSA, TUV Signal Specifications Signal Support: Async Sync Tx (A,B) Tx (A,B) 2 1) At RS-232 levels Rx (A,B) Rx (A,B) 2) Jumper configurable RTS (A) 1 TxCin (A,B) options: CTS (A) 1 RxCin (A, B) A)3 state output program- DTR (A) 1 TxCout (A,B) 2 matically enabled CD (A) 1 B)always enabled Signal Standards: EIA RS-422-A and RS-485 CCITT Compatibility: V.10, V.11, X.26, X.27 Driver Output Voltage: -7 V to 12 V Receiver Input Voltage: -12 V to 12 V Receiver High Input Impedance: 12k ohms Min Termination: 100 ohms jumper configurable line termination Receiver Sensitivity: +/- 200 mV Aurora Products Supported Intelligent Terminal Servers Multiport Model 400S 4 Intelligent async serial ports Multiport Model 800S 8 Intelligent async serial ports Multiport Model 1600SE 16 Intelligent async serial ports Multiport Model 3200S 32 Intelligent async serial ports Multiport Model 6400S 64 Intelligent async serial ports Multiport Model 12800S 128 Intelligent async serial ports Intelligent DMA Terminal Servers Multiport Model 400SX 4 Large buffer async DMA serial ports Multiport Model 800SX 8 Large buffer async DMA serial ports Multiport Model 3200SX 32 Large buffer async DMA serial ports Synchronous High-Speed Communications Servers Multiport Model 400S+ 4 Large buffer sync and async serial ports Multiport Model 800S+ 8 Large buffer sync and async serial ports -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: New Aurora 64-port SBus Terminal Server From: balasco@auratek.com (Alfred P. Balasco) Contact: Aurora Technologies phone: (617) 290-4800 fax: (617) 290-4844 email: sales@auratek.com AURORA TECHNOLOGIES INTRODUCES 64 PORT SBUS TERMINAL AND PERIPHERAL SERVER FOR LARGE SPARC-BASED LANS New product adds high-performance expansion without administrative complexity, bandwidth traffic, and expense of ethernet-based terminal servers Waltham, MA, July 18, 1993 -- Aurora Technologies today introduced a high-performance terminal and peripheral server for large multi-user configurations in engineering, manufacturing, finance, and office automation applications. The 6400S provides 64 serial ports for terminals, modems, and other RS-232, RS-422, or RS-485 devices, and occupies just one SBus slot, freeing space for additional I/O cards. The 6400S is a powerful alternative to the expense, complexity, and bandwidth restrictions of ethernet terminal servers. The 6400S is designed with 16 byte per channel I/O buffers to ensure data integrity and optimum throughput even with 64 lines operating simultaneously at speeds up to 38.4kbps. On-board 80 MIPS RISC processors minimize system CPU load. The STREAMS-based device driver installs automatically without kernel recompilation. The 6400S pizza-box enclosure and rack-mountable DB-25 or RJ45 connectors conform to the Sun form factor for easy ergonomic system integration. With DB-25 connectors, users can choose from RS-232, RS-422 (for connections to 4,000 feet), and RS-485 (for multiple connections along a single serial line) signals. The 6400S driver supports Solaris 1.X or 2.X running on the SS1, SS1+, SS2, IPC, IPX, MP600, SS10, SPARCserver 2000, SPARCserver 1000, SPARCclassic, SPARCstation LX, SPARC Engine 1E/2E, and most compatibles. The 6400S is now shipping. Unit price is $5999.00. Aurora Technologies, Inc., engineers, manufactures, and markets a complete range of workstation performance enhancement and expansion products that provide the foundation for business-wide open systems solutions based on the SPARC architecture. These include SBus terminal and peripheral servers, system expansion products, networking communications products, and imaging and OCR software. Aurora products are designed to offer users, resellers, and OEMs broad functionality and easy systems integration. Founded in 1988 by members of Sun Microsystems' marketing and engineering teams, Aurora is a member of SPARC International and a Strategic level member of Sun's third-party developer Catalyst program. # # # Multiport Model 6400S Specifications MECHANICAL SPECIFICATIONS Dimensions Pizza Box 16" x 16" x 23/4" Breakout Box (Four rack-mountable) 111/4" x 7" x 17/8" Weight Pizza Box 20 lbs, 6 oz Breakout Box 29 oz - 116 oz total Interface Connector (64) DB-25(DTE), female Cable Breakout 2' cable shipped standard (From Host) Custom cables to 100' from host available on request Compatibility Operating System Solaris 1.X, Solaris 2.X Hardware SS1, SS1+, SS2, IPC, IPX, MP600 series, SS10, SPARCserver 2000, SPARCserver 1000, SPARCclassic, and SPARCstation LX COMMUNICATION SPECIFICATIONS Electrical Interface RS-232 (standard), RS-422/485 (optional) Line Speeds Full termio baud rate support 50 baud to 38.4K baud Start/Stop Bits 1 and 2 Character Length 5,6,7, and 8 bits Flow Control Software flow control -XON/XOFF Hardware flow control - CTS/RTS Modem Control - CD/DTR Buffers 8 byte send / 8 byte receive buffer per port OPERATING SPECIFICATIONS Power Supply Universal Power Supply, auto sensing 50/60 Hz 80 - 260v Environmental Operating Temp. 0 - 50 degrees C Storage Temp. -20 - 60 degrees C Relative Humidity 20% - 80% (operating, non-condensing) Certification FCC Class A Compliant UL, TUV, FCC-A Predicted MTBF 65,000 hours -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: MAGMA: Low Cost Sbus High Speed Serial and Parallel Ports From: ed@magma.COM (Ed Romascan) Org: MAGMA contact: Michael Seidel Phone: (800) 285-8990 (619) 457-0750 FAX: (619) 457-0798 email: sales@magma.com Address: 6725 Mesa Ridge Road #100 San Diego, CA 92121 Mesa Ridge Technologies Announces The Lowest Prices Ever for High Speed Serial and Parallel Ports for Sun Microsystem's SPARC Platforms Mesa Ridge Technologies -- the first and largest designer and manufacturer of third party SBus expansion products, announced price reductions on it's MAGMA serial and paralllel port product line. The MAGMA line of serial ports have been specifically designed to operate with the latest V.32bis/V.42bis 14.4Kbps modems on the market. Each product occupies just one SBus slot. All ports have the following features REQUIRED for high speed operation: Full Modem Control Automatic bi-directional RTS/CTS Flow Control DTE to DCE Speeds up to 115.2Kbps On-board +/-12V Power Supply (MAGMA 16 Sp) All serial and parallel port products share the following features: Serial Ports Speed 110 to 115,200bps Modem Control Full modem control on ALL ports Flow Control Automatic hardware flow control Compatability getty, tip, uucp, SLIP, PPP, etc Interface RS-232 Parallel Ports Speed 250,000 characters per second Compatability NeWSprint, OPENprint Interface "Centronics" Available Products Now Shipping MAGMA Parallel Sp, $145 - A single parallel port MAGMA Dual Parallel Sp, $295 - Two parallel ports MAGMA LC 2+1 Sp, $275 - Low Cost Two serial/one parallel port (20Kcps parallel port) MAGMA 2+1 Sp, $375 - Two serial/one parallel port MAGMA 4 Sp, $395 - Four serial ports MAGMA 8 Sp, $595 - Eight serial ports MAGMA 8+2 Sp, $1095 - Eight serial/two parallel ports MAGMA 16 Sp, $1175 - Sixteen serial ports all with modem control MAGMA 32 Sp, $2200 - Two MAGMA 16s MAGMA 64 Sp, $5995 - Sixty four serial ports all with modem control in an external chassis requires 1 SBus slot MAGMA 128 Sp, $9995 - 128 serial ports all with modem control in an external chassis requires 1 SBus slot ********************************************************************** For information about SunFlash send mail to info-sunflash@Sun.COM. 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