-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash SunFlash December 1991 Table Of Contents SunFLASH Vol 36 #toc December 1991 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note From The SunFlash Editor Summary of The Florida SunFlash For New Subscribers Summary Of December's Messages (line count + title) Summary of Messages Sent This Month (issue # and synopsis) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note From The SunFlash Editor The SunFlash archives are up to date. I have created a compressed tar file of all of the 1991 articles (291 articles, about 1.25Mb). About 4Mb when uncompressed. There are compressed tar files for each month as well as the whole year. [note that the uunet archive might not be updated until January 15th or 16th.] newstop.ebay.sun.com (Sun access only) solar.nova.edu pub/sunflash paris.cs.miami.edu pub/sunflash uunet.uu.net systems/sun/sunflash I have revamped my SunFlash article posting scripts. You will see the email address to which I actually post sunflash messages in the mail headers. Requests to have entries deleted/rename/added etc should be addressed to the person named after the Error-To: field in the mail header. If you find material that would make a good SunFlash article, please send it to me for consideration and I'll post it. John J. McLaughlin System Engineer & SunFlash Editor Ft. Lauderdale, Florida USA January 13th, 1992 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary of The Florida SunFlash For New Subscribers The Florida SunFlash is an electronic news service for Sun Microsystems computer users. It is distributed by more than 90 Sun offices and by about 40 Sun Local Users Groups in more than 35 countries. The Florida SunFlash has a subscription base of more that 50,000 Sun users. This is the December table of contents for the Florida SunFlash. If there are any items that you missed and really want to see, please send the required volume.issue numbers to flash@sunvice.East.Sun.com. For more information about SunFlash, send mail to info-sunflash thus: $ mail info-sunflash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM Subject: info info ^D $ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary Of December's Messages -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Line Count Vol.# Title 516 36.01 Sun-managers Frequently Asked Questions 76 36.02 Token Ring Interface SPARC System 207 36.03 Sun/IBM And Sun/DEC Connectivity 83 36.04 Cobra, SMCC: Reseller Agreement In Brazil 89 36.05 UniForum's UNIX Products Directory 480 36.06 Sun's Hottest, Volume 2, Number 2 415 36.07 3rd Party Hardware and Software 402 36.08 3rd Party Hardware and Software 128 36.09 Sun Network Coprocessor 135 36.10 OpenWindows Developer's Guide 3.0 149 36.11 Sun Foundation Makes New Community Grants 64 36.12 Menu Driven System Administration 75 36.13 Desktop Upgrade Matrix 290 36.14 7.0 SunLink SNA 3270 264 36.15 SunLink SNA Peer-to-Peer 7.0 99 36.16 SunLink Channel Gateway 7.1 180 36.17 SunLink TRI/S 2.0 115 36.18 SunPics Introduces NeWSprint 2.0 Software 73 36.19 SunPics Boosts SPARCprinter Functionality 206 36.20 Isis: Distributed Computing Toolkit 1104 36.21 Sunergy Newsletter 2 190 36.22 SunOS 4.1.2 105 36.23 SunOS Media Transition Total 5445 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary of Messages Sent This Month 36.01 Sun-managers Frequently Asked Questions From: phil@eecs.nwu.edu (William LeFebvre) Newsgroups: alt.sys.sun Subject: Sun-managers FAQ (frequently asked questions) Organization: EECS Department, Northwestern University Lines: 489 This is collection of common questions posted to the sun-managers mailing list. This will hopefully reduce traffic to the list and become a useful resource by itself. Keeping with the style of a similar FAQ for comp.windows.x, questions marked with a '+' indicate questions new to this issue; those with significant changes of content since the last issue are marked by '*' Please send corrections or submissions to "sun-managers-faq@eecs.nwu.edu". Questions 1) How do I use the sun-managers mailing list? 2) How do I join, post to or remove myself from the mailing list? 3) How do I find out what patches are available from Sun? 4) What is "anonymous ftp" and how do I use it? 5) How do I find anonymous ftp sites? 6) How do I set up NIS/YP to use DNS? etc. 36.02 SunConnect Introduces Token Ring Interface SPARC System First Switchable 4/16 Mbps Interface for SBus Systems MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- December 9, 1991-- SunConnect(TM), a Sun Microsystems, Inc. business, today unveiled the SunLink(R) Token Ring Interface/SBus (TRI/S(TM)) card, a product that brings Token Ring connectivity to SPARC computer systems. The product is the first 4- or 16-Mbps switchable Token Ring Interface for SBus systems. "SunLink TRI/S is the technology that will enable SPARC systems to be integrated into industry-standard Token Ring LAN environments -- including those running IBM's SNA," said Cheryl Vedoe, vice president and general manager of SunConnect. "It facilitates Sun's move into commercial markets by allowing customers to add workstation functionality while using their existing Token Ring environments." 36.03 SunConnect Expands And Upgrades Sun to IBM And Sun to DEC Connectivity New SNA Solutions; DEC VT Terminal Emulation; Partners Program for Enterprise Integration; and Software Product Upgrades Announced MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- December 9, 1991 -- SunConnect(TM), a Sun Microsystems, Inc. business, today introduced new and enhanced products and services for enterprise-wide connectivity. Together, the products greatly expand SunConnect's reach into commercial markets by offering comprehensive Solaris(R)/SPARC(R) integration solutions for IBM(R) and Digital Equipment Corp (DEC(R)) environments. "Our plan is to keep raising the level of UNIX integration with enterprise systems," said Cheryl Vedoe, vice president and general manager of SunConnect. "SunConnect can now offer Solaris integration with any environmentQfrom PC LANs running NetWare(R) to Token Ring networks under IBM's SNA." 36.04 Cobra And SMCC Sign Reseller Agreement In Brazil MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., --December 10, 1991-- Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation (SMCC) and Cobra Computadores e Sistemas Brasileiros S/A (Cobra) announced today that they have signed a one-year distribution agreement valued at $10 million under which Cobra will resell Sun(TM) workstations and servers in Brazil. This is Cobra's first such agreement and will enable it to sell all Sun products, provide hardware and software technical support, and training. Cobra has one of the largest distribution channels in Brazil, which was one of the main factors that led SMCC to extend its partnership agreement. Cobra maintains more than 50 locations all over Brazil, including 12 branches, 11 offices and 45 service centers. 36.05 UniForum Association's UNIX Products Directory This is a brief article that describes the UniForm Association with a particular emphasis on the UNIX Products Directory. I use this directory quite frequently to locate products and vendors. It contains many UNIX products for Sun that are not listed in Sun's Catalyst catalog. It also lists many products that could be ported to Sun. Note that the 1992 version will be out next month. -johnj Uniforum's 1991 UNIX Products Directory is published to promote trade and communications within the UNIX community. UniForum is a nonprofit, vendor-independent trade association dedicated to the promotion of UNIX and open systems-related products and services through the exchange of information and cooperative efforts of its individual members, corporate sponsors and affiliate groups. 36.06 Sun's Hottest, Volume 2, Number 2 This is the text of a newsletter, "Sun's Hottest", that is being mailed to Sun customers. It is an excellent summary of the products that have been announced over the last few months. -johnj C O N T E N T S Powerful new servers that grow with your business: SPARCserver 630MP: best value for small workgroups SPARCserver 670MP: most expandable office server SPARCserver 690MP: greatest flexibility and functionality The broadest selection of open server software: Online: DiskSuite Online: IPI Dual Port Tools Backup Copilot Sun Database Excelerator SBus Prestoserve Backward and forward investment protection The easiest upgrades in the industry Make way for the future Increase your security In Short: 101-A Keyboard SunVision SunNet High-Speed Serial Interface/SBus SunNet Token Ring Interface/SBus (TRI/S) SPARCengine IPX CD-ROM Only 36.07 Third Party Hardware and Software Announcements Atlantix: NetWare Client for SPARCstations Aurora: High-Speed Parallel Card Aurora: Enhancements To Firstscan Image-Capture Product Brixton: High-Speed Networking for Corporate Usage CSC: ChemDraw Plus 36.08 Third Party Hardware and Software Announcements Qualix: M++ Object-Oriented Solution to Numeric Computation Lotus: OPEN LOOK Interface for Lotus 1-2-3 for Sun Qualix: Introducing SpeedStor (Hard Driver manager) Microplex: TCP/IP Printer Adapter Qualix: Xv++ -- A C++ class interface to XView 36.09 Sun Network Coprocessor - Industry leading NFS performance for general-purpose systems - Complete support now available for high-performance NFS file server configs of the SPARCserver 470 & 490 The Sun Network CoProcessor is an intelligent Ethernet controller which significantly improves NFS performance for SPARCservers. Consisting of a 9U VMEbus board plus software on CD-ROM, each Network CoProcessor adds an Ethernet segment to the server, allowing support for more users with faster response times. 36.10 OpenWindows Developer's Guide 3.0 - DevGuide 3.0 enables the design, edit and test of an OPEN LOOK GUI without writing a single line of code - Enables easy internationalization and localization of applications - Supports the XView, OLIT and TNT toolkits - One OPEN LOOK builder allows developers to choose toolkits and languages On October 30, SunSoft, a Sun Microsystems Incorporated Business, announced availability of the OpenWindows Developer's Guide 3.0. SMCC will begin shipping this release on December 16. Application developers are under increasing pressure to quickly deliver new products. OpenWindows Developer's Guide enables software engineers to graphically and interactively design, edit and test an OPEN LOOK user interface without writing a single line of code. Engineers are able to concentrate on their application code versus the user interface code. DevGuide 3.0 supports the XView, Olit and TNT toolkits allowing developers to choose the toolkit which best fits their needs. DevGuide 3.0 has incorporated many new features. Internationalization and localization of an application's GUI is significantly eased through use of DevGuide. A new graphical connection scheme, interface browser, project manager and object layout facility are also new in DevGuide 3.0. 36.11 Sun Foundation Makes New Community Grants press release from Sun Microsystems. -johnj Nonprofit Groups Receive $315,800 for Community Development MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. --December 16, 1991-- The Sun Microsystems Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit charitable organization, announced today that it has awarded more than $315,800 in community development grants to organizations in the San Francisco and Boston areas, the two regions in which Sun Microsystems has its largest operations, as well as to groups in the United Kingdom and North Carolina. Many of the new grants will support programs in education and youth leadership development. Today's awards bring contributions from both Sun and the foundation to more than $2 million since the grants program was established in April 1990. 36.12 Summary: Menu Driven System Administration A colleague posted a question to an internal mailing list about the availablility of menu driven sys-admin tools for Sun. Here is the quick (probably not complete) summary. -johnj (order is not significant) 36.13 Desktop Upgrade Product Offerings Matrix The recent enhancements to Sun's desktop upgrade product line has created some confusion - there are many upgrade options! The following matrix should help you make the right upgrade decisions. 36.14 7.0 SunLink SNA 3270 For End Users: - IBM cluster controller emulation over SDLC (switched, dedicated, or multidrop) or Token Ring LAN connections to IBM hosts - IBM 3278 terminal emulation for models 2, 3, 4, and 5 on any Sun workstation, PC, or dumb terminal - IBM 3287 printer emulation - 3270 PC-compatible File Transfer - "High availability" configurations available via client 3270 support of multiple gateways upon initialization - Limited support of AS/400 connectivity For Developers: - HLI ("HLLAPI-Like Interface") ideal for developers wishing to "front-end" 3270 applications with a GUI - Low-level 3270 API (DAI) for custom 3270 applications; Enhanced to support the TN3270 protocol 36.15 SunLink SNA Peer-to-Peer 7.0 For End Users: - SNA Peer-to-Peer provides a platform for popular 3rd-party applications to communicate with IBM systems (Sybase OpenServer, Spectrum Concepts XCOM 6.2, SNA Solutions Connect400, Oracle SQL NET, and more). For System Administrators: - Protocol Conversion Application (PCA) between SunNet Manager and IBM's Network Management Platform: NetView - A SunNet Manager Agent for the SNA Peer-to-Peer Gateway For Developers: - IBM Node Type 2.0 or 2.1 emulation on any Sun workstation using SDLC or Token Ring connections to IBM systems - APPC basic, mapped, and control operator verbs - Gateway/Client architecture - Support of Parallel Sessions - Conversation-Level Security 36.16 SunLink Channel Gateway 7.1 SunLink Channel Gateway available for SPARCserver 600MP SMCC is making available SunConnect's SunLink Channel Gateway version 7.1, which supports the new series of 600/MP SPARCservers. SunConnect is a Sun Microsystems Incorporated Business. This product allows customers to have multiprocessor system-to-mainframe connectivity over high-speed links. It provides terminal emulation and bulk file transfer (IBM S/370 Block Multiplexor channel protocols) for VM or MVS and is also a platform for MVS/NFS and other 3rd-party applications. Capabilities A single IBM channel can address up to 256 different devices. Up to eight physically separate control units or 16 logically separate control units or sixteen logically separate units can be attached to a channel. A Sun server with a SunLink Channel Gateway can simulate one or more of these control units, up to the maximum allowable number of the channel. If multiple control untis are emulated simultaneously, they can be either of the same or different control unit types. 36.17 SunLink TRI/S 2.0 - Compatible with 4/16 Mbps Token Ring LANs supporting the IEEE 802.5-1988 standard - Supports Source Routing IBM(TM) bridges - Is transparent to TCP/IP and ONC-based applications - Can provide IP routing between Token Ring, Ethernet, and FDDI TCP/IP-based LANs - MAC-layer compatible with IBM's LAN Network Manager program - SBus 4/16 Mbps Token Ring interface supports multiple protocols including SunLink SNA3270 and SNA Peer-to-Peer SunLink(R) Token Ring Interface/SBus (TRI/S) is designed to expand connectivity by implementing industry-standard communication protocols. SunLink TRI/S offers an industry-standard network interface for 4/16 Mbps IEEE 802.5 Token Ring connections. Adhering to this standard, SunLink TRI/S offers LAN-based connectivity to environments that typically lack Ethernet cabling systems. 36.18 SunPics Introduces NeWSprint 2.0 Software The following news releases from SunPics were distributed to the press and analysts on November 19. Due to some pricing issues, they were not widely distributed within SMCC. Now that these issues have been resolved, we are distributing the following announcements: * SunPics Introduces NeWSprint 2.0 Software -- Product Lets Users Print From Any Computer to Any Printer * SunPics Boosts SparcPrinter System Functionality -- NeWSprint 2.0 Software Lets More Users Take Advantage of SPARCprinter System Features Product Lets Users Print From Any Computer to Any Printer MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- November 19, 1991 -- SunPics(TM), a Sun Microsystems, Inc. business, today unveiled NeWSprint 2.0, a software product that makes it possible for users to print files from any computer on a network -- including Macintosh(R), IBM(R) and compatible PCs, workstations, minicomputers and more -- to any printer on the network. From the user's desktop computer, files can be sent to any output device -- in PostScript(R) or non-PostScript language -- from dot matrix printers to laser printers, plotters and color thermal printers. NeWSprint software also speeds up printer performance by allowing the page imaging process to be handled by powerful SPARC(R) CPUs rather than by slower on-board printer processors. This in turn can reduce printer costs, because no dedicated CPU or memory is needed. 36.19 SunPics Boosts SPARCprinter System Functionality With Software Upgrade NEWSprint 2.0 Software Lets More Users Take Advantage of SPARCprinter System Features MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- November 19, 1991 -- SunPics(TM), a Sun Microsystems, Inc. business, has significantly increased the versatility of its SPARCprinter(TM) laser printer with the introduction of a software upgrade. The latest version of NeWSprint(TM) software, NeWSprint 2.0, developed by SunPics, makes the high-performance SPARCprinter system available to any user in a heterogeneous networking environment. The 12-page-per-minute print speed of the SPARCprinter system is now accessible from any computer, including Apple(R) Macintosh(R) computers, IBM(R) and compatible PCs, workstations, minicomputers and others. 36.20 The Isis approach to reliable distributed computing This article describes Isis, a commercially available toolkit for building distributed applications . -johnj The Isis system is a toolkit for developing distributed applications. Built in layers, the system supports a core set of mechanisms for fault-tolerant process-group communication, on top of which tools are provided for managing replicated data, synchronizing processes, detecting and reacting to system reconfigurations and failures, supporting distributed computation, and for many other operations. Isis process groups are virtually synchronous: they provide users with the illusion of a greatly simplified programming environment (a synchronous one), but are actually extremely asynchronous. Using this approach, it is easy to build high performance, highly reliable software that maintains consistency and availability even as it reacts dynamically to failures, overloads and other conditions. Virtual synchrony has permitted our company to solve a wide range of distributed problems, and to package these solutions in the form of a toolkit for building distributed applications. The basic philosophy of the toolkit is to provide the ``glue'' with which Isis users construct distributed software out of non-distributed components. The programmer of such a distributed system focuses primarily on solving problems ``local'' to individual components, i.e. implementing code by which a specific system component reacts to events of various kinds, failures or restarts of other components, and so forth. Distributed functionality is introduced by issuing subroutine calls to Isis routines that operate upon process groups. Isis Distributed Systems 36.21 Sunergy Newsletter 2, December, 1991 Distributed by Technical Market Development Group, Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation; all rights reserved. Director of Marketing: Mario Dal Canto Sunergy Program Manager: Tony Allsop Newsletter Editor: Miyong Byun Contact Sunergy by email: sunergy_information@Sun.COM. ANNOUNCEMENTS *1* Satellite Conference Recap *2* SUGS, SLUGS, LUGS -- What's What? *3* Brazil Internet Addresses *4* Upcoming Satellite Broadcast ROADMAPS TO SUN *5* Changes to Public Domain Software List INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS *6* Commercial Offerings of UUCP, WAN, and Internet INDUSTRY OUTLOOK *7* DBMS & Tools Vendors Port to SPARC *8* SunWorld TECHNICAL TOPICS *9* Globalizing Your Keyboard *10* Tips -N- Tricks: Getting Something EXTRA From The Extra Menus *11* Correction To Newsletter Issue #1 *12* Whitepapers *13* Book List SUNANSWERS *14* Q & A UPCOMING EVENTS *15* Tradeshow Calendar ==> 36.22.sunos.4.1.2 <== - SunOS 4.1.2 includes support for new multiprocessing hardware - Sun QuickCheck functionality incorporated in SunOS 4.1.2 - SunUpgrade feature allows customers to upgrade from SunOS 4.1.1 - Provides single source base by including all features of SunOS 4.1.1 and 4.1.1 Rev B, plus other supplemental software releases - SunOS 4.1.2 ships in December 1991 and becomes the default operating system on January 20, 1992 - OpenWindows Version 3 is copackaged with SunOS 4.1.2 and is the recommended window system; however, OpenWindows Version 2 will be the default SunOS 4.1.2 is Sun's latest release of the industry's premiere operating system. SunOS 4.1.2 provides a stable and proven environment by consolidating all existing supplemental system software releases and allows customers to benefit today from SMCC's multiprocessing hardware without changing their existing applications. It combines the features of SunOS 4.1.1, SunOS 4.1.1 Rev B, GFX patches, and VX/MVX feature tape. SunOS 4.1.2 also provides new features such as a limited upgrade facility from SunOS 4.1.1, integrated Sun QuickCheck functionality and support for the Rock Ridge file system, in addition to over 250 bugfixes. 36.22 SunOS 4.1.2 Media Transition - SunOS 4.1.2 available on CD-ROM *only* - Default SunOS transitions to SunOS 4.1.2 in January - Default marketing part numbers for tapes are obsolete SunOS 4.1.2 is offered on CD-ROM only for all SPARC platforms. When SunOS 4.1.2 becomes the default OS in January, 1992, the default marketing part numbers for tapes will be obsolete. In order to ensure customers receive the desired OS release after this transition, SunOS 4.1.1 on tapes will only be orderable using the release specific marketing part numbers. Customers who want the SunOS media to match the OS pre-installed on Desktop SPARCstations during the transition must order CDs (SX-21 or USX-21). Prior to this transition, SunOS 4.1.2 CD and documentation is orderable using release specific part numbers and will begin shipping early December. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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.