---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash Enhanced Communication Products From Sun Promote Open, Worldwide Data Exchange SunFLASH Vol 27 #3 March 1991 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- SunNet OSI Offers Easy TCP/IP-to-OSI Transition Solution WASHINGTON, D.C. --March 5, 1991-- Sun Microsystems today introduced a new release of its SunNet(TM) OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) product, the core of Sun's line of communication products that support international standards. SunNet OSI now supports international OSI services and protocols such as U.S. and U.K. GOSIP (Government OSI Profile), which, along with its other features, makes it one of the most complete OSI transition solutions in the industry. Today, Sun also unveiled enhancements to its SunNet X.25 network connectivity software and SunNet MHS (Mail Handling System) software. OSI is a key emerging open standard through which many diverse computing systems can share resources and information across departmental, organizational and international boundaries. SunNet OSI 7.0, when used in conjunction with SunNet X.25 and SunNet MHS, gives users an affordable networking solution for this exchange of information. SunNet OSI is part of Sun's family of networking solutions, which include products for personal computer and enterprise connectivity, network management and distributed computing. With these latest enhancements, Sun provides further capabilities for coexistence within large enterprise networks. Benefits of SunNet OSI Networks installed in organizations today use a mixture of non-OSI and OSI protocols. Therefore, the transition to OSI requires both TCP/IP, the industry's current de facto networking standard, and OSI protocol suites on the same network. Sun's OSI products let network administrators easily move from TCP/IP to OSI with little or no disruption to their users by utilizing three techniques: coexistence, the use of gateways and transport independence. Coexistence, or "dual-stacking," is the most cost-effective way to transition to a new technology. For example, SunNet OSI allows users to access files across the network using TCP/IP-based file services (such as FTP and NFS(R)) and OSI-based file services like ISO FTAM (International Organization for Standardization's File Transfer, Access and Management). Protocol gateways translate OSI packets to and from their equivalent packets on another network. SunNet MHS can translate between X.400 mail packets on OSI networks and SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) packets on TCP/IP networks. Transport independence permits users to run OSI application services over both TCP/IP and OSI transport protocols and networks. For example, FTAM can transparently operate over both types of networks, minimizing network administration for system managers. In addition to providing a clear path to international standards, SunNet OSI lets users share, access and process distributed information globally in a multi-vendor environment. SunNet OSI and SunNet MHS interoperate with systems from IBM, DEC and Hewlett-Packard, allowing for file transfer and mail communication between vendor's systems in a variety of formats. The new release of SunNet OSI also benefits network administrators by including diagnostic tools that are used to collect and analyze network packets. Other SunNet Releases Also Promote Connectivity The X.25 network protocol is increasingly being utilized in the industry because it offers rich networking connectivity at a modest user investment. The new release of SunNet X.25 can be easily incorporated into transitional OSI networking environments because it can route TCP/IP or OSI packets over X.25 connections. This allows SunNet X.25 users to communicate over distant wide area networks (WANs) economically, using TCP/IP on WANs as they've used it on local area networks (LANs) in the past. Besides being compatible with SunNet OSI, SunNet X.25 is now compliant with the 1984 CCITT X.25 (Committee Consultatif International Telegraphique et Telephonique) definition, an internationally recognized protocol. SunNet MHS is a software product for electronic mail communication between users of Sun mail programs and other systems supporting the CCITT X.400 international mail standard. The new version of SunNet MHS fully adheres to the CCITT X.400 and is easier to configure and install than the previous release. Additionally, SunNet MHS now includes support for U.S. GOSIP requirements and interoperates with U.K. GOSIP implementations, allowing users to connect to global mail networks transparently. Availability SunNet OSI, SunNet X.25 and SunNet MHS are all on CD-ROM and will be available in April. ### NFS is a registered trademark and SunNet is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX System Laboratories, Inc. All other products mentioned herein are identified by the trademarks as designated by the companies who market those products. Inquiries concerning such trademarks should be made directly to those companies. PR contact Carol Sacks (415) 336-0521 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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.