---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash Sun's Hottest, Volume 2, Number 3 SunFLASH Vol 39 #18 March 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Headline: Delivering next-generation computing to your desktop Networking News Multilanguage terminal emulation SNA over Token Ring Enhanced toolkit for distributed applications based on PC-NFS platform Fiber optics for the desktop DEC connectivity solutions expanded Token Ring communications for SPARC systems Direct IBM server communications from a SPARCserver Success of SunNet Manager continues NetView Interface Improved NFS performance Solaris 2.0: the inside story For application users: better performance, interoperable applications For developers: better tools for building applications faster For system administrators: simpler management, tighter security Close-up on OpenWindows Version 3 Making the move to Solaris 2.0 For application users: update your desktop today For developers: tools for building tomorrow's applications today For system administrators: easing the migration Graphics Corner In Short Desktop SPARC Owner's Sets SPARCstation IPX memory Sun's Self-Paced Training Courses Price reductions on some disk drives and disk packs Hot Off the Press NeWSprint 2.0 The Printer's Palette Volume 1 NeWSprint XP ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delivering next-generation computing to your desktop ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The computer industry is at a major turning point. As the UNIX{R} operating system -- the only platform Sun has ever provided -- began to gain widespread acceptance and use, the UNIX marketplace became increasingly fragmented. Now, however, a single UNIX standard has emerged: AT&T's SVR4{TM}. Merging the best features of the most popular UNIX versions - open, standards-based support of 32-bit multiprocessors designed for distributed computing and ease of use - SVR4 unifies 80 percent of the UNIX market's installed base. Sun will bring SVR4 to you with Solaris{TM} 2.0. Designed by SunSoft{TM}, a Sun Microsystems, Inc. business, the Solaris system software environment will open up a world of affordable, shrink-wrapped distributed applications. Plus, Solaris 2.0 offers a wealth of new capabilities that let you get the most out of your current resources, while providing access to emerging technologies, such as multimedia and distributed objects. What is Solaris? Solaris combines the SVR4 operating system environment, ONC{TM} distributed computing environment (including NFS{R}, the de facto standard for file sharing), OpenWindows{TM} networked-based windowing environment featuring the intuitive OPEN LOOK{R} interface, and DeskSet{TM} user productivity tools. Why Solaris? The bottom line is the Solaris environment offers real advantages to application users, developers, and system administrators. Solaris is the software environment for the wide variety of shrink-wrapped distributed applications that are coming to your desktop. And everyone will appreciate the fact that with SunOS at its heart, Solaris is based on proven, mature technology. Its power, simple graphical environment for high-performance computing, application interoperability, and path to distributed object technology, are designed to boost productivity for a long time to come. When will Solaris be available? You can get Solaris 1.0 today. It consists of the latest version of SunOS and OpenWindows Version 2. Solaris 2.0 will begin shipping in the second half of 1992. But several Solar is 2.0 components, including OpenWindows Version 3.0 and DeskSet 3.0 are already available. The the OpenWindows Developer's Guide 3.0 is also available separately. All of these together deliver next-generation computing to your desktop today. And Sun is offering an array of easy-to-use support tools and services to help smooth your transition to Solaris 2.0. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Networking News -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Multilanguage terminal emulation SunLink CG3270 7.1-with extensive internationalization features-provides IBM color graphic terminal emulation, TN3270 for direct TCP/IP to mainframe communication, and support for limited AS/400 connectivity. SunLink CG3270 provides two customization capabilities for any user's native language. SNA over Token Ring SunLink SNA 3270 7.0 provides IBM cluster controller emulation on any Solaris workstation using SDLC or Token Ring, allowing SPARC workstation users to interact with IBM mainframe applications within the mainframe environment. Users can access mainframe applications from Sun systems (or "dumb" terminals, PCs, or any TCP/IP-compatible systems), open an unlimited number of windows, and cut-and-paste data between windows. Enhanced toolkit for distributed applications based on PC-NFS platform The PC-NFS{R} Programmer's Toolkit 2.0 delivers efficient, clean hooks into industry-standard protocols, enabling developers to build applications for PC-NFS, the largest-volume platform for DOS-UNIX client-server applications. This release provides improved MS Windows 3.0 compatibility and support for up to 16 socket connections, allowing more client sessions for socket-intensive applications such as XWindows. Fiber optics for the desktop The new SunLink FDDI/SBus card allows any SPARC system to connect to an FDDI LAN for high network availability and throughput. SunLink FDDI/S represents a significant advance in bringing low-cost, high-speed fiber to the desktop. DEC connectivity solutions expanded Sun is now shipping SunLink TE320. This DEC{R} VT320 terminal emulator with color support, provides users with VT320, VT220, and VT100 emulation in an OpenWindows environment. Token Ring communications for SPARC systems Sun is now shipping SunLink{R} TRI/S 2.0, which brings 4/16 Mbps IEEE 802.5 Token Ring connectivity to SPARC{R} computer systems. Any Sun system with SunLink TRI/S can act as an IP router between Ethernet, FDDI, and Token Ring networks. All TCP/IP-based applications work over SunLink TRI/S just as they do with Ethernet. TRI/S 2.0 also supports IBM{R} Source Routing bridges. Direct IBM server communications from a SPARCserver SunLink Channel Gateway 7.1 is a combined hardware and software product that connects SPARCserver{TM} systems to an IBM mainframe block multiplexer channel, enabling users to transfer files, jobs, messages, and commands. SunLink Local 3270 provides the communication over the SunLink Channel Gateway for cluster controller emulation and IBM 3278 terminal and printer emulation. Success of SunNet Manager continues SunNet Manager continues to be recognized as the industry's leading UNIX operating system-based heterogeneous network management platform. SunNet Manager 1.2 provides access to - and modification of - data in the SunNet Manager runtime database and allows Sun work stations and servers running SunOS 4.0 or higher to be managed by any SNMP management station. Online help is also provided. NetView Interface SunLink SNA Peer-to-Peer 7.0 lets software developers create distributed applications integrating the Solaris environment with the IBM environment. Users get seamless access to IBM mainframe applications within the Token Ring environment as well as SDLC communication. The new version allows protocol conversion between SunNet{TM} Manager and the IBM NetView{R} manager, the popular network management system in the SNA environment. Improved NFS performance SBus Prestoserve NFS Accelerator is now available for SPARCserver 2 systems. SBus Prestoserve improves SPARCserver 2 NFS throughput up to 140% and response times up to 85%, allowing heavily loaded SPARCserver 2 fileservers to support many more clients. Complementing SBus Prestoserve to further reduce NFS fileserver bottlenecks, the Sun Network CoProcessor is now available from Sun for SPARCserver 600MP series systems. Consisting of a 9U VMEbus board plus software on CD-ROM, each Network CoProcessor doubles NFS throughput, providing faster response times while supporting more users. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Solaris 2.0: the inside story -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Solaris 2.0 integrates the world's foremost distributed operating system and networking solution, application development and interoperability products, and intuitive graphical user interface on a single compact disc. It includes: * SVR4-based SunOS, featuring a multithreaded kernel supporting real-time scheduling and symmetric multiprocessing - to blast away I/O bottlenecks * ONC, including Network Information Service Plus (NIS+), which streamlines network and system administration * Automated Security Enhancement Tool (ASET), which enables administrators to easily increase a system's security level * OpenWindows Version 3, including DeskSet 3.0 and ToolTalk{TM} software (see details in "Close-up" story) For application users: better performance, interoperable applications As a Solaris 2.0 user, you'll find your system faster and even easier to use. Helping you get more done in less time, the new and enhanced drag-and-drop DeskSet 3.0 tools - including Multimedia Mail, Workgroup Calendar Manager, Audio Tool, and Network File Manager - really increase personal and workgroup productivity. The new Magnify Help feature provides a wealth of instant, online assistance. Solaris 2.0 users will have a wide variety of applications to choose from. And with many software vendors now standardizing on the SVR4 platform, you are assured of ever-increasing choices. Because SVR4 is an industry-standard operating system, applications can be easily ported from one system to another. Solaris 2.0 gives you a powerful, simple graphical user interface for high-performance computing with a path toward the next generation of distributed objects technology. For developers: better tools for building applications faster Solaris is one of today's premier development platforms. That's because of its speed, multitasking, wealth of languages and other support technologies - including the OPEN LOOK Intrinsics Toolkit (OLIT), The NeWS Toolkit (TNT), the XView Toolkit, and the new object-based ToolTalk software for building in current and future application interoperability. The fact is, the tools in Solaris 2.0 can be a major competitive weapon. For example, OpenWindows Developer's Guide 3.0 lets you quickly design a user interface - without writing a line of code. The result? A shortened development cycle and faster application availability. The unification of UNIX under the SVR4 platform provides a single Application Binary Interface (ABI), which assures you of more seats available for your products. Standards compliance -- POSIX, FIPS, X/Open, SVID, SCD -- ensures compatibility across releases. And because of SPARC scalability, a variety of computers-from PCs to mainframes and supercomputers-can run Solaris software. Plus, native language and other inter nationalization features let you easily develop products for the global market. For system administrators: simpler management, tighter security With an advanced dynamically configurable kernel, Solaris 2.0 enables you to add devices with simple commands. And all device drivers can be loaded onto a running system without rebuilding the kernel. The improved UNIX filesystem can dramatically reduce the time to boot a server with large disk capacity. NIS+, an upward-compatible version of the NIS name service, offers simpler hierarchical administration and faster updates. Solaris also delivers tighter security. For example, ASET lets you easily monitor and increase security levels, while a new shadow password file provides more protection from hackers. And new restricted shells give you more control over the permissions granted to remote users. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Close-up on OpenWindows Version 3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OpenWindows Version 3 (OWV3) is Sun's latest windowing display platform delivering industry-standard X11R4 functionality along with a number of Sun enhancements. OWV3 gives application users and programmers access to the technology needed to deliver the promises of networked computing. New capabilities include 24-bit TrueColor support for all Sun graphics accelerators, multibuffering for smooth animation, multiscreen support, Adobe Composite Font Extensions, support for Western Europe localization, virtual keyboard support, and ToolTalk software, which supports interoperability among all applications. Bundled with OWV3 is DeskSet Version 3, a set of 15 easy-to-use desktop productivity applications. New and enhanced DeskSet features include: * Workgroup Calendar Manager, which lets you instantly schedule appointments with colleagues around the world * Multimedia Mail, which lets you attach text, graphics, sound, and video to mail messages you send across the network * Audio Tool, which lets you record and play back sounds * Network File Manager, which lets you graphically represent files and access them anywhere on the network with a simple point-and-click of the mouse * Magnify Help, which provides multilevel onscreen help -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Making the move to Solaris 2.0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We're making it easy for everyone - application users, developers, and system administrators - to transition to Solaris 2.0. For application users: update your desktop today You can start your transition to Solaris 2.0 simply by getting OWV3 and the DeskSet 3.0 productivity tools. These two elements of Solaris 2.0 are available for your desktop today on a single compact disc. Solaris 2.0 applications are also coming to your desktop. Oracle, Frame, Autodesk{R}, Aldus, and Lotus{R}, are already demonstrating Solaris 2.0 software packages and by the second half of 1992, more than 200 key applications are targeted to run on Solaris 2.0, with hundreds more under development. For developers: tools for building tomorrow's applications today You can start building tomorrow's applications today with the components of Solaris 2.0 that are currently available. For example, OWV3 provides a robust environment for creating applications that support a range of international markets. OpenWindows Developer's Guide 3.0 helps you create complex software with simple point-and-click commands, and quickly design interfaces visually with objects - no code writing necessary. And source code compatibility means a simple recompile will let you move the applications you build today to Solaris 2.0 running on both SPARC and Intel{R} platforms. To help you transition existing applications, Sun has developed a Migration Kit that includes porting tools, migration planning guides, and other related documentation. Included in the Kit is the Pipeline Tool for developers - an easy-to-use mouse-based product that scans application code for standards compliance and recommends solutions for any incompatibilities. And if you're a SunSoft Catalyst [SM] member, be sure to join the Solaris 2.0 Migration Program. You'll receive a variety of tools and services to help you smoothly migrate your applications to Solaris 2.0. For system administrators: easing the migration To speed your transition to Solaris 2.0, Sun has prepared exhaustive documentation on the migration - including the SunOS 4.1.1-to-Solaris 2.0 Migration Planning Guide, a wide range of technical white papers and release reports, and product specifications. In addition, the Solaris 2.0 Migration Kit includes special porting tools for system administrators in addition to planning guides, documentation, and tools for developers. We've also expanded our existing porting centers and are offering training seminars to assist you in making the move to Solaris 2.0. You can begin the migration to Solaris 2.0 now by upgrading your systems to SunOS 4.1 and OpenWindows Version 3. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Graphics Corner -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three new libraries, tightly integrated with OpenWindows Version 3, are optimized for Sun's GS, GT, and GXplus accelerators. They each provide 24-bit TrueColor rendering and double buffering for smooth animation: * SunGKS{TM} 4.1 is the best solution available for anyone who needs an ANSI/ISO standard, high-level 2-D graphics library to support graphics requirements in the X11R4/OpenWindows environment. SunGKS 4.1 provides Ada and C++ bindings, the Pixmap GDP (General Drawing Primitive) to accelerate onscreen raster image rendering, and support for dynamic linking of SunGKS libraries. * XGL{TM} 2.0 features advanced 3-D rendering technology, support for NURBS curves, and sophisticated lighting and shading algorithms, making it well-suited to MCAD, animation, and simulation applications. In addition, the broad 2-D feature set and highly optimized 2-D pipeline in XGL 2.0 is ideal for ECAD application development. * SunPHIGS{TM} 2.0 allows development of X windows-based PHIGS applications, and is ideally suited for MCAD, AEC, and scientific research. Direct Graphics Access (DGA) accelerates local rendering, and the PEX protocol supports remote rendering. SunPHIGS 2.0 adheres to the latest ANSI/ISO C and FORTRAN bindings for PHIGS. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Short -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Desktop SPARC Owner's Sets are now available in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Swedish. Each Owner's Set contains all the documentation you need to operate your Sun workstation, including: SPARCstation{TM} Installation Guide, Sun System User's Guide, and Sun System and Network Manager's Guide. Owner's Sets are shipped as part of Sun's Country Documentation Kits, which are included at no charge with every system that Sun sells. All new SPARCstation IPX{TM} systems incorporate higher density memory technology and can now support a maximum of 64 MB of memory. Sun's Self-Paced Training Courses let you learn in your own work environment and at your own pace. Offered in both video-based and text-based formats, the courseware is highly interactive to stimulate skill-based learning. Two new courses are: 1) the SL-141 All-Hands-On C Video Workshop, a modular training course in the C language for both novice and experienced programmers; and 2) the EU-100 All-Hands-On UNIX Video Workshop, a comprehensive course that serves as a self-paced introduction for new UNIX users or as a handy refresher for current UNIX users. Additional courses are available for SunOS, SPARCprinter{TM}, SPARCstation IPC{TM}, SPARCstation IPX, and SPARCstation 2 users. Sun has substantially reduced prices on 1.3-GB SCSI and IPI disk drives and on the 207-MB Desktop Disk Pack. For details, check the reply card below. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hot Off the Press -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NeWSprint{TM} 2.0 software works with files from any computer on the network. Featuring interoperability with Macintosh{R} and DOS files, as well as support of Adobe Type I fonts imported within PostScript{R} files, NeWSprint now provides a complete enterprise-wide printing solution for heterogeneous networks. The Printer's Palette{TM} Volume 1 brings together information about more than 170 open network printing products on a single CD. Hardware and software products from a wide variety of leading suppliers, organized by category, include: printers, plotters, fonts, typefaces, file format conversion software, Macintosh networking printing software, and NeWSprint printing services. Just point and click on icons to comparison shop, buy, and install printing products. Most of the software offered is free. Both Printer's Palette and NeWSprint 2.0 are products of SunPics, a Sun Microsystems, Inc. business. SunPics is also licensing NeWSprint XP, which extends NeWSprint 2.0 software. This technology, available to developers, makes it possible to print files from any computer on a network to high-raster memory output devices, such as image setters, large-format plotters, and high-resolution laser printers. (c) 1992, Sun Microsystems, Inc. Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Solaris, SunSoft, ONC, NFS, OpenWindows, DeskSet, SunOS, SunLink, SunNet, PC-NFS, ToolTalk, Catalyst, SunGK S, XGL, SunPHIGS, IPX, IPC, NeWSprint, Printer's Palette, and SunPics are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. All SPARC trademarks, including the SCD Compliant logo, are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. SPARCserver, SPARCstation, and SPARCprinter are licensed exclusively to Sun Microsystems, Inc. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX and OPEN LOOK are registered trademarks of UNIX System Laboratories, Inc. PostScript is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems, Inc. X Window System is a product of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. IBM and NetView are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corp. DEC is a registered trademark of Digital Equipment Corp. Autodesk is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc. Lotus is a registered trademark of Lotus Development Corp. Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. All other product or service names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners. This product is protected by one or more of the following U.S. patents: 4,77,485; 4,668,190; 4,527,232; 4,745,407; 4,679,041; 4,435,792; 4,719,569; 4,550,368 in addition to foreign patents and applications pending. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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, paris.cs.miami.edu, uunet.uu.net, src.doc.ic.ac.uk and ftp.adelaide.edu.au 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.