sunflash-Distributed to mailing list sun/NC/north-carolina sunflash-Send requests, problems to owner-sunflash@suntri.east.sun.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash Third Party Announcements SunFLASH Vol 59 #31 November 1993 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Abstracts 59.31.A SBus Interphase Network CoProcessor This intelligent, dual port Ethernet adapter enables SBus-based network servers to offload network protocol processing, thereby freeing up server CPU cycles and resulting in dramatic performance improvements. The 4627 SBus Network CoProcessor (NC) is the successor to the NC300/400/600 series of VME Network CoProcessors (98 lines) 59.31.B CRAY SUPERSERVER 6400 Announcement The CS6400 is a 4-XDBus, 64 processor, 16 GByte, 16 SBus (that's buses, not SBus cards) implementation of the XDBus architecture, complementing the SS1000 and the SC2000. It is directed at the commercial and technical data centers, and to that end, also incudes a whole range of availability features, such as N+1 power supplies, and hot-swap capability for system boards. CRS has also signed a memorandum of understanding with SMCC for SunIntegration Services to become a reseller of the CS6400 system. (209 lines) 59.31.C Free Evaluation Copies of CRUSHER, The Compressed File System CRUSHER is a new type of file system, not an application, that provides users the capability to create compressed partitions on any disk drive. Data written to or read from the partition will be automatically compressed/decompressed transparently on-the-fly. The compressed files appear in all respects identical to UFS files. (66 lines) 59.31.D Network Layout Assistant Version 1.1 Qualix is pleased to announce the availability of Network Layout Assistant Version 1.1. The Network Layout Assistant brings network device mapping facilities to SunNet Manager. It works by reading the network information in your SunNet Manager database and automatically repositioning the device icons and their connections. (73 lines) 59.31.E SBus Product Directory The Winter Quarter edition of the SBus Product Directory, the world's most comprehensive guide to SPARC based workstations and add-in products, is now available. This is the 10th edition in the ever expanding SPARC marketplace. This edition profiles over 210 SBus products and 150 SPARC based platforms from over 100 manufacturers. (85 lines) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Details -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 59.31.A Subject: SBus Interphase Network CoProcessor Contact: Alison Golan Org: Interphase Corp. Phone: (214) 919-9120 Email: alison@iphase.com INTERPHASE INTRODUCES NETWORK COPROCESSOR FOR SBUS-BASED NETWORK SERVERS DALLAS, November 9, 1993 -- Interphase Corp. today announced the 4627 Network CoProcessor. This intelligent, dual port Ethernet adapter enables SBus-based network servers to offload network protocol processing, thereby freeing up server CPU cycles and resulting in dramatic performance improvements. The 4627 SBus Network CoProcessor (NC) is the successor to the NC300/400/600 series of VME Network CoProcessors, originally pioneered by the company in 1990. This NC eliminates server capacity bottlenecks on all Sun SBus servers from the SPARClassic though the SC2000. Utilizing a unique NFS protocol processing architecture, the SBus CoProcessor expands SUN Server networking and application capacity up to threefold, not only by providing additional Ethernet segments, but more importantly, by offloading NFS protocol processing. Scalability is provided by allowing multiple adapters to be added to servers, so protocol processing can scale as needed. "Interphase's original NC products, the NC300/400/600 series of VME Network CoProcessors, have had an overall effect of vastly improving NFS throughput, with minimal impact to the host CPU," said Carl Stolle, manager of server product marketing for Sun Microsystems, Inc. "Through products such as the Interphase Network CoProcessor, our customers can achieve even greater performance from their original Sun server investment." "We currently have 26 VME-based Network CoProcessors installed on our SPARCservers saving us at least $200,000 in additional servers over the past two or three years," said David Williams, senior systems programmer for a leading telecommunications company. "We see Interphase's newest offering, the SBus version of a Network CoProcessor, as a product that will allow large numbers of NFS clients to take advantage of the new high performance Sun servers and storage. By offloading the CPU on these systems with an NC, the CPU has more time to handle I/O requests, thus allowing us to add more clients on each Sun server without jeopardizing performance." "Typically, the Ethernet controller only handles the physical and data link level protocol processing required for network communications; the host CPU must handle the remaining protocol overhead," explained Clive D. Foreman, vice president of engineering for Interphase. "The NC can double or triple server capacity by transferring the protocol processing responsibilities to its own microprocessor and leaving the host CPU free to handle more application load, workstation clients, Ethernet network segments, and NFS requests. The bottom line is that the NC lets the user reduce the per-seat cost and complexity of his client/server network as well as extend the life of the server," he added. According to Foreman, the rise in client/server computing over the last decade has placed an increasing burden on servers. The number of users, the power of clients, and the amount of data transferred across networks has grown to the point that most servers are experiencing performance bottlenecks. "The typical solution calls for replacing over-burdened servers with higher performing models or introducing additional servers into the network. This solution is usually expensive, offers little preservation of investment, and further complicates network and system administration," Foreman explained. "A more efficient solution is now available. In addition to the cost savings advantage and investment preservation advantage, an NC frees up CPU cycles for faster application processing, raises protocol processing capability, and multiplies server network capacity thereby giving consistent response times to clients and supporting more NFS operations per second," he continued. The 4627 card is powered by a 38-MHz 68030 microprocessor from Motorola, Inc, and provides two 10Base-T Ethernet ports for each single Sbus slot. The 32-bit adapter supports software drivers for Solaris 2.X. The 4627 Network CoProcessor is priced at $5,950 and available directly from Interphase Corp. in January 1994. The 4627 is part of the Interphase family of performance proven Network CoProcessors. "We have had tremendous success with our Network CoProcessors for VME servers with approximately 4,000 installed to date. We expect to achieve even better results from the SBus product because of its greater applicability and improved price/performance over the original VME offering," Foreman added. "In the future, we intend to have Network CoProcessors available for other protocols and on other vendor's platforms." Interphase Corp., based in Dallas, Texas, is a leading supplier of high performance networking solutions and mass storage controllers for open systems. The company was recently recognized as the number one seller of FDDI workstation network interface cards in the U.S. and number two worldwide (published 1993) by Dataquest Inc., a leading industry analyst company and one of the largest research firms in the U.S. The company sells to computer OEMs, systems integrators, value added resellers and end users through a worldwide sales and service network. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 59.31.B Subject: CRAY SUPERSERVER 6400 Announcement Contact: Shahin Khan, Maketing Programs Manager Org: Cray Research Superservers Address: 3601 SW Murray Blvd Beaverton, OR 97005 Tel: 503-520-7656 Email: shahin@cray.com Cray/Media: Mardi Larson 612/683-3538 or Mary Ellen Amodeo 612/832-5000 (X392) Cray/Financial: Bill Gacki, 612/683-7372 Sun/Media: Chuck Mulloy, 415/336-6424 NEW CRAY RESEARCH SUPERSERVERS COMBINE STRONG PRICE-PERFORMANCE, RAS FEATURES, LARGE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS FOR COMMERCIAL AND TECHNICAL DATA CENTERS With up To 64 Processors, CS6400 Products Are World's Fastest SPARC/Solaris Systems SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25, 1993 -- Cray Research Superservers (CRS), the Ore.-based subsidiary of Cray Research, Inc. (NYSE:CYR), today announced a new Superserver product line. Martin Buchanan, general manager of CRS, said the new CRAY SUPERSERVER 6400 (CS6400) systems, with up to 64 processors, are the world's fastest and most expandable SPARC/Solaris-compliant systems. "Our's are the first high-end servers to combine the strong price-performance of Sun products with the reliability, availability and serviceability (RAS) features data center managers expect," Buchanan said. "The CS6400 products are enterprise servers aimed at the rightsizing' market, especially commercial and technical data centers concerned about the high cost of upgrading and running mainframe systems," he said. The products were developed by CRS under a Jan. 1992 technology agreement between Cray Research and Sun Microsystems, Inc., Mountain View, Calif., and are a binary-compatible upward extension of Sun's product line. "The SPARC architecture is a powerful foundation for cost- effective scalability," said Scott McNealy, Sun chairman and chief executive officer. "The Sun and CRS product lines will form a price-performance continuum from SPARCclassics to SPARCcenter servers to the new CS6400 products. Sun users who require more power on the network can move to the binary- compatible CS6400 systems with no migration problems." The CS6400 systems run the current version of Sun's Solaris operating environment, which is an implementation of UNIX System V Release 4, he said. "Any program that runs on a Sun system will run on the new CRS systems without modification, and vice versa." "With the CS6400, CRS will address commercial markets with non-traditional Cray applications," said Lester Davis, Cray Research chief operating officer. "That's why CRS is organized as a separate business unit with its own hardware and software development capabilities. Martin Buchanan has assembled a strong marketing and sales team with many years of experience selling into commercial markets, as well as into the technical computing arena. We're confident that the enterprise server market is ready to move to Cray Research added value, especially when this is available on the same price-performance curve as Sun products." Buchanan said CS6400 systems are expandable and can scale with customers' data processing needs. The systems are offered with four to 64 SuperSPARC RISC microprocessors (initially at 60 MHz), 256 megabytes (million bytes) to 16 gigabytes (billion bytes) of central memory, 1.3 gigabytes per second peak memory bandwidth, and more than two terabytes (trillion bytes) of online disk storage. U.S. pricing begins at under $400,000 for the four-processor version, and at $2.5 million for the top-of-the-line 64-processor system. He said CRS expects to sell hundreds of the new systems. Initial shipments of the new systems will begin in late 1993, Buchanan said. Volume shipments are scheduled to begin in first-quarter 1994. CRS is working with customers and prospects in the traditional Sun and Cray Research markets, as well as new markets. CRS is in negotiations with several organizations in the electronic computer-aided design (ECAD), transportation/distribution, manufacturing, university and electric utility markets and will announce these customers when order agreements are signed, Buchanan said. Separately today, CRS announced that SICAN, a leading German microelectronics firm, has ordered a CS6400 system. SICAN is scheduled to receive a 48-processor system by mid-1994. According to Buchanan, the large number of applications available on SPARC/Solaris systems was an important attraction for CRS. "We are leveraging SPARC's leadership in the RISC market through binary compatibility with Sun's product line. As we work with independent software vendors to have their products supported, technical ports are not an issue." Buchanan cited a 1992 International Data Corporation study showing SPARC with a 57 percent marketshare for the UNIX RISC market. Buchanan said CRS is in discussions with several major developers of key software packages and connectivity products, including relational database management systems (RDBMS), transaction processing monitors, fourth generation languages, computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools, report generation packages, hierarchical storage management (HSM) solutions and mainframe connectivity tools. He said CRS recently benchmarked Oracle, the most popular database server, on an early version CS6400 system. "On the benchmark, which simulated 500 users accessing, updating and querying data, the CS6400 performed comparable to a mid-range mainframe system, which would cost more than $5 million, five times that of the 16-processor CS6400 system benchmarked," said Darshan Karki, president of SuperSolutions Corp., Minneapolis, a firm that re-engineers enterprise-wide applications and system software and assisted CRS with the recent Oracle benchmark. Initial target markets for the new systems are: ECAD, financial service and investment banking, general engineering, government, petroleum, and telecommunications. According to A.J. Berkeley, CRS senior director of sales and marketing, CRS will market and sell the new products through its own dedicated international sales force, the Cray Research sales force, a global network of systems integrators and value- added resellers (VARs), and joint initiatives with Sun. "Sun has been extremely helpful in pointing us toward some of the right parties and we've supplemented this with our own contacts. We expect to announce key agreements later this year," he said According to Buchanan, "Our relationship with Sun goes beyond merely licensing their technology. We are working closely with several Sun business units on interoperability and general hardware and software engineering for future systems." He said the CS6400 systems bring together Sun hardware and software technology with Cray Research value-added features for high performance and system reliability and serviceability. "The CS6400 delivers features to the open systems environment that the data center users have enjoyed for years," Buchanan said. "The new system has built-in reliability, availability and serviceability features -- a first in the high-end, open systems server arena." For example, should a component fail, the system automatically reboots, isolates the fault, and reconfigures itself. Uptime is further maximized with "hot swap" capabilities, which allow a failed module to be removed and replaced in the system while it's still running, Buchanan said. Upgrades can also be done while the system is online. An independent service processor performs online and remote diagnostics, logging, and monitoring functions and data is protected through features such as disk mirroring, page isolation, and memory scrubbing, he said. "There are many exciting aspects about CRS and its Superserver," said Jim Johnson, chairman of The Standish Group, a market research firm based in South Yarmouth, Mass. "Most important is the availability of Cray's high-end technology while following a pricing strategy similar to Sun's. The key data center management products...will give the kind of performance and quality that mission-critical applications require. The CRS Superserver will have some of the features that data center managers take for granted that are not in today's UNIX servers. These are essential features and people will look very favorably on them at the kind of price and performance CRS offers." Buchanan said Cray Research was the first high-performance computing company to embrace the UNIX standard. "Over the past decade, Cray Research has substantially enhanced UNICOS, the company's 64-bit symmetric multiprocessing implementation of the UNIX operating system. Many key features of Cray's supercomputing environment -- such as sophisticated tape management, networked batch processing, systems management software, program debugging tools and high-performance compilers -- will also be important for commercial and technical users of the CS6400 systems and will be available in 1994." CRS also announced today that: o CRS has signed a memorandum of understanding with Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation for SunIntegration Services to become a reseller of the CS6400 system; o Electricite' de France, the world's largest electrical utility, Clamart, France, will be an early customer for CRS' new CS6400 system; o CRS has signed a memorandum of understanding with Oracle to make Oracle7 available on the new CS6400 systems; o CRS has signed a memorandum of understanding with the ASK Group, developers of the ASK INGRES Intelligent Database system, to make the INGRES database product available on the CS6400 system; o INFORMIX-OnLine will be available on the CS6400 systems; o Sybase, Inc.'s support for Cray Research's high-end SPARC/Solaris-compatible strategy; o CRS has signed an agreement with Brixton Systems, Inc., Cambridge, Mass., to make available on the CS6400 system Brixton's suite of connectivity software, which links IBM mainframes with open systems computers, enabling data to be shared between these systems; o CRS and Information Management Company (IMC) have signed an agreement for IMC to make Open TransPort for MVS and TUXEDO transaction processing system available on the CS6400 system; o CRS and T-Mass GmbH have signed an agreement for T- Mass to support and distributed UniTree on the CS6400 systems; and o CRS has signed an agreement with JYACC, Inc. to provide its JAM Version 6 Application Development Toolset on the CS6400. CRS is dedicated to creating the world's leading SPARC/Solaris-compliant computer systems. Cray Research creates the most powerful, highest-quality computational tools for solving the world's most challenging scientific and industrial problems. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 59.31.C Subject: Free Evaluation Copies of CRUSHER, The Compressed File System Contact: Michael Seidel Phone: (800) 285-8990 (619) 457-0750 FAXS: (619) 457-0798 email: sales@magma.com Free Evaluation Copies of CRUSHER, The Compressed File System Now Available from MAGMA MAGMA announces the availablity of free evaluation copies of CRUSHER. The evaluation copies include a 30 day demonstration license that can be upgraded to a full license. CRUSHER is a new type of file system, not an application, that provides users the capability to create compressed parti- tions on any disk drive. Data written to or read from the parti- tion will be automatically compressed/decompressed transparently on-the-fly. The compressed files appear in all respects identi- cal to UFS files. CRUSHER typically delivers a 2:1 compression ratio. CRUSHER supports all file types, including directories, executables, plain files, sparse files, links, sockets, mapped files, mail and files from custom applications. All system ad- ministration tools, programming languages, office productivity tools and CAD programs will operate in concert with CRUSHER. CRUSHER will operate with On-Line Disk Suite, Open Windows, Motif, X Windows and other GUIs. Compressed partitions can be created on a server and NFS mounted from any client. Diskless clients can even boot from compressed exported file systems. Tests show that SPARC executables compress at a 1.7:1 ra- tio, /usr/openwin compresses at a 2.1:1 ratio and data files usu- ally compress above 2.5:1. Installation is simple using an automatic installation script. No kernel reconfiguration or recompiling of programs is necessary. CRUSHER is a true UNIX file system that only operates on the data being used, not a application that selectively compresses and decompresses entire files. At no time is it necessary to have a space wasting uncompressed version of a file hanging around on your disk, no reserved disk space is needed to decompress files. Files on disk drives, Magneto-Optical drives and floppies can be compressed. CRUSHER is available for Sun 3 and Sun 4 systems running SunOS 4.1.1, Sun 4c and Sun 4m systems running SunOS 4.1.x, and Classics and LXs running SunOS 4.1.3C. Solaris 2 versions for SPARC and X86 systems will be available soon. CRUSHER also operates on all laptops and clones that meet the above specifica- tions. CRUSHER is priced at $189 for workstations, $489 for servers. Please contact MAGMA directly to receive your free evaluation copy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 59.31.D Subject: Network Layout Assistant Version 1.1 Contact: Barbara C. Coll Org: QUALiX GROUP, INC. Address: 1900 So. Norfolk Street, #224 San Mateo, CA 94403 Phone: 1-800-245-UNIX 1-800-245-8649 1-415-572-0200 Fax: 1-415-572-1300 e-mail: info@qualix.com (include name, address, company, phone number) Qualix is pleased to announce the availability of Network Layout Assistant Version 1.1. The Network Layout Assistant brings network device mapping facilities to SunNet Manager. It works by reading the network information in your SunNet Manager database and automatically repositioning the device icons and their connections. The results are clear, readable views of your network that help you get the most out of the investment in SunNet Manager and the applications built on its framework. NLA is a SunNet Manager Partner product. Qualix is the North American reseller for Tom Sawyer Software. Features --------- * Automated device placement with choice of three layout styles: - hierarchical style layout for bus and tree topologies - circular for ring and star topologies - symmetric for mesh topologies * Fully integrated with SunNet Manager to work directly through the Console Tools menu * Numerous tailoring features available for each layout style * An Overview window provides a high-level view of your entire map and highlights the portion that is visible in the Console * Grouping controlled automatically based on IP address, IP network masks, or through administrative grouping dailog panel * Undo capability makes it simple to return to the previous layout at any time * Network Layout Assistant is an active participant in the SunNet Manager Partner's Program System Requirements ------------------- SPARCstation or SPARCstation SunOS 4.1.x Solaris 2.x SunNet Manager 2.0 SunNet Manager 2.1 Availability ------------ Network Layout Assistant version 1.1 is available now. Free evaluations of the product are also available today. Please call or send e-mail to: info@qualix.com [include your name, address, company, phone number and we will get back to you immediately.] Pricing ------- Full Product 1 floating license $1195 US Overview only 1 client $459 US (must purchase full product first) 1 year support annual 15% of list price -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 59.31.E Subject: SBus Product Directory Organization: Novation Data Services Contact: Nev Griffin Address: 4906 El Camino Real Los Altos, CA 94022 Tel: (415) 967-1500 Fax: (415) 967-5528 email: nev@dux.com THE SBUS PRODUCT DIRECTORY The most complete guide to currently available products for SPARC based systems The Winter Quarter edition of the SBus Product Directory, the world's most comprehensive guide to SPARC based workstations and add-in products, is now available. This is the 10th edition in the ever expanding SPARC marketplace. This edition profiles over 210 SBus products and 150 SPARC based platforms from over 100 manufacturers. The SBus Product Directory serves the buyers and sales organizations of SPARC based computers by providing comprehensive up-to-date information on products, suppliers and likely technical problems. The SBus Directory has become the stan-dard reference guide used by systems integrators, resellers, workstation and peripheral manufacturers, consultants and large end-user sites through out Europe and now North America. The Sun UK User magazine calls it an "essential" reference in every organization using SPARC compatible workstations. The key element to its reputation as the SPARC bus "Bible" is its objective of present- ing only currently available products with manufacturers and reseller information for immediate buying opportunities. The SBus Product Directory was used by SunWorld magazine as a reference document in their recent profile of the SBus market. The SBus Product Directory benefits the RESELLERS & SYSTEM INTEGRATORS with an easy to use, concisely written reference information source to quickly serve their customers configuration requirements. END USERS providing them up-to date information on SPARC technology trends, a guide to currently available products presented in a concise format and where to buy them. Purchasers of the SBus Directory may also avail themselves of an Inquiry Service providing them the location of the nearest reseller. SYSTEM & PERIPHERAL MANUFACTURERS by providing them, at no charge, a listing of their currently available products thus augmenting the efforts of their marketing departments. CONSULTANTS & OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS who wish to keep abreast of current technology and available products. The SBus Product Directory is a complete guide that covers a wide range of topics including: * Introduction to Sbus * SBus Product Description * How to obtain Sbus Products * SPARC Host Computers * Upgrade Guidelines * Manufacturers Index * Workstation Interfaces * Product Inquiry Service Purchasers of the SBus Directory will find profiles of a wide range of interfaces including VME, SCSI, IEEE-488, Multibus, Q-bus, Scanner, Ethernet, Video, etc. and of products such as Graphics Adapters, Co-Processors, Memory Expansion,Extender Boards, etc. The profiles are easily accessible through a keyword index and cross reference table. The SBus Directory costs $79 plus $6 for shipping and handling. For about the same price as a shielded SCSI cable, the user gets over 200 pages of up-to-date concisely presented data and assistance in finding new products and suppliers via the quick response fax forms found in the Directory. In addition, for those manufacturers interested in developing or expanding theirEuropean market, contact Novation Data Services for information on the European Reseller and End User Mail List Rental Program. ********************************************************************** For information about SunFlash send mail to info-sunflash@Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@Sun.COM. Archives are on draco.nova.edu, ftp.uu.net, sunsite.unc.edu, src.doc.ic.ac.uk and ftp.adelaide.edu.au For Gopher and WAIS access: sunsite.unc.edu. (Login as 'gopher' for a simple gopher client, 'swais' for a simple WAIS client (over 500 databases). 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. Send brief articles (e.g. third party announcements) and include contact information (non-800#, fax #, email, etc) to: John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@Sun.COM. +1 305 351 4909