sunflash-Distributed to mailing list sun/NC/north-carolina sunflash-Send requests, problems to owner-sunflash@suntri.east.sun.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash Third Part Announcements SunFLASH Vol 57 #32 September 1993 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Abstracts ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 57.32.A book: Love Your Job! We have just published the first careers guide for people who don't want to or can't change their jobs, but who are dissatisfied with at least one aspect of it. While Love Your Job! is a departure from our technical books, editorially it fits very well within our desire to publish information that helps people in pain. 57.32.B METAPHOR INC. ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH SUN MICROSYSTEMS Metaphor Inc., a leading provider of decision support software and services, announced a joint marketing and development agreement with Sun. Through the agreement, Metaphor will port its database gateway products for Oracle and SYBASE SQL Server to Sun's. 57.32.C OCR for $999 Aurora brings PC pricing to workstation software market with SPARC system optical character recognition for less than $1000 57.32.D snapshots of file systems SNAP(tm) is a software product for that adds the "time dimension" to file systems and raw partitions. SNAP can benefit practically any SPARC SunOS 4.1.x system with a disk (no special hardware is required). SNAP gives users continuous, direct, writable access to previous versions of file systems. Users can restore lost or corrupted files, or assess recent changes to a file, using standard commands such as cd, ls, diff, cp. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Details -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: book: Love Your Job! From: Brian Erwin Org: O'Reilly & Associates Love Your Job! Loving the Job You Have or Finding a Job You Love By Dr. Paul Powers, with Deborah Russell 210 pages, ISBN: 1-56592-036-8, $12.95 (US) We have just published the first careers guide for people who don't want to or can't change their jobs, but who are dissatisfied with at least one aspect of it. While Love Your Job! is a departure from our technical books, editorially it fits very well within our desire to publish information that helps people in pain. As with our other books, which attempt to offer "over the shoulder" advise to people stuck on a program or system, this book gives readers direct access to the advise of a leading management consultant who has had to deal with employee pain resulting from corporate downsizing. There are many long, boring, and sometimes cynical books on how to write a resume, dress for success, and look the interviewer in the eye; Love Your Job! isn't one of them. Rather than showing readers how to manipulate their way into getting a better-paying job, it encourages them to look inside themselves at what is really important, and to bring their best selves to work, whatever it may be. In a series of one-page reflections, anecdotes, and exercises, Love Your Job! can be read either from start to finish or in small doses, when readers need their spirits lifted. The book contains four sections, as well as an introduction and resource list: - What does it mean to love your job? Reflections on what work means to you and what's important in a job. - Can you keep loving your job? Solid advice and motivational exercises that will help you develop the skills and the courage to make changes in the job you're in. - What if you don't have a job you love? Practical and inspirational hints for looking at your skills, meeting people who can help you, and overcoming your fear of change. - Is there life outside your job? Reflections on how you can find time for your families and communities, as well as your job. Our publishing Love Your Job! does not signal a departure from our commitment to technical book publishing. Rather, it is an acknowledgement that we not only bring our intellect and talents to work, we bring all of ourselves and the lives that impact us outside of work. --------------------------------------------------------------------- This and other O'Reilly books are available in North America, Japan, and South and Central America through bookstores or directly from the publisher. To contact: FAX (707/829-0104), phone 707/829-0515 (800/998-9938 in US & Canada), e-mail (order@ora.com), access our gopher catalog by "telnet gopher.ora.com. login as gopher", or write O'Reilly & Associates, 103 Morris St., Sebastopol, CA., 95472, US. GSA # GS-02F-6095A Beginning 11 August 1993, O'Reilly books will have new international distributors: * UK, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (except Germany) through International Thomson Publishing, Berkshire House, 168-173 High Holborn, London WC1V 7AA, UK. Telephone 071 497 1422; FAX 071 497 1426; or e-mail alison.lawrence@itpuk.co.uk * Germany through International Thomson Publishing, Konigswinterer Strabe 418, 53227 Bonn, Germany. Telephone 0-228-445171-75; FAX 0-228-441342; or email 1002727.2422@compuserve.com * Asia through International Thomson Publishing, 221 Henderson Rd., #05-10 Henderson Building, Singapore 0315. Telephone 65-02-272-6497, FAX 65-02-272-6498 * Australia and New Zealand through Woodslane, Unit 8, 101 Darley Street, Monavale, NSW 2103, Australia. Telephone 61-2-979-5944, Fax: 61-2-997-3348, e-mail: woods@tmx.mhs.oz.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: METAPHOR INC. ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH SUN MICROSYSTEMS SPARC-based Solaris 2.x servers. Shelly Eckenroth (415) 286-3990 Mary Lindmeier Chris Carleston (617) 862-4514 Metaphor Inc. McGlinchey & Paul (415) 966-0805 MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., September 8, 1993 -- Metaphor Inc., a leading provider of decision support software and services, today announced a joint marketing and development agreement with Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation. Through the agreement, Metaphor will port its database gateway products for Oracle and SYBASE SQL Server to Sun's SPARC-based Solaris 2.x servers. The relationship demonstrates Metaphor's continuing support for open systems through multi-vendor technology collaboration. Available worldwide, DIS combines relational database technology with a suite of graphical software tools. This combination enables business professionals to gather and analyze data, then transform it into useful information at the click of a mouse. The DIS gateway allows these tools to access information stored in a remote database. "The new Sun-based gateways will provide expanded market opportunities for Metaphor, particularly in the financial services industry," said Chris Grejtak, Metaphor's vice president of marketing. "The ability for DIS to access key databases from the financial services industry's dominant UNIX platform, SPARC/Solaris will be a major benefit to new and existing customers. We have received increasing interest in making our Oracle and Sybase gateways available to the Sun-based community. With this effort, we will provide a very high-performance, cost-effective and efficient way for DIS users to access critical decision support data." "Sun has greatly expanded its portfolio of leading commercial appli- cations for Solaris 2 over the past year," said Doug Kaewert, director of commercial market development at Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation. "Now with Metaphor's DIS gateway, Sun customers can take advantage of one of the leading decision support packages. The DIS gateway is a perfect match for Sun's multi-processing servers." Metaphor expects to ship the gateways in the first half of 1994. Pricing will be announced at that time. Metaphor provides decision support software and services that help businesses make decisions quickly and efficiently, regardless of where decision makers or the data they use are located. Metaphor's flagship Data Interpretation System (DIS) product combines relational database technology with a suite of graphical software tools that enables business people to gather and analyze data and transform it into useful information. DIS was introduced in 1984 and is now an integral part of the decision-making process at nearly 200 Fortune 1000 companies. Founded in 1982, Metaphor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the IBM Corporation. ### Metaphor is a registered trademark of Metaphor Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX systems Laboratories Inc. SPARC/Solaris is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective company with whom they are associated. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: OCR for $999 From: balasco@auratek.com (Alfred P. Balasco) Org: Aurora Technologies Inc. Tel: 617 290-4800 email: sales@auratek.com AURORA BRINGS PC PRICING TO WORKSTATION SOFTWARE MARKET WITH SPARC SYSTEM OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION FOR LESS THAN $1000 New Software Pricing Follows Successful SBus Expansion Product Price Reductions Waltham, MA, September 17, 1993 -- Aurora Technologies today introduced PC-industry pricing to the SPARC workstation software industry, making its Socrates OCR for SPARC software available for $999. Socrates OCR for SPARC improves office-workflow processes by automating data acquisition in applications like desktop and document publishing, forms processing, fax distribution, and data entry. At the new price, OCR technology that utilizes the power of the RISC platform becomes accessible to thousands of potential users, particularly first-time OCR users for whom the price of entry into the market and poor performance of PC-based packages have been barriers. Based on Calera Recognition Systems widely acclaimed character recognition engine, Socrates is scanner-and platform independent, making it ideal for use in any SPARC system-based client-server environment. Socrates will recognize any scanned image in TIFF (standard scanner file output format) or SunRaster formats. Documents recognized by Socrates can be used, fully formatted or ASCII text, in a wide variety of standard SPARC workstation, PC, and Macintosh applications, including Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, FrameMaker, and Lotus 1-2-3. Utilizing the power of the SPARC processor, Socrates recognizes documents in a fraction of the time of PC-based OCR packages, and with 99.9% accuracy. Using omnifont recognition technology, Socrates recognizes any type style and format without the 'training' many OCR applications require. A powerful verifier allows on-screen, side-by-side comparison of the scanned and recognized images for fast proofing. An intuitive graphical user interface allows both new and experienced users to work comfortably with the technology without a steep learning curve. According to Aurora President Dennis Daudelin, market demand and the success of an identical pricing strategy with Aurora's SBus product line led to today's announcement. As many traditionally PC-centric organizations expand into the client-server arena, the number of potential workstation users grows exponentially," he said. We recognize that success in that transitional market depends on providing higher performance at prices microcomputer users are accustomed to, and we are leading the drive to make the most of this opportunity. 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: snapshots of file systems Newsgroups: comp.newprod From: lr@teal.csn.org (Lawrence M. Ruane) Contact: Larry Ruane Org: Minimus Software Phone: (303)841-6235 Email: lr@minimus.com SNAP(tm) is a software product for that adds the "time dimension" to file systems and raw partitions. SNAP can benefit practically any SPARC SunOS 4.1.x system with a disk (no special hardware is required). SNAP gives users continuous, direct, writable access to previous versions of file systems. Users can restore lost or corrupted files, or assess recent changes to a file, using standard commands such as cd, ls, diff, cp: $ vi /home/file (oops, deleted an important line) $ ls -l /home/file -rw-r--r-- 1 jana 884 Aug 29 22:58 /home/file $ ls -l /93/*/home/file -rw-r----- 1 lr 174 Jul 12 09:47 /93/0815/home/file -rw-r----- 1 lr 370 Aug 17 12:12 /93/0822/home/file -rw-r--r-- 1 lr 198 Aug 24 10:44 /93/0826/home/file -rw-rw-r-- 1 jana 198 Aug 24 10:44 /93/0827/home/file -rw-rw-r-- 1 jana 198 Aug 27 17:03 /93/0828/home/file -rw-r--r-- 1 jana 914 Aug 28 22:58 /93/0829/home/file $ diff /93/0829/home/file /home/file 9d8 < this is a very important line! really! $ cp /93/0829/home/file /home/file $ (file restored) In fact, entire applications can run directly in these previous-version directories -- all files (not just changed files) appear; all directories, modes, owners, time stamps, etc. are preserved. SNAP's second major use gives system administrators a solution to the "live backup" problem. While SNAP doesn't replace standard tape backups, it allows any backup package to produce consistent, fsck'ed backups of mounted, active file systems. How it works: SNAP creates virtual-device disk partitions that reflect previous states ("snapshots") of real partitions. These snapshots can be treated exactly like the real disk partitions from which they were "cloned". But they are space-efficient -- initially any reference through a virtual partition is directed to the real partition. As blocks are changed on the real partition, the old contents are copied to a "save area" (copy on write); afterwards, references to those blocks are directed to the save area instead. The save area can be either a raw partition or a regular file, and can be much smaller than the real partitions. No special hardware is required. Of course, writes to snapshots are also directed to the save area. Snapshot virtual-device nodes are named for the real partition and the time they were created (in seconds since 1970 in hex): $ ls -l /dev/*sd0e* crw-r----- 1 root 17, 28 Oct 8 1992 /dev/rsd3e crw-r----- 1 root 59, 2 Aug 28 11:45 /dev/rsd3e-2c7f99ab brw-r----- 1 root 7, 28 Oct 8 1992 /dev/sd3e brw-r----- 1 root 17, 2 Aug 28 11:45 /dev/sd3e-2c7f99ab Snapshots are automatically deallocated when they become old. Sysadmin-specified priorities allow snapshots to become less granular over time (daily snapshots for the past week, weekly for the past month, etc.). The current number of snapshots is a function of the size of the save area and the rate new data is being generated. The system is self-administering after installation; daily snapshots of the /home file system (as in the above example) are set up with a crontab entry that runs every midnight: 0 0 * * * snapmount -f %y/%m%d /home (Snapmount creates and mounts the snapshot; the -f option gives the format of the mount point.) Snapshots can be created with any frequency, or by running snapmount directly. A lower-level command, snap, only creates snapshots, for use with non-file system partitions. Multiple partitions can be snapshot atomically, an important requirement when partitions are interrelated, as with database applications. Installation takes a few seconds (no reboot necessary). On-line user's manual and man pages included. The same version runs on all SunOS 4.1.x. Available now, $149 per system. 30-day no-charge evaluation available. Distribution on one 3.5" floppy or email. ********************************************************************** 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 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