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SunWorld New Products

New products for the week of February 28

By John J. McLaughlin, FlashBack, Inc. flash@flashback.com.

Back to the comprehensive index of February's new products.

For More Details

You can send for more product information if an article has a FlashBack number. Simply send email to flashback@flashback.com with one or FlashBack numbers in the Subject field.


Table of Contents

Hardware

Software

Software Development

Books

Java

Electronic Commerce

CAD

Security

Conferences

Training


Hardware

Product: AccelePort Xr 920 - intelligent asynchronous serial board ($845.00 to $1,095.00)
Company: Digi International Inc. (Minneapolis, MN)
Telephone: (800) 344-4273, (612) 912-3444
Fax: (612) 912-4952
E-mail: info@dgii.com
URL: http://www.dgii.com
Platforms: Windows NT, Novell NetWare, SCO OpenServer, Sun Solaris, Linux
Description: High-Speed serial board solution for server-based communications. Increases throughput and enhances reliability. Provides up to 921.6 Kbps throughput for servers requiring remote access by connecting high-speed modems and/or ISDN terminal adapters or serial connections for other high-speed peripheral devices.

Users can take advantage of the benefits of ISDN terminal adapters, V.34 or 56 Kbps modems by installing an AccelePort Xr 920 at the server -- providing reliable, high-speed connections. Available in four- and eight-port versions and supports both PCI and ISA bus servers. The product ships modem-ready for easy installation and features 32-bit transmission for faster throughput, surge protection against hardware damage and zero data loss for reliable and accurate I/O. RISC processors and the proprietary Front-End Processor/Operating System (FEP/OS) reduce communications bottlenecks on the host processor.

Product: AudioPCI - multimedia card for the Ultra AX motherboard (contact vendor for price)
Company: ENSONIQ Corporation (Malvern,PA)
Telephone: (610) 647-3930
E-mail: judyc@ENSONIQ.COM
URL: http://www.ENSONIQ.com
Platforms: Ultra AX (Solaris)
Description: Card has the sound quality, speed and performance to enhance the existing outstanding multimedia capabilities of the Ultra AX motherboard. By directly taking advantage of the PCI bus, AudioPCI is four to twenty times faster than a card that uses an ISA bus for DMA transfers; however, AudioPCI's compatibility features allow pre-existing ENSONIQ driver software to function as though the ISA signals are present, therefore protecting the user's investment.

AudioPCI allows the use of system RAM to hold digital sound wavetables and equates the cost of less sophisticated FM synthesis sound. The board uses an 18-bit DAC to provide the highest quality of digital sound reproduction available. With the capability for playback mode already in place, eventually the sound board will be available for the Ultra AX motherboard with recording mode as well.

Product: EL-2x EtherLite Port Servers - Serial two-port expansion ($495)
Company: Central Data Corporation (Champaign, IL)
Telephone: (217) 359-8010, (800) 482-0315
Fax: (217) 359-6904
E-mail: info@cd.com
URL: http://www.cd.com
Platforms: AIX, HP-UX, Solaris, Digital Unix, Windows NT, SCO Unix,
Description: Provides two asynchronous serial ports supporting speeds up to 230 Kbaud. For connecting high-speed modems, terminals, printers and other devices. These new two-port EtherLite models allow additional flexibility when only a few expansion ports are needed.

Connect two asynchronous, RJ-45 serial ports to systems running Unix or Windows NT via a 10Base-T Ethernet connection. Three EL-2x models are available in the following port combinations: two RS-232 ports (EL-2); one RS-232 port and one RS-422 port (EL-2.1); and two RS-422 ports (EL-2.2). RS-232 ports are commonly used for connecting devices such as modems, terminals, and printers. The RS-422 ports are ideal for applications requiring longer distances, higher data rates, or extra noise immunity, such as factory-floor and retail point-of-sale environments.

Product: LynxNSS - network-attached storage servers ($15,995+)
Company: Artecon, Inc. (San Diego, CA)
Telephone: (800) 872-2783
Fax: (760) 931-5527
E-mail: info@artecon.com
URL: http://www.artecon.com
Platforms: Unix , Windows 95 and Windows NT
Description: High-speed, network-attached storage servers. With support for FC-AL (Arbitrated Loop) and FC switched-fabric topologies, LynxNSS provides added resiliency and flexibility to networks requiring high-speed data transfers, especially with video streaming or image processing applications.

LynxNSS also supports 10/100Base-T Ethernet, FDDI, and CDDI network interfaces to accommodate a variety of network environments and changes in network requirements. Gigabit Ethernet connectivity is currently under development. LynxNSS' multi-processing hardware/software architecture outperforms traditional storage devices by eliminating the server bottleneck and delivering data directly to the client.

Product: Sun Guardian Converter - Converts Sun keyboard, mouse, and monitor signals to PS/2 specs ($150)
Company: Raritan Computer, Inc. (Somerset, NJ)
Telephone: (732) 764-8886
Fax: (732) 764 8887
E-mail: sales@raritan.com
URL: http://www.raritan.com
Platforms: any Sun machine
Description: Converter certified by Sun for use with all its server and workstation computers. Sun Guardian enables a user to operate a Sun server or workstation with a PS/2-compatible keyboard and mouse, and VGA monitor. It is particularly useful in industrial or financial environments which require the smaller keyboard footprint. It can also be used very effectively in Sun/PC mixed environments with Raritan's MasterConsole KVM switch, which enables a user to control up to 256 computers (Sun, PC, and/or Mac) from one keyboard monitor, and mouse.

Product: SuperFlex AIT TapeArray - high-performance tape backup subsystem ($19,420 (4 tapes drives), $31,898 (7 tape drives))
Company: Storage Dimensions (Milpitas, CA)
Telephone: (408) 954-0710
E-mail: info@xstor.com
Platforms: Windows NT, NetWare, Solaris, HP-UX, and AIX
Description: One of the industry's first tape arrays to incorporate Sony Corporation's new generation Advanced Intelligent Tape (AIT) technology. System combines AIT drives with Storage Dimensions' fault-tolerant SuperFlex TapeArray enclosure in a high-performance 350 gigabyte (GB) tape backup solution. Provides customers with a compelling alternative to DLT and DDS- 3 backup systems. The system features performance, capacity, and reliability that is comparable to DLT tape array solutions and superior to DDS-3 solutions, while offering a lower cost per GB.

AIT drives are packaged in a 3.5" form factor, providing much higher storage capacity in less space than traditional 5.25" helical-scan devices. The AIT design also includes many reliability improvements that make it far more robust than the older products. Features such as an integrated fan, automatic head cleaning, gentler tape handling, and tape media designed to prevent tape "shedding," increase reliability of AIT systems while reducing maintenance. Capacity and performance have also been refined in the AIT design to provide 25 GB of native capacity per drive and a native data transfer rate of 3 MB per second.

Provides non-stop operation through redundant components that are hot swappable and easily serviceable. The resilient SuperFlex enclosure design incorporates dual redundant load-sharing power supplies, dual main power inputs with cable lock guards, and three cooling fan modules.


Software

Product: Administor Manager - remote monitoring and management of nStor disk array subsystems (Free with all CR8e subsystems)
Company: nStor Corporation, Inc. (Lake Mary, FL)
Telephone: (407) 829-3500 or (800) 724-3511
Fax: (407) 829-3555
E-mail: sales@nstor.com
URL: http://www.nstor.com
Platforms: Windows NT, NetWare, Solaris, IRIX, HP-UX
Description: A Java applet which provides remote monitoring and management of nStor disk array subsystems from anywhere in the world via the World Wide Web. Integral part of nStor's AdminiStor Storage Management Software Suite, a software package which provides configuration, management, and monitoring capabilities.

Works in conjunction with operating system specific AdminiStor Agents on each subsystem to provide complete centralized management utilizing a Java-enabled Web browser (such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer). The AdminiStor Agents provide subsystem status alerts via SNMP (simple network management protocol), network broadcasts, and paging services, which are then monitored and displayed by the AdminiStor Manager.

AdminiStor Manager implements "push" technology which reduces both the Internet and local network traffic and provides real-time event notification and system status to the user. Security is provided through the implementation of encrypted logon user ID and password for each session and server being managed.

Product: AdvancedReport - schedules, generates, updates and prints reports (10-device Server: NT/$10,000; Unix/$15,000)
Company: Quallaby Corporation (Woburn, MA)
Telephone: (781) 935-4700
Fax: (781) 935-2555
E-mail: sales@quallaby.com
URL: http://www.quallaby.com
Platforms: Windows 95, Windows NT, HP-UX, AIX, Solaris
Description: Provides top-level management with high-quality, decisional reports. AdvancedReport is a client module of Quallaby's PerfAgent, a real time performance management solution for service level agreements. Automatically schedules, generates, updates and prints reports for service level management. Uses all of the chart functions in Microsoft Excel to present data and can generate HTML reports that can be inserted in a Web browser.

Reports can be classified into information concerning one network or system component, a group of network component, system components, or network and systems component supporting a business service in the company (for example: application, server, central router, WAN link, remote site router, remote site switch, etc.). Can take into account performance, load, availability of components and groups of components. The reports are integrated with EXCEL (OFFICE 97/98) for a full availability.

Many Advanced Reports may extract information from one PerfAgent server. It can integrate metrics from help desk tools; average time of problem resolution by hot line team can be aggregated with other technical metrics to provide very high level indicators. AdvancedReport and its flagship server PerfAgent help to minimize the total cost of service level management.

Product: Chordiant Customer Communications Solution (CCS) 1.4 - Realtime Consumer Interaction System (none)
Company: Chordiant Software (Dallas, TX)
Telephone: (888) CHORDIANT
Fax: none
E-mail: info@chordiant.com
URL: http://www.chordiant.com
Platforms: clients: Windows NT, Windows 95 JavaBeans; Servers: Unix including Solaris. HP-UX
Description: Customer-interaction application lets large companies provide realtime, personalized, one-to-one customer service. Allows large, consumer-based companies to create an environment that enhances sales growth, customer satisfaction, and customer access, to multiple areas of their organization, by letting customers easily conduct business with any part of the company. Businesses can tailor each response to fit a customer's specific product interest and follow the company's policies and procedures.

Result is personalized service for each customer who emails, calls, or posts any type of sales, information, or service request. Through a unique, integrated system, Chordiant CCS automatically delivers to the customer service agent, in realtime, all of the relationship information and processes needed to personalize each transaction. Provides unique application functionality for targeted cross-selling efforts by dynamically profiling customer requests, account history, and complementary product profiles. The system automates business tasks, from customer inquiry through fulfillment, to improve service levels, allowing more time for proactive communication.

Product: EcoTOOLS for Ultra 1, 10 - application management support (none)
Company: Compuware Corporation (Farmington Hills, MI)
Telephone: (800) 521-9353
Fax: none
E-mail: info@compuware.com
URL: http://www.compuware.com
Platforms: Ultra 1, 10
Description: Comprehensive solution for managing the availability of business-critical applications. Includes out-of-the-box support for Lotus Notes and packaged applications including SAP R/3, PeopleSoft, and Oracle Applications.

Supports packaged applications through the deployment of customized agents that monitor the health and availability of application servers, databases, operating systems, and networks. For example, specialized agents provide in-depth SAP metrics such as response time, buffer usage, server workload, and number of users. By monitoring these metrics and then correlating them with information gathered from SAP-related application components, it provides customers with the most effective solution for ensuring availability of business-critical SAP R/3 resources. In addition to supporting leading packaged applications, it manages in-house developed applications to provide one of the industry's most comprehensive solutions for managing enterprise applications.

Product: Fault-XPERT for Unix 1.1 - fault detection tool (contact vendor for price)
Company: Compuware Corporation (Farmington Hills, MI)
Telephone: (800) 521-9353
E-mail: info@compuware.com
URL: http://www.compuware.com
Platforms: SunOS 5.5.1 and Solaris 2.5.1
Description: A fault detection tool that helps development and technical support staffs speed up the resolution of business-critical application failures in test and production environments.

In addition to Sun support, Release 1.1 of Fault-XPERT for Unix includes: Enhanced source support captures and displays the actual line of code where a process failed for applications written in C and C++; Display of last screen shot provides an image of the faulting machine's desktop at the time of the fault; Enhanced fault detection extends fault monitoring to the running processes not initially started with the FX starter program; Fault data management-- provides added flexibility and control in managing the file system space used for storing fault dump files; Enhanced diagnostic information; and Network installation option -- for customizing and standardizing the installation of Fault-XPERT across multiple servers and clients.

Product: ILux Edge 4.0, ILux Enterprise 4.0 - Web Site Monitors (ILux Edge 4.0: $395, ILux Enterprise 4.0: $995)
Company: Portfolio Technologies Inc. (Newark, CA)
Telephone: (510) 226-5600
E-mail: info@ilux.com
URL: http://www.ilux.com
Platforms: Windows NT, 95, Solaris
Description: Web monitoring products that let managers track marketing statistics and trends, and provide marketing support functions to e-commerce applications. Allows managers to see what parts of their Web sites are visited most often, which ads are being seen, and how often visitors return. Webmasters and marketing managers can optimize sites to achieve the highest level of traffic and deliver specific information to customers based on their preferences and buying patterns.

Both products transform logs into concise reports and graphs. These analysis tools are generated in near real-time. Both products offer more than 60 pre-built reports, or managers can opt to customize reports to meet specific needs. Reports can be generated in English, German, French, Spanish or Japanese.

Product: NetWorker BusinesSuite Module for Sybase - backup and recovery for Sybase servers ($5,000)
Company: Legato Systems, Inc. (Palo Alto, CA)
Telephone: (650) 812-6000
E-mail: sales@legato.com
URL: http://www.legato.com
Platforms: Solaris, AIX, and HP-UX
Description: High-performance backup and recovery solution for Sybase SQL Server and Sybase Adaptive Server. Provides high-speed backup and recovery for Sybase SQL Server 11 and Sybase Adaptive Server 11.5 databases running on Solaris, AIX, and HP-UX platforms. A new design paradigm provides true storage management scalability by addressing customer requirements for manageability, availability and performance across an organization's storage network -- ranging from campus environments to entire global networks.

Uses the Sybase Backup Application Programming Interface (API) that provides a safe, database-aware interface for backup and recovery. Performs hot backups while the database is on-line, giving users continuous access to their Sybase applications. Database administrators have the choice of implementing full or incremental backups, along with threshold-based transaction log backups. Uses tape autochangers and libraries that, when combined with a graphical scheduler, allow customers to automate the backup process.

Product: Sawmill 2.0 - Log File Analysis Tool ($49)
Company: Flowerfire (Champaign, IL)
Telephone: 217-355-7659
Fax: none
E-mail: info@flowerfire.com
URL: http://www.flowerfire.com/sawmill
Platforms: Windows 95/NT, MacOS, Solaris (SPARC & Intel), SunOS, HP-UX, Digital Unix, Linix, MKLinux
Description: Hierarchical log file tool for the graphical analysis of Web server log files. It runs as a CGI program on a Web server, with a GUI that can be used from any Web browser to configure and run the tool, or to view the statistics pages, which are crosslinked for navigation. Includes a persistent database, control over the appearance of stats pages, and log filtering options. Documentation of these and other features is built in. Trial copies are available.

Product: StanFAX 5.0 - Internet fax software (contact vendor for price)
Company: Stanford Software Corporation (Santa Clara, CA)
Telephone: (408) 988-6171
E-mail: info@stansoft.com
URL: http://www.stansoft.com
Platforms: Solaris 2.x, Windows 3.x, 95, NT 4.0, NT 4.0 server
Description: Enhanced versions of the StanFAX software solution include StanFAX for ISPs 5.0, StanFAX for Corporations 5.0, and StanFAX Modules 5.0. New features enable management to track accounts for billing purposes, provide improved installation features, and an enriched user interface. ISP and Corporations versions include fax-to-fax, e-mail-to-fax, Web-to-fax, PC-to-fax, and broadcast faxing.

StanFAX for ISPs 5.0 provides the complete Internet/LAN/Intranet/WAN solution for Internet Service Providers, Network Service Providers, and Fax Service Providers looking for additional revenue sources, a competitive edge, and a means of increasing their customer base without additional investments in new hardware systems.

StanFAX for Corporations 5.0 offers a similar package for multinational corporations and leverages off the existing corporate network infrastructure to reduce phone costs associated with faxing and streamline network fax processes.

StanFAX Modules 5.0 provides a means for clients to choose only the features they need and allows for future additions when necessary.

Product: Unicenter TNG for Starfire - integrated enterprise management solution (none)
Company: Computer Associates International, Inc. (Islandia, NY)
Telephone: (516) 342-5224
Fax: none
E-mail: info@cai.com
URL: http://www.cai.com
Platforms: Sun Enterprise 10000, Windows NT, Unix, AS/400, NetWare
Description: Enhanced management support for Sun Microsystems' Sun Enterprise 10000 (also known as Starfire) under Unicenter TNG. The new integration facilities enable customers to fully leverage native Starfire management capabilities within Unicenter TNG. Among the integration facilities provided for Starfire servers under Unicenter TNG are:

- New class definitions for Starfire servers so that Unicenter TNG can discover them as Starfire machines and identify them in its topology maps.

- Automatic identification of Starfire machines in Business Process Views.

- Menu-level integration that allows Starfire's hostview management application to be launched in context directly from Unicenter TNG.

- Automatic discovery of all Starfire management agents, including control board, system board, support board, centerplane, domains and fans, and the ability to collect and correlate information gathered by those agents.

- Comprehensive event-action policies for the automatic management of all Starfire management agents.

Unicenter TNG is an integrated enterprise management solution that enables organizations to manage all IT resources, encompassing heterogeneous networks, systems, applications, and databases. It provides comprehensive end-to-end enterprise management for TCP/IP, SNA, IPX/SPX and DECnet networks, and 40 platforms including desktops, Windows NT, Unix, AS/400, NetWare and mainframe environments.

Product: WINTED 2.2 - Unix-to-Windows interoperability solution (contact vendor for price)
Company: TriTeal Corp. (Carlsbad, CA)
Telephone: 800-TRI-TEAL, (760) 827-5000
Fax: (760) 930-2081
E-mail: info@triteal.com
URL: http://www.triteal.com
Platforms: Solaris, SunOS, HP-UX, AIX and IRIX
Description: A native Win32 software application, WINTED provides Microsoft Windows clients with point-and-click integration to remote Unix and Windows applications, files and printers. Year 2000 (Y2K) compliant for Microsoft Windows 95 and Microsoft Windows NT 4.0. Also provides advanced desktop management features for extending desktop real estate and gathering and accessing Unix and Windows applications. For a free download evaluation of WINTED, visit the website.

Product: XaCCT 3.0 - Auditing, Reporting and Accounting for TCP/IP Networks (basic system end user price, for one host, is $3,500)
Company: XaCCT Technologies Inc. (Bnei-Brak, Israel)
Telephone: 011-972-3-618-0040
Fax: 011-972-3-579-9798
E-mail: info@xacct.com
URL: http://www.xacct.com
Platforms: Solaris
Description: Accounting and billing system for network resource use. Produces auditing, billing and accounting for TCP/IP networks. Corporations, ISPs, and telecommunications companies will be able to monitor network traffic and use built-in capabilities to measure and distribute the costs for network services fairly to the users based on elements like distance, time and bandwidth requirements.

Treats network sessions much like phone calls, using parameters such as IP addresses, user names, profit center names, application types, session durations, and information about session content. Has an enhanced and distributed data collection system to gather information from many sources simultaneously, and its scalability allows for easy addition of information sources.

Information is useful to the provider, and it benefit the users, helping them understand their activities and actual impacts on the total communications stream; identify and evaluate patterns; and choose ways to increase efficiencies, reduce costs, and optimize their investment in network services.

Product: i3 Daily Briefing and i3 Live Alert - monitor and deliver relevant intranet information (Briefing: $32,000, Alert: $24,000)
Company: Autonomy Systems (Cambridge, UK)
Telephone: +44 1223-421220
E-mail: info@agentware.com
URL: http://www.agentware.com
Platforms: Sun Solaris 2.5 (Sparc), DEC Unix 4.0 (Alpha), Windows NT
Description: i3 Daily Briefing and i3 Live Alert monitor and deliver relevant information from a company's intranet, including the Web, news feeds, e-mail, corporate memoranda, archives, and document stores, presenting company users of the intranet with up-to-date, timely information. The idea behind the new products is to reduce the quantity of useless information that currently bombards employees.

i3 Daily Briefing uses Concept Agents, defined by either users or administrators, to monitor specified internal or external information sources and report back to individual users with links to relevant information. On a large company intranet, Concept Agents can be used to collect and distribute internal information to the relevant employees such as corporate memoranda, health and safety policies, regulatory issues, personnel notices or updates on the company's competitive situation. i3 Live Alert monitors live news feeds or information streams, such as Reuters, and alerts specific users via e-mail or even via a global system for mobile communications (GSM) phone (using text messaging), as soon as a breaking news story of specific interest appears.

Product: teemworld - Java terminal emulator ($179)
Company: Pericom Software, Inc. (Hamilton Square, NJ)
Telephone: (609) 588-5300
E-mail: info@pericom.co.uk
URL: http://www.pericom.co.uk
Platforms: Unix, PC, OS/2, NC, PDA
Description: Emulates a wide range terminals. Connects any Java enabled desktop to any host system, linking existing and emerging technologies and extending the usefulness of legacy systems. This applet, written entirely in Java, enables access of any host-based legacy application to be deployed on any desktop client supporting Java, either through a Web browser or as an application with any Java Virtual Machine

Includes a full set of productivity tools including floating toolbar, button palettes, graphical keyboard remapping, attribute-to-color mapping, mouse integration and multiple session control. Support for Java 1.1 takes advantage of Sun Microsystems' concept of "Trusted versus Untrusted" Java applets for security purposes. By configuring as a Trusted applet through code signing, users running in a browser environment save configuration and profile files locally. In addition, users can connect to other host systems in addition to the server from which the applet was loaded. This allows the central server to share the applet and allows the user to access all corporate mainframes.


Software Development

Product: CodeCenter, ObjectCenter and TestCenter - C/C++ programming environment (TestCenter: $4,870; ObjectCenter: $4,995; CodeCenter: $3,750)
Company: CenterLine Software, Inc. (Cambridge, MA)
Telephone: (617) 498-3000
Fax: none
E-mail: info@centerline.com
URL: http://www.centerline.com
Platforms: SunOS, SunSolaris, HP-UX, AIX
Description: Three products that give C and C++ developers robust development and testing capabilities. ObjectCenter is a multi-platform Unix C/C++ programming environment that provides the interactivity needed to maximize all the benefits of C++ and object-oriented programming.

CodeCenter is a proven, professional solution for prototyping, building, testing, debugging, enhancing, and maintaining Unix C programs. CodeCenter's functions support prototyping, editing, compiling, incremental linking, debugging, testing, file management, and interactive graphical browsing.

TestCenter is a unique tool for delivering thoroughly tested C and C++ code. TestCenter makes testing a non-intrusive, integral part of the programming process. It is an add-on to all leading programming environments, including ObjectCenter, CodeCenter, SPARCworks, and SoftBench.

In addition to routine maintenance, each new release includes a copy of AcquaProva, a code advisor and error checking tool. It provides a state-of-the-art error checking environment, furthering the capabilities in the other products.

Product: Empress Hypermedia V3.00 - Internet applications development toolkit (contact vendor for pricing information)
Company: Empress Software Inc (Greenbelt, MD)
Telephone: (301) 220-1919
Fax: (301) 220-1997
E-mail: sales@empress.com
URL: http://www.empress.com
Platforms: Empress RDBMS (Unix, Windows or real-time)
Description: Internet applications development toolkit for the Empress RDBMS user. Includes enhanced Perl and Tcl/Tk interfaces for connecting these scripting languages to the RDBMS.

Features include: the ability to directly embed SQL statements within other SQL statements in an HTML template; a method to check input strings of data in order to ensure the correctness of the strings' components; and a way to connect to the database by simply specifying connection information in the HTML tag. In addition, error log files generated by the toolkit can now be kept separate from the HTTP system, giving you a clean method of managing this information. The new installation scripts, which help configure copies of Empress Hypermedia in various Web documents, now make it easy to ensure security. You have total control over who can access, view or modify any data within the system.

Product: IMSL Distributed Network Fortran Library - Fortran 90-based numerical library (contact vendor for price)
Company: Visual Numerics Inc. (Houston, TX)
Telephone: (303) 581-3343
E-mail: info@vni.com
URL: http://www.vni.com
Platforms: Sun SPARC
Description: Fortran 90-based numerical library for Sun SPARC distributed networks. Industry-standard numerical software optimizes the computational power of a heterogeneous network.

Enables developers to harness network muscle and optimize Fortran application performance by employing under-utilized processors, regardless of type, in a distributed network. This is accomplished through DNFL's smart self-scheduling algorithm (SSA) - the underlying technology. Working from a prioritized list of available processors (that can be generated automatically with DNFL), the SSA allocates the workload continuously so the fastest processors receive a larger share of the work. As a result, super-linear and scaleable performance can be realized in correlation to the network's computing power.

Designed to exploit both Sun Microsystems' Message Passing Interface (MPI) technology or MPICH from Argonne National Laboratories for heterogeneous technology. Both give developers an effective path to upgrade legacy applications that increase utility and performance. Additional functions include redesigned dynamic error processing for distributed systems. This ensures accurate error handling during parallel execution. Linear operators and generic functions provide a natural programming interface for application development. Automatic access to the distributed network permits information to pass with no manual moving of the data.

Product: PRO/Enable - Persistent Relational to Object (PRO) mapping product (contact vendor)
Company: Black & White Software, Inc. (Campbell, CA)
Telephone: (408) 369-7400
Fax: (408) 369-7406
E-mail: info@blackwhite.com
URL: http://www.blackwhite.com
Platforms: Unix, Windows 95/NT, Solaris, HP
Description: Persistent Relational to Object (PRO) mapping product based on a highly scalable three-tier architecture. Existing data from leading relational databases such as Oracle, Sybase and Microsoft SQL Server can be automatically mapped to middle-tier objects that are accessible via the industry standard Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA). The software offers an efficient and cost-effective way to migrate monolithic and two-tier relational systems to object oriented three-tier systems capable of supporting corporate intranets and the Internet. It delivers relational schema to object mapping, run-time object loading, concurrency control, performance optimizations, and more.

Key benefits: Improved programmer productivity; No changes to existing database structure; Better application scalability; Support for multiple languages; Graphical environment.

Product: Time Services SDK - developer toolkit with calendaring and scheduling software ($5,000)
Company: CrossWind Technologies, Inc. (Santa Cruz, CA)
Telephone: (408) 469-1780, (800) 335-4988
Fax: (408) 469-1750
E-mail: info@crosswind.com
URL: http://www.crosswind.com
Platforms: Web, Windows 3.1/95/NT, Macintosh, Motif/X, Unix
Description: Developer toolkit bundled with ready-to-deploy calendaring and scheduling software for both Intranet and traditional native client/server environments. Provides the essential "coordination" component needed within many of the cross-application, collaborative solutions Systems Integrators are called on to provide. Within most workflow scenarios, processes are optimized in terms of work assignment, routing and sign-off, but few solutions offer more than rudimentary calendaring and scheduling.

This SDK offers the scalable, real-time performance that satisfies the corporate calendaring and scheduling desktop requirement, as well as the open standards-based architecture needed for successful integration. This provides several advantages: it offers a natural work management interface for users -- their calendar; it eliminates redundant scheduling functions; and it reduces tracking errors attendant to managing multiple calendar applications. With the upcoming IETF calendaring and scheduling standard, the ability to transparently share calendar data with other common calendaring and scheduling products will be provided.

Product: U/WIN - Enables Unix-To-NT Portability ($99, $199)
Company: Global Technologies Ltd. (Old Bridge, NJ)
Telephone: (609) 722-0906
Fax: none
E-mail: info@gtlinc.com
URL: http://www.gtlinc.com
Platforms: AIX 4.x, BSDI, HP-UX 10.x, IRIX 5.x/6.x, SCO UnixWare
Description: A Unix-like environment for Windows-based systems. Includes the latest release of KornShell, developed at Bell Laboratories, the research and development unit of Lucent Technologies. Comes bundled with more than 150 POSIX-compliant shell commands and utilities. It also runs in the Microsoft-native Win32 processing mode. Companies considering adoption of Windows NT often must have two teams to port software from one operating environment to the other as well as supporting ongoing Unix/Windows NT interoperation. U/WIN eliminates the necessity of having more than one development and support team.


Books

Title: Exploring Java, 2nd Edition - updated introduction to the Java language ($32.95)
Author: Pat Niemeyer & Josh Peck
Company: O'Reilly & Associates (Sebastopol, CA)
Telephone: (800) 998-9938, (707) 829-0515
Fax: (707) 829-0104
E-mail: info@oreilly.com
URL: http://www.ora.com
ISBN: 1-56592-271-9
Platforms: none
Description: Revised to cover version 1.1 of the JDK, but it retains the practical, hands-on approach of the original edition. In addition to teaching the basics of Java, the book covers the essentials of topics like Beans and RMI. Shows how to get up to speed writing Java applets and other applications, including networking programs, content and protocol handlers, and security managers.

The book covers: History and principles of Java; How to write simple applets; How to integrate applets into the World Wide Web; Java Class Libraries; Using threads; Using arrays; Network programming; Content and protocol handling; Using the Abstract Windowing Toolkit (AWT); and Writing a security manager.

Title: Step-By-Step ISDN - How to book ($34.95)
Author: Ben Catanzaro
Company: Sun Microsystems Press (Palo Alto, CA)
Telephone: (650) 786-4706
Fax: (650) 786-8611
E-mail: info@sun.com
URL: http://www.sun.com/books
ISBN: 0-13-890211-9
Platforms: none
Description: No-hassle strategies for setting up an ISDN Internet connection. The author shows exactly what to do -- and what to buy -- to get a reliable, fast ISDN Internet connection for a business or home office. You'll learn how to: Prepare your location and computer systems for an ISDN connection; Order ISDN service from the telephone company; Coordinate ISDN service with your Internet Service Provider; and Select the appropriate hardware and software components. You will also learn how to set up Windows 95, NT and 3.x networked ISDN connections.

Detailed examples of ISDN router technology from Ascend Communications and Internet communications software from Sun Microsystems illustrate exactly how to: Configure TCP/IP and your communications software; Configure your router and connect it to your Ethernet network; Install Sun's powerful Network Client software; and Test your ISDN connection. You'll find systematic, practical troubleshooting information geared to the specific configuration you're working with.

Title: Java Examples in a Nutshell - Java programming examples ($19.95)
Author: David Flanagan
Company: O'Reilly & Associates (Sebastopol, CA)
Telephone: (707) 829-0515, (800) 998-9938
Fax: (707) 829-0104
E-mail: info@oreilly.com
URL: http://www.ora.com
ISBN: 1-56592-371-5
Platforms: none
Description: A suite of example programs useful for novice Java programmers and experts alike. This book doesn't hold your hand or supply detailed explanations of Java syntax or method calls -- it delivers well-commented, working examples that help you explore the wide range of what is possible with Java. Each chapter concludes with programming exercises that suggest further avenues for building on what is learned. It contains all of the example programs from the first edition of "Java in a Nutshell," completely updated for Java 1.1.

The I/O, networking, and GUI chapters have been augmented to include even more practical examples. In addition, it provides never-before-published programming examples for remote method invocation, database connectivity, and security-important elements of the Java Enterprise APIs. Finally, the book offers a glimpse of the features of "Swing," the set of new components that are part of the forthcoming Java Foundation Classes (JFC).

Title: Just Java 1.1 and Beyond - explains Java and object-oriented programming ($44.95)
Author: Peter van der Linden
Company: Sun Microsystems Press (Palo Alto, CA)
Telephone: (650) 786-4706
Fax: (650) 786-8611
E-mail: johnb@Eng.sun.com
URL: http://www.sun.com/books
ISBN: 0-13-784174-4
Platforms: Java
Description: Covers all the fundamentals of Java programming, including Java object-oriented techniques, types, statements, arrays, string processing, and advanced features like networking and threads. This expanded, new edition includes detailed coverage fo the JKD 1.1 event model, new AWT capabilities, and I/O. There's even a preview of the new windowing "Swing" components.

Chapters include: The Story of O: Object-Oriented Programming, The Robot Ping-Pong Player, GIGO: Garbage In, Gospel Out, and Associativity and the "Coffeepot Property". Includes more examples, along with up-to-the-minute coverage of new Java APIs, including the new Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) API. The CD-ROM includes the latest version of the Java Deveopment Kit and code samples compiled for Java 1.1.


Java

Product: Fresco 3.0 - assembles and deploys intranet business applications (contact vendor for price)
Company: Infoscape, Inc. (San Francisco, CA)
Telephone: (415) 537-3775
E-mail: info@infoscape.com
URL: http://www.infoscape.com
Platforms: Windows NT, Solaris
Description: Enables developers to assemble and deploy high-performance intranet business applications using a component architecture based on open standards. Features support for stored procedures, application publishing to NetObjects Fusion sites, component extensibility wizards and other enhancements. Allows developers to leverage database stored procedures promoting reuse. Additionally, it is open and extensible, supporting the integration of third-party Java components. Offers flexible application publishing options. A publishing wizard provided with the development tool streamlines the publishing process.

Options include instant publishing to standard HTML interfaces, Marimba Castanet channels or as stand-alone applications. Through a partnership with NetObjects, Inc., Fresco 3.0 also offers the ability to instantly publish an application as a component that can be integrated into the Fusion environment. New features in Fresco 3.0 include: Database stored procedures and database views support; Application publishing enhancements; Component Extensiblity Wizard; Custom Component Palettes; Charting Components; Developer productivity; and an Informix RDBMS adapter.

Product: JRun 2.0 - Allows web servers to run Java servlets (contact vendor for price)
Company: Live Software Inc. (San Diego, CA)
Telephone: (619) 643-1919
E-mail: contact@livesoftware.com
URL: http://www.livesoftware.com
Platforms: Windows 95/NT, MasOS, Solaris, HP-UX, IRIX and AIX
Description: Adds support for the Java Servlet API to Web servers and applications. Supports Netscape's FastTrack and Enterprise Server 3.x, Microsoft's Internet Information Server 3.0 and 4.0, Microsoft's Personal Web Server, O'Reilly & Associates' WebSite Pro 2.1, and StarNine's WebSTAR 2.1 and 3.0 for MacOS.

Servlets are Java-based applications written to the Java Servlet API. They are like applets running in a browser, but instead run on the server. Using servlets, traditional CGI applications and extensions written in Perl, C/C++ or other languages can be replaced using pure Java implementations.

Servlets offer better performance than most legacy CGI applications because they are only loaded once and reused over and over by the server. Using Java as the development language makes writing server-side applications easier and more bug-free. Highlights: dynamic reloading of modified servlets, packaging of servlets in .zip/.jar files, dynamic reloading of modified .zip/.jar files, servlet initialization parameters, servlet chaining, servlet filtering, servlet chains within filters, multi-homing (virtual server) support, separate servlet and logging directories for each virtual server, SERVLET tag support, user session tracking (Servlet API 1.1 Alpha), and administration application.

Product: SpaceSQL 3.0 - enterprise decision support ($10,000 per server, $2,000 per user)
Company: Infospace, Inc. (San Mateo, CA)
Telephone: (650) 685-3012
E-mail: info@infospace-inc.com
URL: http://www.infospace-inc.com
Platforms: Java
Description: Java-based server solution for enterprise decision support. Built to meet the needs of large IT shops, designed specifically as a cost effective means for deploying a scalable, robust decision support solution to thousands of users over the Web. Web-based decision support includes several new features, including two new administration modules, a new user interface, new and improved Java charting features including dynamic drill-down charts, integration of a new security module for extranet deployment, as well as enhancements to query performance and functions.

Product: ironX - runs large Internet and Intranet Java applets on servers (contact vendor for price)
Company: Ironside Technologies Inc. (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Telephone: (905) 771-8599
E-mail: information@ironside.com
URL: http://www.ironside.com
Platforms: Java, Windows NT, AS/400, Unix
Description: Remote Java product allows customers to run large commercial-class Internet and Intranet Java applets on central servers while downloading a small Java client to end-user browsers. One of the greatest barriers that has faced developers of sophisticated Java applications is the large amount of code that must be transmitted to the user before meaningful program activity can take place.

ironX solves the code delivery bottleneck by providing a server-side platform that runs customer-written Java applets and a thin client-side proxy that renders windowing components and communicates events to the server platform. Applets are eligible to use the features of Sun Java 1.1 regardless of the Java level of the end-user's browser. Developers are free to use the new Java 1.1 Event Model, even though the end-user's browser generates Java 1.0 Events, since the ironX platform performs the necessary conversions.


Electronic Commerce

Product: Jaguar CTS 1.1.1 - Web On-Line Transaction Processing (contact vendor for price)
Company: Sybase, Inc. (Emeryville, CA)
Telephone: (800) SYBASE, (510) 922-3555
E-mail: info@sybase.com
URL: http://www.sybase.com
ISBN: (800-) SYBASE, (510) 922-3555
Platforms: Solaris 2.5.1 or greater, NT 4.0
Description: Combines the best features of an ORB (Object Request Broker) and a TP monitor with component-based development. The multi-threaded kernel powers the run-time component execution environment. Supports leading component models and simplifies the set-up and configuration of transaction-based applications.

Jaguar CTS helps application developers by providing the scalability required to support larger numbers of users with advanced Session Management, Connection Pooling, and Thread Pooling. These are the basic services that all multi-tier applications require to achieve true scalability. For example, the Connection Pooling funnels a large number of browser sessions into a much smaller number of DBMS connections. Connection Pooling ensures more consistent response times to unpredictable workloads while keeping the connection load on the DBMS to an absolute minimum.

RAD tools supported include: Powersoft PowerJ for RAD Java development, PowerBuilder for RAD 4GL development, Java Developer's Kit (JDK) release 1.0.2 and 1.1.1, Powersoft Power++ 2.0 for "C/C++" and ActiveX development, Any off the shelf RAD tool for JavaBean, ActiveX, or C/C++ component development


CAD

Product: ASVP Lab - virtual prototyping environment ($25,000)
Company: CAE Plus, Inc. (Austin, TX)
Telephone: (512) 338-0165, ext. 108
Fax: (512) 338-0192
E-mail: comm@cae-plus.com
URL: http://www.cae-plus.com
Platforms: Windows 95, NT and Unix
Description: An open application-specific virtual prototyping environment, used for verifying embedded system IC architecture, hardware and software. Offers embedded systems and software designers the opportunity to increase productivity and improve time-to-market while protecting their existing investment in design tools and models. Architecture, hardware and software can be debugged with clock accuracy together; and a product's performance measured against specifications before committing to logic design. Prototyping and verification of multi-processor system ICs is now feasible with ASVP Lab.

Includes a model assembler for RTL-C models, interfaces to Verilog and VHDL models, interfaces to hardware and software debugging tools from Design Acceleration (DAI) and Green Hills Software (GHS), and an Application Programming Interface (API) to integrate existing verification software. Fills the verification needs of embedded system and software designers developing consumer products for telecommunication, multimedia, and networking applications.

Product: Alta BONeS Designer - modeling and analysis environment ($36,000)
Company: Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (San Jose, CA)
Telephone: (408) 428-5019
Fax: none
E-mail: info@cadence.com
URL: http://www.cadence.com/
Platforms: Solaris, HP-UX
Description: Improves productivity for designers of digital communications, multimedia and networking electronics. With this new release, system-level designers can more efficiently characterize the functions of complex systems, reuse existing subsystem components in model development, and share critical design information between their system and chip verification environments.

New features include: dynamic modeling capabilities that simplify the capture of complex system designs; a TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol) library that speeds system construction; support for Open Model Interface (OMI) compliant models; import of system models developed using the Specification and Description Language (SDL); and a simulation interface toolkit for interfacing BONeS designer with other commercial and customer proprietary applications.

Product: Maxwell Designer Series - design tools for power electronics components (none)
Company: Ansoft Corporation (Pittsburgh, PA)
Telephone: (412) 261-3200
Fax: (412) 471-9427
E-mail: info@ansoft.com
URL: http://www.ansoft.com
Platforms: HP-UX, SunOS, Solaris, AIX, IRIX, Windows NT, Windows 95
Description: Suite of application specific design tools for motors, generators, and high frequency power electronics components such as transformers and inductors. Virtual rapid prototyping allows designers to quickly narrow down the design space. Tools lead engineers through a process of entering standard geometry dimensions and material characteristics for devices and then performing fast analytical solutions. This information is used to generate a detailed device model which is then fed into analysis tools for accurate electromagnetic field simulation.

Products bring advanced analysis capabilities to mainstream design. Accurate finite element calculations are now available to design engineers who relied on an analysis specialist to review their designs. Designs are validated dynamically throughout the process and without user training or intervention in the analysis process. Designer Series tools improve time-to-market and significantly reduce costs by accelerating the design cycle.

Product: Memory Modeler - high-capacity simulation models for memory classes ($5,000)
Company: Denali Software (Palo Alto, CA)
Telephone: (650) 325-7241
Fax: none
E-mail: info@denalisoft.com
URL: http://www.denalisoft.com
Platforms: Windows 95 and NT, SunOS, Solaris, HP-UX
Description: Provides support for the timing standard known as the Standard Delay Format (SDF) and availability of an SDF interface. The interface delivers portable memory core libraries for use across all electronic design automation (EDA) simulation and verification environments. It combines the SOMA proprietary interface for functions and SDF for timing to allow complete portability and a faster delivery mechanism of high-quality embedded memory libraries. It addresses verification requirements specific to each memory class and part.

Its debugger fills the verification void left by hardware description language (HDL)-based designs. Allows designers to create models for new memory components or reuse existing virtual components. Class-based software architecture provides designers with the needed structure for tailoring models to key specifications of the memory. It provides a rich modeling environment, accurate models, powerful and interactive debug capabilities and is integrated with VHDL and Verilog HDL simulators. Designers characterize features, timing and bus-sizes of memory parts using an interactive fill-in-the-form interface. Class-based, object-oriented models include DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, SSRAM, FLASH, PROM, SEPROM and FIFO.


Security

Product: CryptoSwift/EN - cryptographic accelerator (from under $3,000)
Company: Rainbow Technologies Inc. (Irvine, CA)
Telephone: (888) 667-4728
E-mail: info@rnbo.com
URL: http://isg.rainbow.com
Platforms: Solaris, HP-UX, other high-end Unix
Description: Provides a 50 percent reduction in response time for SSL transactions. Hardware cryptographic acceleration commonly reduces response time on SPARC hardware by over 50 percent and increases transaction processing capacity by more than five times.

CryptoSwift/EN is a network resource which can be shared among multiple servers. CryptoSwift accelerators work now with legacy deployed servers, both hardware and software. It extends and leverages the existing infrastructure without requiring other upgrades and reconfigurations.


Conferences

Product: OBJECT-ORIENTED TECHNOLOGIES AND SYSTEMS (COOTS IV) - showcases object-oriented technology and software (Tutorials [1 day $345, 2 days $640] Technical Sessions [$310/members, $380/non-members])
Company: USENIX (Santa Fe, NM)
Telephone: (714) 588-8649
Fax: (714) 588-9706
E-mail: info@usenix.org
URL: http://www.usenix.org/events/coots98/
Platforms: none
Description: Showcases advanced engineering aspects of object-oriented technologies and software systems. Emphasizes experimental research and experience gained by using object-oriented techniques and languages to build complex software systems such as distributed objects, multimedia, operating systems, and compiler technology that meet real-world needs. KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Rick Rashid, Microsoft Research.

April 27-28: Tutorials: Distributed object systems (CORBA, DCOM, RMI, etc.); Java and Web programming languages; Object-oriented network programming; Design patterns for object-oriented systems; Concurrent object-oriented programming; Efficient and effective framework design; Evolution of ANSI/ISO C++ standardization; C++ Standard Template Library; and Alternative object-oriented languages. April 29-30: Refereed papers, invited talks and panel presentations. April 31: Advanced Topics Workshop.


Training

Product: Docent 2.0 - enterprise training automation (ETA) ($50,000: pilot program; $150,000-$250,000: enterprise deployment)
Company: Docent, Inc. (Palo Alto, CA)
Telephone: (650) 813-6200
Fax: (650) 813-6209
E-mail: info@docent.com
URL: http://www.docent.com
Platforms: Windows 95, Windows NT or Solaris Unix
Description: Provides an end-to-end solution for rapidly deploying and measuring training across the extended enterprise via the Internet. Companies can now link their training needs to their corporate objectives.

Features: Reporting capabilities that map training results against other corporate performance measurements; Integration of training data with information from other enterprise applications; Fast course development through the repurposing of existing content. Centralized management and administration to facilitate consistency and version control; Internet/intranet delivery mechanism to make training available 24 hours a day, worldwide.


SunWorld takes no responsibility for claims made by the vendors or manufacturers of the products.


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Last updated: 9 March 1998