Click on our Sponsors to help Support SunWorld

New products for the week of October 1

By John J. McLaughlin, FlashBack, Inc.

SunWorld
October  1996
[Next story]
[Table of Contents]
[Search]
Subscribe to SunWorld, it's free!

Mail this
article to
a friend

flash@flashback.com.

Back to the comprehensive index of October'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 more FlashBack numbers in the Subject field.

Table of Contents

Hardware

Software

Hardware

Product: FAS1200 - Fast Ethernet backbone switch (chassis, $4000; Flow Modules, $4900)
Company: Ipsilon Networks, Inc. (Palo Alto, CA)
Telephone: (888) IPSILON, (415) 846-4600
E-mail: info@ipsilon.com
URL: http://www.ipsilon.com.
Platforms: IP Switch ATM1600
Description: A hardware component for the IP Switch ATM1600 that transforms the switch platform into a Fast Ethernet backbone switch. It supports a combination of 24 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports and four 155 Mbps ATM uplinks, or 30 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports and a single ATM uplink. Offers full routing functionality, full ATM quality of service, and full wire switching speeds. Enhancements to the IP Switching system software provide finer granularity of control over local quality of service (QoS) policy. Designed for a collapsed backbone implementation, the product eliminates the high overhead of processor-based routing solutions by integrating Ethernet and Fast Ethernet LAN segments into the hardware-accelerated IP Switched network. Each Fast Ethernet Flow Module provides conversion between Fast Ethernet frames and ATM cells.

Product: UltraSPARC 167 MHz CPU modules - Ultra Enterprise server CPU modules ($14,000)
Company: Sun Microsystems Computer Company (Mountain View, CA)
Telephone: (800) 821-4643
E-mail: info@sun.com
URL: http://www.sun.com
Platforms: Sun Ultra Enterprise servers
Description: 167 MHz UltraSPARC CPU modules with one megabyte (Mb) external cache for Sun Ultra Enterprise servers. As measured by the SPEC 097.LADDIS benchmark, a 12 CPU Ultra Enterprise 4000 server delivers 15,674 NFSops/sec. throughput at 21.1 msec/op. response time, while a 24 processor Ultra Enterprise 6000 server delivers 23,076 NFSops/sec at 22.5 msec/op. Estimates with the new module indicate a 10 percent overall gain in database performance.

Product: XVideo Xtra - desktop video overlay card ($7,995)
Company: Parallax Graphics, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA)
Telephone: (408) 727-2220
Fax: (408) 980-5139
E-mail: info@parallax.com
URL: http://www.parallax.com
Platforms: Sun UltraSPARC and SPARCstation
Description: Single-slot video cards supporting resolutions up to 1280 x 1024, displaying Parallax-quality 24-bit video. Choice of an integrated 24-bit framebuffer with video capabilities (the XVideo family) or XVideo Xtra and a framebuffer (SX, GX, TGX, TGX+, Creator, or Creator 3D). Supports video display of up to two inputs, still image capture, video capture and playback, and networked video. With full-motion, 24-bit true color, and full video resolution, it presents all incoming video data in lifelike presentation and complete detail. NTSC video displays at 60 fields/second (30 frames/second) and 640 x 480 pixel resolution; PAL and SECAM display at 50 fields/second and 768 x 576 pixels. Fast compression and decompression make this product ideal for desktop video-conferencing, video capture, storage, and playback, and other high quality compressed video applications. Displays two live video inputs simultaneously, or sends video output from the computer to external recording and display devices such as VCRs. Comes with a full set of software tools for processing digital video: displaying, capturing, and playing back video, and capturing still images. MovieCat tool splices together movie clips into edited movies. The Video Development Environment is a full set of software development tools enabling rapid time-to-market for customized video solutions.

Software

Product: Cafesoft Menu 1.1 - creates Web menus ($99)
Company: Cafesoft, LLC (San Diego, CA)
Telephone: (619) 530-0788
E-mail: gary@cafesoft.com
URL: http://www.cafesoft.com
Platforms: Java
Description: Java applet enables webmasters and HTML page authors to create interactive, PC-like menu systems for Web pages without knowing the Java programming language. Users of Web pages interact with the menus while navigating the site. A simple configuration file is used to define menus, buttons and labels. The applet's object-oriented, hierarchical design enables the design of menus with minimum input. Default values can be overridden to create a wide range of appearances and interactivity. Each button in a menu may have multiple actions associated with it to change to a different menu or launch a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) in a target frame. This lets menus change dynamically as required. Buttons have a three-dimensional appearance which changes depending on their state (normal, highlighted, or armed) and can be arranged in rows and columns.

Product: Category Management Solution Suite (CMSS) - server-based on-line analytical processing (OLAP)
Company: Information Advantage, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN)
Telephone: (888) 5-RETAIL, (612) 820-0702
E-mail: info@infoadvan.com
URL: http://www.infoadvan.com
Platforms: Unisys, H-P, Sun, Oracle
Description: An integrated, server-based, relational on-line analytical processing (OLAP) solution specifically designed for category management measurements and analysis, including detailed store performance, product and category profitability, promotional effectiveness, and supplier assessment. It includes 12 modules with over 1,600 report and graph options covering SKU Rationalization, Product Pricing, Market Basket Analysis, Category Business Planning, Shelf Placement Planning, and Product Forecasting that have been optimized for category management. Retail executives and analysts can evaluate comparable and non-comparable store performance, recognize high and low product performers, discover potential out-of-stock items, maintain reporting consistency throughout the organization, assess the effectiveness and profitability of promotions, and share business results with stores and field managers.

Product: Java WorkShop - Java development tool ($99)
Company: SunSoft, Inc. (Mountain View, CA)
Telephone: (800) SUNSOFT
URL: http://www.sun.com/developer-products
Platforms: Solaris (SPARC and Intel), Windows 95, Windows NT
Description: Web browser-based tool lets developers create Java applications graphically, avoiding command-line coding. Written entirely in the Java programming language, the multiplatform development tool is used to create, compile, organize and publish Java applications.

Product: MiniVend V2.0 - shopping cart package (free)
Company: Internet Robotics (Oxford, OH)
Telephone: (513) 523-5028
E-mail: mikeh@iac.net
URL: http://www.iac.net/~mikeh
Platforms: Solaris 2, SunOS, Linux, OSF/Alpha, BSDI, and FreeBSD
Description: An electronic catalog system (also known as a shopping cart) for online ordering. It provides SSL security, a search engine, and full database support. Features: multiple independent or shared catalogs allow one server to run many storefronts or a "mall"; SSL and PGP support; multi-server mode for high capacity; cookie support; and a complete database, with unlimited rows and columns. Its search capability offers: one-click scan and search -- build an entire search in a single HREF; fast binary search and complete Glimpse interface; range searching, numeric and alphanumeric; and searching of any file, building results from any database. Catalog pages are automatically selected -- either built "on the fly" from the database or pre-made for popular items. Embedded Perl and conditional HTML; full frames support. A flexible ordering process includes: multi-level order screens with configurable field verification; shipping calculation, mixed modes, with UPS table lookup; sales tax calculation, with fully independent non-taxable item and taxed shipping; fully-configurable discounts, coupons or across-the-board; fully-configurable quantity pricing; easy to add fulfillment of orders with back end capability; and hooks for real-time credit processing and fulfillment.

Product: NCDware and PC-Xware - operating system and server software
Company: Network Computing Devices Inc. (NCD) (Mountain View, CA)
Telephone: (415) 694-0650
Fax: (415) 961-7711
E-mail: info@ncd.com
URL: http://www.ncd.com/
Platforms: NCD Explora and HMX models
Description: Support for applications written in the Java programming language has been added to NCD's Network Computer (NC) operating system and PC-X server software. Users of the company's Explora and HMX lines of NCs -- which run NCD's NCDware Network Computer software -- and PC users running its PC-Xware remote application access software will be able to access Java applications. The addition of Java application support to the NCs will allow users to simultaneously access Windows and Java applications running at the server. Users of PC-Xware will be able to add Java programs to the list of applications they can access from their PCs over the network running on Windows NT and Unix servers, as well as on minicomputers and mainframes. In addition to upgrading NCDware with Java support and delivering it with the Explora and HMX lines, NCD will make available a software program that will add Java support to existing Explora and HMX models.

Product: SKIP for Solaris - security for Internet and corporate intranets ($99)
Company: Sun's Internet Commerce Group (Mountain View, CA)
Telephone: (800) 820-9995
E-mail: SunScreen@incog.com
URL: http://skip.incog.com
Platforms: Sun Solaris
Description: The Simple Key management for IP for Solaris (SKIP) operating environment, the most recent addition to the SunScreen family of security and electronic commerce products. A stateless protocol which provides data encryption and authentication of the IP traffic stream, it enables end user devices such as remote clients, workstations, and servers to securely conduct business over the Internet and corporate intranets. Besides enabling point-to-point communication, it permits remote or mobile employees and customers to securely communicate with protected corporate sites when used with existing firewall products. For example, it enables banking institutions to facilitate secure home banking transactions with customers via the Internet. Telecommunications companies can also benefit by gaining the ability to offer access to value-added services over the Internet. SKIP provides security transparently to users, and it enables secure communication without requiring knowledge of SKIP and without modifications to existing applications.

Product: Solstice Internet Mail Server 1.0 - IMAP4 Client Software ($995)
Company: SunSoft Inc. (Menlo Park, CA)
Telephone: (800) SUNSOFT
E-mail: info@sun.com
URL: http://www.sun.com/solstice/Networking-products/sims/index.html
Platforms: SPARC, Solaris for x86, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows NT
Description: Internet mail server based on IMAP4 (Internet Message Access Protocol 4) delivers mobile and interoperable mail support on the Internet. Provides access to e-mail from the office, hotels, airplanes, or at client sites by dialing into a local Internet Service Provider. An addition to the Solaris operating system, it provides an Internet mail solution with IMAP4 remote mail support, supporting both IMAP and POP3 clients and full SMTP and MIME connectivity. Provides an open, Internet platform for e-mail and future applications based on store-and-forward technology. The product includes a free software adapter that will allow Microsoft Mail client software to interoperate with an IMAP4 mail server. Client software is available free of charge for Solaris for SPARC, Solaris for x86, Microsoft Windows 3.1, Windows95 and Windows NT via the World Wide Web at: http://www.sun.com/solstice/Networking-products/sims/index.html

Product: TCL/TK - Tool Command Language/Toolkit for Netscape Navigator
Company: Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Mountain View, CA)
Telephone: (800) SUNSOFT
E-mail: info@sun.com
URL: http://www.sun.com
Platforms: Netscape Navigator
Description: Plug-in module for Netscape Navigator 3.0 makes it possible to develop small and medium-sized Internet applications rapidly and to view those applications via the World Wide Web. It complements the capabilities of Java. Tool Command Language (TCL) is an embeddable scripting language and Tool Kit (TK) is a graphical user interface toolkit based on TCL. They have been used for application development under UNIX for several years. This product makes them available on the Windows and Macintosh platforms as well as UNIX. It also makes it possible to deliver and execute Tcl/Tk applications using the World Wide Web. While Java is a system programming language that meets the needs of sophisticated programmers with features such as objects, threads, and rich class libraries, Tcl is a scripting language that is ideal for smaller applications, such as simple user interfaces, macros, and system integration.

Product: Web Defender - Web page authentication technology
Company: AssureNet Pathways, Inc. (Mountain View, CA)
Telephone: (415) 964-0707
E-mail: sales@assurenetpathways.com
URL: http://www.assurenetpathways.com
Platforms: UNIX-based Web servers running on Sparc Solaris
Description: Security software product provides user authentication to Web sites. Web resources are secured by encapsulating them in a Common Gateway Interface (CGI) wrapper which defends against unauthorized access. Authentication is initiated between the Defender Session Manager and the AssureNet Defender Security Server (DSS) upon entry to a secured Web environment. The two-factor challenge/response process then performs the authentication. Once authenticated, any request for a secure Web page will require that the CGI wrapper first obtain permission to deliver the Web resource to the user from the Defender Session Manager. The Defender Session Manager obtains final authority from the DSS, and delivers this decision to the CGI wrapper. Authentication using the DSS is only required once. The Session Manager keeps track of authenticated users and allows them to access other Web resources for which they are authorized within the same session.

Product: eMK - solution for demand-based mid-size manufacturing and
Company: The MK Group (Islandia, NY)
Telephone: (800) CALL-CAI
Fax: (516) 342-4864
E-mail: info@mkgroup.com
URL: http://www.mkgroup.com
Platforms: Windows NT, HP-UX, AIX, Digital UNIX, and Sun Solaris
Description: An extended version of Manufacturing Knowledge (MK), a software solution for demand-based mid-size manufacturing and distribution environments. Provides "out-of-the-box" integration with Computer Associates' CA-Unicenter enterprise management and CA-OpenIngres information management components. Provides a single, graphical systems management platform for management of the client/server architecture, including security, storage, event management, workload management, problem management and more. Provides a full-cycle, integrated business solutions for assemble-to-order, made-to-order, configure-to-order, engineer-to-order, repetitive and mixed-mode manufacturers.

Product: htmlscript 4GL language - server-based solution delivery environment ($495 per server/cpu)
Company: htmlscript Corporation (San Diego, CA)
Telephone: (619) 490-2570
E-mail: sales@htmlscript.com
URL: http://www.htmlscript.com
Platforms: Unix and Unix-like operating systems
Description: A new feature set for the htmlscript 4GL language simplifies implementation of the "cookies" supported by Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Known as "Caller ID," this feature eliminates passing data back and forth to cookies and enables Web developers to build pages that recognize each individual browser as a unique ID. It also allows developers to migrate data away from the client and onto the Web server, where it is faster, more reliable, and more secure. Some examples: New visitor counts -- a page can sense each individual visitor and count not only the total number of hits, but the number of times each individual returns to the page. This can reveal the number of NEW visitors to a web page, not just the total number of hits. Behavior tracking -- tracks each browser for every URL, essentially "following" usera and tracking their clicks while they navigate the site. Data analysis can indicate how users actually navigate the site. Self-configuring Web pages -- Because Web pages can now sense individual browsers, once a user sets configuration options for the web page (for example: colors, content, etc.), their unique configuration will be remembered and restored each time they visit. Shopping carts -- Even if a user leaves the site, the items they selected from a catalog will still be recorded, ready to continue when the user returns at a later time.

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

If you have problems with this magazine, contact webmaster@sunworld.com


URL: http://www.sunworld.com/swol-10-1996/swol-10-products1.html
Last updated: 1 October 1996


Click on our Sponsors to help Support SunWorld

What did you think of this article?
-Very worth reading
-Worth reading
-Not worth reading
-Too long
-Just right
-Too short
-Too technical
-Just right
-Not technical enough
 
 
 
    

SunWorld
[Table of Contents]
Subscribe to SunWorld, it's free!
[Search]
Feedback
[Next story]
Sun's Site

[(c) Copyright  Web Publishing Inc., and IDG Communication company]

If you have technical problems with this magazine, contact webmaster@sunworld.com

URL: http://www.sunworld.com/swol-10-1996/swol-10-newproducts1.html
Last modified: