New products for the week of October 1
By John J. McLaughlin, FlashBack, Inc.
flash@flashback.com.
Back to the comprehensive index of October's new products.
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Table of Contents
Hardware
Software
Books
Hardware
Product:
4-8 GB SLR tape drive
- Single-Channel Linear Recording Tape Drive
Company: Sun Microsystems Computer Company
(Mountain View, CA)
URL: http://www.sun.com
Platforms: Sun workstations and desktop servers
Description:
Sun introduces the new SLR Tape Drive, a cost-effective entry level backup
solution for Sun workstations and desktop servers. These linear recording
tape drives are ideal for local backup and archival at the workstation and
desktop server level, as well as data interchange and distribution. With a
data transfer rate of 380 KB/second (up to 760 KB/second using compression)
data can be backed up 27 percent faster than the current Sun 2.5-GB QIC
drive, and about as fast as most 4mm DDS-2 tape drives. The new 4-8 GB SLR
tape drive is a replacement for the existing 2.5-GB QIC tape drive.
External options are available in the SPARCstorage UniPack and FlexiPack
desktop enclosures, while internal options are available for the brand new
Ultra 30 workstation as well as the Ultra Enterprise 450. Upgrade options
are also available in the UniPack enclosure for those customers who wish to
trade in an existing 150-MB or 2.5-GB QIC drive UniPack from Sun. The 4-8
GB SLR tape drive is read compatible with previous QIC tape media including
those written by Sun's 150-MB QIC or 2.5-GB QIC drive.
Product:
MegaRam-4000
- Ultra-SCSI Solid-State Disk for Sun
(from $25,000)
Company: Imperial Technology, Inc.
(El Segundo, CA)
Telephone: (800) 451-0666
Fax: (310) 536-0124
E-mail: info@imperialtech.com
URL: http://www.imperialtech.com
Platforms: Sun
Description:
The MegaRam-4000 features an internal 100 megabyte-per-second bandwidth to
service up to six independent Ultra-SCSI ports, each capable of
transferring data at up to 40 megabytes per second. The six Ultra-SCSI
ports can be connected to multiple hosts or to different ports of the same
host. Platform-independent and certified Solaris-compatible, the
MegaRam-4000 system works with all Sun platforms and requires no special
drivers or software changes. It can be configured with storage capacities
from 268 megabytes to more than 4 gigabytes. The MegaRam-4000 Ultra-SCSI
interface is compatible with earlier SCSI interface protocols. Users who
are not currently running Ultra-SCSI can benefit from the MegaRam-4000's
performance, and achieve greater benefits when higher-speed Ultra-SCSI host
adapters are installed. Current MegaRam users can convert to the
MegaRam-4000 system and take advantage of the faster transfer rates that
the 40 megabyte-per-second Ultra-SCSI interface allows. The MegaRam-4000
is configured with redundant AC inputs to allow the system to be powered
from two different AC power sources, redundant power supplies to protect
against DC power failure, redundant batteries to provide protection against
aging batteries, and a multi-byte error correction capability to protect
the integrity of the stored data.
Product:
ST-1622 scsiTerminal Server and EL-162 EtherLite Port Server
- individually-selectable RS-422/RS-232 Port Products
($1,795)
Company: Central Data Corporation
(Champaign, IL)
Telephone: (800) 482-0315, (217) 359-8010
Fax: (217) 359-6904
E-mail: info@cd.com
URL: http://www.cd.com
Platforms: AIX, DEC Unix, HP-UX, IRIX, SunOs/Solaris, Windows NT, Java
Description:
Two products with individually-switchable ports, the ST-1622 scsiTerminal
Server and EL-162 EtherLite Port Server. Both allow users to select
between RS-232 and RS-422 ports from the same server. Both provide sixteen
(16) real ports that appear as local ttys under Unix, and as native COM
ports under Windows NT. External switches on the back allow each port to
be separately designated as either RS-232 or RS-422/485. RS-232 ports are
commonly used for connecting devices such as modems, terminals, and
printers. RS-422/485 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. Both models will
support speeds up to 115 Kbaud.
Product:
Sphinx E4000
- rackmounting enclosure
($2,495+)
Company: Artecon, Inc.
(Carlsbad CA)
Telephone: (760) 431-4463
Fax: (760) 931-5527
E-mail: info@artecon.com
URL: http://www.artecon.com
Platforms: Sun's Ultra Enterprise 4000 servers
Description:
Sphinx E4000 enclosure for rackmounting Sun Microsystems' Ultra Enterprise
4000 servers. The Sphinx rackmount protects against physical trauma and
unauthorized intrusion, and is an improvement over the typical "cookie
trays" used for rackmounting workstations and servers. Sphinx also allows
up to four hot-plug removable devices to be added so a variety of
configurations can be constructed. The Sphinx E4000 is NEBS-compliant
(Network Equipment-Building System) and suited for mission-critical telco
Central Office applications such as network-based CTI (computer telephony
integration), LNP (local number portability), and wireless infrastructure.
NEBS is a standard set of equipment requirements used throughout the
telecommunications industry to help assure ease of installation,
reliability, space efficiency, and safety. Because many telecommunications
companies use NEBS-compliance as a prerequisite for product deployment into
the Central Office, NEBS certification affords opportunities for other
telco-compliant server configurations.
Software
Product:
Fast.Serv
- FastCGI for Netscape Servers
(US $479 per server)
Company: North American Media Engines, Inc.
(Boston, MA)
Telephone: (617) 491-3333
Fax: (617) 491-9933
E-mail: fcgi-info@name.net
URL: http://fastcgi.name.net
Description:
With the 1.0 release of its Fast.Serv product, North American Media Engines
provided the first implementation of the FastCGI protocol for the Netscape
server family. Fast.Serv for Netscape Web servers allows for increased
performance of Web standard CGI applications. CGI (Common Gateway
Interface) has been adopted as a Web development standard that enables
external applications to be run from HTTP or Web information servers. CGI
increases the functionality of Web sites by delivering dynamic information
to otherwise static HTML pages. While CGI is widely used for its
simplicity, as well as its language and server independence, its utility is
limited by the high server overhead incurred each time a CGI application is
run. Developed by Open Market, Fast.Serv is an open extension to CGI that
provides high performance for all CGI applications without any of the
limitations of existing Web server APIs. Fast.Serv is ideal for Web
development. It builds on the well-documented and widely understood
aspects of CGI development by allowing for easy migration of applications
to FastCGI. This lets developers leverage their existing experience while
increasing the performance of their applications. Additionally, FastCGI
programs can also run as CGI applications for backward compatibility with
older Web servers.
Product:
JavaPlan 3.1.1
- Java visual design toolset
Company: Sun Microsystems Computer Company
(Mountain View, CA)
URL: http://www.sun.com
Platforms: Solaris 2.4, 2.5, 2.5.1, 2.6, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 95
Description:
Sun announces commercial and education availability of Sun JavaPlan 3.1.1.
JavaPlan is a Java visual design toolset, enabling enterprise development
teams to create modular, 100% Pure Java applications and to accelerate the
development of JavaBeans. Developers model their applications using
JavaPlan's graphical tools and whiteboard; JavaPlan then automatically
generates Java source code which corresponds to the model. It is "where
Java Computing customers start developing scalable and reusable Java
applications." JavaPlan supports customers' heterogeneous development
systems: Solaris 2.4, 2.5 and 2.5.1, 2.6 and Microsoft Windows 95 or
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0. JavaPlan 3.1.1 is available now; JavaPlan 3.0
will be discontinued on December 26, 1997. JavaPlan is targeted at Global
1000 Java Computing customers and System Integrators.
Product:
MobileVPN and PartnerVPN
- Remote VPN Software
($4,995)
Company: Aventail Corporation
(Seattle, WA)
Telephone: (877) 283-6824, (206) 215-1111
Fax: (206) 215-1120
E-mail: info@aventail.com
URL: http://www.aventail.com
Description:
Standards-based Virtual Private Network (VPN) software solutions. Aventail
MobileVPN and Aventail PartnerVPN enable organizations to securely
communicate over the Internet, allowing companies to extend the reach of
their corporate intranet to customers, partners, remote offices, and mobile
employees. These are the first VPN solutions based on SOCKS v5, an open
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standard. SOCKS is a distributed
network security standard that represents the next generation of Internet
security. The SOCKS protocol has received support from leading Internet
vendors, including Netscape, Microsoft, IBM, Sterling Software, NetManage,
FTP Software, and Pointcast. NEC USA has been the driving force behind
SOCKS with the vision that it would be the most important communication
technology for the Internet. Products support all of the popular
authentication and encryption methods, such as SSL, DES, TripleDES, CHAP,
RC4, MD4, MD5, and RADIUS.
Product:
Pandemonium
- special effects program
($1999)
Company: Xaos Tools
(San Francisco, CA)
Telephone: (415) 538-7000
E-mail: info@xaostools.com
URL: http://www.xaostools.com
Platforms: Sun Solaris
Description:
Solaris version of Pandemonium, a special effects program used in feature
films, television, corporate video, print advertising, video game
development and Web design. Includes over 50 image processing
applications, including warps, trails, smoke, bubbles, brush effects, and
transitions. More than 1000 preset effects let designers quickly find a
basic look. The program's precision controls offer unlimited design
flexibility. As a 2D special effects engine, Pandemonium is an essential
complement to 3D programs such as LightWave and 2D programs such as Adobe
Photoshop and Illustrator.
Product:
Solstice Backup 5.0.1
- backup and storage management for workgroups and departments
Company: Sun Microsystems Computer Company
(Mountain View, CA)
URL: http://www.sun.com
Platforms: Server: Solaris 2.4, 2.54, 2.5.1, 2.6. Client: 1.x or later
Description:
Solstice Backup 5.0.1 is Sun's backup and storage management solution for
workgroup and departmental computing environments. The Solstice Backup
family provides backup and storage management for the networked computing
environment. This release of Solstice Backup (SBU) includes support for
storage nodes. A Storage Node is a Solstice Backup server that is used in
conjunction with a Solstice Backup Network Edition server, providing the
capability to distribute network backup performance. It allows an SBU
server to use storage devices attached to remote machines (i.e., Storage
Nodes) to ensure client machines get backed up to the nearest storage node.
In the event of failure of a server, backups can fail over to a secondary
server. One Solstice Backup Network Edition server can manage multiple
storage nodes. Storage Nodes increase the performance, scalability, and
data availability of Solstice Backup. New modules are available for backup
of Microsoft SQL Servers and Microsoft Exchange Servers. These enhance the
product's ability to manage and interoperate with Microsoft NT
environments, providing a consistent backup tool regardless of platform.
SBU 5.0.1 also includes support for multiple index files per client,
removing the limitation of one 2 GB index file per client. In addition,
files greater than 2 GB are supported on Solaris 2.6.
Product:
SunScreen
- Encryption server with Internet/intranet firewall
Company: Sun Microsystems Computer Company
(Mountain View, CA)
URL: http://www.sun.com
Platforms: Solaris 2.4, 2.5, or 2.5.1
Description:
Sun Microsystems Computer Company (SMCC) announces SunScreen EFS 1.1,
SunScreen SPF-200, SunScreen SKIP 1.1, and new products for FireWall-1.
SunScreen EFS is Sun's offering for compartmentalization, where companies
deploy multiple screens to protect various departments and sites. EFS 1.1
is a combination of high performance encryption server with an
Internet/intranet firewall. SunScreen SPF is Sun's platform for perimeter
defense prefacing secure business operations over the Internet. To assure
a high level of security, SunScreen SPF uses a stealth design to protect
intranets from attack and state-of-the-art SKIP encryption to protect data
going over the network. SKIP 1.1 is a software package that encrypts the
IP communications between Solaris or Microsoft Windows 95 clients. SKIP is
a base technology that is integrated into the SunScreen firewall family, as
well as into partner product lines.
Books
Product:
Core JAVA 1.1: Volume I - Fundamentals
- Comprehensive guide to Java fundamentals for Java software developers
($39.95)
Author: Cay S. Horstmann and Gary Cornell
ISBN: 0-13-766957-7
Company: Sun Microsystems Press/Prentice Hall PTR
(Palo Alto, CA)
Telephone: 650-786-4706
Fax: 650-786-8611
E-mail: john.bortner@sun.com
URL: http://www.sun.com/books/
Platforms: Java on Solaris and Windows 95/NT
Description:
A Java reference book for programmers, covering: encapsulation, interfaces
and inner classes, classes and methods, the Java 1.1 event model,
inheritance, applets, the Java 1.1 reflection mechanism, data structures,
AWT graphics programming, and exception handling. Written for experienced
programmers with a solid background in languages ranging from Visual Basic
or COBOL to C and C++, Core Java 1.1, Volume I concentrates on the
underlying Java 1.1 language along with the fundamentals of using the
cross-platform graphics library supplied with the JDK 1.1. The
accompanying CD-ROM contains sample programs that demonstrate key language
and library features and make good starting points for your own code -- no
toy code. The CD also includes the Solaris and Windows 95/NT versions of
the JDK 1.1 and shareware versions of WinEdit and TextPad for Windows 95
that are especially customized for Java programming along with the
shareware version of WinZip.
Product:
Creating Worldwide Software: Solaris International Developer's Guide
- Step-by-step internationalization techniques for Unix & Motif developers
($45)
Author: Bill Tuthill and David Smallberg
ISBN: 0-13-494493-3
Company: Sun Microsystems Press?Prentice Hall PTR
(Palo Alto, CA)
Telephone: 650-786-4706
Fax: 650-786-8611
E-mail: john.bortner@sun.com
URL: http://www.sun.com/books/
Platforms: Unix, Motif
Description:
CREATING WORLDWIDE SOFTWARE presents internationalization techniques to
produce generalized software that's adaptable to local markets -- without
redevelopment. The book covers linguistic and cultural conventions
addressed by software and documentation. It shows how one executable can
be made to run anywhere in the world, and still reflect local conventions.
Internationalizing software includes: establishing locale environments,
encoding character sets, displaying localized text, messaging for program
translation, handling language input, and localizing software once it has
been internationalized. CREATING WORLDWIDE SOFTWARE covers
internationalization techniques for Motif and X11. It also covers
documentation, presenting practical tips for writing documentation that is
easy to translate and deliver worldwide.
Product:
Graphic Java 1.1: Mastering the AWT
- Guide to the Abstract Window Toolkit for JDK 1.1 (w/ CD-ROM)
($49.95)
Author: David M. Geary
ISBN: 0-13-863077-1
Company: Sun Microsystems Press/Prentice Hall PTR
(Palo Alto, CA)
Telephone: 650-786-4706
Fax: 650-786-8611
E-mail: john.bortner@sun.com
URL: http://www.sun.com/books/
Platforms: Solaris, Windows 95/NT, Macintosh
Description:
A guide to the Abstract Window Toolkit for JDK 1.1. Revised and expanded
to cover 1.1 AWT features: the new event model, lightweight components,
clipboard and data transfer, etc. Includes more than 40 custom
components -- convenience dialogs, rubberbanding, image filters, etc., that
extend the AWT Graphic Java 1.1, 2nd Edition has been completely revised to
cover all of the AWT features provided by the JDK 1.1. It provides
detailed descriptions of every aspect of the AWT, including: Lightweight
components, Menus, Graphics Colors and Fonts, Printing, Event Handling,
Dialogs, Image Manipulation, AWT Layout Managers, and Clipboard and data
transfer. In addition, Graphic Java 1.1 comes with the Graphic Java
Toolkit (GJT) -- a set of freely reuseable Java packages that extend the
functionality of the AWT. The GJT provides over 40 high-level components,
ranging from image buttons and scrollers to toolbars and convenience
dialogs. The accompanying CD-ROM includes all of the example code from the
book, ready to run on Solaris, Windows 95 and Windows NT along with the JDK
1.1 for those platforms. The complete source code for the GJT for Solaris
and Windows 95/NT and Macintosh is also included for JDK 1.0.2 and JDK 1.1.
Product:
Jumping JavaScript
- Comprehensive guide to JavaScript (w/ CD-ROM)
($49.95)
Author: Janice Winsor and Brian Freeman
ISBN: 0-13-841941-8
Company: Sun Microsystems Press / Prentice Hall PTR
(Palo Alto, CA)
Telephone: 650-786-4706
Fax: 650-786-8611
E-mail: john.bortner@sun.com
URL: http://www.sun.com/books/
Platforms: Java on Windows 95, Macintosh, and Unix
Description:
Book includes hundreds of script examples on a CD-ROM, designed for Windows
95, Macintosh, and Unix. It is a well-indexed book covering advanced
techniques for JavaScript developers. Covers the basics of the JavaScript
language and scripting environment, including data types, variables,
functions, operators, expressions and statements, debugging tips, and
programming style. Describes JavaScript's objects; shows how to create
windows and documents, control and use history properties, embed images and
Java code. Also covers: understanding script writing basics, the
Navigator object hierarchy and event handlers, developing forms with user
interface elements to capture user input, controlling scripts; JavaScript
operators, testing for conditions, and creating loops; creating links and
active image areas, working with system objects, including the String,
Array, Date, and Math objects; working with the Navigator, MimeType, and
Plugin objects, creating JavaScript objects and working with cookies.
Product:
Learning Perl
- Book about the Perl language, version 5.
($29.95)
Author: Randal L. Schwartz & Tom Christiansen
ISBN: 1-56592-284-0
Company: O'Reilly & Associates
(Sebastopol, CA)
Telephone: (707) 829-0515, (800) 998-9938
Fax: (707) 829-0104
E-mail: info@ora.com
URL: http://www.ora.com
Description:
The 2nd edition of Learning Perl covers the world of Perl, version 5.
Examples and exercises have been updated to reflect typical usage under
Perl 5, and the book has been expanded -- new sections introduce Perl
references and CGI programming. Learning Perl, 2nd edition also includes
Perl creator Larry Wall's whimsical Foreword, in which he tells the magical
tale of Perl's genesis. Authors Randal Schwartz and Tom Christiansen --
both luminaries in the Perl programming community -- provide a systematic,
step-by-step, tutorial approach to learning the language. The book
includes many examples throughout its tour of all the main features of the
language. Each chapter also contains exercise problems with solutions.
Product:
SPARC Product Directory
- data on products, manufacturers and the SPARC systems market
($95)
Company: distributed in the US by SPARC International, Inc.
E-mail: info@SPARCproductDIRectory.com
URL: http://www.SPARCproductDIRectory.com
Platforms: SPARC
Description:
The 1997/98 edition of the SPARC Product Directory, also known as the
"SPARC Bible", has been updated and revised to July 1997. Over 50% of the
contents from the previous edition have been removed to make way for new
entries. The Directory is used worldwide by resellers, systems
integrators, end users and manufacturers. It's endorsed by leading SPARC
organizations including SPARC International, Sun Microelectronics, FORCE
COMPUTERS and Opentec International. In over 210 pages the directory
provides shortform data on products, manufacturers and the SPARC systems
market. Main subjects include: SBus cards, SPARC based computers, SPARC
upgrades (at chip, board and system level), SPARC supported PCI cards,
address, phone, fax, e-mail and web site details for every known
manufacturer, manufacturers of SPARC compatible RAM, and orientation
articles describing the development and current state of the SPARC systems
market. This edition also celebrates the second decade of SPARC systems
with articles about the history and future of SPARC systems.
Product:
Web Security: A Matter of Trust
- Trust Management, a way to protect open, decentralized systems
($29.95)
Author: Biddle, Garfinkel, Gilmore, Khare, Liu, Stein, et al.
ISBN: 1-56592-329-4
Company: O'Reilly & Associates
(Sebastopol, CA)
Telephone: (707) 829-0515, (800) 998-9938
Fax: (707) 829-0104
E-mail: order@oreilly.com
URL: http://www.oreilly.com
Platforms: World Wide Web
Description:
O'Reilly and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) have released the Summer
'97 issue of the World Wide Web Journal, "Web Security: A Matter of
Trust." This issue refocuses the debate over securing electronic commerce
-- it goes beyond cryptography and discusses "Trust Management," a new
approach to protecting open, decentralized systems like the Web. Its
technical papers lead off with Rohit Khare and Adam Rifkin's overview,
"Weaving a Web of Trust." A gamut of security-related topics are covered:
digital signature legality; medical records privacy issues; cryptography
and the Web; REFEREE: a trust management system for Web applications; as
well as articles on government access to encryption, security for the
domain name system, and more. The "W3C Reports" section looks at W3C's
Digital Signature Initiative (DSI) and Joint Electronic Payment Initiative
(JEPI).
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Last updated: 1 October 1997