Newsgroups: comp.unix.aux
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From: cool...@sirius.lansys.apple.com (John L. Coolidge)
Subject: Press Release: Apple Boosts Workgroup Server 95
Sender: ne...@times.aux.apple.com (News Subsystem)
Message-ID: <1994Jan5.192727.3568@times.aux.apple.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Jan 1994 19:27:27 GMT
Reply-To: cool...@apple.com
Organization: Server Platforms, Kernel Porting Group, Apple Computer, Inc.
Lines: 208
Here's yesterday's press release detailing enhancements to the Apple
Workgroup Server 95 (AWS95) product line. I believe (though I am not
completely sure) that the $199 upgrade mentioned will also apply to
existing A/UX customers. I'll try to get confirmation on that and post
it ASAP. Also, there's a phone number mentioned in the press release
which you can call for more info (and, I believe, you can order the
upgrade directly via that number).
For anyone who's interested, I'll be working at the AWS95 booth at
MacWorld tomorrow (Thursday) from 10 am to 2 pm. I'll also be at the
Netters Dinner at MacWorld. Hope to see some of you there!
--John
THIS RELEASE MOVED OVER PR NEWSWIRE ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1994
AT 8:40 AM, EDT
Contacts:
Emilio Robles
Apple Computer, Inc.
408-862-5671
John McCreadie
Regis McKenna, Inc.
(408) 974-4398
Apple Boosts Workgroup Server 95 Flexibility by Enhancing Performance
and Storage Capacity Options For Workgroup Applications
New Enhancements Aim to Further Increase High Customer Satisfaction
Ratings
CUPERTINO, California--January 4, 1994--Apple Computer, Inc.
announced today enhancements and two new high-end configurations to
its most powerful and expandable server line for delivering workgroup
applications as well as file-and-print or database services to large
or data-intensive workgroups. The enhancements to the Apple
Workgroup Server 95 product line include both hardware and software,
giving users an average of 40 percent higher performance when using
Apple's latest file service solution�AppleShare� Pro 1.1. In
addition, a new storage subsystem has been added, increasing hard-
disk drive performance and allowing for internal storage of up to 10
gigabytes (GB) of server data.
The announcement follows a customer satisfaction survey, conducted
by the Newton, Massachusetts-based market research firm Business
Research Group (BRG), which gave the Apple Workgroup Server 95 high
marks for overall performance, ease-of-use and technical phone
support. The survey revealed that nine out of ten of the customers
questioned reported being very satisfied with the Apple Workgroup
Server 95 and that they would recommend the system to their
colleagues. "The satisfaction numbers were extremely high especially
for a first release product," said Kevin O'Neill, BRG vice president
of research and consulting.
All of the latest features of the Apple Workgroup Server 95 will
be demonstrated at the Apple Pavilion at the MacWorld Expo �94 trade
show, January 5-8, in San Francisco.
"With the latest enhancements to the AWS 95, we are giving users
optimized price/performance options as we migrate our server
platforms to include PowerPC microprocessor-based systems later this
year," said Jim Groff, senior director for the Apple Business Systems
Division. "Our high-end server customers can take advantage of the
latest features and performance of the Apple Workgroup Server 95
today while remaining secure that their investment will be capable of
migrating to the Apple's RISC platform later."
The Apple Workgroup Server 95 uses a Motorola 33-MHz 68040 processor
and comes with a minimum of 16MB of parity RAM (expandable to 256MB),
four SCSI channels (two SCSI DMA), four NuBus expansion slots, and
a choice of hard drive capacities. The system is also expandable up
to 20 SCSI drives with room for six internal SCSI drives. The Apple
Workgroup Server 95 comes in a variety of server configurations to
meet a range of customer needs. Apple also intends to make the new
server software available to current Apple Workgroup Server 95
customers.
Software Enhancements
The Apple Workgroup Server 95 uses a new version of A/UX (version
3.1). The latest version of Apple's multi-tasking, tunable version
of the UNIX operating system gives Apple Workgroup Server 95 users
improved performance. The new server version of A/UX has been
optimized specifically for workgroup applications such as file-and-
print or database services while maintaining the Macintosh ease of
use customers expect from A/UX. In addition, the A/UX server
operating system features asynchronous I/O and SCSI DMA driver
support as well as support for AppleTalk and TCP/IP networking
protocols. It is compatible with System 7.0.1, allowing users to run
System 7.0.1 server applications in parallel with UNIX applications
while taking advantage of easy-to-use installation, management and
backup functions.
AppleShare Pro (version 1.1) running on the Apple Workgroup
Server 95 has also been tuned to provide a file-and-print server
solution that boosts performance up to more than five times that
of AppleShare 3 running on a Quadra 950.
According to tests run by Pharos Technologies Inc., an independent
software development company, software enhancements to the Apple
Workgroup Server 95 have significantly improved the throughput
performance of the system. Pharos reports sequential reads have
improved an average of 12 percent, while sequential writes, a very
I/O-intensive function, have improved by approximately 70 percent
over the previous version of the Apple Workgroup Server 95. Enumerate
performance, including tasks such as browsing through files and
directories on the server, increased in speed by 123 percent over
benchmark performance of the previous version of the system.
Increased Storage Capacity
The latest version of the Apple Workgroup Server 95 has also been
designed with a new higher performing and higher capacity hard-disk
drive, providing 2GB of disk storage. With new disk-drive mounting
brackets built into the system, a total of five hard-disk drives can
be linked internally to provide users with up to 10GB of data
storage. This gives users greater flexibility and disk space for
managing large amounts of data. In addition, the new hard-disk drive
has an improved data access time of 12 milliseconds (Msec) and a seek
time of 9 Msec, compared with 16 Msec and 11 Msec, respectively, for
the existing 1GB hard-disk drives.
Third-Party Support
Apple continues to work with several third-party firms to provide
value-added solutions for the Apple Workgroup Server 95. For
instance, FWB Inc., a leading supplier of mass storage products for
Macintosh and the Apple Workgroup Server family, will provide an
internal disk array capable of both RAID 0 data striping for high
sustained throughput and RAID 1 disk mirroring for fault-tolerant
data needs. Other companies, such as Conley Corporation,
CORE International and MegaDrive, currently provide external RAID
solutions for the Apple Workgroup Server 95.
Exide Electronics intends to offer network power management software
and Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) with the Apple Workgroup
Server 95 during the first quarter of 1994. This solution provides a
graphical network monitoring interface, including management of power
resources across the network and controlled server shutdown to
prevent data loss during power failure.
Availability, Pricing and Configurations
Apple intends to offer the two new server products to all markets
that currently sell the Apple Workgroup Server 95 and will be
available through Apple authorized dealers and resellers, with the
exception of Performa mass market resellers. Customers can choose
from a number of service and support options offered through Apple
and its reseller partners, including Apple's free lifetime (7 day, 24
hour) technical phone support provided for its entire Apple Workgroup
Server product line.
The latest version of the Apple Workgroup Server 95 is expected to
begin shipping by the end of February 1994. The Apple Workgroup
Server 95 will be available in file-and-print and database
configurations (all hardware prices are ApplePrices, and prices and
configurations may vary outside the U.S.). AppleShare Pro 1.0 is
available immediately through Apple resellers and dealers for a
suggested retail price in the U.S. of $2,399.
Configurations Available in February
Current Apple Workgroup Server 95 customers who purchased their
system before December 1993 can upgrade their system software in
February for US$199. Call the Apple Network Information Line at
408-862-3385 for more details. Apple intends to have the following
configurations available by the end of February:
Apple Workgroup Server 95 $11,995
- 32MB of RAM, 2000MB hard disk, DDS-DC backup drive,
AppleShare Pro pre-installed on the hard disk,
256KB second-level cache, A/UX tuned for file-and-print
Apple Workgroup Server 95 $11,795
- 48MB of RAM, 250MB and 2000MB hard disk,
DDS-DC backup drive, 512KB second-level cache,
A/UX tuned for relational database
Current Configurations
For customers who purchased the Apple Workgroup Server 95 in
December 1993, January or February 1994, software upgrades are
planned to be available by the end of February 1994 at no charge.
Call the Apple Network Information Line at 408-862-3385 for more
details. The following Apple Workgroup Server configurations are
available immediately:
Apple Workgroup Server 95 $5,409
- 16MB of RAM, 230MB hard disk,
128KB second-level cache, Tuned for
file-and-print or relational database
Apple Workgroup Server 95 $10,349
- 32MB of RAM, 1000MB hard disk, DDS-DC
backup drive, AppleShare Pro pre-installed
on the hard disk, 512KB second-level cache,
A/UX tuned for file-and-print
Apple Workgroup Server 95 $10,159
- 48MB of RAM, 230MB and 1000MB hard disk,
DDS-DC backup drive, 512KB second-level cache,
A/UX tuned for relational database
Upgrade Kits for Quadra 900, 950
Owners of Macintosh Quadra 900 and 950s can upgrade their hardware to
an Apple Workgroup Server 95 via two upgrade kit options (prices are
U.S. ApplePrice and may vary outside the U.S.):
The Apple Workgroup Server 95 PDS Card Upgrade Kit $2,219
- Includes a Processor Direct Slot card with 128K
second-level memory cache on-board and the server
version of A/UX system software.
The Apple Workgroup Server 95 PDS Card Upgrade Kit
with DDS-DC and Retrospect Remote back-up software $3,909
- Includes a Processor Direct Slot card with 128K
second-level memory cache on-board and the server
version of A/UX system software and an internal
Digital Data Storage-Data Compression (DDS-DC)
4mm tape backup drive and the latest version Dantz
Retrospect Remote A/UX backup software.
-30-
Apple, the Apple logo, AppleShare, AppleTalk, A/UX and Macintosh are
registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. UNIX is a registered
trademark of UNIX Systems Labs, a Division of Novell, Inc.
Retrospect Remote is a trademark of Dantz Corporation.