UNIX servers, 2 dozen products unveiled at COMDEX

ATLANTA, Ga. --JUNE 4, 1990 -- AT&T Computer Systems today unveiled two dozen products, including several UNIX(R) system-based servers, client systems and related offerings, to enhance its line of comprehensive networked computing solutions.

Leading the list of products introduced at COMDEX/Spring '90 here is the StarServer(TM) E, AT&T's first EISA-based work group system based on i486 chip technology and offering symmetric multiprocessing (SMP), and the StarServer(TM) FT, a fault tolerant server for critical applications in telecommunications and other industries.

The company also announced major enhancements to its WorkGroup Systems and 3B2 family of computers, and a bold new look for it's new microcomputers.

"What we're announcing today is more than a set of computers. We're announcing a major step toward completing our networked computing vision," said Richard A. McGinn, president, AT&T Computer Systems.

"Networked computing requires the design, manufacture and deployment of systems that provide robust networking capability and granular growth options. We are also reaffirming that customers require choice in the character, operating systems, and capability of their servers and desktop systems integrated by high-functioning networking solutions," he said.

"We believe the combination of StarGROUP LAN Manager Server and UNIX System V provides the best fundamental environment for networked computing solutions--combining open standards with network and systems management and control," he added.

"The StarServer E is the first machine in its class to have true symmetric multiprocessing capability," according to McGinn. "Scalable SMP allows systems to grow in performance without encountering system bottlenecks. We've done more than put a 486 chip in an old system. We've built a totally new system with an innovative bus and cache design that accepts additional central processors, but avoids those bottlenecks making all the additional processing power available for the customer's application.

"StarServer E was designed by Bell Laboratories, is manufactured at AT&T's plant in Little Rock, Ark., and runs on UNIX System V, Release 4.0 to ensure compatibility and portability of applications," McGinn noted.

To date, more than 100 Independent Software Vendors, AT&T Authorized Solutions Marketers, and Value Added Resellers have committed to port their applications to StarServer E. This will result in an initial software library of several hundred packages.

FAULT TOLERANT SOLUTIONS FOR CRITICAL APPLICATIONS

The StarServer FT is a fault tolerant UNIX server, designed to provide customers with the option of protecting their networked solutions for critical business applications with the most reliable computer architecture available. Fault tolerant systems are designed to continue operation even during failure of key components. The StarServer FT is the result of AT&T's alliance with Tandem Computers announced earlier this year.

"With the addition of fault tolerant capabilities, we can help our customers design networks of AT&T equipment with an enormous range of processing capability as well as a range of security and reliability," McGinn said.

NEW WORKGROUP SYSTEMS ENHANCEMENTS

AT&T also announced an enhancement to its 6386E/33 WGS Model S that will allow a field upgrade of that system to EISA- based 486 technology. "We want to protect our customers investment by ensuring that investments they make today can grow gracefully to new technology," McGinn said.

McGinn explained that another significant enhancement to the companies' X86 networked computing systems is remote diagnostics and management capabilities. "Our WorkGroup Systems are the first X86-based systems to have remote management capabilities."

AT&T also added two new desktop systems:

• the AT&T 6386SX/EL WGS, an entry-level 80386SX-based system that can be used as a client or a stand-alone personal computer. It's available in diskfree, single- floppy, or hard-disk models. Several large national and regional computer chains, including Sears Business Centers, MicroAge Computer Centers, Inc., CBM Computer Centers and selected Computerland franchisees, will sell the 6386SX/EL WGS.
• the AT&T 6386/25 WGS SCSI Server, which can support up to 32 users, is part of the Model S family that started with the 6386E/33 Model S announced last year.

The company also announced several additions to its WorkGroup Systems family of products based on the X86 chip technology:

• new SCSI peripherals for the WGS product family.
• two new high-resolution monitors and an IBM* 8514/A-compatible graphics controller.
• an Informix* Database Client-Server Solution which allows customers to order a pre-configured package, loaded and tested for database applications.

ENHANCEMENTS TO 3B2 FAMILY

McGinn also announced major enhancements to the AT&T 3B2 family of computers. "We are strongly committed to serving the needs of our embedded base of customers and their applications running on 3B2 computers. The addition of StarGROUP(TM) LAN Manager Server to the 3B2 computers, for instance, significantly enhances those products' networking and communications capabilities. A new software release, UNIX System V, Release 3.2.3, has shown a 25% improvement in performance in testing in the company's 3B2 computers. New SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface) peripherals round out the enhancements."

AT&T also announced the following:

• ETIP Designer Release 2.0, an application development tool for UNIX System V- based programs that assists developers in creating character-based windowing user interfaces.
• C++ Language System, Release 2.1, a translator that allows developers to compile C++ programs using most of the popular C language compilers. C++ is an object-oriented programing language that provides even greater ease of use and improved efficiency for applications programmers.
• the AT&T 595 Laser Printer, a full-featured, heavy duty, 15-page per minute laser printer. Designed for multi-user networked computing environments, the printer combines into one compact package, the features of various shared resource printers.
• AT&T PMX (Private Message Exchange)/StarMAIL Version 2.2 which is an enhancement that supports both Microsoft* Windows and character-based clients from a single post office. In addition, the new version now runs PC-based AT&T's StarGROUP LAN Manager Server.

To further underscore its emphasis on high quality, AT&T Computer Systems is offering a customer satisfaction guarantee in addition to their standard warranties and contract.

If the customer is not fully satisfied with an AT&T Computer Systems product, system or service support, excluding wiring, custom software, third-party financing, and customer-specified non-AT&T logo products, and if AT&T cannot fix the problem, the customer can call a toll-free number within 60 days and AT&T will reclaim the product and then refund the money.

Most of the products are available internationally in those countries where AT&T Computer Systems has a presence.

Backgrounder

A disk-free personal computer relies on a server to "boot" (start or restart) its PC and network operating systems through a combination of hardware and server software. AT&T's implementation for the disk-free PC remote boot on a LAN consists of the AT&T StarGROUP Software Remote Program Load Server (server software) and Remote Boot Board (hardware). AT&T STARGROUP SOFTWARE REMOTE PROGRAM LOAD SERVER

The Remote Program Load Server software accepts requests from the disk-free client and downloads network software to enable the client to boot.

FEATURES

Remote Program Load Server Program:

• Supports multiple remote program load servers on the same network. This provides the capability to distribute the workload among more than one server and it enables these servers to act as backups to each other when needed.
• Supported on the AT&T StarLAN 10 Network (10 Mbps) and the AT&T StarLAN Network (1 Mbps).
• Provides network support across AT&T StarWAN(TM) 1:10 and StarWAN 10:10 bridges.
• Can co-reside with each of the following UNIX(R) system applications:
  • StarGROUP Software LAN Manager Server
  • StarGROUP Software SNA Gateway
  • StarGROUP Software Network Support Utilities Package
  • StarGROUP Software Asynchronous Gateway Server
  • StarGROUP Software Remote PC Gateway Server Release 3.2
  • StarGROUP Software Network Manager Release 2.0
  • StarGROUP Software X.25 Router for 386
  • StarGROUP Software TCP Access Program 386 V3.2a
• Supports Form and Menu Language Interpreter (FMLI)
• based console administration.

Client Installation Program:

• Remote program load capabilities can be enabled or disabled via a switch on the Remote Boot Board.
• When Remote Program Load ROM is enabled, local floppy drives are disabled but hard disks are accessible (if they exist).
• StarGROUP Software LAN Manager Server is supported in both Basic and Enhanced DOS versions.
• Provides comprehensive diagnostics at boot time to help the trouble shooter by specifying the trouble area.
• Offers the following options:
  • Custom boot disk to boot specific PCs
  • Default boot disk to boot many anonymous PCs
  • A menu for users to select a boot disk at boot time

The AT&T StarGROUP Software Remote Program Load Server Remote Boot Board provides "Boot ROM" capabilities to AT&T StarLAN hardware. It allows users to gain access to the network without loading software from a floppy disk or a hard disk. This board is equipped with an Enable/Disable switch that enables it to be used in both "disked" or disk-free clients. This half-size board occupies a slot in a PC and is designed as a supplement to one of the AT&T StarLAN 10 Boards: StarLAN 10 PC NAU (Network Access Unit); EN100 NAU; Fiber NAU; or 6300 PC NAU (1Mbps).

DOCUMENTATION

SUPPORT

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Server:

     Hardware: AT&T 6386 WorkGroup System
               4 MB RAM
               3.5" or 5.25" floppy drive
               One of the following: StarLAN 10 PC NAU
                                     StarLAN 10 Fiber NAU
                                     StarLAN 10 EN100 NAU
                                     AT&T 6300 PC NAU (1Mb)

     Software: UNIX System V Release 3.2.2
               StarGROUP Software Remote Program Load Server
               StarGROUP Software 386 Network Program Package 3.3A

Client:

     Hardware: AT&T 6286/EL
               AT&T Remote Boot Board
               One of the following: StarLAN 10 PC NAU
                                     StarLAN 10 Fiber NAU
                                     StarLAN 10 EN100 NAU
                                     AT&T 6300 PC NAU (1Mb)

     Software: DOS 3.0 and higher

AVAILABLE

PRICE

AT&T StarGROUP Software Remote Program Load Server: $395 per server.
AT&T Remote Boot Board: $99.

Dick Gundlach
(201) 898-3842 (office)
(718) 446-7950 (home)

John Skalko
(201) 898-3764 (office)
(201) 729-8202 (home)