======================================================= ======================================================= Section 5 Competitive Positioning ======================================================= ======================================================= COMPETITION IBM: IBM has released(3/92) NetWare for AIX/6000, which enables RS/6000 systems to act as servers for NetWare LANs. Based on NetWare for UNIX 3.11, it enables MS-DOS, Windows, OS/2 and AIX/6000 users to share information and resources. Files and directories reside in an hierarchical directory tree managed by AIX/6000, and this enables Version 3.11 to use Native NetWare features. NetWare redirects network print jobs to the AIX/6000 spooler or local printers and PC users can share the same printers as other AIX/6000 users. NetWare for AIX/6000 supports NetWare APIs like SPX. Terminal based applications are supported from PC terminal emulation software to provide access to AIX/6000 and with Novell Virtual Terminal, MS-DOS and Windows users gain access to AIX/6000 applications. Price: $5,500 for 1-10 users. $8,000 FOR 1-20 users. $13,000 for 1-100 users. $25,000 for 1-250 users. Source: NetWare Solutions, March/April 1992 Prime PrimeService has released Connection NetWare for Sparc, which enables NetWare clients to access the functionality of the Sparc operating environment from PC, OS/2 and Macintosh computing platforms. Based on NetWare for UNIX, Connection is a version of the NetWare 3.01 LAN operating system and is interoperable with NetWare. The software connects different operating to enable users to access and share applications, data and print services, and communicate with computers outside NetWare LANs. It is backward compatible with NetWare v2.1, PrimeService's SMTP/MHS e-mail and SPX/IPX to TCP/IP gateway, and supports Novell's Virtual Terminal communications. Price: $5,795 Source: NetWare Solutions, March/April 1992 Data General Data General has ported Action Technologies' MHS to its RISC-based AViiON, allowing the UNIX system to act as a messaging engine for NetWare LAN's using MHS. In porting MHS to the AViiON, DG added several capabilities not possible for users on the PC. One of the key performance features is the ability to have multiple simultaneous remote connections to other MHS servers. This means messages can be transfer to multiple servers at the same time, either on the same LAN or across a WAN, whereas with a dedicated PC MHS engine (which can only communicate with other server at a time), they would have to be sent sequentially through connections to multiple servers. Price: N/A Source: NetWare Solutions, March/April 1992 --------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ----------------------------------------------- COMPANY PRODUCT SHIP_DATE ============================================================ Altos NetWare for Altos UNIX June 1990 Data General Netware for AViiON Systems May, 1990 Data General NetWare Transport for MV Aug, 1990 Dolphin Server Teh NetWare for 88000 Announced Jun, 1991 Feith Systems Feith NetWare for AT&T Announced Jun, 1991 Hewlett Packard NetWare XL for HP3000 Aug, 1991 Hewlett Packard NetWare v3.01 for the HP9000 Apr, 1992 Hewlett Packard NetWare v3.11 for the HP9000 Expected, Sept,92 IBM NetWare for AIX/6000 Mar, 1992 ICL NetWare for ICL Aug, 1991 Interactive Interactive Ported NetWare Dec, 1990 Intergraph Intergraph NetWare May, 1991 MIPS NetWare for RISComputers Dec, 1990 AT&T/NCR NCR NetWare/X Apr, 1991 Prime Prime EXL NetWare Jul, 1990 Prime Connection NetWare for SPARC Apr, 1992 Pyramid NetWare for Pyramid Announced, Oct 1991 Sequent NetWare for Sequent Announced, Oct 1991 Stratus NetWare for Stratus Announced, Dec 1991 Sun NetWare SunLink Announced, 10/91 Expctd 8/92 Texas Instruments NetWare for System V Announced, Oct 1991 Unisys NetWare for U Series Dec, 1990 ============================================================ Appendix A - Glossary of Terms ============================================================ Application layer - The highest (seventh) level of the OSI model. It describes the way that application programs interact with the network operating system. ARPA - Department of Defense Advanced Research Project Agency. Bridge - A type of product that links different local area networks, enabling users on one network to use all the resources available on the other. Buffered repeater - A device that amplifies and regenerates signals so that they can travel farther along a cable. This type of repeater also controls the flow of messages to prevent collisions. Ethernet - a defacto standard Local Area Network protocol that defines physical and data link layer functions. It is a network cable and access protocol scheme originally developed by Xerox, now supported by many vendors. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - an ARPA services protocol that allows the transfer of disc files between nodes on a LAN or WAN. It is a family of commands for performing file and directory operations over a network. Users can get or put stream files on a remote UNIX or non-UNIX machine, using wither ASCII or binary transfers. They can append, rename and delete file, list, change, make and remove directories, check status, toggle switches and ask for help. Gateway - A portal through which networked stations can access resources on mainframe and minicomputer hosts as well as on nationwide data networks. IP (Internet Protocol) - a layer 3 network protocol responsible for routing inbound data to the proper network link. ISO - International Standards Organization, Paris, which developed the Open system Interconnection (OSI) model. NBP - NetBIOS Protocol - a small, fast Local Area Networking Protocol supported on HP LAN Manager for OS/2 and MS-DOS and 3Com's 3+Open Network layer - The third level of the OSI model, containing the logic and rules that determine the path to be taken by data flowing through a network. Not important in small LANs. NFS - Network File System. A distributed file system protocol that allows computers on a network to use the files and peripherals of another networked computer as if they were local. This protocol was developed by Sun Microsystems and adopted by other vendors. OSI - Open System Interconnection. A model developed by the ISO describing the network communications process. Physical layer - The first layer of the OSI model. It consists of network wiring and cable. Presentation layer - The sixth layer of the OSI model, which formats data for screen presentation and translates incompatible file formats. rcp (remote file copy) - an ARPA service which allows users to copy files from a PC to another UNIX node over the network or in the other direction. Repeater - A device that amplifies and regenerates signals so they can travel farther on a cable. Router - A machine in a large network that reads the destination of a message and selects the best route. See network layer. rsh (remote shell) - an ARPA service which lets you execute a command on a remote UNIX host. Session layer - The fifth layer of the OSI model, which sets up the conditions whereby individual nodes on the network can communicate or send data to each other. The functions of this layer are used for many purposes, including network gateway communications. Sockets (Berkeley Sockets) - an API which provides an interface to TCP/IP. It is a defacto standard for UNIX. TCP/IP - Transmission Control Program/Internet Program. A set of protocols developed by the Department of Defense to link dissimilar computers across large networks. Telnet (Teletype Network Protocol) - a layer 4 transport protocol responsible for providing reliable end-to-end communication on a connection. This is the standard for the transport layer in ARPANET. Transport layer - The fourth layer of the OSI model. Software in this layer checks the integrity of and formats the data carried by the physical layer (1), managed by the data layer (2), and perhaps routed by the network layer (3). X.25 - An international standard describing how computers can access packet-switched networks. Typical X.25 networks include Tymnet, Telenet, and MCI Mail. It is an industry-standard recommendation developed by the CCITT that defines the peer protocols for the physical, data link and the network layers for wide area network links. XNS - Xerox Networking Services - 3Com's original Local Area Networking transport protocol supported on HP LAN Manager for OS/2 and MS-DOS and 3Com's 3+Open ============================================================ ============================================================ Appendix B - Supported Platforms ============================================================ ============================================================ We support what MicroSoft Supports. Bugs must be reproduced on IBM, Compaq or HP Platforms. ============================================================ ============================================================ Appendix C - Supported Links ============================================================ ============================================================ Statement of support: We support any MicroSoft certified cards. (1) Based on Microsoft LAN Manager (R) MicroSoft is a U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.