New Products

Tivoli Upgrades Management Environment

Tivoli Systems has upgraded its Management Environment software. Tivoli Management Environment Release 1.6 includes configuration, change automation, and scheduling services. With the configuration definition database, system managers can develop and store "templates" of key configuration information. Templates eliminate the need to recreate configuration information each time a change is required. The configuration definition database helps centralize control for large networks of clients and servers. Using the change automation service and configuration templates, system administrators can, in a few steps, make consistent changes to large numbers of workstations. Managers select a template, identify the target workstation, and apply the template. The template updates the target resources with the new configuration information. The scheduling service gives managers control over the timing of changes.

Another feature of Tivoli Management Environment Release 1.6 is Tivoli/FSM, which manages UNIX client/server file sharing mechanisms. Tivoli/FMS supports a graphical interface, and automates the various tasks required to maintain file systems. Systems managers can group related sets of workstations and manipulate their network file system configurations as a single unit; define the files and directories they want to make available, and export them to the network and designated workstations; make changes in file systems and propagate them throughout the network, eliminating inconsistent file sharing relationships and failures of key servers.

Release 1.6 also includes tools for basic configuration management, software distribution, and remote systems monitoring, as well as toolkits for customizing Tivoli applications and building compatible applications. For more information, contact Tivoli Systems, Inc., 6034 West Courtyard Dr., Suite 210, Austin, TX 78730, (512) 794-9070; FAX: (512) 794-0623.

Solbourne Enhances AOA Server Offering

Solbourne Computer, Inc. has announced two products, PerfMon and X.25, which support the Application Optimized Architecture (AOA). PerfMon is a networked, client/server-based systems management package which recognizes, diagnoses, and optimizes a range of system performance metrics such as symmetric multiprocessing. X.25 is a data communications option supporting connectivity to public or private packet-switched data networks (PSDNs). PerfMon consists of a "Statistics Gatherer" and a "Viewer." A Gatherer is installed on each server and probes the kernel to collect performance data. The Viewer is the graphical user interface (GUI) used to display the information. The components can be licensed separately and installed on Solbourne systems throughout a network. Statistics gathered from multiple systems can be displayed simultaneously on a single graphics display, with output as text, gauges, line charts, or bar charts.

In addition to standard kernel, disk, and processor monitoring functions, PerfMon allows for customer-defined, installation-specific monitoring. Other features include user-defined triggers which alert only on an exception basis; logging of statistics to the disk with playback at any time; and analyzing of results by spreadsheet or other display, reporting, or analysis programs.

Solbourne's X.25 data communications option meets CCITT standards for interoperablity and certification. X.25's controller board and outboard software combination lets users configure Solbourne servers as X.25 hosts, so terminal users throughout the network can access the data and applications residing on these hosts. Also the Network Service Interface lets programmers write client/server programs.

PerfMon is priced at $4,880 for a complete initial client/server license. Each additional license is priced at $1,080. X.25 is priced at $8,000. For more information contact Solbourne Computer, Inc., 1900 Pike Rd., Longmont, CO 80501, (303) 772-3400, FAX: (303) 772-3646.

IXI Announces Panorama and Motif Developer's Kit

IXI Corporation has announced IXI Panorama, an extension for the standard OSF/Motif Window Manager which provides a virtual workspace facility.

For users who have screens crowded with overlapping windows, or who have to iconify running programs for additional screen space, Panorama supports panning around the virtual screen, bringing new workspaces into view. Features include the ability to split up screens, a "sticky window" facility so windows can be glued to the front or back screen and move with the user, and the ability to support more than 100 windows in the virtual workspace.

IXI Panorama is a Motif-compliant application, and by using the standard Motif Window Manager resource names and files, Panorama behaves like the standard Motif Window manager. Users can switch to basic Motif Window Manager mode while running IXI Panorama. IXI Panorama can also communicate with IXI's X.desktop. For example, icons can be placed on the virtual screen and moved around the workspace like windows containing running programs. IXI Panorama will initially ship on Sun SPARC workstations and the company plans to ship on RISC and Intel platforms by the end of the year.

IXI also announced an agreement to supply SunSoft developers with OSF/Motif windowing technology. The agreement lets SunSoft developers comply with the Common Open Software Environment (COSE), which specifies Motif as its toolkit for graphical application development. Under the terms of the agreement, SunSoft will make the Motif Developer's Kit from IXI available for Solaris SPARC platforms. According to IXI, SunSoft will issue the Developer's Kit for Solaris Intel x86 platforms later this year. In addition, SunSoft intends to incorporate IXI's OSF/Motif technology in the graphical user interface in the next release of the Solaris operating system for both SPARC and Intel platforms. For more information contact IXI Corporation, One Annabel Lane, San Ramon, CA 94583, (510) 275-3120; FAX: (510) 275-0313.

UniPress Announces Four Products

UniPress Software, Inc., has announced two connectivity products, PC2X and Mail-it, and two products that support development, Source Code Manager (SCM) and AutoMake.

PC2X , UNIX-PC connectivity software, lets users control remote PCs and their applications, including MS Windows, from an X window on a UNIX workstation or X terminal. In addition to a UNIX display of applications, PC2X lets users run several PC2X windows at a time for simultaneous access to multiple PCs. Using PC2X, system administrators can monitor and maintain the PCs in a network from a single UNIX workstation or terminal; users can perform tasks such as remote training or troubleshooting, running central help desks, and remote network management. PC2X is a client/server application which can run over TCP/IP connections or RS 232C serial lines. UniPress also announced Mail-it, an MS Windows application that lets PC users access UNIX mail systems. Mail-it can deliver messages both locally and over networks (Internet, USENET, or UUCP). Mail-it supports three TCP/IP and NFS transports for Windows (SunSelect's PC-NFS, FTP Software's' PC/TCP, and Novell LAN WorkPlace) and includes WINSOCK support.

Another release from UniPress is Source Code Manager (SCM), a system for managing the source code of multi-programmer projects. SCM combines file access management, release revision tracking, and program administration. Features of SCM include the capability for team members to access all source files; a merge tool for combining the edits; a command to tell who last edited a given line; compilation of differences between any two releases of the software system; lists of sources comprising a given release; a history of releases; security from accidental modifications to the history files; access protection; and tracking of binary files. SCM does not need a database administrator and files do not have to be checked in and out for edits. UniPress has also released AutoMake, a development tool that generates makefiles for C/C++ programs on UNIX, DOS, and MS Windows.

For more information contact UniPress Software, 2025 Lincoln Highway, Edison, NJ 08817, (908) 287-2100; FAX: (908) 287-4929.

JCC Introduces Flat Panel X Terminal

Japan Computer Corporation has introduced a RISC-based color flat panel X terminal, XfaceC (XfC), designed to bring color graphics capabilities to users who require a compact, high-resolution, and transportable X terminal. XfC uses Thin Film Technology (TFT) for its high-resolution LCD display. XfC incorporates the features of the monochromatic flat panel series, with the addition of a RISC engine, X server accelerator, large screen size, and color.

At 25 MHz, XfC uses a RISC chip set with performance of 70,000 Xstones, and 256 colors on a 13-inch LCD screen with 1280x1024 resolution. The unit is available with several options including internal touch panel, MIC, bar code reader, and printer. Because XfC uses a common server software, the same boot software can be used with many platforms. The XfC can also be installed and configured for several platforms, applications, and I/O devices. For fast screen updates, XfC uses a proprietary X server accelerator to offload X primitives such as bitblt, fill, and arc to hardware.

XfC has a median price of $10,000 and is available through Inmac. For more information contact Japan Computer Corporation, One Bridge Plaza, Suite 400, Fort Lee, NJ 07024, (201) 592-5023, FAX: (201) 592-1549.

RTMX-UniFLEX Offers Real-Time POSIX OS for Motorola Chip

RTMX-UniFLEX Inc. has begun offering RTMX O/S, a real-time POSIX operating system, with development tools, and an OEM support kit. RTMX O/S has been ported to the Motorola MC68040 32-bit CISC CPU on several VMEbus single board computers (SBCs), including the MVME167 series. RTMX O/S also runs on Motorola's MVME187, MC88100 RISC 32-bit CPU, Sparc-1 and 2 VMEbus processors, and 386/486 PCs/Industrial PCs.

RTMX O/S is self-hosted, IEEE 1003.1 POSIX-compliant, user configurable, and scalable. Each RTMX system comes with tools for multi-user development and debugging. Included in RTMX O/S are GNU ANSI C, GNU's C++ (g++), GNU C source level debugger, libraries, and a set of POSIX 1003.2 (Draft) utility tools. RTMX/S supports POSIX real-time extension; Network File System (NFS); the X Window System, X11R5; Motif 1.2 GUI; client/server and X Terminals; and Berkeley Networking with TCP/IP, OSI, and SLIP protocols.

RTMX O/S support includes training, custom device drivers, and complete source code options. For more information contact RTMX-UniFLEX Inc., 800 Eastowne Dr., Suite 111, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, (919) 493-1451; FAX: (919) 490-2903; e-mail: krl@rtmx-uniflex.com.

UniTrends Upgrades CTAR

UniTrends Software Corp. has upgraded CTAR, their backup and recovery software. CTAR version 3.4 features include double buffering for backups; virtual file support; backup and restore by date; unattended backup scheduler; menu with pick-and-point quick toggle boxes for common CTAR options; preconfigured command creation and management; device library editing and selection shown in English; wildcard support and exclusion on backup and restore; and support for 17 platforms including MS-DOS.

CTAR 3.4 still supports its standard features of Master and Incremental archiving, unattended cron backup and verification, and high compression rates which, according to UniTrends, average 40% to 60%, and range to 95% on large database files. CTAR 3.4 backs up NFS-mounted directories and archives entire file systems, including device files, links, symbolic links, named pipes, and empty directories. CTAR 3.4 can span multiple volumes and use dual devices in sequential order unattended. CTAR 3.4 also includes Error Recovery from "bad spots" on floppy disk and tape media.

For more information and a demo copy contact UniTrends Software Corp., 1601 21st Ave. N., Suite C-303, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, (803) 626-2878; FAX: (803) 626-5202.

IDE Releases ISE for SPARC Workstations

Interactive Development Environments (IDE), Inc., has released Software through Pictures Integrated Structured Environments (ISE) on the Solaris Version 2.x operating system for SPARC workstations and servers. ISE is a multi-user CASE environment that includes a number of graphical editors, a document preparation system, interfaces to version control systems, and an object annotation facility. These features share a central repository with locking and access control. The ISE graphical editors support structured development methods and notations, including Structured Analysis, Structured Design, and Real-Time Requirements Specifications. ISE contains programs for checking design rules which verify the completeness and consistency of diagrams.

IDE emphasizes ISE's open architecture, called Visible Connections, which lets users extend and customize their environments, and which supports integration with other tools, providing a flexible and comprehensive approach to satisfying project and organization requirements. For more information contact IDE, Inc., 595 Market St., 10th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105, (800) 888-4331.

King Computer Services Upgrades EZ-MENU

King Computer Services, Inc., has upgraded its menuing system, EZ-MENU. EZ-MENU lets system administrators use standard text files to create point-and-shoot menus which provide users with easy access to frequently used programs. The upgraded version of EZ-MENU adds security options so user access to programs can be controlled. As an added security measure, if a user does not have access to certain programs, those programs do not appear in the user's menus.

Multiple-use licenses are available for VARs or software houses wishing to use EZ-MENU as a front-end to their system. EZ-MENU is available for XENIX and other UNIX operating systems. A single CPU license is priced at $100. For more information contact King Computer Services, Inc., 10350 Samoa Ave., Tujunga, CA 91042, (818) 951-5240; FAX: (818) 353-1278.

DIT Introduces TransferPro

Digital Instrumentation Technology, Inc. has introduced TransferPro for Sun Solaris 2.1 and TransferPro for Silicon Graphics/Motif. The two software programs let users perform standard Macintosh and MS-DOS file operations between workstations and PCs or Macintoshes. These operations include copying, moving, deleting, renaming, creating, and removing files and directories while using removable storage technologies. TransferPro supports data movement without network access; character filters; and access to UNIX, MS-DOS, and Macintosh disks.

Both graphical and character-based versions of TransferPro are available. Besides floppies and cartridge tapes, TransferPro can transfer files to SCSI devices such as Bernoulli and SyQuest drives; Magneto Optical drives such as those from Pinnacle Micro and Sony; and Data Shuttle removable hard-disk drives.

Both TransferPro Sun Solaris 2.1 and TransferPro Silicon Graphics/Motif single-user versions are priced at $349 and a single-user floating license is priced at $849. For more information contact Digital Instrumentation Technology, Inc., 127 Eastgate Dr., #20500, Los Alamos, NM 87544; (415) 986-0966; FAX: (415) 986-8270.

GEJAC Releases ARSAP

GEJAC, Inc. has released ARSAP Resource Management and Chargeback software for System V and BSD-based UNIX platforms. ARSAP collects data needed to manage use of system resources by user, project, section, or department, on multi-user systems or workstations. ARSAP provides consolidated usage accounting statistics and reporting to help administrators allocate or "chargeback" usage of a network of mixed platforms. With one Reporting module for the administrator and Data Collection modules on each node or workstation, ARSAP tracks ucpu, scpu, bio, cio, connect time, seat time, logins, and other system resources. ARSAP can identify which software packages are used, how often, on which nodes, and by whom.

GEJAC states that ARSAP supports "an unlimited number of workstations, nodes, users and projects," along with varied shifts, with rates adjustable based on shift, node, user, and project. Entry of project or charge numbers can be required as part of login. Users can change the project being charged as needed. For more information contact GEJAC, Inc., 8643 Cherry Lane, Laurel, MD 20707-6210, (301) 725-2500; FAX: (301) 725-7196.

The Cummings Group Ships NCLogin and NCAdmin

The Cummings Group has begun shipping two networking tools for UNIX workstations, NC Login and NCAdmin. Both NCLogin (load balancing) and NCAdmin (chargeback accounting) are part of the NCToolset.

NCLogin supports transparent, load-balanced access to networked resources. Using NCLogin, system administrators can predefine the computing resource cluster(s) which users can access without reconfiguring the network. At the core of NCLogin is the Network Computing Executive (NCE), a proprietary Resource Manager. NCE keeps track of the current load on each node and passes this information to NCLogin. NCLogin uses this information along with user permissions to determine the least loaded node to assign for a particular task.

NCAdmin, used with NCLogin or Sterling Software's NQS/Exec, tracks system resources, and can be used to monitor load balancing or implement chargeback accounting. NCAdmin adds project-level accounting and provides a centralized Motif interface.

For more information contact The Cummings Group, Inc., 1008 Western Ave., Suite 307, Seattle, WA 98104; (800) 624-4340 or (206) 624-9211; FAX: (206) 624-9220.

PhaseII Releases ClockWise 2.0

PhaseII Software Corporation has released ClockWise 2.0. ClockWise 2.0 can operate standalone on a DOS LAN or as a client to a ClockWise system on UNIX utilizing PC/NFS, Novell Netware, or similar networking software. ClockWise 2.0 is a group scheduler that extends typical features of personal information managers to a group of people. By sharing this information, ClockWise 2.0 can be used to avoid scheduling conflicts, delegate and monitor projects, and maintain a record of activities.

Using a UNIX host, users with dumb terminals and remote dial-in modes, as well as UNIX workstations and DOS systems, can share scheduling data.

ClockWise UNIX platforms include UNIX386/486, Unixware, SCO UNIX, SunOS, RS6000 AIX, HP/UX, and RISC Ultrix. ClockWise 2.0, including UNIX connection software, is priced at $295 for a five-client system. Additional client licenses are priced at $249 per five-client package. For more information contact PhaseII Software Corporation, 444 Washington St., Suite 407, Woburn MA 01801; (617) 937-0256.

UniFace Develops DB2/6000 Interface Driver

UniFace Corporation had begun developing a client/server 4GL for IBM's DATABASE 2 AIX/6000 (DB2/6000) relational database. The UNIFACE DB2/6000 Interface Driver will provide transparent read/write access to DB2/6000 databases running under IBM's AIX UNIX operating system; support for DB2 features, including host and DB2 security, error handling, data integrity and reversibility, and DB2 datatypes; the ability to build standalone RDBMS applications for AIX workstation running under the OSF/Motif interface; and the ability to build client/server applications that link UNIX, DOS, MS Windows and OS/2 client computers to a DB2/6000 database server across local area networks.

The UNIFACE DB2/6000 will support IBM Distributed Database Connection Services/6000 (DDCS/6000), allowing applications built with UNIFACE to access IBM host databases and other Distributed Relational Database Architecture (DRDA) compliant RDBMSs via the server database system. UNIFACE DB2/6000 Interface Driver will also support AIX CICS/60000 Transaction Manager and TCP/IP communications for UNIX networks. For more information contact UniFace Corporation, 1320 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501-6556, (800) 365-3608. Sterling Software Offers NQS and NQS/Exec

Sterling Software, Systems Software Marketing Division, has begun offering Sterling NQS and Sterling NQS/Exec, full network batch queuing systems that operate across heterogeneous UNIX clusters, from workstations such as Sun, HP, and IBM to proprietary NQS systems from Cray, Convex, and Control Data. Features of both Sterling NQS and NQS/Exec include time- or event-driven batch job submittals, use of Motif or conventional command lines, enhanced security through the use of JOB IDs, and monitoring capabilities that enable full batch job recovery. Sterling NQS/Exec can also be used to workload-balance a UNIX environment. For more information contact Sterling Software, 11050 White Rock Rd., #100, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670, (916) 635-5535: FAX: (916) 635-5604.

Rational Data Systems Announces PopTerm/NVT Release 2.00.

Rational Data Systems has announced PopTerm/NVT Release 2.00, a terminal emulator designed specifically for NetWare for UNIX and available for both MS-DOS and Windows. PopTerm/NVT Release 2.00 new features include VT-220 emulation, selectable fonts (under Windows), and keyboard remapping. Other features include VT-52 and VT-102 emulation, Novell Virtual Terminal (NVT) support, internationalization, multiple session support, and TSR operation (MS-DOS). Free demo copies of PopTerm/NVT Release 2.00 are available to users of NetWare for UNIX. For more information contact Rational Data Systems, 1050 Northgate Dr., San Rafael, CA 94903, (415) 499-3354; FAX: (415) 499-8115.

Nth Portable Graphics Announces Graphics Library for Solaris 2.x

Nth Portable Graphics, Inc., has announced the NPGL graphics library for Solaris 2.x. NPGL, a hardware-independent IRIS GL 4.0 compatible graphics library, gives developers a way to port 3-D visualization applications written for the Silicon Graphics platform to SPARC-based systems. NPGL for Solaris 2.x supports advanced 3-D GL capabilities, such as texture mapping, alpha blending, transparency, accumulation buffer function, and Z-buffer direct access for reads and writes through XGL 3.0.1. NPGL for Solaris 2.x also supports third-party graphics accelerators through XGL's downloadable device drivers. For more information contact Nth Portable Graphics, Inc., One Technology Center, 2201 Donley Dr., Suite 365, Austin TX 78758-4538; (512) 908-4707.

Cygnus Support Announces DejaGnu

Cygnus Support has announced DejaGnu, a framework for automated software testing with a specific focus on regression testing. DejaGnu can test software running native on UNIX workstations and can also test programs that run in embedded systems. DejuGnu tracks both expected and unexpected results of each test, highlighting successful fixes and new problems in regression testing. Users write test cases in the DejuGnu framework using a language called Expect, which is based on Tcl (Tool command language), and tests run on a variety of native and cross development systems. Tests for the GNU development tools G++, GCC, and GDB are included with DejaGnu. For more information contact Cygnus Support, 1937 Landings Dr., Mountain View, CA 94043, (415) 903-1400; FAX: (415) 903-0122.