Symicron Computer Communications, the SouthLondon company that says it was the first to offer an X25 interface for personal computers, used last week’s Datacom exhibition to announce several additions to its X25 product range. Symbridge is a new software package which, it is claimed, provides the first workable X25 bridge between Novell networks and other Local Area Networks. With Symbridge, the X25 wide area network interface is incorporated into the Novell NetWare as if it were a Local Area Network card, thus providing remote gateway access over the bridge. Written in the C language and interfaced to the Novell system using in-house techniques, Symbridge offers a degree of reliability previously unavailable, Symicron contends. It can be used in conjunction with Sym-Manager, a personal computer communications supervisor also announced at Datacom. Operable in any Roman alphabet language, Sym-Manager allows personal computer users to configure bridges and gateways to wide and local area networks, and then to front subsequent communications. Directories of bridges and gateways can be made, as can decisions concerning the exchange of data. Finally, the company is also introducing an X25 Open System Interconnection card for the Apple Macintosh II. The DTSX-14 Data Transport Station supports AU/X Unix at the moment, and is hoped to provide full support for Appletalk by the first quarter of next year. The intelligent interface card and associated software can take speeds of up to 156Kbps and are intended to give Apple users the same functionality at present enjoyed on personal computers. The Symbridge and DTSX-14 cost UKP1,090 and UKP1,000 respectively, and the Sym-Manager is offered as an upgrade on top of existing Symicron applications; Symbridge and Sym-Manager are available now, with the DTSX-14 to follow shortly.
