Compaq Computer Corp, which next week plans to announce a new line of modular Deskpros that will be upgradable through the 80386 and 80486 families by swapping one board, and will also offer graphics and memory speed upgradability, has plunged into the systems management business with EISA bus hardware and software that it claims provides the most advanced system management capabilities for personal computer-based network servers and multi-user host systems. The System Manager Facility software is a Windows-based application that resides on a separate machine such as the network administrator’s personal computer and communicates with the Compaq System Manager board by modem or direct connection. The board incorporates an Integrated Enhanced 2,000bps modem – standard in North America, optional elsewhere, battery back-up, and temperature and voltage sensors. It is optimised for the Systempro but works with other EISA bus Compaq machines, and supports Compaq’s version of OS/2, Microsoft LAN Manager, Novell NetWare 3.1x and Santa Cruz Unix System V/386, with Banyan Systems Vines in the plan. It has a remote control facility that supports cold system reboots and if there is a problem, it can alert the network administrator by modem, pager, or by phone. The board and software are installed on the server or host to be monitored. It costs $3,000 and is out this month.Before the end of the year, Compaq is also expected to launch a colour laptop and new Systempros with more than two processors.
