Motorola Codex Ltd claims to have an industry first with its DualView modem management firmware (CI No 1,244). DualView facilitates the integration of Codex 2600 modems with IBM’s NetView, and also supports Cincom Systems’ Net/Master. It doesn’t require any modifications to the host software, and it overcomes some of the drawbacks associated with NetView expensive consumption of memory and MIPS, a lack of pro-active line monitoring, the interruption of command and response sessions, and exclusively to IBM networks. Communication between the host system and modems is accomplished using SNA in-band signalling, and secondary channels provide links between modems. However, Motorola Codex has enhanced these signalling capabilities, and an open field in the Network Command and Control Facility enables the network operator to access a number of subcommands. These include customer configuration data, reset and self-test, hardware error codes, automatic restoral configuration, management mode changes, Time Division Multiplex bandwidth set-up, modem sharing port-channel configuration, and first and second tier speeds. The company says it is committed to supporting all future upgrades of NetView, and guarantees compatibility for one year after purchase. DualView is available either as an upgrade on existing 2600 installations, or as an option on new modems. It costs UKP250 as an upgrade, UKP100 when it’s factory-fitted.
