The Network Systems Ltd, Ascot, Berkshire-based arm of Network Systems Corp, Minneapolis has launched a new networking software product, Data Delivery & Management System, DDMS. The product is designed to provide fast, automated, secure and reliable file transfers, eliminating labour-intensive procedures and enabling a number of local or remote data centres to be connected so that they can interact with each other. DDMS works with several operating systems, including IBM’s MVS and VM, MS-DOS, DEC VAX/VMS and Tandem’s Guardian, and the company plans to develop versions for the IBM AS/400, and for Unisys Corp and Bull HN mainframes as well. The core of the project has existed since 1985, but it has been undergoing adaptation and modification over the past year. DDMS architecture comprises three independent components with well defined interfaces between them: the monitor module, providing a common interface for all the machines it supports; the protocol module, so that Network Systems can adapt to new industry standards; and a network module, providing support for a number of networks, such as the company’s own flagship Hyperchannel, as well as IBM’s SNA, X25 and bisync. Network Systems believes that DDMS has a number of advantages, including easy installation and use, meeting Open Systems Interconnection standards, providing support for widely used security packages and supplying the appropriate speed links for file transfer. Additionally, DDMS can provide central management of the networks, including balancing workloads between data centres and analysing remote-site system problems. Network Systems’ main DDMS customers are banking and financial institutions, insurance companies, industry and distribution organisations and customers don’t have to be Hyperchannel users to buy DDMS. Prices vary depending on the machine, with the microcomputer version starting at UKP1,500, and IBM mainframes at UKP24,000.
