Long criticised for failing to provide its dealers and resellers with a sufficient growth path towards minicomputer level systems, Altos Computer Systems has begun talking about its new generation of 80486-based computers, which supports from 128 to 256 users, or up to 500 devices using multidrop cabling. The EISA bus-based Altos Series 5000 replaces the Altos 2000 range, and has a 25MHz 80486 CPU supported by Intel 80186 and 80286 processors off-loading terminal and disk input-output. It includes minicomputer-like features such as disk striping and mirroring, and an uninterruptible power supply. Systems can be expanded to 64Mb memory with up to 29Gb on-line storage in 30 disk drives over five SCSI data channels. The Series 5000 runs a C2 secure version of Unix System V.3.2, based on the Santa Cruz Operation Open Desktop technology, and as with Open Desktop there is an emphasis on graphics applications, with OSF/Motif and the IXI X-Desktop-based Locus Xhibit desktop manager bundled in. Although Altos itself will provide only a graphics console for the new system, it has ensured that the Series 5000 is fully compatible with X terminals from Network Computing Devices Inc and NCR, and it reckons that 15 to 20 X-terminals running demanding graphics applications could be supported. Graphics software includes FrameMaker, the Wingz spreadsheet from Informix, and AutoCad. TCP/IP, Network File System, Remote File Sharing and Open Systems networking standards are supported (along with X25 and SNA for wide area networks), and Altos plans to introduce Novell’s Portable NetWare in June, and Lan Manager/X later in the year. The new system, which will be launched to dealers and value-added resellers in the UK on April 17, will ship immediately, at from UKP25,000.
