Seven middleware server software packages are promised to ease everything from purchasing through to support.
The seven packaged software servers IBM Corp hatched in its Eagle announcement (CI No 2,872) will be delivered as 4.0 product releases, which boil some 70 middleware offerings down to 16, available on CD-ROM or tape. IBM says the eaglets will provide for easier purchasing, pricing, installation, administration and support. All seven servers are available under AIX 4.1.4. Everything but the SystemView-based Systems Management server will go up under OS/2 Version 4. Database, Internet and Notes are under Windows NT. Transaction Server for AIX Version 4 includes the CICS for AIX v2.1.1 (CICS/6000) September maintenance release, new 1.1 versions of CICS Clients for OS/2, MS-DOS, Windows and Macintosh, plus CICS Clients for AIX and Solaris. CICS Systems Manager for AIX (v1.1.0) is a new product for managing distributed and parallel CICS for AIX implementations – and those Encina functions that CICS for AIX incorporates – from a single point. It includes manager, agent, enterprise information base and graphical user interface components that conform to the SystemView framework. IBM says it enables CICS for AIX 2.1.1 sites to be grouped together logically, so that they can be viewed and actions taken on them, as though they are a single entity and that single system image is available for configuration, installation and operations. It also includes a Corba-compliant programming interface to enable customers to integrate CICS with other object environments. A new CICS Internet Gateway for AIX (v1.1.0) will make it possible to access and run existing and new CICS 3270 applications using Web browsers without changing the application itself, IBM says. Also included is a CICS gateway for Lotus Notes (via an OS/2 client), its Transarc Corp subsidiary’s Encina for AIX (v2.2.0) and a new 32-bit version of CICS for OS/2, plus CICS OS/2 clients for OS/2, MS-DOS, Windows, MS-DOS and Mac, CICS for OS/2 gateways for Notes and Internet. It runs under OS/2 v2.1 or later. Transaction Server for AIX Version 4 ships on CD-ROM or tape from May 3, the components cannot be ordered separately but users pay for what they use. A Windows NT Transaction Server is due by year-end. Ones for other systems, but not OS/400, are expected in future.
Five stages of integration
Transarc will continue to offer Encina on other systems. A Transaction Server road map includes five stages of integration IBM hopes to achieve over the next five years. First is any-to- any client and server configuration, stage two will add C++ foundation classes, System Object Model and Corba application programming interface support. Stage three will provide advanced networking over TCP/IP, Distributed Computing Environment directory-security support and interoperation via TRPC, X/Open Co Ltd’s Transaction Remote Procedure Call standard. Stage four will provide support for advanced transaction models, such as loosely- coupled arrangements and object request brokers (many of the functions already supported by MQSeries messaging). Stage five will move the server to support network-wide operation with relocation of objects and network-wide load balancing. Later this year, IBM will add the ability for Encina Transaction Remote Procedure Calls to invoke CICS transactions and vice versa. The Communications Server is designed to enable AIX and OS/2 workstations to communicate with S/390 and AS/400 hosts through a multiprotocol gateway for SNA and TCP/IP networks. It also provides Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking network node and end node support. Communications Server for AIX, Version 4 includes the existing SNA Server for AIX Version 3.1 product, plus common installation, single session 3270 host connection emulation, AnyNet APPC over TCP/IP Gateway and an APPC Non-Blocking application programming interface. It’s due on May 3 at from $850. The Database Server consolidates DB2 Server, DB2 World Wide Web Connection and the DB2 Software Developer’s Kit on
each system, in a single offering. Database Server is ready for OS/2 and AIX on March 15, with the NT version on June 28 at $1,000. Directory and Security Server for AIX includes DCE 1.1 Base, Security, Directory Services and Tools and is due on March 29. The OS/2 version will include DCE 1.1, and enhanced version of OS/2 LAN Server and new file and print sharing services. It’s due on March 29 at from $4,700. Lotus Notes 4 shipped last December. Internet Connection Server is available now for AIX, on March 29 at from $100 for OS/2; and under NT on May 3. SystemView Server for AIX Version 4 is what was previously called SystemView for AIX Version 1 release 2 and is available on March 29. It is the first of what IBM promises will be a series of Systems Management Servers. New features include SNA Manager/6000 (1.1), printing system manager and Info Gateway (a sub-feature of Trouble Ticket). Also now available are CICS Systems Manager, Nways Campus Manager Remote Monitor for AIX and Advance for AIX application manager for SAP R/3 and SystemView Agent (1.1) for AIX. There are betas of new performance monitoring modules for SNA networks applications and application agents. IBM’s Tivoli Systems Inc products will be added as Systems Management Servers.
PC Server family receives a major facelift
IBM Corp has announced upgrades to its PC Server family that build on previous announcements to link the servers to global networks. The upgrades will add more power to each line, from superservers that support up to 1,000 users down to the minitower for as few as five people, says Angelica Horaitis, director of worldwide marketing, IBM PC Servers. As the result of an IBM, Novell Inc and Cheyenne Software Inc joint initiative based on the IBM PC Server 310, the group launched the Small Business Solution. The server will give resellers the ability to customize each office for individual users.
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Intel 80960
It will serve up to five users, including peripheral devices attached directly to the server, with a license upgrade available for an additional 10 users. The system will run under Novell NetWare 4.1, includes 16Mb of main memory and an Ethernet adapter, to be bundled with an assortment of software from both companies: Groupwise and PerfectOffice from Novell and FAXserve from Cheyenne. The server will cost about $3,900 and will hit the US market on April 26. Also announced from the IBM stable is the PCI Ethernet Quad PeerMaster Server Adapter. Based on technology of Xpoint Technologies Inc, the adapter board breaks network bottlenecks open by switching directly across the server bus. An on-board Intel 80960 RISC processor and bus controller technology relieve the central processing unit from client-to-client switching and bridging processing to increase bandwidth and input-output performance. Depending on the server model, up to six Quad PeerMaster Adaptors can be installed to connect 24 Ethernet segments with total system bandwidth of 240Mb per second. It comes with 1Mb of memory and supports IBM’s OS/2 Warp Server, NetWare, Santa Cruz Operation Inc OpenServer and Windows NT operating systems. It will be out next quarter for about $2,100. The IBM PC Server 780W Redundant Power Option, a self- contained unit designed as an optional replacement for the power supply in Server 500, 520 and 720 systems and the Server Enterprise Expansion Enclosure will be available in June. It houses three sets of critical electronic components, but only two are required to handle the workload. Even if a critical power supply component fails, a system using the Redundant Power Option can continue functioning. Its 780 Watt capacity eliminates the need for an auxilliary power supply to drive additional hot- swappable drive banks in the systems. Estimated price for the 780W is $3,000.
