Novell Inc has made a spate of announcements, including launch of NetWare Remote MHS 2.0, the addition of Frame Relay support to the NetWare MultiProtocol Router, enhanced functionality for the Global Message Handling Service, and the shipment of NetWare for SAA 1.3B. NetWare Remote MHS is basically a single-user version of the Message Handling System tailored for mobile users through its support for both modem and direct network connections. In addition, it is said to incorporate a new feature called Part-time Remote User Mode for instances where a portable computer doubles up as the desktop machine when the user is in the office: the part-time remote user has full access to all network resources when connected directly to the network (the only difference being that the messaging application and mailbox are stored on the local drive instead of the server), but has the option of dialling in using a modem when working away from the office. The Part-time Remote User Mode feature is, however, only available on networks running NetWare Global MHS. In order to ensure easy access to mobile users working from a variety of locations, Novell says that it has incorporated a single-screen set-up utility to allow for quick changes to calling parameters. This is said to provide support for public data networks including DataPak, Tymnet, Telenet, Infonet, and LATA Network.
Free of charge
Novell adds that in the near future, Remote MHS is to be enhanced to support the use of AT Mobidems, enabling the product to be used over the RAM Mobile Data Inc network. Out now, Remote MHS is to cost $100. NetWare Global MHS has also now been enhanced to provide direct support for Microsoft Mail for Windows clients, and to enable messages to be delivered to multiple locations simultaneously. The enhancements are available now free of charge on the NetWire bulletin board service. Frame Relay support has been added to the NetWare MultiProtocol Router Plus 2.1, enabling customers to route IP, IPX, AppleTalk, and Source Route Bridge over Frame Relay connections. In addition, Novell says that it has incorporated a unique protocol trace utility in the Frame Relay NetWare Loadable Module to enable users to troubleshoot Frame Relay connections quickly and easily. Novell says that its Frame Relay implementation is certified to operate with Frame Relay services including those offered by Compuserve, Pacific Bell Inc, Sprint Corp, WilTel Inc and British Telecommunications Plc, and that it interoperates with routers from Cisco Systems Inc, 3Com Corp, Proteon Inc, IBM Corp and Wellfleet Communications Corp. Novell has also added a couple of performance features to the Router Plus: Point-to-Point Protocol data compression for use over leased lines has been added, as has IPX Routing Information Protocol/Service Advertising Protocol filtering (which is also available for the router). Free upgrades to the new functionality are available immediately. Finally, Novell has included run-time versions of NetWare 4.01 and NetWare 3.12 with NetWare for SAA, the company’s NetWare-to-IBM host communications system. The updated version costs from $2,000 for 16 users, to $15,000 for 254 users.
