Novell Inc launched a new communications server this week to connect its business-wide NetWare local area networks with IBM hosts. NetWare 386 Services supports IBM’s Systems Applications Archi-tecture and provides communication between NetWare networks and IBM mainframes and mid-range systems including System/370 and AS/400 lines. It is a system software module which includes the Net-Ware 386 operating system kernel. The server provides comprehensive IBM communications, including access to several IBM host applications such as OfficeVision, NetView and DB2. Novell also launched two graphics-based 3270 terminal emulation software products for Microsoft Windows 3.0-based workstations and the Macintosh, plus an updated version of the MS-DOS-based 3270 terminal emulation client software. These link desktop computers with IBM host systems enabling MS-DOS, Windows 3.0 or Macintosh clients to access mainframe resources and wide area networks through their native network transport protocols. Novell has also announced its Communication Services Manager, which configures, monitors and manages the local area network from a central location. Either a Microsoft Windows 3.0-based console can be used as the master control station or any authorised workstation on the network can be designated. NetWare 386 Services for SAA will be available in two configurations, one supporting up to 64 host sessions, the other supporting up to 254 host sessions. Combinations of modules can be loaded to configure up to 1,000 simultaneous host sessions per server. The 64 session version lists for $6,000 the 254 session version lists for $15,000. The NetWare 3270 LAN Workstation for MS-DOS v2.0 client software, lists for $1,000, supporting up to five concurrent host sessions. The Macintosh version, supporting up to 26 concurrent host sessions, lists for $200 per workstation and for Windows supporting the same number of host sessions the price is also $200 per workstation. The Communication Services Manager lists for $5,000. All products will be available in the autumn. Novell was supported at the launch by Compaq Computer Corp, Digital Communications Associates Inc with MacIRMA workstation terminal emulation software; Indisy Software Inc with OfficeWare 386 workgroup services; Phaser Systems Inc with NetWare SNA Router; and SynOptics Communications Inc with plans to extend its current Simple Network Management Protocol network management implementation to include support for SNMP over the Internetwork Packet Exchange to enable network management capabilities at the physical layer in all NetWare-based networks. To facilitate product development on NetWare 386 Communication Services, Novell introduced the NetWare 386 Communication Services Developers’ Kit: the programming interface is based on the AT&T Unix System V Streams environment. It costs is $2,000.
