Sun Microsystems Inc is bundling its PC NetLink 1.1 Windows NT interoperability software into Solaris Easy Access Server, one the several extensions to the basic Solaris 7 Unix operating system it sells on its servers and workstations. The software, which used to be known as Project Cascade, allows Solaris servers to look and perform like NT 4.0 servers. It handles file and print, authentication, directory and other services for NT networks using native NT protocols. It is a version of AT&T Co’s Advanced Server for Unix, which in turn is based on NT 3.x source code that AT&T licensed from Microsoft. Sun says the software supports Kerberos 5 and LDAP 3 on which NT authentication and Active Directory are based. Sun says that PC NetLink eliminates the ‘tax’ that Microsoft impose for Windows client access licenses to connect with NT. Easy Access Server, designed for the workgroup market, also supports the Web-Based Enterprise Management protocol and costs from $600 next month on Sparc and Intel.
