SunSoft Inc is apparently preparing an integrated distributed, object-oriented framework. The company appears to be attempting to keep up with Hewlett-Packard Co and IBM Corp, which have both unveiled plans for future integrated network management and systems administration environments as Synergy and Karat respectively. SunSoft has confirmed that its environment will harness network and systems management functions under one hood. It will support the existing SunNet Manager and forthcoming NetLabs Inc Dimons-derived Encompass system for enterprise management, including the Co-operative Consoles database and repository, plus Solaris-based systems management applications. Encompass is still on track to ship next month. The wider environment, which is said to be dubbed Solstice, is due in January, and will include links into other environments, including Windows NT. It will run Simple Network Management Protocol, Common Management Information Protocol and Open Network Computing mechanisms initially with object request broker messaging to follow. The Co-operative Consoles repoitory will be superseded by a Common Object Request Broker Architecture 2-based mechanism over time.
