SunSoft Inc will this week fire its latest networking salvo with the release of SolarNet PC-Admin, a sort of do-it-all networking administration package that can oversee mix and match TCP/IP networks of Solaris and Windows personal computers. The PC-Admin pack can run on either Sparc or iAPX-86-based systems. The package controls both network installation and administration, including installing new users and removing old ones. It can also configure individual personal computer software environments and establish administration. PC-Admin can run alongside Windows for Workgroups, NetWare and LAN Manager but not NT networks, at least not yet. Included in PC-Admin is Sun’s own electronic mail for Microsoft Windows and Legato agent software for automatic back-up, archiving and restoring files. The Legato agent works with SunSoft’s Networker for Solaris or other Legato servers. Price is $2,250 for a server and one administrator client licence, plus $300 per client for licences, with a minimum 10 client purchase. The administrator runs under Windows. Meanwhile, SunSoft will also introduce a new Network File System package for Windows-based systems, PC-NFSpro. The package, listed as part of the SolarNet family, gives high-performance TCP/IP and Network File System access to Windows systems at $375 for a single-user licence. Upgrades from MS-DOS-based PC-NFS are $80 and competitive upgrades are $115. The new Network File System utility is built on a 32-bit VxD architecture and eliminates the need for MS-DOS memory found in PC-NFS, which SunSoft had been selling for a higher $500 price tag. SunSoft has also bundled its electronic mail for Windows with PC-NFSpro.
