Unisoft Corp, Emeryville, California, and Intel Corp’s System Interconnect Operation have teamed to produce a communications control unit for IBM and compatible mainframes running under Unix. The new 9750 CU/X is a customised version of Intel’s FastPath control unit, which is designed to provide high-speed links between the channels of IBM mainframes, and small computers that use the Multibus standard (CI No 497). The unit supports IBM’s 3Mbyte-per-second streaming channels. The variant adapted for Unix supports up to 256 asynchronous terminals, with Amdahl’s UTS V.2 being the first Unix implementation supported. The control unit costs $75,000 for 64 lines, with an installation charge of $3,500 and a $700 a month maintenance charge. Adding more lines costs $22,000 per block of 64, plus $500 installation and $200 a month maintenance. Unisoft, where former Amdahl Corp staffer Donal O’Shea is now president, will have exclusive rights to sell the control unit and Intel will provide worldwide service, support and training for the 9750 CU/X. Unisoft is convinced that the Unix mainframe environment is a viable and growing market citing figures from the Gartner Group which puts the current total of mainframes under Unix at 315, with Amdahl mainframes heading the list at 150. Versions for IBM’s IX/370 and non-370-type mainframes are planned.
UNISOFT JOINS INTEL ON MAINFRAME UNIX TERMINAL SUPPORT
