Unisys Corp looks to have a whole host of Unix tricks up its sleeve – in addition to the imaging systems that are due for a US and European launch on October 11, the company also has plans for other systems, and personal computers, over the next few weeks. Most interesting of the bunch is the Independent Software Platform – already incorporating two new high-end network servers, systems designed to support all standard operating systems. The two – known as the ISP 30 and ISP 50 – are at present supporting Novell Inc’s SFT NetWare v2.15 and NetWare 386. A driver is also offered so that SFT NetWare v2.15 users can use the servers’ SCSI drives, and similar systems are under development for Xenix and OS/2. The 80386-based ISP 30, with up to 12Mb memory, and ISP 50 with up to 64Mb, run at 16MHz and 20MHz respectively, and can support networks of between 40 and 60 users. The machines are being developed by Unisys’ Network Computing Group, formerly the Convergent side of the business, and are built upon the same architecture as U6000 systems. The ISP 30 costs $7,500, the ISP 50 is $16,500. According to Unisys spokesman John Chen, the long-term aim is to develop the family to become processor- as well as operating system-independent, with a common Open Systems Interconnection and communications software layer for all Unisys server applications. Motorola 68000 and low-end 88000 servers are likely to surface within a year, he said. Also in the pipeline is a new addition to the 68020-based S/Series, due for launch in Europe this week, and in the US next month. The S/280 Unix system can handle six, 14 or 22 users, and is built around a 25MHz version of the Motorola processor. A six-user system with 4Mb RAM and 80Mb hard disk is $12,400, the 22-user system has 16Mb RAM, 740Mb disk and costs $33,850. Ethernet and other expansion boards are extra.
