Unisys Corp has moved its microprocessor implementation of its basic A-series mainframe architecture up the line and has created new entry-level A Series openFrame enterprise servers and added software that increases open communications and client-server computing capabilities for existing and new users across the A Series family. The entry-level A7 models, starting at $20,000 and available this month, are compatible with the full A Series openFrame product line which, Unisys claims, reported double digit revenue growth in 1992. The A Series provides a 300 times performance growth path from the A7 to the A19 without software modification. Two new low-end models of the A11 and 12 new A16 models were also added. Unisys also announced Novell Inc’s NetWare for A Series and expanded client-server Unisys Co-operative Computing Environment, and enhanced TCP/IP, Open Systems Interconnection, SNA and the BNA Burroughs Network Architecture protocols. In the A7, the Single Chip A Series Mainframe Processor is combined with an 80486 companion processor, using the common iAPX-86 architecture dev-eloped by Unisys for its personal computers, Unix and CTOS machines; it is there to support Unix or OS/2 applications in parallel with the proprietary MCP/AS.
