US Sprint Communications Co, Kansas City, Missouri has launched TPX400, an X400 messaging switch designed to enable large organisations with multiple electronic messaging systems to exchange messages via a single X400 communications processor. It is designed to work with all X400-based electronic messaging systems in either local or wide area network environments, operating much like an X25 packet switch with dynamic alternate routing capabilities, store-and-forward functions to take advantage of off-peak transmission times. It acts as a front-end processor to protect the data integrity of the host computers that are connected to it, as well as freeing resources of private electronic mail systems for other applications. By the first quarter of 1991, US Sprint will have two X400 switches commercially available – the TPX400-I, non fault-tolerant model, which implements fault resistance through its software design and a facility for linking multiple processors, and the TPX400-II, a fully fault-tolerant model. Both are based on unidentified 32-bit RISC microprocessors – though it seems likely that the Tandem Compu ters Inc S-2 MIPS Computer Systems Inc RISC-based machine is being us ed, since it is the only announced fault-tolerant RISC-based Unix ma chine, and US Sprint uses Tandem computers widely – and the TPX400 software was written for Unix and takes advantage of the built-in communications in Unix – X25 dedi cated access, X25 dial and local net-based electronic mail systems. It also offers multiple profile support; no prices have been given.
