Continuing its commitment to integrate PC-DOS micros into a DEC VAX environment, Berkeley, California-based Virtual Microsystems Inc has unveiled a new release of its Network Co-Processor hardware-software combination that enables Personals on a local area network to be used as terminals to a VAX. The new version enables users to run PC-DOS and VAX applications concurrently and exchange data between the two. Like the initial release, it provides VT220 terminal emulation and file transfer over any IBM NetBIOS-compatible local area network. The Network Co-Pro-cessor hardware attaches to the backplane of a VAX and consists of a dedicated board containing an Intel 80286 processor and other AT components. Connected to the co-processor via a standard AT bus is an expansion chassis with 360Kb floppy drive and four to eight XT expansion slots in which networking cards are installed. The Network Co-Processor software consists of a VAX-resident portion with drivers that translate PC-DOS input-output calls to VMS requests and translates data between the PC-DOS and VMS formats. The PC-DOS portion provides VAX terminal emula-tion. Available next month, the host-resident portion is from $10,000 on the MicroVAX to $25,000 on the VAX 8800. The terminal emulation program is $500 per station. Virt-ual Microsystems says Contel, Gen eral Electric, Ungermann-Bass and MCI, are using the Network Co-Pro-cessor to establish VAXes as the file servers for their local nets.
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