Xerox Corp’s Xerox Engineering Systems in Rochester, New York has come out with network server software that supports all industry-standard files, including PostScript, and Ethernet and non-Ethernet local networks for printing on all its raster printers and plotters. ServeWare 2.0 is designed to facilitate client-server plotting and software rasterisation, enabling architects and engineers to use a Sun Microsystems Inc Sparcstation to process Adobe Systems Inc PostScript CGM, CCITT Group IV (tiled and untiled), TIFF 5.0, HP-GL, HP-GL/2, CalComp 906/907, ASCII and VDS/VCGL files for printing on all Xerox raster printers and plotters.
PostScript interpreter
The PostScript interpreter is claimed to outperform systems using clones of PostScript interpreters and provides 51 Type 1 PostScript fonts compared with tto the 35 offered by competitors. As well as Ethernet, the software supports NetWare, DECnet, Network File System, 3270 Coax and Token Ring networks. It enables users to rasterise plot files on their Sparcstations for faster output on the plotter, particularly useful for dense files, Xerox says. It also eliminates the need for an RPM or embedded controller on the plotter. And with ServeWare, a single server can be connected to as many as three plotters and can run them simultaneously. It is directory driven so users can customise their network, setting up separate directories for say AutoCAD files and Catia files. A plot queue management system for batch processing organises plotting by media types or for scheduling large plot jobs during off hours. Operation is unattended. It requires 16Mb of memory and 207Mb of available hard disk space. The base system is $4,150, software rasterisation is $3,000 and the VDS/VCGL, HP-GL, 907, CGM and CCITT data-file converters are sold in sets for specific plotters, at $1,000 per set. The PostScript converter is $4,000. The Xerox Model 6991 turnkey system bundles ServeWare 2.0 with a RISC-based server and is priced at $12,000. The company has also added an improved parallel interface that enables users to produce hard-copy graphics on its plotters from AT and EISA architecture personal computers running networked or stand-alone. The Model 110B, an updated version of the Model 110A supports all 80486 class machines and HP/Apollo DN3000 and 4000 workstations, and supports Windows on AT bus machines through third-party products. The improved interface enables for faster plotting than the 110A and at a lower price – up to 4Mb per second on EISA units and 1.5Mb per second on AT bus machines. Direct Memory Access operation is provided. It will be out next quarter; no price. The company also has a version, the 116, to enable users to connect Xerox Engineering Systems controllers and plotters to with Sun workstations using the Solaris operating system. The Solaris version of Unix uses multitasking, multimedia object management facilities and is able to build true client-server applications, which can be exploited by the Model 116, which transfers eight bits of data in parallel and also performs byte-to-byte handshaking for increased data integrity. It supports data transfer rates of up to 600Kb per second, depending on configuration. It ships next quarter; no price was given.
