Apple Computer Inc today announces those networking products heralded in CI No 1,182 – and more: no fewer than 15 products are announced. They fit into three categories: extending AppleTalk; connecting Macs to other environments; and communications tools. The product blitz is intended to serve users across the board, in medium to large organisations, although there is no product that specifically addresses the VAX market. AppleTalk Phase 2.0 extends the protocol into addressing, routing and broadcasting. Addressing capabilities go from a maximum of 254 nodes to 16m on a local network, while the company claims routing and broadcasting enhance multiprotocol network systems. AppleTalk Internet Router – software that connects LocalTalk, EtherTalk and TokenTalk – is UKP285; TokenTalk – software that brings Phase 2 support to Token Ring – is included in the Token Talk NB Card; EtherTalk Version 2.0 is included in EtherTalk NB Card; and AppleShare PC Version 2.0 software that provides access to AppleShare file and print services – is UKP125. All are available in August. Apple also announces its expected move into the Token Ring environment. The company is introducing three NuBus communications cards – all Mac II models have NuBus architecture – for links to 3270 Coax, Token Ring and SDLC environments; software enables Macs emulate 3270 terminals and exchange files with IBM systems. To integrate into TCP/IP, Apple is also supporting the X Window standard: MacX is new software enabling Macintosh users to use X-based applications. And for wide area networks, MacX25 software enables Macs to send and recieve information across X25 packet-switched networks. The Apple TokenTalk NB Card with TokenTalk Version 2.0 software and SMB File Transfer software is UKP875 from August; the rest of the software starts at UKP215. The third set of products are communications tools. These include two servers using the CL/1 communications language, for IBM hosts running DB2 or SQL/DS databases. Apple will also extend its Macintosh Toolbox to include communications facilities, giving access to standard utilities for common communications tasks. The Macintosh Communications Toolbox is out in September, the CL/1 servers for MVS/TSO and VM/CMS in February.
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