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IBM LAN SYSTEMS NETWORK NEWS - U.S. VERSION February, 1993 INTRODUCING THE FIRST ISSUE OF IBM LAN SYSTEMS NETWORK NEWS!! Welcome to the world of IBM LAN Systems Network News. This newsletter will provide you a consolidation of news about IBM LAN Systems software products, software products from other vendors, and applications for IBM LAN Systems. Open any business periodical and you will find numerous articles discussing today's rapid changes in computer technology. Let the Network News help you keep up - flip through these pages and stay on the leading edge! This document can be obtained on-line by issuing the following command - REQUEST LANNEWS PACKAGE FROM LANNEWS AT AUSVM1 or by subscribing to LANNEWS on MKTTOOLS. Marketing programs and information in this newsletter may not be applicable to countries outside of the U.S. Look for the newsletter to be published on a quarterly basis as well as special issues, such as this one. As our customers, we want to hear from you. Please send your success stories, feedback, and suggestions for articles to IBM VNET - AUSVM1(LANNEWS) or: Diane Stratton IBM Personal Systems LOB 11400 Burnet Rd. #9351 Austin, Texas 78758 INDEX 1. IBM LAN SERVER 3.0 2. IBM LAN SERVER 3.0 PERFORMANCE 3. SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PRODUCTS 4. INDEPENDENT SOFTWARE VENDORS 5. NETWARE FROM IBM 6. THE IMPORTANCE OF "WORKGROUP COMPUTING" 7. LOTUS NOTES AND cc:MAIL 8. DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT BETA PROGRAM FOR OS/2 9. IBM OS/2 COMMUNICATIONS PRODUCTS 10. IBM EDUCATION 11. BUSINESS SHOWS 12. LAN SYSTEM FUTURES TRADEMARKS Apple Computer, Inc. - Macintosh Banyan Systems, Inc. - VINES cc:Mail, Inc. - cc:Mail COMPUSERVE, Inc. - COMPUSERVE IBM Corporation - IBM, OS/2, NetView, SAA Communications Manager, NETBIOS, Extended Services, Presentation Manager, AIX, LAN Server Lotus Development Corporation - Lotus Notes Microsoft Corporation - Microsoft, MS, MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, SQL Server, LAN Manager Novell, Inc. - Novell, NetWare, Networld Open Software Foundation, Inc. - Open Software Foundation, OSF, DCE Oracle Corporation - Oracle Prodigy Services Co. - PRODIGY Shany Computers - AlertView Sun Microsystems - Sun Microsystems Unix Systems Laboratories, Inc. - UNIX Xerox Corporation - Ethernet 3Com Corporation - 3Com and 3+Open IBM LAN SYSTEMS NETWORK NEWS ***************************************************************** 1. LAN SERVER 3.0 ... LET'S TALK ***************************************************************** Unlike a dedicated network operating system, LAN Server 3.0 is built on top of OS/2. So you get the benefits of preemptive multitasking, enhanced OS/2 Crash Protection and Workplace Shell GUI. Advanced and Entry versions both support the latest versions of OS/2, DOS and Windows on Token Ring, Ethernet and IBM PC Network. There's support for Peer Services, optional support for Macintosh computers and TCP/IP, and you can connect more than 1,000 users on a single LAN. LAN Server's Advanced version offers a High Performance File System (HPFS) that decreases access time to the server's hard disk, improved security and offers fault tolerant features like disk duplexing and disk mirroring. And LAN Server 3.0 goes beyond the simple resource sharing with management enhancements that are systemwide. With sophisticated local and remote system management tools for installation, diagnostics and user security, this LAN will work more effectively with less downtime. Plus LAN Server 3.0 provides an IBM migration path to OSF's emerging DCE standards. For more information on IBM OS/2 LAN Server 3.0, please see Announcement Letter 292-600 or Green Letter NDD92573. **************************************************************** 2. IBM LAN SERVER 3.0 PERFORMANCE . . . LIFE IN THE FAST LAN! by Ken Whitfield **************************************************************** The release of the IBM OS/2 LAN Server 3.0 has placed LAN Server in a leadership position as the fastest network operating system running on personal computers. This has been validated by tests performed by independent test organizations: LANQuest Labs, San Jose, CA. and National Software Testing Laboratories (NSTL), Plymouth Meeting, PA. These tests were run with popular word processing, database and spreadsheet and e-mail applications on DOS, Windows and OS/2 clients. From the LANQuest Labs report dated November 1992: "IBM has improved the performance of LAN Server 3.0 Advanced so dramatically that, under 16 megabit-per-second Token Ring, LAN Server now edges out LAN Manager as the fastest of the three leading operating systems -- NetWare, LAN Manager, and LAN Server". From the NSTL Test Results Summary dated November 1992: "LAN Server had the highest Overall Performance Score on NSTL's test configuration across all five application-based tests. This score was calculated using a methodology that would give the highest-performing Network Operating System a perfect score of 10". The scores were "NetWare 7.1, LAN Manager 8.1, LAN Server 9.3". A number of performance improvements are to be found in version 3.0 of the DOS LAN Requester (DLR). A faster NetBios (NetBeui) is available; the DLR code was modified to improve network response time; and the sideband capability of the Advanced version yields performance improvements for both DOS and OS/2 clients. A DLR user moving from LS 2.0 to LS 3.0 may see their applications running up to twice as fast! These reports are available on the IBM internal MKTTOOLS in the LS30PERF package. External to IBM, please see your IBM Marketing Representative for the reports. ***************************************************************** 3. SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PRODUCTS . . . VIEWPOINTS ***************************************************************** ***** IBM SYSTEM PERFORMANCE MONITOR/2 VERSION 2.0 (Fine-tune your OS/2 2.0 standalone and LAN environments) by Laura Adams SPM/2 Version 2.0 is NOW AVAILABLE!! This performance monitoring product was announced in October 1992 (Announcement Letter 292-601) and provides an integrated set of performance monitoring and analysis facilities for the OS/2 2.0 environment. As a reminder, SPM/2 2.0 provides the following capabilities: - Collects OS/2 2.0 CPU, Memory, File, Swap file, Cache, Disk, Printer and Communications Port utilization data - Remote collection from OS/2 2.0 LAN Server and Requester workstations - Graphing Facility displays realtime CPU, Disk, RAM activity, or plays back previously recorded data - Workstation, application, process and thread-level reporting from recorded data - Memory Analyzer provides information via a Presentation Manager and Hyperblock interface, and includes Tutorial/Helps on OS/2 Memory Mgt - Support for user-defined performance metrics ("user hooks") SPM/2 2.0 provides the following benefits: - With SPM/2's performance data, Administrators and Performance Analysts can isolate problems more quickly and accurately, resulting in a quicker resolution. By accurately narrowing in on the cause of a performance problem, SPM/2 may also help the customer avoid investing in costly hardware solutions that do not solve their performance problem. - Application Developers can potentially produce more efficient applications, more quickly, by using SPM/2's performance information and application-specific user hooks to narrow in on defects and choose smarter application designs. A quick summary of order numbers follows. For complete ordering information, see Announcement Letter 292-601 or Green Letter NNDD92574. System Performance Monitor/2 2.0 (Program diskettes with documentation) ------------------------------------------------------- Order Feature Part Type Number Number Media 5871-AAA 3415 96F8379 3.5-inch 3416 96F8380 5.25-inch (Additional Licenses and Distributed Features also available.) Upgrade from SPM/2 1.0 (SPM/2 2.0 program diskettes with documentation) ------------------------------------------------------- Order Type Feature Part Number Number Number Media 5873-AAA 3421 96F8381 3.5-inch 3422 96F8382 5.25-inch (Upgrades from Additional Licenses and Distributed Features also available.) ***** IBM LAN MANAGEMENT UTILITIES/2 by Lori Bush LAN Management Utilities/2 (LMU/2) relieves LAN management headaches! It is an OS/2-based set of services for network and systems management in the enterprise server/requester environment. Now a single OS/2 workstation can manage both servers and requesters in both IBM LAN Server and Novell NetWare networks, over either Token-Ring or Ethernet! You get help in the following areas: - CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT: Want to know whose workstations need more memory to run that hot new spreadsheet? LAN Management Utilities/2 collects all the information you need to know what's on your LANs. You know the configuration of all managed workstations and servers, what changes have been made and when. - OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT: Need to reboot a server across town? Don't reach for the car keys - reach for the mouse! Through the graphical user interface, you can execute commands on far-away servers and workstations, and also monitor workstation status and alerts. You have better things to do than driving around backing up servers at 3 AM. LMU/2 automates remote command and program execution for you, on your schedule! - PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT: LMU/2 monitors the performance on your critical workstations and warns you of potential problems before your users feel the pain. - PROBLEM/FAULT MANAGEMENT: You get incredible alert handling flexibility! Use ours, or generate your own, including "Virus alerts." You can filter, set thresholds, set up automated recovery - even pass alerts on to LAN Network Manager or NetView. Talk about problem management - LMU/2 can even call your pager when your LAN is in trouble! So if you're looking for prescription to relieve YOUR LAN management headaches, think LAN Management Utilities/2! ... on MKTTOOLS see LMUFLYER PACKAGE (for a technical flyer) ... Call the LMU/2 Marketing Hotline (919) 543-3904 ... Check out HONE, LMU2 FORUM or "GO LMU2" on COMPUSERVE ... OR ORDER LMU/2 by calling 1-800-IBM-CALL, department S07. ***** CONFIGURATION, INSTALLATION, DISTRIBUTION With the CID Process (Configuration, Installation, Distribution), OS/2 makes it simple to install and maintain the software configurations on OS/2-based client workstations. And with products from the recently announced LAN NetView family, you get industry leading solutions for LAN systems management. This means OS/2 can be installed, tailored and maintained on a client workstation without any additional diskettes. The LAN administrator may centrally manage the installation of client machines and even upgrade end users' software from the code server. This saves the time and expense of manually performing these operations at each client workstation. And LAN NetView lets you monitor the usage of precious LAN resources, too. Monitoring, problem analysis and record keeping can be much easier for LAN administrators. For more information on CID, please see Announcement Letter 292-579 or Green Letter NDD92567. ***************************************************************** 4. INDEPENDENT SOFTWARE VENDORS . . . HOW ABOUT THAT SOFTWARE! ***************************************************************** ***** ISV SOLUTIONS by Tim Blackwood What, you may ask, is an ISV? Independent Software Vendors (ISV's) are companies outside IBM, some large and some smaller, that develop and market software products. Although being an ISV does not guarantee any special marketing relationship with IBM, relationships with ISV's are essential to the success of the IBM LAN products. Through technical support during development and marketing support to get exposure for their products, IBM Personal Software Products (PSP) is helping ISV's all over the world to develop applications which exploit and compliment our LAN Systems products. By using these products along with IBM's LAN Server and LAN Management products, comprehensive and integrated LAN solutions can be realized. With each of these newsletters we will identify some of the companies we are working with and the products they have developed. Information about ISV's and their products also exist in other areas. The National Solutions Center keeps a database of many application solutions that are available to all IBM Marketing Branches and Business Partners. Another source is the OS/2 Application Solutions Catalogue which lists over 1700 OS/2 applications, many of these products are LAN oriented. This catalogue can be ordered by calling 1-800-READ OS2. If there are any suggestions for vendor products that should be included in this forum please contact Tim Blackwood VM (BLACKWOO at AUSVM1); CompuServ (71774,3444); Prodigy (RWBF42A). ***** SHANY'S AlertVIEW TROUBLESHOOTS APPLICATIONS by Al Marcus With LAN-based systems providing an increasing number of business solutions, the need for effective management of these systems in terms of keeping them operational and controlling administrative cost has become more important than ever. Coincidentally, a greater focus on LAN (and WAN) problem detection and correction has been occurring over the past few years. This focus, however, has been primarily in the routers, etc., with very little attention being paid to managing the workstations and the software operating on them. This is indeed a problem in today's networking environment where software errors can cause severe bottlenecks and result in system and network downtimes. Does this sound like an opportunity knocking? You bet! One of the basic goals of the IBM LAN NetView family of products is to provide effective management of LAN-based workstations. Not only through IBM-developed applications but through 3rd parties, known as Independent Software Vendors (ISVs). One of these ISVs we've been working with is Shany, Inc. whose President, Shlomo Touboul, also sees an opportunity here. His company has developed OS/2 and DOS versions of a workstation management product named AlertVIEW. Shany's AlertVIEW product has some unique capabilities when it comes to troubleshooting applications on the network. AlertView acts as a network "Sniffer" for applications; using agents to look inside the software to detect and analyze errors, or potential error conditions. Error messages can be monitored by the network manager, and along with hardware and software configuration data that is forwarded by AlertView. This allows corrective action to be taken immediately, sometimes even before users are aware of the error conditions. AlertVIEW also allows a network manager to launch an application on a remote workstation which will run in the background to correct a problem. For example, if a user were trying to save data in a file and the action produced an error because there were too many files open, the network manager could launch an application to revise the CONFIG.SYS to support more open files, and inform the user to proceed. What's more, actions like these can also be automated. These unique features, combined with other capabilities like filtering of events, as well as a SNA-Gateway function, make it a viable workstation management product. In fact, an article in the January 1993 edition of Data Communications Magazine names AlertVIEW as one of the 1993 International "Hot Products". Shany was included in the IBM LAN NetView Press Release at the October 1992 announcement as one of the ISVs who plan to deliver an application on the LAN NetView platform. According to Shlomo Touboul, "The underlying communications and management services provided by the LAN NetView platform free us from having to develop and integrate these functions. This, along with using an industry standard API make LAN NetView an attractive development platform for systems and network management." For more information, please call Shany, Inc. at 415-694-7410. ************************************************************ 5. NETWARE FROM IBM . . . RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS by Susan Watson ************************************************************ NetWare SFT III v3.11, the high-availability mirrored server product, is now available from IBM Direct Sales on a controlled-availability basis. Each potential customer must qualify for the controlled release, and will be required to complete a questionnaire for this purpose. In addition, each customer must agree to the conditions of the controlled release prior to receiving the product. Additional details are available in Announcement Letter 292-691 or Green Letter NDD92564, dated December 1, 1992. The qualification package is online, and may be obtained by issuing the command REQUEST SFTIIIQ PACKAGE FROM IECC AT AUSVM1. Additional License and Additional License Upgrade options for NetWare from IBM v3.11 and v2.2 server products are now available on a special bid, build-to-order basis in the United States. The Additional License capability facilitates centralized electronic distribution of NetWare from IBM v3.11 and v2.2, minimizing product handling and administration of server licenses for customers with large numbers of servers. Additional information is contained in Announcement Letter 292-691 or Green Letter ND92663, dated December 1, 1992. NetWare for SAA v1.3 was announced by Novell this month. The product will be available from IBM by the end of February. NetWare Services Manager for OS/2 v1.0 (announced October 6, 1992, Announcement Letter 292-589 or Green Letter NDD92565) is an integrated network management platform enabling network supervisors to manage multi-vendor networks more easily and efficiently. The NetWare Services Manager for OS/2 v1.0 automates resource management and can reduce downtime and maximize network performance. It automatically identifies all NetWare devices on the network, displays them in a graphical map, monitors the entire network and notifies the network supervisor when problems occur, retaining this information in a centralized database. Novell and IBM plan to provide a version of NetWare Services Manager for OS/2 that will interoperate with the IBM LAN NetView family of products (also announced October 6, 1992, Announcement Letter 292-580 or Green Letter NDD92564). This new version will address the requirements of NetWare v3.11 and NetWare v4.0 users. The IBM LAN NetView user interface will be used to view a picture of the LAN topology, providing a physical view of the LAN including the NetWare servers and requesters. Testing of this product will begin early this year. NetWare Services Manager for Windows v1.1 and NetWare Management Agents v1.0 are also available from IBM. Future releases of NetWare will be enabled for unattended configuration, installation, and distribution. This is in support of IBM's CID (configuration, installation, and distribution) strategy. More information on NetWare from IBM products including a current price list can be obtained as follows: - IBM VNET users: REQUEST NEWSLTR PACKAGE FROM IECC AT AUSVM1 - External to IBM, write: IBM Enterprise Computing Center Attention: Susan Watson 11400 Burnet Road #9170 Austin, Texas 78758 ***************************************************************** 6. THE IMPORTANCE OF "WORKGROUP COMPUTING" ***************************************************************** Since the early 1980s, businesses have invested heavily in personal computers with users becoming knowledge workers. However, computers are best used for analyzing figures, drafting reports and retrieving data. Typical applications include word processing, spreadsheets, data base management, desktop publishing, and communications. These are activities of individuals, not groups. Productivity is not achieved because users spend much of their time working in groups away from personal computers. Thus, the "team" is becoming the basic unit of business practice. Personal computers have not supported the activities of business teams well; however, computer technology (local area networks and advanced operating systems) are moving in the right direction by providing the necessary physical links among personal computers. The result: computer-supported group work or "Workgroup Computing." ***************************************************************** 7. LOTUS NOTES AND cc:MAIL ***************************************************************** ***** LOTUS NOTES - EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW Lotus Notes is a LAN-based client/server workgroup computing application program used for information sharing. Notes serves an environment for developing applications which enable groups of people to work together more effectively. It specifically addresses a class of high-impact, low-risk departmental business applications which, prior to Lotus Notes, were impractical to build. Lotus Notes helps business professionals execute their natural business processes such as selling, servicing customers and launching products more effectively -- in essence, reducing "time to action" -- by helping them manage the natural currency of business information, the document. Lotus Notes also provides an open application programming interface and supports Vendor Independent Messaging (VIM) to encourage IS organizations and third parties to add functionality to Lotus Notes and to integrate it with existing data processing environments. Lotus Notes will be available on all popular graphical platforms, and includes particularly strong support for "occasionally connected" or remote users. Being an inherently highly-graphical tool, Notes is not appropriate for DOS or other less-functional platforms. KEY MESSAGES - A powerful workgroup tool for gathering, accessing, organizing and distributing information - Enables personal computers users to send documents, graphics, spreadsheets and scanned images across geographic locations and various network technologies - Iconic interface makes it easy to learn, use and even create enterprise-wide applications - Flexible database design capabilities permit workgroup user to create and change databases as their needs and information change - Electronic mail enables user to distribute information to specific individuals, and even to entirely different work groups at another location - Laptops Notes feature enables remote users to send and receive mail, as well as contribute to other databases from a standalone Notes workstation - Built-in security safeguards help protect information from unauthorized use -- Network administration features streamline set-up and help track usage - Graphical User Interface operating under both Microsoft Windows and OS/2 Presentation Manager LOTUS NOTES STRENGTHS - Rapid application design at the desktop Quickly adapt to your group's needs, processes, vocabulary, etc. - Distributed Compound Document Database Captures all types of data and links all workgroup locations - Support for heterogeneous LANs and WANs IBM, Novell, 3Com, 3+Open, Banyan VINES Full functionality for both LAN and disconnected users All workgroup members can participate using the same tools - State of the Art Security Handle the most sensitive of data even when distributed BENEFITS - Breaks down communications barriers - Captures company expertise - Shortens cycle times - Improves workgroup productivity ***** cc:MAIL - EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW Lotus cc:Mail is a family of more than twenty products that provide high-end, LAN-based multi-media electronic mail capabilities to users of all five of the leading personal computer operating systems (Macintosh, MS-DOS, OS/2, Windows and UNIX). cc:Mail is the most popular and most comprehensive electronic mail and messaging system in the industry. Its intuitive user interface has made it the choice of nearly two million users -- more than any other LAN e-mail product -- but it is the sophistication of its architecture and the maturity of its directory services, gateways and management tools which sets it apart from the competition and attracts IS professionals. cc:Mail's aggressive support of the Vendor Independent Messaging (VIM) standard encourages IS organizations and third parties to build a wealth of mail-enabled and mail-reliant applications on the cc:Mail engine. cc:Mail is available on more platforms today than any other mail system, including local and remote DOS, Windows, OS/2 Presentation Manager, Macintosh and UNIX workstations, and in the future will support palmtops and wireless appliances. It is priced aggressively so that every user in an organization can benefit from this universal tool. cc:MAIL STRENGTHS - Market Leadership - Scalability - Gateways - Support for Macintosh, DOS, Windows, UNIX, OS/2 - Heterogeneous LAN Support - Ease of Installation, deployment & administration - Low Cost BENEFITS - Works with almost everything (workstations, network operating systems, wide area technologies, host and public mail systems, etc.) - cc:Mail is cost effective - cc:Mail's user software is feature rich and easy to use - cc:Mail systems can scale from small to very large - cc:Mail provides the tools administrators need - cc:Mail is desktop and network operating system neutral ***** cc:MAIL / NOTES POSITIONING AND INTEGRATION Users who require only mail and mail-enabled applications should choose cc:Mail. Users who require the document-based applications development functionality of Notes should choose Notes. Most installations will be a mixture of both products, and document exchange between all users is bi-directionally high-fidelity. Each product will be aggressively enhanced for optimization in its own market. The mail application in Lotus Notes will evolve to incorporate the best features of cc:Mail, such as smart addressing, with a user interface optimized for integration with Lotus Notes applications. Similarly, cc:Mail will evolve to incorporate unique features of Lotus Notes such as state-of-the-art security and compound document support. Each product will add workflow, rules and other functionality optimized for its users' needs. The two products will evolve to share common naming conventions, common gateways, common administration tools and a common API (VIM). Users who have already installed a competitive mail system will be able to access that system through an "alternate mail" facility in Lotus Notes, but most users will find the mail tool in Lotus Notes and cc:Mail to be a superior solution. ***** FOR MORE INFORMATION For up-to-date information on Lotus Notes and cc:Mail: - IBM internal, see OFFINFO in NATBOARD and in VM, OFCTOOLS and MKTTOOLS - or call Lotus Notes; 1-800-343-5414 and cc:Mail; 1-800-448-2500 ***************************************************************** 8. DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT (DCE) BETA PROGRAM FOR OS/2 by Dean May ***************************************************************** IBM has initiated a beta program to test core Distributed Computing Environment function on OS/2 Version 2.0 systems. The beta program is named Distributed Systems Services for OS/2. Function in the beta code enables software developers to gain experience with core Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) technologies and begin application prototyping, development and testing activities. The code in this beta program should NOT be used in production. Beta code and documentation can be ordered now for shipment starting February 1993 in the United States and Canada. Ordering details for other countries will be made known when the beta code and publications become available for shipment. The beta program function is based on the DCE source code licensed from the Open Software Foundation (OSF). OSF/DCE is an integrated set of industry-leading distributed computing technologies. These technologies present computing networks composed of unlike operating systems and hardware platforms as single, logical environments for distributed applications and workstation users. The beta program contains these OSF/DCE functions: - remote procedure call - cell directory services - security services - time services - DCE threads OS/2 systems can participate in DCE networks as either DCE clients or DCE servers. The beta program also contains multi-protocol transport service with a 32-bit socket programming interface over local IPC (local socket), TCP/IP and NETBIOS. However, the DCE components in this beta currently use the 32-bit socket programming interface for TCP/IP and local IPC. All beta participants receive no-charge technical support as follows: - COMPUSERVE users should use the OS2DF2 forum, DCE section. - OS2BBS users should go to 'OS2 Bulletin Board Question and Answers' and select topic 'IBM Distributed Computing Environment (DCE)'. - IBM VNET users should use OS2DCE CFORUM' on the IBMPC disk. The forums are now open for initial planning questions. IBM support will be provided on a 'reasonable efforts' basis. ***************************************************************** 9. IBM OS/2 COMMUNICATIONS PRODUCTS . . . THE CONNECTION by Fred Bothwell ***************************************************************** IBM labs in Raleigh and Toronto have recently announced follow-on products for the Database Manager and Communications Manager of the Extended Edition and Extended Services products. These new offerings Database 2 OS/2 and Communications Manager/2 Version 1.0, are priced and packaged separately and planned for near future general availability. For more information, please see Announcement Letters 293-037 and 293-033 or Green Letters NDD92573 and PCC93035. Together, these new products satisfy the requirements of demanding users, who may have exhausted the extensive capabilities of the Extended Services product. Extended Services continues to offer integrated, high reliability, and fully supported solutions. Users currently using Extended Edition 1.2 or 1.3, will gain substantial performance and reliability benefits by migrating to Extended Services today or the newer products at general availability. Independent laboratory testing has verified the results of IBM lab tests which show that database response time is cut in half by migrating from Extended Edition 1.3 to Extended Services. Similarly, Communications Manager "gateway" application overhead is reduced by as much as 90% compared to Extended Edition 1.3. Extended Services also includes support (IBM Network Transport Services/2 or NTS/2) for both Novell NetWare and IBM LAN Server environments. For Extended Services customers who have exhausted its substantial performance, function, and capacity, the new Communications Manager/2 and Database 2 OS/2 products offer useful functional enhancements. Extended Services integrates database and communications functions into a reliable, industrial strength platform offered at a competitive price. ***** NATIONAL SOFTWARE TESTING LABORATORIES (NSTL) RATES EXTENDED SERVICES BEST IN TEST! In a recent Lab Report, NSTL published the results of a grueling series of benchmark comparisons of IBM and non-IBM database servers. Comparing the performance of Microsoft SQL Server 1.11, Oracle Server for NetWare 1.0, IBM OS/2 Extended Edition 1.3, and the newer IBM Extended Services with OS/2 2.0, NSTL finds that while Extended Services consistently outperforms all the others in all the tests, the most dramatic differences are between Extended Edition 1.3 and Extended Services. Extended Edition 1.3 was found to be unable to support the heaviest loads in any of five different tests while, compared to the competition, Extended Services "...is comparable or slightly faster on tests with a single user, and gradually 'pulls away' as users are added." Extended Services had as much as a 2 to 1 advantage over the non IBM systems in the test, and compared to Extended Edition 1.3, Extended Services "...takes less than half the time per transaction with 64 users that the previous version took with 48." NSTL explains the superior performance of Extended Services is due to the elimination of the previous 16 megabyte memory limitation; the superior efficiency of the newer communications protocol (APPN) used by Communications Manager between clients and server; and high performance transaction logging mechanism (which also supports forward recovery). In summary, NSTL says "...compared to Extended Edition 1.3, which was already a competitive product...Extended Services Database Manager is a dramatic improvement. It retains the strengths of it's predecessor...the new APPN protocol greatly enhances client-server communication. And the ability to take advantage of OS/2 2.0's 32-bit architecture and memory above 16 megabytes gives it outstanding performance...". For further information on the NSTL report, call NSTL, Inc. (215) 941-9600. ***** IBM EXTENDED SERVICES QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Q: What is the relationship of the new Communications Manager/2 and Database Manager 2 OS/2 products with respect to IBM Extended Services announced in 4/92? A: Communications Manager/2 and Database Manager 2 OS/2 are upgrades to the Communications Manager and Database Manager facilities of the current Extended Services product. They can also be installed, separately or together, without Extended Services. Q: Do the new products obsolesce Extended Services? A: No, Extended Services is not only a superior price performer when compared to many competitive systems, but it also provides a solid basis of robust and fully supported, integrated solutions around which the phased implementation of the new products may be planned as upgrades. Q: I don't currently have Extended Services installed, but I'd like to install either one or both of the new products. Why should I install Extended Services first? A: You can start sooner. Extended Services is currently available and fully supported for both Database Manager and Communications Manager functions. By installing Extended Services now you can create a stable, integrated and working environment immediately, and sustain it as you implement the new products in parallel test mode. It may be cheaper. Extended Services with Communications Manager and Database Manager upgrades can cost less than the "standalone" price of Communications Manager/2 and Database Manager 2 OS/2. In many cases, Extended Services without upgrades may provide users a highly satisfactory level of function, performance and reliability for an extended period of time. ***************************************************************** 10. IBM EDUCATION . . . IS FOR YOU by Jim Wilbourne ***************************************************************** Skill Dynamics, an IBM Company, has updated the OS/2 LAN Service curriculum. Now, OS/2 LAN Server 3.0 is included in our course offerings. In addition, a new class is now available to address the integration of OS/2 LAN Server and Novell Netware functions. From introductory to advanced, our classes are taught by qualified instructors at locations across the country. A progression of classroom courses (most with hands-on labs) has been designed to help you get the most out of the LAN Server software. LOOK at these offerings from the OS/2 LAN Services Curriculum: INTRODUCTION FOR OS/2 AND DOS USERS WORKSHOP (Course #G4160) - Learn the navigational skills required by an end user of the OS/2 2.0 Workplace Shell, the OS/2 LAN Requester, the DOS LAN Requester, and the DOS LAN Requester with Microsoft Windows. (IBM MSE #CG41600C) BASIC LAN ADMINISTRATION WORKSHOP (Course #G4360) - An introduction to the LAN environment using OS/2 LAN Server 2.0, 3.0 and related products. Learn the fundamental information and skills necessary to manage servers and requesters. (IBM MSE #CG43600C) ADVANCED ADMINISTRATION WORKSHOP (Course #G4560) - Refine your basic skills and gain advanced knowledge and techniques for using the OS/2 LAN Server 2.0 and 3.0 products, both Entry and Advanced. (IBM MSE #CG45600C) LAN SERVER 2.0/3.0 FOR EXPERIENCED 1.3 ADMINISTRATORS (Course #G4565) - Learn how to administer an OS/2 LAN Server 2.0 or 3.0 with DOS, Windows and OS/2 workstation clients. Included is a thorough discussion of the similarities and differences between OS/2 LAN Server 1.3, 2.0 and 3.0. (IBM MSE #CG456450C) INTEGRATING NETWARE AND OS/2 LAN SERVER (Course #G4570) - Gain the knowledge required to integrate IBM OS/2 LAN Server and Novell NetWare functions. Included are installation and use of the OS/2 LAN Requester and NetWare DOS Requester. This course DOES NOT include System Administrator tasks. (IBM MSE #CG45700C) For more information about these classes or to reserve your seat, customers should call 1-800-IBM-TEACh (1-800-426-8322). IBM Personnel should use MSE for course information and enrollment. ***************************************************************** 11. BUSINESS SHOWS . . . THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS! by Alisa Nessler ***************************************************************** IBM LAN Systems will be participating in the shows listed below. These shows will have LAN Systems products demonstrated by LAN experts. Come to the IBM booth! OS/2 Technical - 2/28 - 3/3 Phoenix Interchange Interop - 3/08 - 12 Washington, D.C. Comdex - 5/24 - 27 Atlanta PC Expo - 6/29 - 01 New York Windows, - 8/24 - 26 Boston OS/2 Developers Conference PC Expo - 10/19 - 21 Chicago Networld - 10/05 - 08 Dallas Comdex - 11/15 - 19 Las Vegas For further information on any of these shows, please call your IBM Marketing Representative. IBM internal, check NATBOARD (OS2INFO, LANINFO and CLIENT/SERVER) for show announcements. ***** SEE HOW OPEN WE CAN BE! AND WELCOME TO THE LAN OF PLENTY Those were the IBM LAN Systems themes at NetWorld '93 in Boston, Windows & OS/2 Conference in San Jose and the Client Server '93 Conference, also in San Jose. In Boston, the Networld '93 show drew a large crowd despite the snowy weather. IBM LAN Systems had a number of demonstrations on the main floor--including: - OS/2 Workgroup Technology--Peer networking demonstration including dynamic data exchange and a network accessible clipboard. - Workgroup Communications--Tools for organizational effectiveness including Lotus Notes, cc:Mail, and workgroup calendaring. - Lan NetView Management--Showing the CID capability and the discover/configuration application, as well as the overall management framework. - Netware and OS/2--Netware 4.0 operating with OS/2 2.0 as a non-dedicated application, allowing both Netware and OS/2 applications to share the same server platform. - Lan Server 3.0--New features, including HPFS support and Lan Server for Macintosh. - Distributed Computing Environment--Support for the Open Software Foundation's Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) model. IBM demonstrated standards based distributed computing in a heterogeneous environment with OS/2 clients and servers, AIX clients and Servers, Windows clients, and a Sun Microsystem's client. IBM LAN System also had a separate DCE solutions room during the 3 days of Networld. After a press conference during the first morning, attendees could visit with developers, see DCE demonstrations, or hear about DCE through one of the tutorials presented four times daily. The OS/2 DCE Beta program was announced at the press conference by Art Olbert, Director of LAN Systems. Also on the agenda were Jan Gossels, OSF's business development manager, and Alfred Spector, President of Transarc. The press reaction generated from this event has been very favorable, including several front page articles. According to coverage in the January 18 issue of "Open System Today", Art Olbert (along with Jon Gossels and Alfred Spector), "..put the spotlight on DCE cross-platform capabilities for users moving from proprietary mainframes to LAN-as-a-system client-server computing." Following the success in Boston, the LAN Systems demo crew was off to San Jose for the Windows & OS/2 conference followed by the Client Server '93 conference. At the Windows & OS/2 conference Lan Systems demonstrated new technologies and performed a stage presentation. At the Client Server '93 conference, Lan Systems was one of a number of IBM organizations demonstrating that one of our strengths in the client/server environment is the ability to give our customers a choice..regardless of the platform the customer is currently on or is moving to. Tom Furey, General Manager of the new IBM Client Server business and Art Olbert, Director of Lan Systems were both speakers at the conference. Furey made it quite clear that IBM is NOT paying lip service to Client/Server computing, saying that over 8000 IBM people world-wide are now working to define and deploy client/server solutions with customers. Both Tom Furey and Art Olbert talked about embracing downsizing, open systems, and multivendor environments. Yes, folks...they weren't afraid to say the "D" word. Art Olbert went on to talk about the LAN as a system, and the three key objectives for LAN Systems products: - Access to information anytime, anywhere - Industrial strength products - Investment protection ************************************************************ 12. LAN SYSTEMS FUTURES by Dave Ogee ************************************************************ Personal Software Products' Austin-based LAN Systems Requirements Planning is asking marketing to help them assemble the names of customers who would like to participate in electronic forums on IBM's LAN Systems plan and direction. The format of these proposed meetings will be presentation of elements of LAN Systems' plan followed by customer evaluation sessions to be held in various of the some 100-plus electronic Decision Support Centers across the United States. If you have a customer or customers who would benefit from a frank and honest exchange of information with representatives from LAN Systems Development and are willing to sign the appropriate nondisclosure agreements, please submit the customer name, location and the name of a marketing contact to Dave Ogee at the following VM address (OGEE at AUSVM1). There is no guarantee that you or your customer will be invited however, like in the Readers Digest sweepstakes, if you don't participate you can't win. And, LAN Systems Development will even pay your customer's expenses! If your customer is selected, details will be made available well in advance of the meeting dates.