Overview of NeXT Intel Testing Programs

There are 3 NeXT Intel testing programs, one component level testing program (NEXTSTEP Compatible Component) for adapter card vendors, chip vendors, and device driver developers, and two system level testing programs (NEXTSTEP Compatible System and NEXTSTEP Certified System) for system manufacturers, vendors and integrators.

The purpose of this document is to give a general overview of the programs that NeXT makes available to PC system vendors, PC adapter vendors and device driver developers, by which they may acquire a level of approval from NeXT for their products. Additional NeXTanswers documents discuss each of these programs in greater detail.

NEXTSTEP Compatible Component 
The NEXTSTEP Compatible Component program provides a testing service for PC adapter card vendors, chip vendors and device driver developers. All hardware vendors and device driver developers wishing to have a level of approval from NeXT for their PC adapters or device drivers should contact Product Marketing at NeXT to make arrangements to have NeXT test their devices or device drivers. There is a fee for this service.

If the tested device or device driver meets NeXT's acceptance criteria, NeXT issues an authorization letter and the NEXTSTEP Compatible Component logo to use on their packaging and marketing material for the specified device/driver to the vendor. NeXT owns no support responsibilities whatsoever for any device or device driver awarded the NEXTSTEP Compatible Component approval.

For more detailed information, refer to NeXTanswer #1902.

NEXTSTEP Compatible System
The NEXTSTEP Compatible System program provides a level of approval for Intel-based PC system configurations and is available to all Intel-based PC system manufacturers, vendors and integrators. 

There are two methods by which a PC system can achieve the NEXTSTEP Compatible System designation:

1) Compatibility testing is performed by a NICE engineer (for information on the NICE program please refer to NeXTanswer #1903) and NeXT approves the submitted test report.
2) Compatibility testing is performed by NeXT. There is a fee for this service.

Once a specific system configuration has been tested and approved, NeXT releases an authorization letter and the NEXTSTEP Compatible System logo artwork to the vendor. NeXT has no support responsibilities whatsoever for any PC system awarded the NEXTSTEP Compatible System approval.
 
For more detailed information, refer to NeXTanswer #1903.

NEXTSTEP Certified System
The NEXTSTEP Certified System program provides the highest level of approval for Intel-based PC system configurations and is available to all Intel-based PC system manufacturers, vendors and integrators. System certification testing is done by NeXT. There is a fee for this service.

Once a specific system configuration has been tested and approved, NeXT releases an authorization letter and NEXTSTEP Certified System logo artwork to the vendor. NeXT provides 30 days of free installation support for all Certified systems. 

For more detailed information, refer to NeXTanswer #1904.