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1993-11-15
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THE INFORMATION IN THIS NOTICE IS CONSIDERED TO BE EXTERNAL BY IBM
AND MAY BE SHARED BY ANYONE WITH ACCESS.
IBM MULTIMEDIA FOR LAN SERVER BETA PROGRAM 3RD RELEASE
______________________________________________________
October 22, 1993
OVERVIEW
________
IBM is initiating the third release of the
IBM Multimedia for LAN Server beta program. Orders for this
program can now be accepted and filled. This beta release
contains automated disk bandwidth detection capability, support for
larger numbers of client workstations, and capability to use
additional Token-Ring adapter types on the Server.
Electronic support forums for this beta, which will be monitored by
IBM's development laboratory in Austin, Texas, are available.
These forums are provided so beta participants can obtain answers to
technical questions about the Multimedia for LAN Server beta program
before or after placing an order for the beta code.
This beta program is being made available to evaluate
IBM's Multimedia for LAN Server function and provide feedback. The
code in this beta program should NOT be used in production.
FUNCTIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
_____________________
Computer-based media encompass text, video, sound, binary images,
graphics, voice, and practically any output that a computer can
generate. Computers can integrate media very well: Authors can use
computers to create presentations that include sound, voice, video,
text, graphics, animation, and other media. It takes a computer to
really use multimedia: People can easily use a computer to control
multimedia presentations, and creators of multimedia presentations
can use a computer for editing. There are many applications that
"playback" recorded multimedia and which are "standalone", meaning
that computer networks are not needed for the presentation. Some
applications rely on floppy disk or CD-ROM for both distribution
and playback on a single computer. Electronic books and hypermedia
________________ __________
applications(1) may come packaged on one or more compact discs. Here
the storage and distribution mechanisms are one and the same.
(1) Electronic books integrate sound, voice, video and text into a
________________
document with some method of navigation. Hypermedia are
electronic books in which the method of navigation is through
links.
Arguably, the largest set of multimedia applications (and potential
applications) require a computer network. Voice mail and some image
applications, for example, work well on conventional
store-and-forward local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks
(WANs). Playback of recorded multimedia from large server libraries
is possible on local area networks, but limited today to a few
concurrent sessions. And "live" human communication applications
such as teleconferencing really require new networking technologies.
Distributed Multimedia applications with time-sensitive streams need
Quality of Service guarantees for throughput, against delay and
error from the server computer, disk access and the network.
The IBM Multimedia for LAN Server Beta can provide these guarantees
for multimedia applications running on Windows, OS/2 and DOS client
computers. Resource reservation is used in the server computer to
guarantee that multimedia streams can get the disk and network
resources required to provide good playback quality for multimedia
file elements. On the Token Ring, priority service is used to
provide guaranteed service for multimedia file access. The Priority
Token Ring(2) is today the only commercially-available reserved
bandwidth network. On Ethernet, no such guarantees can be provided,
though acceptable delivery can usually be achieved when the number
of stations attached to the Ethernet bus is restricted to eight or
fewer in number.
The Multimedia for LAN Server Beta function permits reliable and
predictable play-back of multimedia files over a "single segment"
Token Ring. (This means that multimedia client stations cannot be
separated from the server by bridges or routers).
The Multimedia for LAN Server Beta function contains enhancements
to LAN Server. The Token Ring LAN is the only LAN for which
quality of service can be guaranteed. The environment
is restricted currently to a single LAN Server on a single-segment
LAN. Other LANs may be bridged to the LAN Server, but the clients
must be on the same segment as the LAN Server which must be
connected by a LANStreamer MC 32 adapter. Only one LAN Server is
currently supported in the network. The multimedia clients are
supported by the NetBIOS communications transport.
---------------
(2) The Priority Token Ring is defined to be a Token Ring in which
___________________
access to the priority mechanism is controlled so as to provide
Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees for non-zero priority
traffic.
Ethernet LAN users can get considerable benefit from the use of
this beta code, but the quality of service is not guaranteed. If
the Ethernet LAN has eight or fewer multimedia stations attached or
uses a Dedicated Ethernet hub, quality may be acceptable, but this
environment is not as robust and care should be exercised in such
cases.
Multimedia applications developed for the standalone environment
using MMPM/2 or AVK will run unchanged when the file is stored on
the LAN Server; and applications using DVI/AVI, Ultimotion, INDEO,
SoundBlaster * and other streams are supported for guaranteed
Quality of Service on the Token Ring, provided their
characteristics are known and appropriate tuning done in the
Server. Existing data applications will run concurrently with
multimedia applications, but the multimedia applications will get
priority.
Use of (4) 16 Mbps Token Ring LANs can support 40 ActionMedia II
video sessions on OS/2, DOS, or DOS/Windows clients as well as
multiple data applications on a single segment Token Ring LAN.
A lesser number of ActionMedia ll clients can be supported
on a 4 Mbps Token Ring. An Install and Configuration Guide is
available to help Network Administrators with tuning tasks.
RECOMMENDED PREREQUISITE SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE
----------------------------------------------
LAN Server
o 486 33 MHz or faster with at least 2 slots available for
disk controllers and at least 1 slot available for a LAN adapter.
o SCSI 400 MB or greater devoted to Multimedia files
o LANStreamer MC 32 Token Ring adapter or equivalent 32-bit
Token-Ring adapter with 2 transmit channels.
o OS/2 2.0 & Service Pak XR06100 or higher
o LS 3.0 Advanced & Service PAK IP7001 or higher
OS/2 Client
o 386SX CPU or higher
o Hardware for Multimedia application(s)
o Any appropriate Token-Ring adapter
o OS/2 2.0 + Service Pak; or higher
o OS/2 LAN Requester
DOS Client
o Hardware for Multimedia application(s)
o Any appropriate Token-Ring adapter
o DOS 5.0 or higher
o DOS LAN Requester
o Windows 3.1 (for Windows applications)
LAN
o IBM 16-Mbps Token-Ring
ALTERNATIVE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE (WITH REDUCED CAPACITY)
---------------------------------------------------------
Server:
o Any IBM 386-based PS/2 or OEM equivalent with 16MB RAM and sufficient
processing power for the intended applications + other recommended hardware
and software as specified above
o Token-Ring 16/4 or Token-Ring Busmaster adapters
Note : Quality of Service can be provided if the Server is
dedicated to multimedia applications. A second Server may be used for
data applications.
LAN:
o 4 Mbps Token Ring
o Ethernet (with appropriate adapters in Server and Clients)
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
_________________
All beta participants receive no-charge technical support during
this beta program through forums on CompuServe * and the
OS/2 Bulletin Board (OS2BBS) or the IBMPC disk. Support will be
provided on a 'reasonable efforts' basis.
o To communicate via CompuServe, type 'GO PSPBETA' and use the
'MM For LAN Server' access message section to contact IBM.
o To communicate via the OS/2 Bulletin Board (OS2BBS), select the
topic "IBM Multimedia for LAN Server Beta" from
"OS2 Question and Answer Bulletin Boards".
o To communicate via IBM's network, select the LSMULTIB CFORUM
on the IBMPC disk.
ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS
_____________________
1. Customers outside of IBM
In the United States and Canada, you can request no
charge delivery of diskettes and hardcopy documentation by
completing and returning the following beta enrollment application.
To obtain beta code and documentation, complete the beta enrollment
application and FAX it to (512) 838-4002.
Outside of the United States and Canada, please see your IBM
marketing representative to obtain beta code and documentation.
2. Customers within IBM
You can request no charge electronic delivery of
diskettes and documentation via IBM's network by completing and
returning the beta enrollment application. You will need to specify
your VM Node and ID. The completed beta enrollment application
will need to be sent to BETASRUS at AUSVM1.
*******************************************************************
* MULTIMEDIA FOR LAN SERVER BETA ENROLLMENT APPLICATION *
*******************************************************************
Version C - 10/93
The purpose of this application is to gather information about
how Multimedia for LAN Server will be used. After completing
and returning the completed form, you will be enrolled in the
beta program.
Note that IBM may use or distribute (within IBM) the responses to
this form without obligation.
To return this form:
Customers outside of IBM :
o Fax it to:
DEPT. 459
(512)838-4002
--- OR ---
o Mail it to:
IBM DEPT. 459
11400 BURNET RD.
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78758
9351
Customers within IBM :
o Internal IBM VM Network:
BETASRUS at AUSVM1
Contact Information:
Name:____________________________________________
Title/Job Responsibility:_________________________
Company or Organization:_________________________
Address:_________________________________________
_________________________________________________
Type of Business:________________________________
Fax:_____________________________________________
Telephone:_______________________________________
The best time to reach me is ____________________
If you are a customer within IBM, specify your VM Node and ID:
_________________________________________________
Where did you learn about this beta program? (Check Applicable)
Trade Show _____ CompuServe _____ IBM Representative _____
Other (specify)____________________
MULTIMEDIA FOR LAN SERVER BETA ENROLLMENT APPLICATION Page 2 of 3
1. What features of the Multimedia for LAN Server Beta prompted you
to request participation in this beta test?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
2. For what purpose do you plan to use Multimedia for LAN Server
Beta code?
Assessing development of applications ____
Assessing the code in your environment ____
3. Indicate below which Multimedia application types you intend to
run using the Multimedia for LAN Server Beta:
ActionMedia II RTV ____
ActionMedia II PLV ____
MMPM/2 ____
Ultimotion ____
Video for Windows ____
M-Audio (ACPA) ____
Still frame plus audio ____
SoundBlaster (*) ____
Other - Please Specify:
4. How many different multimedia applications do you intend to run
using the Multimedia for LAN Server Beta? ____
5. What other applications will be running on your test LAN at the
same time Multimedia for LAN Server Beta is active?
MULTIMEDIA FOR LAN SERVER BETA ENROLLMENT APPLICATION Page 3 of 3
6. Number of OS/2 LAN Requester multimedia clients that are planned
to be tested simultaneously: ____
7. Number of DOS multimedia clients that are planned
to be tested simultaneously: ____
8. Which best describes your test environment?
LAN with mainframes attached ____
LAN without mainframes attached ____
**********************************************************************
IBM, in its sole and absolute discretion, reserves the right to
reject any beta applicant from participation in this beta pro-
gram.
**********************************************************************
THANK YOU
Thank you for completing this application.
********************************************************************
********************************************************************
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
______________________
IBM does not guarantee this beta program will ever be made generally
available. All beta code and documentation are under development
and may be modified substantially should there be a generally
available product. In addition, the manner in which IBM packages
these development materials may differ substantially from any
generally available products.
IBM reserves the right to modify or withdraw this offering at any
time.
Your license for the beta code may be terminated by IBM upon 30 days
written notice.
* CompuServe is a trademark of CompuServe Incorporated.
* SoundBlaster is a trademark of Creative Labs Inc.
(R) OS/2, Token Ring, NetBIOS, LAN Server, LANStreamer, are
trademarks or registered trademarks of the IBM Corporation
(R) DVI, INDEO, ActionMedia are trademarks or registered trademarks
of the Intel Corporation
(R) DOS, Windows are registered trademarks of the Microsoft
Corporation