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IBM LAN SYSTEMS NETWORK NEWS - U.S. VERSION March, 1993 INDEX 1. IBM LAN SERVER VERSION 3.0 DataPro Releases Analysis of LAN Server 3.0: This report brings marketplace focus on the fact that IBM is continuing to enhance OS/2 LAN Server and the role OS/2 LAN Server plays as a NOS platform for corporate customers. 2. IBM SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PRODUCTS Configuration, Installation, and Distribution (CID) Need to install software across a network with little or no attention from the end user? CID architecture and strategy is your answer. IBM LAN NetView Start 1.1: LAN NetView Start is a CID tool with a graphical, object-oriented user interface for managing software configuration in an OS/2 LAN. Start has been enhanced with new features in Version 1.1. Debug Your LAN with DatagLANce: If you design, verify, analyze, or debug LAN networks, the IBM DatagLANce can help. Now DatagLANce products support extensive decoding of over 100 popular protocols. 3. INDEPENDENT SOFTWARE VENDORS ISV Solutions: Find out how you can get more information about ISV products. Relish Net 32-Bit: Relish Net 32-Bit seamlessly combines personal, group, and resource calendering in an intuitive, reliable, and easy-to-use way. Synectics - A New Distributed Processing Architecture: Synectics is a new distributed processing architecture that allows an application to locate and apply the processing resources to its processing needs. 4. NETWARE 4.0 FROM IBM IBM announced Netware Version 4.0 from IBM, Netware Version 4.0 for OS/2 from IBM, Netware Workstation kits for OS/2, and DOS/Windows from IBM. 5. LAN SYSTEMS APPLICATIONS cc:Mail Enables the IBM OS/2 Workplace Shell: cc:Mail enables the IBM OS/2 Workplace Shell with 32 bit object oriented features, such as Message Template Object which allows users to create new mail messages directly from the desktop. IBM SAA ImagePlus/2: IBM SAA ImagePlus/2 is an exciting product which can help customers escape from the paper pile on their desk. Read about this product which manages the scanning, storing and retrieval of paper images from optical disk. 6. BETA PROGRAMS Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) Beta for OS/2 Now Worldwide: IBM LAN Systems OS/2 DCE beta program for application developers is now available worldwide. This beta program implements the core technology support for the Open Software Foundation Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) model on OS/2. 7. IBM OS/2 COMMUNICATIONS PRODUCTS New Communications Manager/2 for OS/2: The new Communications Manager/2 Version 1.0 is here! Communications Manager/2 communicates with host computer or other user workstations over wide and local area networks. IBM Mail LAN Gateway/2 for cc:Mail: Do your LAN Electronic Mail users need to communicate outside of their LAN environment? The IBM Mail LAN Gateway/2 could be your key to open the door for E-Mail LAN users to communicate with the world. 8. BUSINESS SHOWS Checkout the list of business shows where you can see the IBM LAN Systems products in person! 9. CLIENT/SERVER NEWSLETTER Coming soon ... the IBM Client/Server Newsletter. 10. FOR MORE INFORMATION Find out where to go for more information on IBM System Management Products. Letter from the Editor 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! To obtain the newsletter, see your IBM Marketing Representative. IBM VNET users, on the command line enter REQUEST LANNEWS PACKAGE FROM LANNEWS AT AUSVM1 or subscribe to LANNEWS on MKTTOOLS. Look for the newsletter to be published on a quarterly basis. 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 LAN Systems Marketing Support Department IBM Personal Systems LOB 11400 Burnet Rd. #9351 Austin, Texas 78758 Second Edition This information is not intended to be an assertion of any future action by IBM. IBM expressly reserves the right to change or withdraw current products that may or may not have the same characteristics as products or information listed in this newsletter. Should IBM modify its products in a way that may affect the information contained in this newsletter, IBM assumes no obligation whatsoever to inform you of such modification. This publication could include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors for which IBM is not responsible. (C) Copyright International Business Machines Corporation 1993. All rights reserved Note to U.S. Government Users - Documentation and programs related to restricted rights - Use, duplication or disclosure is subject to restrictions set forth in GSA ADP Schedule contract with IBM Corp. IBM may have patents or pending patent applications covering subject matter in this document. The furnishing of this document does not give you any license to these patents. You can send license inquiries, in writing, to the IBM Director of Commercial Relations, IBM Corporation, Purchase, NY 10577. TRADEMARKS The following terms, denoted by an asterisk (*) in this newsletter, are trademarks of the IBM Corporation in the United States and/or other countries: IBM Corporation - IBM, OS/2, NetView, Communications Manager, NETBIOS, Extended Services, Presentation Manager, AIX, Workplace Shell, AS/400, Application System/400, PROFS, OfficeVision/400, OfficeVision/MVS, OfficeVision/VM, PS/2, DatagLANce, FlexLogic, RISC System/6000, SAA, ImagePlus The following terms, denoted by a double asterisk (**) in this newsletter, are trademarks of other companies as follows: Advantis - Advantis Apple Computer, Inc. - Macintosh Banyan Systems, Inc. - VINES, Banyan CompuServe, Inc. - CompuServe Digital Equipment Corp - DECnet Lotus Development Corporation - Lotus Notes, cc:Mail, Freelance, WordPerfect Microsoft Corporation - Microsoft, 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 Parallel PC's Inc. - Synectics Prodigy Services Co. - PRODIGY Shany Computers - AlertView Sun Microsystems Inc. - Sun Microsystems, Sun, NFS Sundial Systems Corp. - Relish Unix Systems Laboratories, Inc. - UNIX Xerox Corporation - Ethernet, XNS 3Com Corporation - 3Com and 3+Open ***************************************************************** 1. IBM* LAN SERVER VERSION 3.0 ... LET'S TALK ***************************************************************** DATAPRO RELEASES ANALYSIS OF LAN SERVER 3.0. by Harvey Walseth In the Workgroup Computing Series: Systems Software (OS/NOS/GUI) - Report # 2555 Network Operating Systems, Datapro positions OS/2* LAN Server 3.0 as a significant player in the NOS corporate market. Copies of the report can be purchased by calling Datapro at 1-800-328-2776. This report brings marketplace focus on the fact that IBM is continuing to enhance OS/2 LAN Server and the role OS/2 LAN Server plays as a NOS platform for corporate customers whether they are implementing productivity applications across a LAN environment or client/server applications. OS/2 LAN Server 3.0 is reviewed from the following perspectives: Product Analysis- Target Applications, Strengths, Limitations, and Competitive Analysis; Vendor Analysis- Marketing Strategy, Target Markets, Market Position, Sales and Distribution Strategy; Support - Policies and Programs, Warranty, Support Services, Service Provider and Service Location; Specifications- Features and Functions; and Pricing. REPORT HIGHLIGHTS: Strengths - Highest performance among similar network operating systems - Runs on true multitasking platform -- OS/2 - IBM service and support Limitations - No UNIX** - based implementation Decision Points Overview - "LAN Server DOS, Windows 3.1, and OS/2 client installation can be performed over the network in an unattended or lightly attended manner" - "LAN Server is based on OS/2, which provides a secure platform for client/server applications" - "OS/2 LAN Server now allows small networks and workgroups to operate on a peer-to-peer basis." ***************************************************************** 2. IBM SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PRODUCTS ... VIEWPOINTS ***************************************************************** ******** CONFIGURATION, INSTALLATION, AND DISTRIBUTION (CID) The need for unattended installation and maintenance of software products is a high priority customer requirement. The skill, time and complexity that is required to maintain a complex network is best controlled and executed by a central administrator with little or no interaction from the end user. As a result of this requirement, IBM has developed a Configuration, Installation and Distribution (CID) architecture and strategy, supported by a set of administration products. Using this strategy, OS/2 based products can be distributed from a central site location throughout the network for the initial workstation install as well as upgrades. In order to take advantage of the CID strategy, application programs must be "CID-enabled." This enablement includes modifications to a product's installation program to read a file containing answers to questions that would otherwise be entered interactively by the installing customer. To date, several IBM products have been CID enabled, including OS/2 2.0, LAN Server 3.0 and Extended Services 1.0, NetView Distribution Manager (NVDM), Netview Distribution Manager/2, Start/2 and NTS/2. Novell has publicly endorsed CID by committing to enable their Netware requester and server and to support the installation of CID-enabled products with Network Navigator. Lotus has committed to enable cc:Mail. Customers using CID should find that it significantly reduces the workload of their LAN Administrators and that end users receive consistent tested copies of their OS/2 system. ******** IBM LAN NETVIEW* START 1.1 On March 23, 1993 IBM announced a new release of IBM LAN NetView Start. This new release, Start 1.1, will be generally available on April 2, 1993. IBM Configuration Installation Distribution (CID) is a process for installing software across a network with little or no attention from the end-user. IBM LAN NetView Start Version 1.1 (Start) is a CID administrative tool for planning and managing workstation configuration, and for building the output to enable the CID process. Start's concentration is on support of the IBM sub-systems, LAN Server 3.0 (Entry and Advanced), Extended Services for OS/2, and Network Transport Services/2 (NTS/2). The Start program provides network administrators with a means by which they can generate an illustration of a network, with each workstation represented graphically, so that the elements of the network can be more easily managed from one central location. With knowledge of the entire network configuration, the Start program is better able to configure the software for individual workstations considering both the total software composition of the workstation as well as its position in the network. The Start program provides interactive assistance to the administrator as workstation definitions and connections are created. Automatic name and address generation, unique name and address checking at the network level, and verification of supported connectivity are examples of this kind of assistance. The concept behind the Start interface is that if the network illustration can be drawn, then it is a valid. Once the administrator has defined the workstations participating in a network, the Start program can be used to store this information in either a SQL database or an ASCII database. Highlights of the enhancements in Version 1.1 include: - An interface to IBM NetView Distribution Manager/2 -- Start 1.1 automatically passes new workstation definitions to NetView DM/2 to reduce redundant definition. -- Start 1.1 builds and catalogs the change files required by NetView DM/2 to support product installations at remote clients. -- Start 1.1 creates two cross-reference lists that correlate change files (by NetView DM/2 global name) to workstations and vice-versa. These lists can be used by the NetView DM/2 administrator to assist in completing the installation task. - An applications union window (and notebook) that enables the administrator to manage the application content of groups of workstations simultaneously. - A node list notebook to control the placement of supplemental response files relative to Start-generated values, before or after. This provides the opportunity to override values calculated by Start. - Start 1.1 includes an updated version of the NTS/2 Server prep utility that originally shipped with NTS/2 Version 1.0. ******** DEBUG YOUR LAN WITH DatagLANce* by Ron Harrod If you're thinking about purchasing a LAN network analysis tool and you're not on the DatagLANce mailing list - - STOP! Call the DatagLANce Hotline at (919) 254-1364 and ask to be placed on the DatagLANce distribution. To experience the vision and power behind this exceptional emerging family of tools, be sure to also request a copy of the DatagLANce working demonstration diskette. For IBM VNET users, on the Marketing Tools disk request DGNADEMO with the following VM command: TOOLCAT MKTTOOLA GET DGNADEMO PACKAGE. Here is the latest DatagLANce news: Today IBM released a major upgrade to its powerful DatagLANce Network Analyzer for Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI). FDDI is a LAN technology that permits data exchanges among personal computers over fiber cable at about ten times the rate of previous technology. Network analyzers are often placed at strategic locations, where data converges, to monitor the inner workings of the communication network. They report whether or not the network is "up" or "down," the type and volume of traffic seen, and error information. In addition, they select, store, and decode messages. The DatagLANce for FDDI uniquely leverages IBM's PS/2*, OS/2, and XGA technologies with massive 1.4 Gigabyte disk storage to produce an ideal tool for high-speed FDDI analysis. It uses a design architecture called, FlexLogic* to permit greater speed power, and flexibility than competing microprocessor-based systems can achieve. With the latest upgrade, the DatagLANce provides a wide range of protocol coverage. Protocols suites now interpreted are: FDDI, IBM, TCP/IP, Novell** NetWare**, Sun** NFS**, DECnet**, XNS**, and Banyan** VINES**. ***************************************************************** 3. INDEPENDENT SOFTWARE VENDORS ... HOW ABOUT THAT SOFTWARE! ***************************************************************** ISV Solutions by Tim Blackwood Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Solutions centers around ISV applications and how they integrate with the IBM LAN Systems products to form customer solutions. There are several sources for information on ISV products. The National Solutions Center keeps a data base of products which is available to IBM Marketing branches and to IBM business partners. The OS/2 Application Solutions Directory also contains descriptions of over 1700 products, many of which are LAN oriented. The directory can be ordered by calling 1-800-READ OS2. The following describes two ISV applications which run with the IBM LAN Server product. The first application, Relish**, is an end user OS/2 calendaring product that combines with IBM LAN Server to create an officewide shared calendaring system. The second product, Synectics, is geared toward the development of applications that use NetBIOS communication to take advantage of the CPU resources of other PCs on the LAN. Both of these applications demonstrate that integrating with the IBM LAN Systems products enhances the power and usability of end user applications. If you know of other applications that integrate well with the IBM LAN Systems products and would like to see that product in a future newsletter, please contact Tim Blackwood (CompuServ: 71774,34444 or Prodigy: RWBF42A). Please include a brief description of the application and a company contact for the product. ******** Relish Net 32-Bit Relish Net 32-Bit seamlessly combines personal, group, and resource calendaring in an intuitive, reliable, and easy-to-use way. Each calendar entry is simply a note with pertinent who, what, when, where, and why information. Each note (or collection of notes) is treated as an object that can be manipulated in various ways. You select a note summary and use drag-and-drop or menu options to perform actions on it - - for instance, just drag an appointment note to a new date or time to reschedule it. Additionally, you can change views or open multiple views to see different sets of notes or the same notes in a different way. Daily, Weekly, and Monthly schedules are views as are the Phone Book, To Do and Overdue lists. And you can print the information you need in a variety of formats - even by dragging it to a Workplace Shell printer. In short, Relish Net has all the basic features you would expect to find in a calendar/reminder system but extended to really take advantage of the Workplace Shell* and LAN Server. To take full advantage of the OS/2 multi-threading, multi-tasking environment, Relish uses a client-server software architecture even in the single user versions. The basic concept is that clients are responsible for window management and the server is responsible for data management. Thus, the server software manages the Relish database as a single shared resource. Whenever a note is added or revised, the server immediately becomes aware of the change, allowing clients to become immediately aware as well. The result is that a user looking at multiple views will see any changes made in one window reflected appropriately in the others. Likewise, if you are viewing someone else's calendar from your workstation, you'll see changes they make almost as fast as they will! Another client-server benefit is that there is no explicit "save" operation. Notes are automatically saved when entered. Also, the server monitors all notes to be sure reminders are displayed at the appropriate times; hence, they appear even when Relish isn't open (as a window or icon) on the desktop. In the single user version, the client and server portions of the software reside on the same system. In the network version, the server software in each workstation communicates with a central copy of the server software to coordinate interaction among workstations as well as with the centralized database of calendar information. (The centralized database replicates the information from each workstation as well as contains calendar information, such as meeting room schedules, that is not associated with a particular user.) Thus, the server software acts in a multi-tiered fashion to provide both data and function locality. In other words, when working with your own calendar information, most processing and data access is local to the workstation (with very little LAN Server loading); when working with someone else's calendar, or several together, processing and data access is handled by the server and directed back to the workstation for display. The result is a calendaring solution highly optimized for the LAN Server environment. This multi-tiered client-server architecture also means that you can disconnect a workstation from the LAN, as you might with a laptop, and still have full access to your calendar. And when you reconnected, Relish Net automatically reconciles the information stored locally with that stored on the central server. Relish Net 32-Bit is available in 5 user increments at $685. Mixed OS/2 1.x and 2.x network environments are supported. For more information contact Sundial Systems Corporation (310) 596-5121, 909 Electric Avenue, Suite 204, Seal Beach, CA 90740 USA ******** Synectics** - A New Distributed Processing Architecture Synectics is a new distributed processing architecture that allows an application to locate and apply idle processing resources to its processing needs. The architecture provides the flexibility to adapt to the changes in resource availability commonly found in today's networks. By constantly adapting, Synectics provides the lowest possible execution times to the application given the available processing resources. Currently, client-server processing is the architecture of choice for distributed processing. The client-server architecture provides the means to coordinate the access of shared resources located on a server by multiple clients. Unfortunately, client-server's strength is also its weakness. Client-server centralizes the processing that accompanies the client accesses. This eventually results in slow response times for everyone. Synectics supplements the client-server architecture by providing a distributed processing architecture for applications which do not benefit from centralization. Although possible, it makes little sense to centralize spreadsheet processing, spell checking, or software compiling. Yet these applications could benefit from distributed processing. Most LANs contain an immense pool of processing resources that could be tapped for the distributed processing of applications. Synectics manages the use of these resources through task definitions. Applications define a task to be processed. Synectics locates PCs with surplus processing resources for assistance. The task is the replicated, redefined and distributed to the assisting PCs for processing. Since all decisions are made at runtime, Synectics has the flexibility to use the currently available resources whatever they may be. If the application is executing on a standalone PC, the only available resources are the PC's. On a network, the resources of additional PCs may be used to gain performance. As the availability of PCs changes, so does Synectics' selection of those to which the processing is distributed. In a multiprocessor PC, the additional resources may all be inside the same box. Whatever the environment, Synectics always strives to give applications the highest performance possible. For more information on Synectics please contact Steve Rosenberry at Parallel PC's (215) 670-1710 or CompuServe: 70413, 1712. You can also get a more detailed view of the product in the Fall 1992 issue of The OS/2 Developer Magazine (pg. 44). ***************************************************************** 4. NETWARE* VERSION 4.0 FROM IBM ***************************************************************** NetWare v4.0 was announced by Novell, Inc. on March 10, 1993. At the same time, NetWare v4.0 for OS/2 and NetWare Workstation Kits for OS/2, DOS/Windows were also announced. IBM will offer these products as NetWare v4.0 from IBM, NetWare V4.0 for OS/2 from IBM, and NetWare Workstation Kits for OS/2, and DOS/Windows from IBM, respectively. NetWare from IBM v4.0 and NetWare Workstation Kits for OS/2, DOS/Windows from IBM will be available on April 30, 1993. NetWare v4.0 for OS/2 from IBM will be available July 30, 1993. NetWare from IBM v4.0 inherits all the capabilities of NetWare from IBM v3.11, and adds the following new features: ∙ Netware Directory Services (NDS) that turn a multiserver network into a single, corporate-wide information system. With NDS a single login provides access to all authorized network services. ∙ Administrative Tools that provide a single, cohesive view of the network. Network-wide resources can be managed from any computer on the network --- DOS, Macintosh, Windows, OS/2, or UNIX. ∙ Security Features such as distributed authentication and auditing can be administered for the entire network from a central location. ∙ A Multiple Language Standard that allows NetWare from IBM v4.0 to be used world wide. ∙ Increased Performance over wide area links that makes it easier and more cost efficient to create a network that spans geographic locations. ∙ Migration Tools included that make it simple to upgrade from previous versions of NetWare. NetWare v4.0 for OS/2 provides a non-dedicated application integration platform that combines the high performance of NetWare with the power of the OS/2 2.0 operating system. Both Netware Loadable Modules (NLM's) and OS/2 server based applications run unmodified in this configuration. Features include: ∙ Non-dedicated operation allowing other LAN Application Servers to use the same hardware ∙ Dynamic performance tuning ∙ Support of concurrent operation of multiple communications protocols, providing a large number of connectivity options ∙ The ability to edit, compile, and test NetWare Loadable Modules on the same machine ∙ OS/2 protection for NetWare ∙ Ability for NetWare to share a single physical disk with OS/2 HPFS or FAT file (the NetWare partition is formatted and managed by NetWare) NetWare Workstations Kits for OS/2, DOS/Windows from IBM are new and enhanced NetWare client workstation kits that provide customers with easy and uniform access to the advanced network services of NetWare 4.0. These clients provide faster performance and access to NetWare services including NetWare 4.0's directory services, communications with the NetWare 4.0 SFT III Server, auto-reconnect, international language support and increased security. They are backwards compatible with NetWare 2.x and 3.x. For more information, see your IBM Marketing Representative or IBM internal, see Announcement Letter 293-170. ***************************************************************** 5. LAN SYSTEMS APPLICATIONS ... WATCH THEM RUN! ***************************************************************** ******** cc:MAIL** ENABLES THE IBM OS/2 WORKPLACE SHELL Lotus Development Corp. announced cc:Mail for IBM OS/2 Workplace Shell on November 16, 1992. It is a new 32-bit object-oriented version of Lotus' market-leading electronic mail program designed to take advantage of the power of OS/2's graphical user interface, the Workplace Shell. cc:Mail for OS/2 Workplace Shell, brings mail enabling capabilities to the Workplace Shell, exploiting the system's drag and drop facilities, object-oriented file management system, and multi-tasking capabilities to let users send mail messages without exiting to their E-mail programs. In addition, cc:Mail for OS/2 Workplace Shell adds new mail features, such as the Message Template Object (MTO), which allows users to create new mail messages directly from the desktop, then drag and drop file attachments onto the MTO for automatic routing to pre-defined recipients. cc:Mail for OS/2 Workplace Shell introduces a new, object-oriented E-mail environment that makes sending, receiving and organizing messages faster and more intuitive. Traditional mail functions such as Inboxes, Message Folders, Bulletin Boards, and Directories are presented as individual objects, within an enhanced Workplace Shell folder. Users can place each object at desired locations on the desktop, quickly move between objects, attach documents, and copy, delete or organize messages simply by dragging and dropping them. The new version makes use of OS/2's multi-tasking and multi-threading capabilities, enabling users to process messages in the background. The program also features a new Boolean search tool for filtering messages according to multiple criteria. cc:Mail for OS/2 will be sold by Lotus authorized resellers and IBM, as part of the companies' partnership to deliver next-generation communications applications. cc:Mail for OS/2 Workplace Shell joins versions of cc:Mail for Windows, DOS, Macintosh** and UNIX, allowing OS/2 users to communicate seamlessly with other cc:Mail clients. It also delivers standard cc:Mail features, such as bulletin boards, public and private mailing lists, FAX viewing, and draft and trash folders to users of OS/2. Existing cc:Mail users will therefore be able to use the product easily. Everything is an Object cc:Mail for OS/2 appears upon installation as a series of desktop objects. Each object features a SmartIcon palette for quick access to commonly used functions such as printing. Objects may be moved anywhere on the desk top or "shadowed" to multiple locations within the Workplace Shell. Users can, for example, drag and drop messages from the Inbox, or from any of the cc:Mail folders or bulletin boards, directly to the desktop. This allows users to organize all their data, whether it's wordprocessing documents, spreadsheets or E-mail messages, into folders related to a specific project. Live links allow users to reply to or forward messages, just as they would from within the cc:Mail Inbox. Message Template Object The Message Template Object is a new tool that can be used in a variety of ways. Users can double click on the MTO to quickly address mail messages, without opening their mail application. They can drag objects, such as file attachments onto the MTO, and automatically send them at a specific time to a pre-addressed list of recipients. Multiple MTOs can appear on the desktop simultaneously, and users can assign pre-defined text and subjects to each MTO. A daily report created in a word processor, for example, may be sent to a cost center manager every Monday, simply by clicking on the MTO to generate a message, dragging the file on top of the MTO and setting the MTO for routing to the recipient. Alternatively, because the Workplace Shell has been mail enabled, users can send any file simply by clicking on an object with the right mouse button and selecting a new cc:Mail menu item. The new program also features a status window object, which can, for example, notify users when a new message is posted in the Inbox. Users can launch these objects directly from the status window. A boolean search capability also allows users to search for related messages; for example, "Find all messages from Joe containing the word 'report' in the subject and 'sales' in the text." System Requirements and Availability cc:Mail for OS/2 is in beta and will be shipping 2Q93. Pricing and upgrade information from the existing character based OS/2 version will be released at a later date. cc:Mail is the leading LAN-based electronic mail system, with more than two million users worldwide. cc:Mail runs on UNIX, MS-DOS**, Macintosh, OS/2, and Windows platforms across all major LANs, providing transparent connectivity to all major private and public electronic mail systems and facsimile machines worldwide. ******** IBM SAA* ImagePlus*/2 ... Paperless Processing Improves Your Image! by Melissa Polizzotto Did you know that IBM has a product to help you move to a paperless environment? IBM SAA ImagePlus/2 was announced in September, 1991, and became generally available on December 27, 1991. ImagePlus/2 allows you to capture, index, store, manage and route documents and folders electronically. By using ImagePlus/2, you can scan in documents, assign index values, and organize them into folders. The folders can also have indices to aid in retrieval. Folders and documents can be routed electronically to workbaskets, which are similar to an electronic in-basket. Various workflows can be set up to allow users of ImagePlus/2 to route these image folders and documents from one user to another in their business, much as they would send paper today. Productivity gains come from the elimination of copies, the ability to have multiple users access a folder at the same time, and the elimination of misfiled or lost folders. For example, an insurance company may set up a workflow to handle processing of insurance claims. Customer claim forms would be scanned into a claims folder and routed to a Data Entry clerk's workbasket. After processing by the Data Entry clerk, the folder could be routed to a Claims Processor, who decides whether or not to make payment on the claim. If the claim is over a certain dollar amount, the processor could send the folder on to a supervisor for review. At any time, work can be suspended to wait for supporting documents to be scanned into the system. ImagePlus/2 runs under OS/2 1.3 Extended Edition or OS/2 2.0 Extended Services* on an IBM Token-Ring network. OS/2 Database Manager manages the storage of image object index fields, and OS/2 LAN Server is used for the transport of images from the ImagePlus/2 server to the ImagePlus/2 workstations. For more information, see Announcement Letter 291-526, or contact your local IBM marketing representative. **** IBM Services Available for ImagePlus/2 Now that you know all about ImagePlus/2, you need to know what resources are available to assist you. The IBM Austin ImagePlus Application Design group is here to help! This team of skilled professionals has over four years of experience with marketing, selling and installing ImagePlus systems. We provide technical marketing support for the ImagePlus/2 platform, as well as for the ImagePlus/400 and Image and Records Management (IRM) products. We can help in configuration and sizing questions, platform feasibility questions, and system design questions. One of the strengths of the ImagePlus/2 product is its workflow capability. Our group has performed over one hundred Image System Design workshops, where we work with IBM marketing teams and customers to map their current business process to the ImagePlus/2 workflow. The output of the two-day workshop is a high-level design which shows how the customer will use ImagePlus/2 to accomplish their business, as well as highlighting areas which might need customization in order to meet special requirements. Our expertise will help ensure a successful implementation and a satisfied customer! For more information, IBM internal, please contact Melissa Polizzotto at T/L 793-1875 or AUSVM8(MELISSA), or external to IBM, contact your local IBM marketing representative. ***************************************************************** 6. BETA PROGRAMS ... GET AN EARLY START! ***************************************************************** ******** DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT (DCE**) BETA FOR OS/2 NOW WORLDWIDE by Dean May IBM continues the beta program to test core Distributed Computing Environment function on OS/2 (R) Version 2.0 systems with world wide availability. 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 technologies and begin application prototyping, development and testing activities. The code in this beta program should NOT be used in production. 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. This beta program supports interoperability between OS/2 DCE clients and servers, as well as between OS/2 and IBM's AIX Distributed Computing Environment product family for RISC System/6000. OS/2 DCE components are intended to interoperate with other industry platforms that are compliant with OSF/DCE but that interoperability has not been tested with the beta program. Beta code and documentation can be ordered now worldwide: - Hardcopy beta code packages can be ordered only in the US or Canada. In the US call 1-800-IBM-3040, cost is $140 (US). Or in Canada, call 1-800-561-5293, cost is $190 (Canadian). Shipping charges are extra. - No charge electronic code packages can be obtained worldwide by contacting your local IBM Marketing Representative for details. 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. IBM forum support for planning and questions on the beta program will be provided on a 'reasonable efforts' basis. For more information on this beta program: - IBM VNET users type REQUEST DSSINFO FROM DCEREQ AT AUSVM1. - On CompuServe, print the file DCE.TXT in the OS2DF2 forum, DCE Library section. This document will provide you with more details on DCE beta program function, requirements for installation, and ordering instructions. ***************************************************************** 7. IBM OS/2 COMMUNICATIONS PRODUCTS ... THE CONNECTION ***************************************************************** ******** New Communications Manager/2 for OS/2 by Barbara Gallimore The new Communications Manager/2 Version 1.0 is here! The communication manager component contained in the OS/2 Extended Edition and Extended Services* products has been separated and further enhanced. The Communications Manager/2 is generally available, and the Communications Manager Client Server/2 will be following later this year. Communications Manager/2 communicates with a host computer or other user workstations over wide and local area networks. The range of APIs, richness of emulator function, and variety of connectivity options provided by the Communications Manager/2 are unparalleled. For the end user, there's improved support for traditional SNA applications, including 3270 and 5250 emulation - and the growing number of distributed applications using APPC and APPN like distributed database, transaction processing, and multimedia. We've really focused on usability, providing a full Presentation Manager-based Graphical User Interface (GUI) and improvements to the installation and configuration processes. Both the 3270 and 5250 emulators have been enhanced, providing features such as dynamic customization of the emulator keyboard and colors as well as simplified file transfer. The Communications Manager/2 SNA gateway function allows LAN-attached workstations to share the costs associated with expensive wide area network (WAN) communication links. The gateway can support up to 254 concurrently active downstream workstations and the new implicit workstation definition capability simplifies configuration by allowing new workstations to be added without reconfiguring the gateway. Leonard Thornton, Consulting Micro Engineer at Lithonia Lighting and beta tester for the Communications Manager/2 speaks highly of the product. "With these products, IBM has once again demonstrated to its customers a commitment to making the OS/2 operating environment a success. Our experience with the early versions of the Communications Manager products has been very positive. The major benefits we have noticed are improved and greatly simplified installation and setup procedure, as well as the complete implementation of the Presentation Manager interface for all components of the product." For the network administrator, Communications Manger/2 offers substantial time and cost savings. The Communications Manager/2 is enabled for IBM's Configuration, Installation, and Distribution (CID) process for remote install free of end-user involvement, and a new quick configuration function allows you to configure the product for emulation in only 3 screens! LAN administrators can resolve problems quickly and easily with alert routing to LAN Network Manager and support for First Failure Support Technology (FFST). With multiple host support you can access up to 3 mainframes concurrently, and the new support for ISDN allows you to take advantage of lower cost, high-speed digital links for applications such as multi-media and high-resolution graphics. The Communications Manager/2 is a key component in the IBM CID family, working with the NetView Distribution Manager and LAN NetView products to perform remote, unattended installation. The Communications Manager/2 also acts as a remote control focal point for the Distributed Console Access Facility (DCAF), allowing help desk personnel remote screen keyboard access. Together, these products form the most comprehensive set of systems management products in the industry. Many users are impressed with this new member of the IBM networking products family. John Bolz, Systems Engineer for a large midwest bank holding company and Communications Manager/2 beta tester, said "The new Communications Manager/2 brings us an even more powerful communications engine with a fully graphical user interface for easy configuration, and emulation features and functionality that compare to the best of the 327X emulators on the market. Communications Manager/2 gives us the power and maneuverability of a sports car with the comfort and useability of a luxury sedan -- a truly first class product." Communications Manager/2 can be purchased through IBM marketing representatives and software dealers, or by contacting IBM directly at 1 800 3IBMOS2. For additional information: - Announcement letter 293-033 - Brochure G221-3630-00 (Additional publications listed in announcement letter) - IBM VNET users: Presentation Guide available on MKTTOOLS ******** IBM MAIL LAN GATEWAY/2 FOR cc:MAIL ... LET'S COMMUNICATE IBM Mail LAN Gateway/2 is an OS/2-based software solution from Advantis** that gives customers an easy and cost-effective way to link cc:Mail users with users of host-based office systems. IBM Mail LAN Gateway/2 resides on the LAN and allows users to exchange mail across unlike systems by automatically handling conversions and compatibility issues. It can also serve as a gateway for linking both cc:Mail and host users to Mail Exchange, the inter-company electronic mail service of Advantis. In addition to Mail Exchange, IBM Mail LAN Gateway/2 Version 1.0, Release 1.0 supports four different groups of users: cc:Mail users in the LAN environment; OfficeVision/400* users in the IBM Application System/400* (AS/400) host environment; OfficeVision/MVS* users in the host environment, via DISOSS; and users of any host-based, SNADS-compliant E-mail application. IBM Mail LAN Gateway/2 has been architected so that additional electronic mail platforms can be added easily. IBM has announced the intent to provide support for OfficeVision/VM*, PROFS* and Lotus Notes**. Users on one system can exchange mail with any other system attached to the Gateway. IBM Mail LAN Gateway/2 can perform inbound and outbound address conversions, so that users can use their native addressing scheme for all E-mail correspondence. The high quality file transformation routines employed by IBM Mail LAN Gateway/2 minimizes the visual differences between notes produced by different systems, for even greater transparency. The IBM Mail LAN Gateway/2 also supports the transport of files to and from each of the connected environments. These files can be binary files, Revisable Form Text (RFT) notes, and PC files such as Lotus Spreadsheets, Freelance** image files and WordPerfect** text file. IBM Mail LAN Gateway/2 runs on any non-dedicated 386 processor, running 0S/2 Version 1.3 or higher. It supports downstream post offices as well as upstream hosts. For more information, please refer to Announcement Letter 292-620 or contact your local IBM Representative. ***************************************************************** 8. BUSINESS SHOWS ... THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS! by Pete Greulich ***************************************************************** 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! FOSE - 4/12 - 4/15 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 more information on the shows, please call your IBM Marketing Representative. IBM internal, see NATBOARD catagories: OS2INFO, LANINFO and CLIENT/SERVER for show announcements. ***************************************************************** 9. CLIENT/SERVER NEWSLETTER by Allan Hess ***************************************************************** Client/server computing, a topic of keen interest among many IBM customers, is now also the topic of a new newsletter called Client/Server Computing News. With more than 8,000 employees worldwide working to meet the needs of the client/server marketplace, IBM is a major player in this arena. The purpose of this newsletter to help explain IBM's Client/Server offerings, strategy, and resources. This publication will help answer questions such as: - How can you be more effective in this growing marketplace? - What are IBM's client/server products? - Where do you go for assistance with client/server solutions? To obtain the newsletter see your IBM Marketing Representative. IBM VNET users, see MKTTOOLS and search for CSNEWS. ***************************************************************** 10. FOR MORE INFORMATION ***************************************************************** OS/2 DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT Following is an abstract of the OS/2 Distributed Systems Management article written by Jim Alexander. For information, please consult the IBM Personal Systems Technical Solutions Magazine dated January 1993. This article provides insight into the IBM strategies and plans for managing sophisticated OS/2 LAN system environments through industry standard interfaces. The article describes how systems management for OS/2 has evolved and puts future plans into perspective. It positions OS/2 LAN management within IBM's overall SystemView strategy for enterprise-wide systems management. (At the time the article went to press, the family name for the product set described in the article had not been finalized. The family name is LAN NetView family of products.) CONFIGURATION, INSTALLATION, and DISTRIBUTION For more information on the CID process, you can order the following Redbooks from your IBM Marketing Representative: Automated Installation for CID Enabled GG24-3783 OS/2 V2.0 Automated Installation for CID Enabled GG24-3781 Extended Services, LAN Server V3.0 and Network Transport Services/2 Also consult the IBM Personal Systems Technical Solutions magazine dated January, 1993. Following is an abstract of the CID article written by Tom Edel. The IBM Configuration, Installation, and Distribution, (CID) facility provides for unattended or lightly attended installation of PC software products and subsequent maintenance. This support works with PC workstations that have no installed software, as well as designated workstations whose current customized operating environment can be migrated to subsequent product releases. This article discusses the need for central administration of PCs and describes the IBM approach. IBM LAN NETVIEW START The IBM LAN NetView Start version 1.1 product provides network administrators with a robust environment to graphically display their networks and manage the configuration of their workstations. Administrators can create response files, LAN Configuration Utility (LCU) command files (which support CID enabled applications), and NetView DM/2 change files for products installed on their network nodes. The addition of NetView DM/2 support to this release of Start allows administrators to configure applications that are both CID and non-CID enabled. For more information, please consult: - OS/2 Developer magazine, Spring 1993, article entitled, "Network Plotting Formation: The IBM LAN NetView Start Objects". by Theodore Shrader and Khalil Emami - Personal Systems Technical Solutions magazine, Winter 1993, article entitled, "Putting the Configuration into CID". by Theodore Shrader and Khalil Emami - Personal Systems Technical Solutions magazine, Spring 1993, article entitled, "Priming and Querying Your Start Databases". by Theodore Shrader - IBM LAN NetView Start User's Guide orderable from your IBM Marketing Representative, document # S96F-8585. - Announcement Letter 293-152 IBM LAN Netview Start Version 1.1