National Semiconductor’s backing gives Cyrix new leverage
With backing from National Semiconductor, chipmaker Cyrix plans to take the thin-client, NC-device world by storm by targeting the NetPC and handheld device markets with its MediaGX processors (from its new plant in South Portland, Maine). Cyrix’s MediaGX chipset combines graphics and audio, cutting out much of the cost involved when adding capabilities to low-end PCs.
National Semiconductor and Cyrix have also partnered to complete a “joint reference platform” for a network PC, which is expected to cost somewhere in the 00 range. Delivery date for the platform is planned for late ’97. An example unit should look something like this:
- A 166MHz multimedia CPU
- 8 megabytes of DRAM
- An Ethernet adapter
- 64-bit graphics
- Audio
- A keyboard and mouse
- Windows NT with a desktop-management interface
Cyrix officials believe they haven’t been able to compete in the PC chip market because historically they’ve had to lease their manufacturing capabilities from others, making the cost higher than market. And Steve Tobak, Cyrix’s VP of corporate marketing, said, “We didn’t have our own fabrication plant, and we lacked product breadth. This relationship resolves those issues.”
- FAQ on Cyrix/National Semiconductor merger: https://www.cyrix.com/corpor/about/nsm-faq.htm
Integrity Arts gives Sun access to the JavaCard market
Sun announced it has acquired Integrity Arts, a software development toolmaker that specializes in creating object-oriented Java applications for smart cards. Sun hopes its acquisition will allow the company to standardize the JavaCard API.
“Sun is interested in making Java ubiquitous, and our technology helps them do that. We want to bring smart cards to the next level of maturity,” said Patrice Peyert, president of Integrity Arts. Peyert added that developing smart card systems usually takes 18 to 24 months, but with Integrity Arts’ technology, the development and deployment time can be reduced to as little as a month, depending on the complexity of the operation.
The 16-person Integrity Arts was founded in 1995 by Gemplus, a large smart card provider headquartered in Gemenos, France. Stuart Bagshaw, EVP of Corporate Strategy at Gemplus, said Gemplus is happy to hand over this technology to Sun. “The whole purpose why we funded Integrity Arts was to create standards for smart cards. We felt by passing over the custodianship to JavaSoft [Sun’s Java business unit], they could put lots of energy behind it and that helps standards along.”
Netscape quickly and quietly repairs Navigator 4.02 Java bug
Some Navigator 4.02 users reported that when they visited Java sites with the newly released browser, it would display a message saying their “system classes were not signed.” The Java components would then fail to run. In addition, Navigator 4.02’s push program, Netcaster, displays the same message when it is started — and then won’t load.
Why? Netscape product manager Dan Claussen confirmed that the standalone version of Navigator 4.02 on the FTP site didn’t have the certificates it needed to run Java properly. He added that the company chose not to change the version number of that archive, so there could be several versions of the file n32e402.exe around, with different dates and file sizes.
“We checked, and the percentage of people that had downloaded it was fairly limited,” said Claussen. We weren’t in the hundreds of thousands yet. We immediately replaced it, so the number of people that were affected was fairly limited.”
- Original article: http://www.pcworld.com/news/daily/data/0897/970820171807.html
Sun makes move into embedded systems with purchase of Chorus
As part of its extension into the embedded systems software market, Sun Microsystems announced plans to buy Chorus Systems SA’s software technologies, products, and brands. The France-based Chorus, which supplies operating systems for telecommunication networks and intelligent devices, will become part of the “Embedded Systems Software group,” which is a new business group at Sun focusing on developing open system software products for the embedded market. Sun’s JavaOS development and marketing team will be included in the new group, which will be headed by Jim Herbert.
Microsoft gives the thumbs down to Java on its Web sites
Microsoft has decided to remove Java applets, which number more than 570, from its Web sites, including its main www.microsoft.com. According to the company’s Web site editor-in-chief, Tim Sinclair, the decision centers primarily on Java performance and compatibility issues. While some say Bill Gates himself ordered the Java applet removal, Sinclair takes full responsibility for the decision, saying it was his move.
While some Java applets may remain, all applets having to do with navigation will be removed — and this is to occur over the next 30 to 60 days. What will be used in place of Java? HTML and JavaScript.
This recent move by Microsoft is seen by Sun and others to be a direct and very negative message about the Redmond, WA-based company’s view of the platform.
Apparently, Microsoft will be revealing its own distributed computing strategy at the Professional Developers Conference in San Diego. Called the Distributed Network Architecture (DNA), this strategy aims to give developers an overall view of Microsoft’s plans for networking computing, including operating systems, object models, and development tools.
Three vendors license Lucent’s Inferno network OS
Lucent Technologies announced that three vendors will license its Inferno 1.1 network operating system (NOS). ORGA Card Systems, Cirrus Logic, and Global Converging Technologies intend to use the NOS for a bevy of wireless products, including smart cards, smart phones, PDAs, and residential gateways.
ORGA will use the Inferno NOS to give its smart cards better access to private and public networks.
Cirrus Logic means to port Inferno to two of its chipsets, the CL-PS7110 and CLPS7500FE. In the CL-PS7110 set, the NOS will be incorporated for use in PDAs, two-way pagers, and smart phones. In the CLPS7500FE set, Cirrus will use Inferno for Internet appliances, such as NCs, smart TVs, and digital videodisk players.
Global Converging Technologies will use Inferno to enable communication between gateway products and devices, such as cordless phones.
LG Electronics creates Net Champ, a Korean-language NC
This month, LG Electronics will debut a network computer, called Net Champ, based on a Korean-language operating system. Net Champ will come with ARM SA-110 200MHz and 233MHz microprocessors, 8 to 64MB of memory, and 10 to 100Mbps Ethernet card. Its footprint (2.5 x 11 x 9.5 inches) is small, but not as small as the proposed price — about 60.
Net Champ is the offspring of agreements signed in May between LG Electronics, Sun Microsystems, and Oracle.
SGI gives MIPS Java
MIPS chips already have the capability to run the Windows CE OS. Now, with SGI’s decision to add Java enhancements to the chips, manufacturers can build Windows terminals or NCs with a common architecture. The Java enhancement is called an application-specific extension.
Several vendors are expected to offer both Windows terminals, which are tied to Windows CE, and NCs, which depend on Java, said Eileen O’Brien, director of the enterprise network computer program at IDC. “It seems like something that will be very flexible,” she added.
And MIPS chips with the Java enhancement are not perfect for thin clients simply because of the portability. MIPS chips run in the tens of dollars range, so the price is important to NC manufacturers, who rely on the trade-off of cost, performance, and power consumption to make a profit.
Fujitsu licenses JavaOS for use in new chips
Fujitsu has signed an agreement with Sun Microsystems, which allows the Japan-based company to integrate the JavaOS with its SPARC-based series of embedded microprocessors. Used in embedded applications that run inside small devices (printers and digital cameras, for example), these 32-bit RISC chips will be specially designed for handheld PCs and network computers.
The JavaOS chips are planned for release during the first half of 1998.
SiteSearch 1.0 makes any HTML searchable
SFS Software introduces SiteSearch 1.0, a Java search engine that makes Web sites, HTML documentation, and Internet/intranet contents easily searchable. Beyond the base software, SiteSearch doesn’t require additional components (such as CGI or databases) to work.
SiteSearch comes in two parts: SiteSearch creator and a Java applet. The creator is a graphical Java application that searches the user’s HTML content for indexes and keywords. The SiteSearch Java applet, connected to the user’s HTML files, lists all indexes and keywords and makes it possible for users to search and jump to other contents with a mouse click, much like the Windows Help system.
SiteSearch’s key is the algorithm it uses, which packs all keywords and indexes into two small files that can be transferred quickly via the Internet or intranet.
SiteSearch runs on Windows 95/NT, Linux, and Solaris. A SiteSearch license is available directly through SFS for 99. A free version, limited to creating an index for 50 HTML files, also is available.
https://www.sfs-software.com/sitesearch_info.html
Novadigm sues Marimba over “fractional differencing” patent
Novadigm filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against Marimba in March, alleging that Marimba’s donation of its Distribution and Replication Protocol (DRP) to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) violates Novadigm’s intellectual property rights, because the DRP may use techniques similar to its “fractional differencing” patent.
The patent covers two central points — fractional differencing and desired state configuration.
Fractional differencing is a technique to compare and contrast the desired state configuration. It identifies what components a target should have with the resources it actually has, resulting in a concise and detailed difference configuration, which describes which components are required and which should be removed to ensure the user is properly configured with a minimum of network traffic.
Desired state configuration is a technique that incorporates essential elements from push and pull distribution models by generating a unique user configuration that describes the software and content a user should have, all generated from a common reference model.
“We have invested over six years and thousands of hours in perfecting the technologies needed to solve software and information distribution problems. Standards are clearly a positive force in the industry, but the fact remains that this technology is not Marimba’s to give away,” stated Albion Fitzgerald, chairman and CEO of Novadigm. The technologies involved are incorporated into Novadigm’s Enterprise Desktop Manager.
Novadigm reviewed documents made public by Marimba and the W3C to determine the basis of its suit. It will also notify the other companies involved in the DRP proposal of its claims: Netscape, Novell, Sun, and @Home Network.
Coming soon: Capture and view Web site structure with Mapuccino
IBM’s Haifa Research Lab offers a way to easily capture and view the overall structure of any Web site, including the links to other sites. It’s called Mapuccino (formerly, WebCutter).
Mapuccino is an application that dynamically constructs visual maps of Web sites, allowing developers and users to visually navigate through a site and check links. The maps can be viewed using any Java-enabled browser and can be stored for quick reference, or shared with other users.
Mapuccino isn’t available yet, but you can keep an eye on its progress, see some demos, and find out what its final price will be, at the Mapuccino site.
https://www.ibm.com/java/mapuccino/
IBM offers free Java course, text-based or full multimedia
IBM has developed a text-based version of its free multimedia-laden
Introduction to Java
course. The course reviews the fundamentals of Java, as well as Java’s important implications for electronic Web-based commerce. It includes a Java overview, an introduction to applets, some information about the future direction of Java, and a brief wrap-up. The class only takes an hour or two to complete.
And while we’re talking about Java-related classes, IBM has some more (but not all are free). Here’s the lineup:
Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming with Java — Become familiar with the concepts of object orientation using the Java language. Understand and explore concepts, such as encapsulation, classification, and inheritance, and put these concepts into practice as you learn how to write Java applications using the principles discussed.
Java Programming — Thoroughly explore Java programming in a course that goes beyond an introduction to practical applications of this object-oriented programming language. Learn about and write actual Java applets.
Advanced Java Programming — This advanced course focuses on effective Java programming practices in a variety of application architectures. Extensive hands-on labs and directed exercises will be used to maximize skill development.
VisualAge for Java — This course introduces you to the newest addition to the VisualAge family of products: VisualAge for Java. Write applications and build graphical user interfaces for your applications using the award-winning VisualAge programming paradigm of “visual construction of an application from parts.”
In addition, IBM offers Java Education World Tour Courseware, developed by CBT Systems. This package features 15 Java courses (for a total of 55 hours of training). Through a special promotion, these courses are available at a discount to members of the IBM Solution Developer Program. (But the promotion ends September 30, 1997.) Membership in the IBM Solution Developer Program is free.
- Java course index: https://www.ibm.com/java/education/courses.html
- Intro to Java: https://www.ibm.com/java/education/intro/courseoptions.htm
- World Tour package: https://www.developer.ibm.com/welcome/cbtjava.html
Guideware intros the Guideware SDK agent system
Guideware introduced the Guideware Software Developers Kit (SDK) to support the Guideware agent system for Java, which allows developers to plug process-management features into corporate intranet and extranet applications. The kit will be marketed to developers and integrators who are developing sales automation, customer help-desk support, human resources, or other business applications that link a company’s employees, suppliers, and customers.
In intranet and extranet applications, Guideware agents coordinate and track processes, support online and laptop users, and provide flexible management of business processes. Agents are tuned for network operation, allowing laptop users to work in either connected or disconnected mode. Beta and prototype applications using Guideware agents include a suite of customer help-desk applications, geographically distributed project management, factory floor control, and medical patient treatment tracking. The Guideware agent system for Java includes Agent Monitor software, which controls agents and their access to the Web and other applications. An Agent Monitor must be present on each computer and server using Guideware agents.
The Guideware SDK provides a Java application framework that simplifies the construction of agents that access data, make decisions, and notify users. According to Sunil Mehta, Guideware CEO, developers can add agent-assisted features to legacy applications with minimal rewriting of code. In initial implementations of the Guideware SDK, agent features were incorporated into existing applications by changing less than 5 to 10 percent of the existing code.
The SDK provides a full set of tools, class libraries, and sample code needed to build deployment-ready agents. The SDK works with all Java development environments and supports the Java virtual machine 1.0.2 or higher. Developers can build and test agents on a single computer and then deploy them across a network. The SDK costs 49 per developer and will be available in October.
The Agent Monitor is available at no charge from the Guideware site.
Sun, IBM, Netscape unify Java 1.1 runtime environments
Sun, IBM, and Netscape have agreed to unify their Java 1.1 runtime environments. The lofty goal: A single runtime environment that will tune Java for all platforms and operating systems. The practical goal: establishing the Java Porting and Testing Center in Cupertino, California, so by the time the JDK 1.2 is ready, it
will
be shipping with products.
JavaSoft president Alan Baratz has concerns about the slow pace that JDK 1.1 technology has exhibited making its way into shipping products (in fact, only now are Netscape and Microsoft readying JDK 1.1 for their respective browsers). Scott McNealy hopes that this trio will be able to ensure that more products ship with the JDK 1.2 on board, when it is ready to go.
Engineers from the three companies will be situated at the Center. Intel, Symantec, Sybase, Borland International, and Oracle also have expressed interest in participating.
A letter to Sun: Rivals say, “Relinquish control of Java”
Microsoft, Intel, Compaq, and Digital have sent a letter to Sun CTO Jim Mitchell just days before Sun revised its application to ISO: The letter claims that Java is too important to the Internet for Sun to maintain such a tight control over it. The quartet goes on to say that Sun should relinquish ownership and maintenance of Java to ISO, as well as allow other companies to use the Java name without Sun demanding to oversee product-compatibility testing.
The original submission of the Java proposal to ISO (International Standards Organization) was offered in March 1997 and was struck down by a 2-to-1 margin. But most of the “no” votes came with comments, which means that Sun has an opportunity to respond to those questions when it resubmits the proposal. And Mitchell claims that the objections raised in the letter are the same ones that were raised by the voting members of ISO — and that the resubmission would address these questions.
What are the two extremes for this issue? Sun may be holding Java close to the chest to keep Microsoft from co-opting the language to further the case of “Windows everywhere.” On the other side are the NetPC-friendly letter writers. (Dell must be too busy selling PCs to bother with this.) Mitchell replied, “Frankly I believe that Microsoft saw which way the wind was blowing and tried to beat us up before we even had a chance to reply to the ISO.” He added that Compaq isn’t even a Java licensee.
And as for ISO, Mitchell said, it doesn’t have facilities for compatibility testing. As with may aspects of life, the “truth” probably resides somewhere in the middle.
MetaBridge’s netPodium Personal Broadcaster 1.0 uses streaming media
MetaBridge Inc. announced netPodium Personal Broadcaster 1.0, live event software designed for interactive, streaming media broadcasting on the Web. With netPodium, users can connect to a broadcast from desktop computers anywhere on the Web or a company intranet to hear the speaker, see slides and other graphics, and interact with the moderator.
“All an audience member needs is a Java-enabled browser running on a multimedia computer and a streaming media player,” said Mike Templeman, president of MetaBridge.
Personal Broadcaster 1.0 supports up to 100 simultaneous participants for ,995. The Quick Start Kit supports up to 15 participants for 95 (now available at the special launch price of 95 through September 30, 1997). The Quick Start Kit cost can be applied to a Personal Broadcaster 1.0 upgrade within 90 days of purchase. MetaBridge also offers a one-year 95 subscription to the Inside Track Service Pack, a product maintenance and support package.
InfoMedia opens online game-playing club
InfoMedia announced the opening of ClassicGames.com, a free Java-based, multiplayer, Internet game-playing club where members can play their favorite games with thousands of registered users through their browsers — no fees, download, or installation required. Games are delivered via Marimba’s Castanet transmitter.
Currently, ClassicGames.com (for Unix, Mac, and Windows users) provides 15 Java-based games for its users, including chess, checkers, backgammon, hearts, spades, bridge, euchre, go, and reversi. Joel Comm, co-founder, said, “What better way to get to know someone than over a friendly game of spades or checkers? With the launch of ClassicGames.com, people no longer have to pay to play the classics.”
Players get a free login, then go to a live chat room to find someone to play with (or just shoot the breeze). You can also just watch, if you’re more of spectator type than a participant. The company plans to offer more than 25 games by the end of the year.
Sun’s take on the Java Internet Business Expo
In an effort to help out those were unable to spend late August in New York City, Sun has provided coverage of the recent Java Internet Business Expo on their site. Depending on how tolerable you find NYC in August, you may very well enjoy this view of the conference more than the real thing!
BMT Micro distributes J-POP Java e-mail server
BMT Micro is delivering the J-POP Server, a Java-based server that allows remote users to retrieve e-mail from their computers by using the standard Post Office Protocol version 3 (POP3).
J-POP will run on any system that supports Java 1.0.2 or higher. It can be configured to deny access to all Internet hosts except those explicitly allowed. J-POP supports the APOP authentication mechanism so that users don’t have to send their passwords over the network.
With J-POP, you can manage the server through a GUI for easy user additions and deletions; it also makes it easy to change server configuration and to update host-access. Changes are detected automatically, so the server doesn’t have to be restarted.
J-POP complies with all of the Internet Engineering Task Force’s specifications for POP3, including the optional POP3 commands specified in RFC1939, which gives the administrator control over how the server interacts with clients.
CSR opens the Eventware Java Classroom
Collaborative Systems Research (CSR) opens the Eventware Classroom, a Java-based distance learning tool for the Internet or corporate intranets.
Eventware is designed to emulate a live classroom on the Internet, which users access from the desktop. Eventware teaches with a shared whiteboard, a moderated chat group, and the ability to draw in Web examples as the lecture goes on. Classroom presentations can be saved and rerun.
The Classroom client can be accessed through a standard browser, or installed and run as a standalone program. For small local groups, Classroom clients communicate directly. But when you want to do open lectures or work over the Internet, the clients connect to the Eventware Collaboration Server that runs alongside a Web server.
And for a secure workgroup, CSR also provides a SSL and firewall/proxy support.
JDK bug fix release is available
Sun has made available the JDK 1.1.3 bug fix release in the following forms for these platforms:
| Operating system | JDK and version |
| Windows 95 | 1.1.3 Final |
| Windows NT 4.0 | 1.1.3 Final |
| Solaris 2.4 | 1.1.3 Final |
| Solaris 2.5 SPARC | 1.1.3 Final |
| Solaris 2.5 x86 | 1.1.3 Early-access (not final) |
This version of the JDK has not been tested on Windows NT 3.5.1. You also can get a preview version of the Win32 Performance Pack featuring a JIT compiler and an early-access Solaris Native Threads Pack.
Java/Microsoft wars: Volley three
Todd Nielsen, Microsoft’s general manager for developer relations, sent a recent email to publications claiming that evidence is beginning to accrue showing that Java won’t live up to its promises.
His specific target, however, was the laboratory that Netscape, IBM, and Sun intend to establish, the Java Porting and Testing Center, which is expected to help move Java into more shipping products. “The fact that these companies have to come together to do this additional work tells me that the promise of Java is not coming to fruition,” said Nielson. He pointed to Corel’s halt in its efforts to create a Java application suite as evidence of Java waning popularity, and he also criticized Sun’s decision to team with Netscape to develop a 100% Pure Java Web browser. “I think Netscape is pretty brave in choosing 100% Pure as a means to this end, given Corel’s recent rude awakening about the downsides of 100% Java. Will 100% Pure Java fail to deliver for Netscape as it did for Corel? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”
And from the other side, Sun CEO Scott McNealy commented on the Java/Microsoft wars.
McNealy said:
The industry has always been split. There is 100% Pure and there is Windows. The second you take a cup of coffee and add three drops of poison, what do you get? Windows. The second you leave 100% Pureness you are now in Windows territory. There is always going to be two answers — Java and Windows on the client side. Microsoft, no matter how much Java code they have in Windows, it is still Windows. And only if you are 100% Pure are you Java. The press is letting the world be confused by saying there is two versions of Java. There is not. And if you break 100% Pure, you are no longer Java — you are now Windows.
McNealy also commented that there is nothing he can do to make Microsoft comply with the 100% Pure Java initiative, and that most developers will write for both — Java and Windows. But he insists that choice for the consumer is important. McNealy also pointed out that the Netscape Java browser is important for compatibility issues and will be a great boost to the acceptance of network computers.
McNealy cites Lotus (with its upcoming Kona Java applets) as a company that will deliver on its Java promise. And as for Corel abandoning its Java strategy, he said, “They are not. This is one of the greatest non-stories that has been blown up. But that’s all right. They are ramping up their Java investments, hiring more Java engineers, and more and more of their stuff is going to be written in Java. I think what they have decided is rewriting the hairball in Java is not the way to go. They have to get more componentized in what they do. That is natural.”
Sun’s JavaEngine 1: NC hardware and software in a box
By the end of 1997, Sun Microsystems hopes to release a single package (of individually available components) called JavaEngine 1. The company hopes that the package of SPARC processors, motherboards, and server software will become an easy point-of-sale NC to OEMs.
JavaEngine 1 is designed for Unix and Windows NT systems, and for “special-purpose” vendors (those building NCs for specific purposes, such as point-of-sale displays and kiosks). The JavaEngine 1 kit has an opening price of 85 per unit (when purchased in quantities of 10,000) and includes the motherboard, a 100MHz MicroSPARC processor, chipsets, ASICs, and NC server software. The application software, such as Sun’s HotJava Views, will be available separately through Sun or channel partners.
The kit’s server software will include Windows NT boot APIs, which enable a Sun JavaStation to be booted from a Windows NT server. The server software also will include Insignia Solutions Intrigue, which allows a Solaris server to run Windows NT applications.
Avex Electronics, Acer Certek, DigiCAD, and GTE have plans to license the design kit to build NCs for special-purpose applications. Olivetti and Siemens Nixdorf plan to use the kit to build NCs.
- Original article: https://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/news/0825/25esun.html
Novell and Oracle choose Navigator for desktops and NCs
Novell and Oracle have selected Netscape’s Navigator client software as their preferred desktop and NC browser. In August, Netscape announced it would offer Navigator 4.0 (originally meant to reside in the company’s Communicator suite only) as a standalone product. It also announced worldwide partnerships with OEMs, ISPs, and telephone companies to deliver more than 100 million copies of Netscape client software to home users and enterprises.
Beatriz Infante, senior VP of Oracle’s Application Servers Division, said, “The combination of Oracle and Netscape software dramatically lowers cost of ownership by moving complexity off desktop systems to powerful network servers. The movement to 100% Pure Java will ensure support for our customers’ multi-platform network computing environments. Oracle’s affiliate company Network Computer Inc. offers Navigator as the preferred browser to its corporate network computer hardware partners. NCI will bundle recently merged Navio software with its network computer software for consumer hardware partners.”
Eric Schmidt, Novell’s chairman and CEO, added that Novell “is offering Netscape’s market-leading Internet browser as the preferred browser to our customers. This announcement underscores Novell’s commitment to providing state-of-the-art browser technology. In addition to our relationship with Netscape to launch Novonyx, this initiative ensures customers can look forward to easy access to new leading-edge developments in Internet technology, based on 100% Pure Java.”
IBM’s network OS, WSOD, to ship in November
IBM has announced that its network operating system (NOS), Workspace On-Demand (WSOD), will start shipping in November 1997. WSOD is based on the “Bluebird” technology; it is designed to extend the built-in Java and RIPL (remote initial program load) technology of OS/2 Warp Server across NCs and multivendor managed-PC platforms. RIPL allows software operating on the server to appear to the user as though it were running locally on the desktop.
WSOD will consist of a server-based manager component, with utilities for administering NCs and thin clients, plus a client-software component, according to Ron Stone, product marketing manager for NC client software in IBM’s Personal Software Products Division. WSOD won’t replace the OS/2 Warp Server, but instead will run on top of it. And not only can business customers lower their costs of ownership and management by running WSOD, the OS will make it easier for them to manage multi-OS networked environments.
IBM plans to promote WSOD to enterprise customers in addition to corporate VARs. From now through November 28, 1997, customers will be able to participate in WSOD pilot programs together with VARs and IBM’s Rapid Deployment Team. At the end of the program, the customer will be given a full implementation plan for the rollout of WSOD. Or, participating customers can choose to receive free defect support for 12 months for OS/2 Warp V3 and OS/2 Warp Connect V2, providing fixes by IBM to product malfunctions.
WSOD will be priced at 29, including one client. Additional clients will be priced at 49 each.
- https://www.software.ibm.com/
- Original article: http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayStory.pl?970825.eworkspace.htm
Microsoft’s Visual J++ gets beta upgrade
Microsoft, trying to keep its thumb firmly pressed on the Java market, will soon release “Vegas,” the first beta of an upgrade to Visual J++. “Vegas” will be enhanced with RAD features, and will have an integrated development environment similar to that of Visual Basic, according to Microsoft officials. It also will include Microsoft’s J/Direct technology, which allows Java developers to directly access the Win32 API set, bypassing the Java virtual machine.
JScape’s PowerTools JavaBeans available
JScape announced that the JScape PowerTools, a suite of 23 JavaBeans components, is available for a free download. PowerTools should help to reduce development time of Java applets and applications by providing pre-built (and pre-tested) essential systems, utility, and graphical components.
PowerTools is a member of the JScape Reusable Componentware product line, products that adhere to strict design and deployment standards so the components are highly reusable. PowerTools provides full native support for Java JDK 1.02, JDK 1.1, JavaBeans, and Java Studio.
PowerTools comes with a royalty-free license for 50, but you can test a full-featured, 30-day evaluation copy before you purchase.
Sun’s Java Blend simplifies integration between DBs and Java apps
Sun Microsystems has announced Java Blend, a development product that uses Java to simplify building business applications that can access any database. Java Blend automatically translates and maps data and database structures so that developers can write applications for any database entirely in Java.
Java Blend, which was co-developed with The Baan Company, uses a process called object-relational mapping to let developers build database-intensive apps without using SQL. Java Blend automatically generates Java data at runtime that corresponds to the appropriate database format.
Java Blend includes a development tool and the software libraries needed to run Java Blend applications. Java Blend’s database compatibility comes from its support of JDBC, a database connectivity API. It also conforms to ODMG, a specification that defines the industry standard for storing Java data in databases.
The product is scheduled to be available early in 1998. To get on board with the early-access program, sign up on Sun’s site.
Daiwa shows that Java can make it in the business world
Daiwa Securities America thinks Java can cut it in the real world. And it offered its case study at the recent Java Internet Business Expo in New York.
Daiwa’s thinking: Although the language is not yet full-featured enough for heavy-duty business loads, Daiwa officials think its developers will be able to write applications faster with Java. And the ability to run those apps across a sea of differing machines and operating systems is also important. “It’s much cheaper for me to spend ,500 on a hot-shot PC that’ll run Java applications quicker than spend 0,000 to 00,000 for an extra programmer to write code,” said Jeffry Borror, director of IT at Daiwa Securities America.
Daiwa is preparing to institute two Java applications. The first is a trade-processing system that routes business transactions to different processing locations, much like air traffic controllers do. The second is a trading system for the company’s Japanese equities desk.
With the trade-processing application, trades are entered on customers’ PCs (usually running Windows 95). The data is then routed across the network (Unix or NT network server) to a database server (usually Unix) for trade validation and processing. A record of the transaction goes to the company’s headquarters, where it is stored on (and must be accessed from) a mainframe. Java eliminates the need to rewrite software and platform-specific data hooks for each platform.
With the Japanese equities application, data must be entered (then re-entered on every different platform on which it needs to be available). Java eliminates all the re-entry steps.
Borror realizes Java isn’t perfect, with its lack of features and tools, and the performance lag. In fact, he’s “not sure it’ll ever run as fast as C++. But I’ll pay a reasonable performance penalty 20 to 25 percent, or even 50 percent, to get the cross-platform capabilities and the cleanliness of the object model.” Not to mention that more tools are becoming available every day, and JIT compilers are helping with performance.
The component aspect of Java is what pleases Borror the most, though: “If you do object-oriented development correctly, you have a much better chance of achieving the reuse of code we’ve been looking for in 20 years of programming. In particular, what I like is the JavaBeans model, which makes it very easy to develop and reuse software components.”
The component aspect also addresses a specific requirement of Daiwa’s business — speed to deployment. Borror commented, “The pressure is particularly intense here because we’re under great deadlines. Our markets move very quickly. If we can’t deliver things and put things out very quickly, the business opportunity is gone. Traders are dealing with hundreds of millions of dollars regularly. So if you can do something faster or more accurately than the competition, there’s millions of dollars that can be made.”
- Original article: https://cwlive.cw.com:8080/home/online9697.nsf/All/970822daiwa
Sqribe Technologies announces Java-based ReportMart
Sqribe Technologies is introducing ReportMart, Java-based software that lets users access corporate reports from databases or data warehouses through the Web. ReportMart, made up of Java apps that store, manage, and deliver objects to users, is compatible with many types of information, including Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, graphics, video clips, and custom applications.
ReportMart consists of
- The Repository, for storing objects
- The Name Service Agent, for monitoring ReportMart servers
- The JobFactory, for managing report updates and inserting objects into the Repository
- The Administrator, which lets IS managers manage content creation and administration
- The WebSqribe view, that lets users access and view reports through a standard browser
ReportMart includes a browser-based client and a back-end server. Pricing on Windows NT starts at 5,000 for the ReportMart server plus 50 per user (for WebSqribe viewer).
- https://www.sqribe.com/PRODUCTS/report.htm
- Additional informationhttps://www8.zdnet.com/pcweek/news/0825/27msqr.html
Sun gets three new JavaStation customers
Sun has announced that SABRE, ScottishTelecom, and the County of Santa Clara, California will deploy JavaStation network computers to replace 3270 terminals, to manage call centers, and to manage business-to-business extranets.
The SABRE Group, a provider of information technology for the travel and transportation industry, is planning for the next generation of its QIK-ACCESS products to run on Java-based network computers. QIK-ACCESS products (current version is QIK-2) now run on a PC system under Windows, OS/2, and DOS. QIK-2 includes a user-friendly interface to make it easy for travel-related personnel to make reservations, manage cargo deployment, and follow airline departures.
“Java is uniquely suited to the travel industry because there are a number of architectures and environments in place, and in reservations and check-in, people tend to perform a fixed function,” said Susan Tonjes, VP of SABRE Technology Solutions. “These environments lend themselves to network computers like the JavaStation, which will provide a good solution to this problem.”
ScottishTelecom plans to deploy 100 JavaStations for its call center and customer service divisions. ScottishTelecom has grown rapidly (from 100 to 850 employees) in the two-and-a-half years since it spun-off from Scottish Power. Eventually, the company has plans to create NC kiosks for customers to access to avail themselves of services.
“Our marketing strategy is supported by the JavaStation in several ways: by reducing the cost of doing business and by reducing the cost of complexity that goes with traditional PC-based systems,” said Peter Black, the ScottishTelecom customer services director. “In addition, we can define a new product including interfaces and new functionality from a central location and push it into the JavaStation overnight. The next morning, our operators are ready to run with the new system.”
The Santa Clara County Social Services Agency will deploy 150 JavaStation NCs to enhance the county’s Greater Avenues to Independence (GAIN) program — California’s version of the Federal JOBS program. The GAIN system was running on a nine-year-old Bull mini-computer architecture that is difficult to maintain, lacks a graphical windowing environment, and doesn’t provide Web access. The county introduced the GAIN Conversion System, a project that will completely replace the existing mini-computer’s terminals with a Java enterprise computing architecture that includes Sun servers, 150 JavaStations, and a complete rewrite of the GAIN application to Java.
“We selected Sun’s Java computing solution because it solves many of the problems we’ve been dealing with over the past several years,” said Bruce Overoye, director of information systems.
IONA broadens and enhances its CORBA support
IONA Technologies is expanding its CORBA support to Digital’s platforms with two new products — Orbix for OpenVMS 1.0 (OOVMS) and Orbix 2.2 for Digital Unix 4.0 (ODU 2.2/4.0). Orbix allows companies to build software components or objects with standard interfaces so that they can communicate with other software conforming to the same standard.
ODU 2.2/4.0 features a GUI (new) to make it easy to manage and deploy CORBA-based distributed applications. Also, some customer-requested additions were made, including giving developers access to a 64-bit Unix development environment.
With these additions, Orbix is natively available on Digital Unix, OpenVMS, and Alpha, as well as MVS, Solaris, HP-UX, IRIX, Windows NT and 95, OS/2, and Java. It’s also available on such real-time OSes as VxWorks, pSOS, and QNX. Orbix for Digital Unix is available now at a cost of ,500 per developer. Orbix for OpenVMS should be available in beta later this month, with hopes of general release in the first quarter ’98. Pricing is yet undetermined.
In addition to its support for Digital’s platforms, IONA announced its latest release of its Java-CORBA development environment, OrbixWeb 3.0 — a pure Java ORB (on client and server) that delivers a wide range of new features, including the full CORBA Naming Service natively in Java and a range of new GUI tools. These features make the administration, deployment, and management of Java-CORBA applications easier than before. OrbixWeb 3.0 also includes full support for the recently adopted OMG IDL-Java mapping.
“We continue our dominance in the Java CORBA space,” commented Annrai O’Toole, chief technical officer at IONA Technologies. “This release is teeming with features, enhancements, and aggressive new paradigms for building online Internet applications. With features like security and pure Java server-side deployment and a compelling pricing model, any Java developer who isn’t using OrbixWeb 3.0 is clearly on the wrong planet.”
OrbixWeb 3.0 Beta 2 is available now with general availability expected at the end of October 1997 at a cost of 99 per developer with no additional run-time costs.
Upgrade to MerzCom’s MerzScope: Smaller, better optimized, more stable
MerzCom’s new upgrade release to its Java Web mapping and viewing software, MerzScope 1.01, is available. MerzScope lets users create dynamic, relational graphical maps of Web pages and links.
Java-based MerzScope comes with a mapping application for developers and a Java applet so users can view and navigate the maps. Enhancements in this version include:
- Better optimization and stability
- A 50 percent decrease in applet size (using Java archiving, jar, for Communicator 4.0)
- A MerzScope applet plug-in for earlier versions of Navigator and Internet Explorer
- A Castanet channel version of the applet
You can evaluate (and purchase) MerzScope at the MerzCom Web site. The license costs 95 and includes the MerzScope Web Mapper and one MerzScope Viewer license, which allows you to put any number of maps onto one Web server (one domain name/IP number).
Vigor adds Java-to-database to Visual J++
Vigor Technology is developing Mapper J++, an add-on for Microsoft’s Visual J++ development tool that lets developers link Java applications to relational databases. Mapper J++ will allow developers to visually map Java classes, variables, and relationships to any JDBC/ODBC-compliant database.
Mapper J++ is slated to ship by the end of the year, at a cost of 49.
With this Java Ring, we thee do everything
Sun Microsystems CEO Scott McNealy recently demonstrated a Java “smart ring,” built by Josten Inc. (Minneapolis) with a Dallas Semiconductor Java chip in it. The 0 ring ( Java chip) can transmit/receive signals from as much as 10 inches, making it perfect for opening doors, starting cars, or opening a Web page.
According to McNealy, the ring is no “different than a Java smart card. It can do whatever a smart card can do running Java applications.”
- Additional information: https://www.javasoft.com/events/jibe/daytwo.html
Los Alamos Labs chooses Java-based PowerJ
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and American Management Systems (AMS) have cast a vote for Java by choosing Sybase’s PowerJ development environment to help add a platform-independent thin client front-end to the AMS Procurement Desktop, the software they use for internal procurement.
One reason LANL and AMS chose PowerJ was to make Sybase responsible for addressing all of their concerns about reusing their established base of PowerBuilder code. In fact, AMS worked closely with Sybase, helping the company design and construct AMS-required user interface components for PowerJ’s component library. “Our user-interface needs drove the PowerJ component library, and our code was used internally by Sybase for some of their regression testing,” said AMS’ Jeff Modell, the person charged with maintaining the relationship between AMS and Sybase.
AMS has decided that Java’s ability (current and potential) to deploy platform-neutral code makes it a strategic tool. It has similarly dismissed most browser plug-in technology, as well as ActiveX, as being too platform-specific.
One of the problems the LANL/AMS/Sybase team had to overcome was how to authenticate users in a stateless environment, referring to the way intranet HTTP transfers make every Web-page request a separate transaction. They devised a shared authentication service that allows each user to establish a session ID. The ID then creates a two-hour authentication umbrella for all Web-page requests from that IP address.
LANL/AMS also have seven other standards-based intranet applications either in production or under development.
- Original article: https://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/news/0901/01risk.html
Digital’s new StrongARM for mobile devices
Digital announced that early in 1998 it will ship the StrongARM SA-1100, a 133MHz and 200MHz embedded processor that will be supported by nine different operating systems. The low-power-consumption chips are designed for mobile handheld devices and cellular Internet phones, and emulate communications functions, such as the v.34 modems.
The chips are expected to run Windows CE 2.0, NewtonOS, JavaOS, Inferno, Psion Software PLC’s EPOC32, Microware’s OS-9, Geoworks’s Sokoto, JMI Software’s C-Executive, and Wind River’s VxWorks — in short, just about every small OS in the world!
Both versions include integrated memory controllers that support a variety of memory types (SDRAM, DRAM, Flash, and ROM). They can also support two PCMCIA cards, color resolutions (1,024 by 1,024 dpi), and I/O interfaces (including USB). The processors will have multipliers with DSP (digital signal processor) functions that Digital officials hope will improve handwriting recognition (a technology easier to use with devices whereby keyboards would be cumbersome).
Digital has developed a Java accelerator (integrated or standalone) to improve Java performance on the chips.
The 133MHz processor will cost 9; the 200MHz one, 9 (in 10,000-unit quantities).
- https://www.europe.digital.com/semiconductor/strongarm/strongar.htm
- Original article: https://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/news/0901/02earm.html
Lucent’s Inferno 2.0 OS will support PersonalJava
Lucent Technologies has decided that the next generation of the 1.5-megabyte Inferno Network Operating System (NOS) will support PersonalJava applications — such as those found in screen phones and set-top boxes.
Inferno 2.0 NOS works on top of a host operating system and provides transparent access for users to any of the resources available on the network. Version 1.1 is available now and version 2.0 should be available in the next few months (the OS and an applet). Adding PersonalJava support will let PersonalJava apps use Inferno’s security and authentication features.
Athena Design’s Integer: Java spreadsheet component
Athena Design’s Integer Java spreadsheet Bean is the third generation of the company’s product, and it accepts real-time data feeds.
The Bean allows developers to embed a full function, real-time spreadsheet into custom applications with no programming. Integer accepts real-time data from WebLogic’s T3 Java Server and CSK’s Slingshot servers. The Integer spreadsheet also offers access to any JDBC database, and can import and export legacy data from Excel and Lotus 123. It has more than 300 formula functions onboard, and can support millions of rows and columns with hundreds of layers of data.
Integer uses the JavaBean object standard and integrates with a variety of Java IDE and RAD tools (such as Java Studio, SilverStream, JDesignerPro, JBuilder, Visual Cafe, and Visual J++).
Contact Athena Design for pricing.
CST makes Java face for legacy apps
Client/Server Technology’s (CST) Jacada 5.0 will give “green-screen” front ends for legacy applications a Java-based facelift — at the same time, giving these applications the ability to be deployed over the Internet.
Jacada 5.0, introduced at the recent Java Internet Business Expo, will also include the CST KnowledgeBase Toolkit, a utility that lets users without Java expertise create graphical front ends for both mainframe and AS/400 applications.
Jacada analyzes host application screens quickly and converts them to sophisticated Java graphical clients. And developers can re-engineer the look and feel of the front end during the conversion; two screens can be combined and new features and functions can be added without having to make any changes to the legacy application.
The only requirements for the client side is that it run Java and can launch a session with the Jacada Server (CST recommends 16 megabytes of RAM). The Web server should have at least 32 megabytes of RAM and run Windows 95 or NT. The Jacada 5.0 software development kit starts at ,995 per developer. Jacada client deployment licenses start at 0,000 for a 40 concurrent session license.
New version of Darwin gets data mining
Thinking Machines has released Darwin 2.1, a new, more Java-friendly version of its data-mining software for customers with large databases. Darwin is used to slice and dice data within large databases to export prediction models that provide various ways of looking at trends, such as customer attrition, emerging needs for different services, and global purchasing patterns.
The new features in Darwin 2.1 include the ability to export predictive models in Java. The software also exports models in C and C++, so users can integrate data-mining results into custom applications and embed them in SQL queries. Also, Darwin 2.1 can read and write SAS files and export results to Excel.
The mining algorithms have been tuned for performance, and a general importance/sensitivity feature has been added. The sensitivity feature allows miners to indicate the importance of model-building algorithms relative to each other.
Darwin 2.1 starts at 0,000 for an annual usage fee, depending on configuration. It is available now for Solaris, and should be ready for HP-UX and AIX by the end of 1997.
Hummingbird gets peace of mind from Xcert
Hummingbird Communications has licensed Xcert Software’s public key infrastructure technology (PKI) to provide security for its next generation of Java products.
Xcert’s PKI technology will give Hummingbird’s enterprise products strong authentication and secure data access via public key certificates (using the x.509 standard, with support for DSS/Diffie-Hellman) and secure directory services (following the LDAP 3 standard).
Why is Hummingbird interested? According to Fred Sorkin, Hummingbird president/CEO: “Our customers have indicated that they must see Java’s security improved before deploying Java solutions on an enterprise scale. Now [after licensing Xcert’s security technology], all of our Java solutions will provide digital certificates and secure directory services.” Sun has recommended public key certificates to wall up Java’s security holes, but hasn’t yet provided any.
For more information, check out the companies’ sites.
- Xcert: https://www.xcert.com/
- Hummingbird: https://www.hummingbird.com/
The Applix Anyware NOW Initiative: Java Anywhere NOW
Applix announced its Anyware NOW initiative, an effort to formalize Applix’s Java marketing and research and development programs.
Jay Waldron, Applix COO and president, talked about the company’s Java strategy: “We believe the true value of Java-based computing is founded on the ability to deliver applications just-in-time to the user, with virtually no advanced preparation and administration of the user’s desktop. Only a thin client approach can address both of these issues.”
Products based on the Anyware NOW strategy are built on a “thin client, thin pipe” scheme to give the user the best performance with the smallest amount of resource and communication overhead. So, almost all the application’s computing is done on the server — the client applet manages the user’s interaction and the interface.
The Applix Anyware product line consists of two parts, Anyware Office and Enterprise Anyware (both certified 100% Pure by Key Labs). Anywhere Office (shipping since March ’97) is an office automation suite and Enterprise (shipping since June ’97) delivers interactive customer service and help-desk facility to Java desktops. Applix plans to develop an integrated sales and marketing automation system for the Applix line.
- https://www.applix.com/press/pressrel/97-09-09AnyNow.htm
NetDynamics Application Server gets VisiBroker for Java
NetDynamics is licensing Visigenic’s VisiBroker for Java ORB technology for its Application Server, giving NetDynamics’ customers a CORBA-compliant Java application server.
The VisiBroker for Java ORB will be integrated with the NetDynamics Application Server, providing CORBA-standard object interoperability via the IIOP protocol. With this combo, customers should be able to transparently access Java middleware as they deliver scalable Java enterprise applications that can integrate databases and core applications.
NetDynamics Application Server is used to both build (by virtue of a Java RAD tool and WebEXTEND integration modules) and deploy enterprise applications.
- https://www.netdynamics.com/about/whitepaper.html#server
- https://www.visigenic.com/news/NetDy997.html
New Java whitepapers and JavaStation software
In case you haven’t noticed, Sun’s Web site has a few new whitepapers on Java computing: “Breakaway Business Strategies with Java Computing” and “Java Computing Extranets: A Primer for the IT Decision Maker.”
Plus, the new JavaStation Software Environment (JSE) 1.0.2 developer’s release is available. The latest JavaStation software release contains JavaOS 1.0, HotJava Browser LAR (Limited Access Release), HotJava Views 1.0, Views Manager, and JavaStation Manager.
- Breakaway WP: https://www.sun.com/javastation/whitepapers/breakaway/
- PrimerXtraNet WP: https://www.sun.com/javastation/whitepapers/extranet/
- JSE 1.0.2: https://www.sun.com/javastation/jcdev/index.html
Get your SunScript products — free!
Sun has decided
not
to sell SunScript-based products. It will give them away instead. The company also has plans to integrate SunScript with Java; in fact, Sun officials said they are working on a SunScript interpreter implemented in Java, called Jacl (pronounced “jackal”).
SunScript, the Tcl/Tk (Tool command language/Toolkit), is a language that was developed by Sun Distinguished Engineer John Ousterhaut while he was doing research at the University of California, Berkeley in the 1980s.
Sun originally had planned to sell products and establish Tcl/Tk as the de facto Internet scripting language when it launched the SunScript Business Group in April ’97. Sun engineers thought SunScript was superior to JavaScript, Visual Basic, and even Java. But before SunScript found its place in the Sun establishment, its champion, Eric Schmidt, left to head Novell. In addition, a 1995 JavaSoft/Netscape deal meant that JavaSoft had to support JavaScript.
The first product will be a Tcl/Tk plug-in that will integrate Java with the existing C Tcl interpreter. Ousterhaut said, “You’ll be able to load a Java virtual machine into any Tcl application and easily invoke Java classes from Tcl. There will also be support for JavaBeans.”
Ontario collegiate system putting Java to the test
The Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) is rewriting all its applications in Java over the next school year. The OCAS is the division of the Ontario educational system that processes student applications for the 25 schools in the system.
Guy Morazain, executive director of the OCAS, said that moving to Java was an easy decision. The first reason was the “Year 2000” problem. The system needed a set of applications it could write and deploy rapidly that would also work across the different platforms (including all flavors of Windows, Unix, and MacOS) in the various colleges. The colleges currently use in-house applications for their online registration process (supporting 250,000 students and 17,000 staff members).
The Java applications are being written by Sanga International, Inc. and deployed on Sun’s Ultra Enterprise 3000 servers.
Ping, Pong, Ping — Corel’s not abandoning Java
First, Corel said it was dropping plans to create a Java version of its Office suite, Corel Office for Java. Java detractors jumped on this news, declaring that Java was flawed and not business-worthy. Included in the Java death notices was the concept of network computing.
Chris Biber, director of strategic alliances at Corel, has set the record straight. According to Biber, the reasons for putting the Office suite on hold was that customers kept wanting more and more features added to the client, and the fact that users with Word or Word Perfect (but not Office for Java) couldn’t share the files. He said, “Some people outside Corel said it was because of Java’s performance. But that was not an issue for us.”
Biber added, “This is not a withdrawal from Java. We’re increasing our Java [R&D]. We continue to believe that Java remains viable as a new model for not only building but distributing applications. We’re addressing this [added features and file compatibility] with a technology called Remagen: a Java client and a server piece that sits on top of Windows NT. An existing application [such as Corel Office] runs on the NT server and makes API calls to the operating system. Remagen intercepts these calls and sends them across the wire to the Remagen client, written in Java, which turns the calls into the appropriate screen displays. We’ll have clients for NT, Windows 3.1 and others.”
Biber went on to talk about Corel’s new Java-based project, called Alta — a group-oriented suite of communications applications: calendaring, scheduling, workflow processes, and a universal in-box (a combo of e-mail, sound files, video, and voice messages). With Alta, the user interface gets assembled at runtime out of HTML and Java components to fit the user’s task. Corel plans to release Alta by summer 1998.
HotSpot delayed — again
Sun’s HotSpot technology, which comes with the promise of double-fast Java, is delayed again. The delivery date is now set for spring 1998.
In April 1997, Sun announced that HotSpot would come with the JDK 1.2, planned for summer 1997. The kit’s launch date got moved to December 1997 — but HotSpot won’t be a part of it. According to Eric Chu, HotSpot won’t show its face until a spring 1998 release of the JDK. HotSpot is designed to find the parts of a Java application that can be accelerated, then it makes those portions run faster. JavaSoft purchased HotSpot from LongView Technologies earlier this year.
Chu said the “primary focus for the next release of JDK is security and the Java Foundation Classes.” He also said JDK 1.2 will provide performance enhancements, including a more efficient way to load JFCs that will use up to 15 percent less memory than before.
Performance is a very real concern for customers thinking about adopting Java. According to Rob Shostak, CTO and founder of Netiva Software, “The most pressing issues for Java developers are improving speed and fixing bugs.”
IBM’s Nways Enterprise Manager: Manage SNMP devices from Java
IBM’s Nways Enterprise Manager is a Java-based application for managing switches, routers, and other network gear — from a Java-enabled Web browser.
The application works by gathering real-time system updates from SNMP Management Information Bases residing on all IBM devices. Network administrators (with a Java-enabled Web browser) can download the applet and monitor network switches, add and delete devices, reconfigure the network, and enable or disable switch and router ports. With Nways, users can analyze event messages generated by IBM’s Nways devices and track a variety of management items, such as device inventory.
The Enterprise version is a heftier version of the Nways Workgroup Manager for Windows NT, a Java-based management application that can manage up to 200 nodes. The Enterprise version is expected to be able to handle thousands of devices. The Enterprise version will probably also run on NT servers first, with support for other OSes coming later.
Toshiba develops high-performance, standalone, PC-based Java OS
Toshiba Information Systems has announced a Japanese and English beta version of an operating system for Java-based applications — Jexe OS 1.0.
Jexe OS 1.0 is designed to allow any commercial PC to run Java applications at a fast clip on a standalone basis. The final English version is expected to ship in December ’97; the final Japanese version will ship in January 1998. Pricing for the English version was not set; for the Japanese version, it will be 7,900 yen.
