SUNSELECT INTRODUCES PC-NFS 4.0 First Networking Product to Support MS-Windows 3.1 as well as MS-DOS 5.0 Enhanced Version of PC-NFS Programmer's Toolkit Released BILLERICA, Mass. -- April 13, 1992 -- SunSelect(TM), a Sun Microsystems, Inc. business, today introduced version 4.0 of its popular PC-NFS(R) software and a new enhanced version of the PC-NFS Programmer's Toolkit, the companion developer's product for writing client-server PC-NFS applications. PC-NFS software integrates personal computers into open, UNIX(R) -based client-server environments, allowing personal computer users to access files and resources on all workstations and servers, minicomputers, mainframes or other systems that support ONC(TM)/NFS(R). Users operate within their familiar MS-DOS(R) and MS-Windows(R) environments, but have access to distributed network resources such as powerful fileservers, high-performance printers and worldwide electronic mail systems through the use of open standards such as TCP/IP and NFS. In effect, PC-NFS software lets personal computers become full participants in local- and wide-area networks, providing a platform for running distributed, client-server applications. PC-NFS software was the first product on the market to integrate UNIX resources with the MS-DOS platform. Previous versions of the PC-NFS product are now installed in more than 700,000 personal computers worldwide. What's New In Version 4.0 - Full MS-Windows 3.1 integration - Full support of MS-DOS 5.0 - 80% faster terminal emulation - 4/16 Mbps Token Ring driver support - Easier administration and enhanced integration with SunNet Manager and other network management hosts - Added ease-of-use features: network browsing, icons and on-line help - Improved PC print services and performance - MS-Windows console messaging for easy network-wide communication between MS-Windows, MS-DOS adn UNIX The new version of PC-NFS software is the first to support MS-Windows 3.1 as well as MS-DOS 5.0. Using standard MS-Windows pull-down menus, PC-NFS 4.0 software users can connect to and browse remote and local network resources such as printers, servers and filesystems. Users can run multiple MS-Windows, MS-DOS and PC-NFS applications simultaneously. The new version also includes a built-in console messaging application that allows MS-Windows, MS-DOS and UNIX users and administrators to communicate quickly and easily across the network. Through enhanced Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) support, the PC-NFS 4.0 product now provides 4-Mbps and switchable 4/16-Mbps Token Ring drivers for integration into Token Ring environments, and continues to support Ethernet networks as well. PC-NFS users can access more than one server operating system, such as Novell's NetWare(R) and Banyan VINES(TM), simultaneously. Installation of the NDIS facilities is now automated. PC-NFS 4.0 software includes new ease-of-use features for both users and system administrators. Extensive on-line help is available for PC-NFS software under MS-Windows; PC-NFS utilities are available through MS-Windows icons; and installation of primary functions, upgrades and the NDIS drivers has been simplified. For system administrators, server-based upgrades are offered, and enhanced SNMP MIB-II provides improved integration with the SunNet(TM) Manager network management platform and other network management hosts. The new version of PC-NFS software also enhances the PC print server capability by offering a dedicated mode option in addition to the proven background mode. Performance and functionality is improved in both modes. "We found the MS-Windows support very impressive, especially the new console messaging feature, which will allow our system managers to warn users of potential problems or service notifications," said Jean-Pascal Lange, systems administrator for Eurostat, the statistical bureau of the European Community (EC). Additional PC-NFS Products PC-NFS 4.0 software is the cornerstone of the PC-NFS product family. Three additional PC-NFS products are also marketed by SunSelect. PC-NFS LifeLine(TM) Mail and Backup delivers fully-integrated electronic mail and enables users to backup files across heterogeneous networks. PC-NFS Advanced Telnet extends the telnet terminal emulation capabilities of PC-NFS software, enabling PCs to take advantage of powerful environments by emulating a variety of popular mainframe and other host terminals. PC-NFS Programmer's Toolkit provides development tools and industry-standard protocols to create client-server applications in which various parts of the applications are performed by different systems on the network. PC-NFS Programmer's Toolkit 4.0 The new release of the PC-NFS Programmer's Toolkit, Version 4.0, is the first to enable developers to write TCP/IP network-based distributed MS-Windows applications in addition to MS-DOS applications. The enhanced product is also the first to join industry standard APIs (XTI and TIRPC) with TCP/IP on the MS-DOS 5.0/MS-Windows 3.1 platform. To facilitate fast and easy programming, the Toolkit now supports the industry's most commonly used compiler products: the Microsoft C 6.0 compiler and the Turbo C++ 2.0 and 3.0 compilers from Borland. The PC-NFS Programmer's Toolkit also provides all transport-independent and transport-specific RPC client calls (TIRPC); X/Open Transport Interface Routines (XTI); XDR, Sun's standard for data interchange between dissimilar machines; the NIS network naming service; and BSD sockets. The Toolkit has been used to create a wide variety of software products, including X Window System applications, terminal emulators, and database, CAD/CAM and document control packages. In fact, the Toolkit was used to develop PC-NFS Advanced Telnet and PC-NFS LifeLine Mail and Backup. Availability and Pricing Version 4.0 of SunSelect's PC-NFS software is currently available. The U.S. suggested list price is $345 for one user ($415 with documentation); a special upgrade price of $89 for one user is offered through July 1, 1992. Volume pricing and limited site licenses are available. Version 4.0 of the PC-NFS Programmer's Toolkit will be available May 27, 1992. The single-user U.S. suggested list price is $595; a site license is also offered. A special introductory site license toolkit upgrade will be available until August 1, 1992 at a price of $150. Both products are sold through local Sun Microsystems Computer Corp. (SMCC(TM)) sales offices, SunExpress(TM), and authorized SunSelect resellers and other distribution channels. SunSelect was formed on April 13, 1992 as a business unit of Sun Microsystems, Inc. to develop and market products that integrate personal computing resources with open, client-server environments. Sun Microsystems, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., is a leading worldwide supplier of network-based distributed computing solutions, including professional workstations, servers and UNIX operating system and productivity software. +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | From the America Online New Product Information Services | +===============================================================+ | This information was processed with OmniPage Professional OCR | | software (from Caere Corp) & a Canon IX-30 scanner from data | | provided by the above mentioned company. For additional info, | | contact the company at the address or phone# indicated above. | | All submissions for this service should be addressed to | | BAKER ENTERPRISES, 20 Ferro Drive, Sewell, NJ 08080 U.S.A. | +---------------------------------------------------------------+