IBM PSP's LAN Systems Solutions Introduction Connected workgroup solutions can provide a more cost-effective, efficient way of running your business, whatever its size. If you are considering migrating from a host-connected environment or if you want to make better use of your current hardware and software inventory, this article will be of particular interest. It describes IBM Personal Software Product's (PSP's) directions for Local Area Network (LAN) systems: enabling organizations to manage an entire heterogeneous network as a single entity with scalable product levels ranging from small business to workgroup to enterprise. Traditional Business Structures Are Changing Increased competition, corporate decentralization, and economic pressures are making companies change the way they do business. Filtering decisions through traditional management chains is no longer acceptable. Companies are finding that teams of employees closest to the situation make better, quicker decisions. Today, empowered teams are replacing the old workplace hierarchy. To make good decisions quickly, these teams need timely, reliable information. To remain competitive, organizations must enable their employees to access and share the ideas, knowledge, and resources they need. Business Systems Are Also Changing These changes in the traditional office have resulted in an explosion in the use of LANs and enterprise networks. These networks and a new generation of distributed applications are connecting people to people, workgroups to workgroups, workgroups into the enterprise, and everyone to outside information resources, including small businesses and department workgroups to suppliers and buyers. With this explosion comes the challenge of determining the best way to enhance or grow your computing environment. Traditional Information Systems (IS) departments still play a major role in the installation of business systems, but end users now have much more influence in defining their computer environments. Companies must consider their existing hardware and software investment. With all the options available in the industry today, choosing the right solution can seem an arduous task. IBM LAN Systems Can Help IBM PSP LAN systems bring together the best of the personal computer and mainframe environments to create scalable solutions that are easy to integrate into a business, easy to use, and easy to manage. From the personal computer environment comes the ease of the human/computer interface. And from the mainframe environment comes the ability to deliver products that run mission-critical applications and manage complex tasks and environments. This approach--along with a commitment to open systems based on industry standards--has enabled IBM to leverage synergy from diversity. PSP's LAN Systems Solutions Since the inception of the Local Area Network (LAN), business systems have been evolving to exploit LAN technology. Some organizations--mostly departments or small businesses--are moving from stand-alone personal computers to a networked environment, using a workgroup LAN to run critical business systems. Other, larger organizations are setting up integrated LANs throughout the enterprise, either to interact with a central host system or to downsize by off-loading applications from the host to a LAN. As this range of business needs has evolved, so have the capabilities of the LAN environment. Organizations are now using LAN servers not only as file and print servers, but also as specialized database, communications, management, and application servers in increasingly complex heterogeneous environments. IBM Personal Software Products (PSP) Division's strategy for LAN systems is to simplify these complex environments from the user's perspective by treating the LAN as a system. This manageable LAN environment will serve as the platform for a new generation of distributed applications. Backing up this strategy is IBM's range of system solutions and hardware/software interoperability--the widest of any company in the industry. This approach combines the ease of use and flexibility of workstations with the reliability, manageability, and capability found in traditional information systems, giving customers the following benefits: o Easy access to information anytime, anywhere o Industrial-strength systems that are reliable, manageable, and secure o Investment protection through scalable systems that grow with the business Today's PSP LAN systems products are designed to give users access to the information they need, regardless of where it is located. At the same time, the products insulate users and administrators from the complexities of the network--including connections, protocols, service providers, and hardware. The LAN as a System The LAN provides centralized security, administration, and management functions like the minicomputer and mainframe systems of the last 20 years. Beyond these functions, the LAN has also evolved to allow flexibility and diversity to which users have become accustomed. Treating the LAN as the system means providing a manageable environment with a single-system image. The goal is to ensure that LANs no longer appear as sophisticated, expensive, and complicated products, but are easy to use and manage. With a single-system image, the end user's Graphical User Interface (GUI) appears to be the first, last, and only interface into the user's entire computing universe. In reality, it may be an integrated piece of a huge worldwide network comprised of thousands of resources. It also means that organizations can manage an entire heterogeneous network as a single entity. Where It All Begins: The Client Fundamental to a LAN system of any size is reliable client software that supports multiple hardware and software environments. For the PC environment, IBM's premier offering is OS/2 running with LAN Server 3.0. For workstations, IBM offers AIX/6000 with Network File System (NFS) running on the RISC System/6000 as well as the AIX Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) family. OS/2 and AIX are both enabled for multiple Network Operating System (NOS) environments to access data across heterogeneous systems including LANs, minicomputers, and mainframe hosts. OS/2 and AIX both offer the crash-protected, multitasking environments required to support mission-critical applications. With their powerful, highly intuitive GUIs--Presentation Manager and Workplace Shell for OS/2, Motif and X-Windows for AIX--these strategic platforms are easy to use and can support highly sophisticated applications. With OS/2 and AIX, users can continue to use DOS and DOS/Windows applications--but in a crash-protected, multitasking environment. The LAN is best suited to today's business because it promotes using the best system for each user's needs. IBM supports not only clients that it develops, but all users' clients of choice. Support for DOS and DOS/Windows is outstanding. The LAN Server for Macintosh extends sharing files and printers to the native-mode Macintosh. Bringing It All Together OS/2 LAN Server 3.0 has two versions: Entry and Advanced, with an optional feature that supports Macintosh clients. In addition to the flexibility and scalability offered by this approach, LAN Server provides extremely high performance. In October 1992, LANQuest--an independent test lab--named LAN Server 3.0 the fastest PC-based LAN server on the market. LAN Server 3.0 currently supports DOS, DOS/Windows, OS/2, and Macintosh clients, and over 300 types of PCs. In addition, LAN Server and NetWare LANs can now share resources across environments. Combined with the Network Transport Services/2 (NTS/2) enhanced multi-adapter feature, LAN Server 3.0 can support over 1,000 LAN clients on a single LAN server on a single network. The system composed of LAN Server and its clients can also interoperate with other types of LAN systems. Integrating client requesters, particularly under the transparency of the WorkPlace Shell, allows users to access resources on several LAN systems. This results in a high degree of interoperability between LAN Server and NetWare. In addition, LAN Server and Microsoft LAN Manager systems can interoperate. Both Entry and Advanced versions of OS/2 LAN Server 3.0 exploit the power of the OS/2 32-bit operating system. Remote installation support provides for the unattended installation of remote requesters and servers. Peer services enables clients to access printers, files, and serial devices on another client on the same LAN. With peer services, users can share directories, printer queues, and communication device queues with other users on the network. For networks that need higher performance and higher levels of reliability, LAN Server 3.0~Advanced offers High-Performance File System-386 (HPFS-386) support, improved disk fault tolerance (mirroring and duplexing), asymmetrical multiprocessing on the IBM PS/2 Server 295, and local security enhancements. Network File System is the distributed file system for UNIX supported by AIX/6000. A de facto UNIX standard developed by Sun Microsystems, NFS can be used by DOS, DOS/Windows, OS/2, AIX, and VM machines. NFS is widely supported by other vendors. IBM's High-Availability NFS (HANFS) is a high-availability configuration of RISC System/6000 hardware and software in which one NFS server backs up another server. Switchovers are transparent to the NFS clients. In addition, the IBM 7051 POWER Network Dataserver system provides industry-leading NFS performance for applications requiring large amounts of online data. For distributed client file and print support in PC environments, AIX/6000 supports DOS Server/AIX Access for DOS Users (AADU). NetWare from IBM is supported on OS/2 and AIX server platforms. It is offered in addition to OS/2 LAN Server and AIX/6000 NFS to fulfill the broadest possible range of user requirements. Although the three products are similar, they are best suited for different situations and remain separate product lines with unique system services, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), and communication transports. Connection Flexibility IBM has designed a blueprint for optimum network flexibility while providing for the most robust connections. The Multi-Protocol Transport Networking (MPTN) architecture provides for communications on almost any network protocol. A variety of network interface cards and cable connection mechanisms that support the Network Device Interface Specification (NDIS) can be used with the MPTN architecture. LAN Server with NTS/2 provides full support for the MPTN structure. The primary default protocol is NetBIOS. With full support of NDIS, NTS/2 enables LAN Server to support a wide variety of network interface cards from many suppliers. As a result, users can install and configure adapters without changing their workstations, applications, or networks. This approach provides a future migration path as higher capability, wider bandwidth networks become commonplace for LANs. TCP/IP provides the NFS distributed file mechanism and other classic UNIX connectivity applications. This LAN system provides interoperability between OS/2, DOS, and UNIX-based systems (including AIX) that support open standards such as TCP/IP, NFS, File Transfer Protocol (FTP) TELNET, and X-Windows. TCP/IP is important for users who share data across different software platforms that may, for example, be running on IBM, Hewlett-Packard (HP), or Sun hardware. Workgroup Computing Electronic mail and workgroup computing are major elements of any networked PC environment. As the result of a strong partnership with Lotus, IBM's LAN systems and OfficeVision products include Lotus cc:Mail and Lotus Notes. Lotus cc:Mail provides high-end electronic mail capabilities. The cc:Mail product supports DOS, Windows, Macintosh, OS/2 Workplace Shell, and UNIX clients, as well as gateways to PROFS, OS/400, DEC, NetWare's MHS, and many more. This makes cc:Mail the industry's most comprehensive electronic mail and messaging system. Lotus Notes gives every member of a workgroup--across the hall or across the continent--easy access to information in text, graphics, or images. It also contains a development platform for creating individual and workgroup business applications. Data You Need, When You Need It For mobile users, PSP has developed full-function, dial-in/dial-out Remote LAN Access for LAN Server. IBM Remote LAN Access enables users with portable systems to connect to a LAN by telephone. This provides transparent access to LAN applications and services from anywhere in the world. Remote LAN Access clients supported on both OS/2 and DOS/Windows can access LAN Server, NetWare, and NFS servers. This feature can significantly enhance the efficiency of employees who travel on business and need access to LAN resources and data. Communicating Among Networks IBM OS/2 Extended Services, Communications Manager/2, and AIX Systems Network Architecture (SNA) provide connectivity to a variety of IBM and non-IBM host-connected applications. They also support peer-to-peer operations using Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking (APPN) support. Easy Access to Host Data More information is moving to LANs--but valuable information will continue to reside on minicomputers and mainframes. IBM LAN systems products provide access to existing information and applications, whether they reside on a co-worker's desktop, a workgroup server, or a large host system. For relational data, IBM provides integrated, high-performance multivendor communications and SQL (client and server) database support, while various resource managers provide application enablers. Workstations from LAN Server, AIX, and NetWare environments can create, access, and modify information on LAN or host databases such as DATABASE 2 OS/2 (DB2/2), DATABASE 2/6000 (DB2/6000), DB2, and third-party databases on workstations and mainframes. DB2/2 and DB2/6000 are powerful relational database management systems for users in client/server LAN environments. They can run on stand-alone machines or they can be database servers on a LAN. Their newly enhanced DB2 compatibility, remote systems administration, and other features improve both reliability and system management. DB2/2 and DB2/6000 are open database platforms supporting industry standards. For organizations with databases in both LAN and host environments, IBM offers Distributed Database Connection Services (DDCS). DDCS/2 for OS/2 and DDCS/6000 for the RISC System/6000 support the Distributed Relational Database Architecture (DRDA) used in all IBM relational database products as well as those from several other vendors. DDCS allows developers to write applications that connect to, access, and update host databases from DOS, DOS/Windows, OS/2, and AIX client workstations. Organizations that use LAN Server or NetWare and want to access data on host systems can take advantage of IBM's LANRES/VM, LAN/MVS, or Workstation LAN File Services (WLFS) for shared file access. For backing up host systems from LAN Server, NetWare, and other systems, Data Facility Distributed Storage Manager (DFDSM) can be used. System Management System and network management is one of the biggest challenges in a networked environment. How can changes be handled efficiently? What is the best way to manage the assets that are distributed in large numbers in locations far and wide? How are the LANs analyzed and supported remotely? How can heterogeneous systems and tools be integrated into a single management environment that makes sense? And finally, how can the needs of both IS departments and end users be satisfied? IS wants reliability, security, and the ability to meet user needs in a planned and controlled way. End users want the freedom to access data anywhere, anytime. IBM's strategy for distributed system management is to solve the business issues associated with managing changes, configuration problems, software distribution, and assets. As shown in Figure 1, IBM is delivering a distributed systems management family, called LAN NetView, to address the problems of distributing information and data that will satisfy both IS and end users. LAN NetView The LAN NetView family provides industry-standard interfaces to network management protocols such as X/Open Management Protocol (XMP), Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), and Common Management Information Protocol (CMIP). IBM and other vendors will build on this family with system management applications that support a variety of management functions across different types of clients, servers, operating systems, and hardware platforms. In this environment, customers will be able to easily develop system management applications to address their own unique requirements. Management functions can be centralized, decentralized, or a combination of both. In addition, companies and LAN managers will not need a totally different set of tools for each network component. LAN NetView View LAN NetView View is a graphical interface that enables system management tools to be written with a consistent look and feel, so a company's entire system management application suite can be viewed through this single graphical interface. Configuration, Installation, and Distribution To reduce costs and simplify LAN administration, IBM products support automated Configuration, Installation, and Distribution (CID) for clients and servers. Desktop operating systems, communications managers, databases, and the user's choice of applications can be distributed, installed, and managed by the system automatically. Human intervention is eliminated because CID functions are handled over the network. CID can be further enhanced when the LAN is connected to an IBM MVS host. Using NetView Distribution Manager (NetView DM) on the host, software can be sent to servers on many LANs located worldwide. Using NetView Distribution Manager/2 (NetView DM/2), these remote servers can then customize the installation of both clients and servers on the LAN. They can also quickly distribute code fixes to both vendor- and customer-developed programs. AIX NetView/6000 AIX NetView/6000 is an open network management platform for multivendor TCP/IP networks. It provides device management including SNMP agent support and Internet Protocol- (IP-) addressable device monitoring. AIX NetView/6000 also provides interfaces to XMP and CMIP, industry-standard network management protocols. NetView/6000 features a graphical, object-oriented user interface built on Motif and X-Windows that displays the network on top of pictures such as maps, buildings, or devices. It also maintains a dynamic view of the network topology. Cooperative network management is also available from System/390 NetView. Together, System/390 NetView and NetView/6000 provide hierarchical management for large networks with mixed SNA and TCP/IP protocols. NetView Entry NetView Entry, an entry version of NetView/6000, manages TCP/IP networks with a maximum of 32 nodes. In small TCP/IP networks, NetView Entry operates as a stand-alone distributed manager. Open Systems In response to customer demand, much of the computer industry has shifted from proprietary technology to open systems. While everyone agrees that this shift is necessary, the definition of open is being debated. IBM PSP's approach to building open systems is based on the following characteristics of open environments: o Applications and data can be moved from one vendor's computer system to a different vendor's computer system. o Computing systems and products from different vendors can work together to form an application solution. o Standards are complied with, whether set by standards-making bodies, de facto industry standards, or common specifications/technology endorsed by the industry. PSP's approach is to combine industry standards with existing de facto standards. Where standards do not exist, PSP will add its own specifications and technologies, working closely with industry standards bodies and consortia to gain industry acceptance and support. Distributed Computing Distributed computing is much more than the simple file and print sharing being done on most LANs today. In a distributed environment, a set of workstations, personal computers, and programs appear to the user as a single system. Individual programs can run on multiple computers simultaneously, thus taking advantage of the different types of processing power available across a network. As shown at the recent Challenge '93 sponsored by the Open Software Foundation (OSF), users can run programs that appear to reside on a local system, but are actually executing on several remote systems. Imagine writing a distributed application in half the time it takes today--one that is also higher quality, 40% smaller, and significantly less expensive to maintain because the code has already been tested. Too good to be true? No--that is the significance of distributed computing technology and services for application developers. IBM provides the infrastructure (multiple protocol support, gateways to other networks, and so on) required for a distributed environment, so application developers can focus on the application functionality. Applications for databases, mail, system management, and Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) can all be written to take advantage of a distributed environment. The Distributed Computing Environment IBM has selected the Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) from OSF as fundamental technology for common services supporting application development and interoperability. Using DCE technology, application developers can write distributed, network-optimized applications without having to write vendor- or network-specific code--significantly increasing the portability of applications across different vendors' hardware and software platforms. DCE facilities have key functions such as Remote Procedure Calls (RPC), network time management, security, distributed file system, and distributed directory services. DCE provides a coherent, integrated environment for developing and managing distributed applications in an open enterprise; an application implementing DCE can be distributed across multiple systems composed of both IBM and non-IBM hardware. To continue our position of providing the broadest coverage in the industry, IBM currently intends to support DCE on AIX/6000, OS/2, OS/400, AIX/ESA, MVS/ESA, and VM. Other vendors, such as HP and Digital Equipment Corporation, also offer DCE support within their product lines. Today, IBM's DCE technology is available on AIX, with beta versions available for OS/2 and MVS.. Remote Procedure Call Application developers using Remote Procedure Call (RPC) can create programs that are portable and interoperable across multiple hardware and software platforms. In a distributed computing environment, RPC enables multiple computers on a network to process the work. Work is handed off from one computer to another by an application program executing a familiar programming construct--a procedure call. The RPC programming construct extends the call/return mechanism from a single system to network capability. Distributed Directory Services Distributed directories enable people and programs to identify the resources (such as files, printers, and programs) they need across a global network. Using accepted industry naming standards (such as the X.500 worldwide directory service and the X/Open directory service programming interface), the OSF DCE Directory Service ensures that resources are known through location-independent names. The DCE Directory Service is accessed via the RPC communications programming interface. Security Services Users are placing more valuable information on LANs. This makes security a growing issue for both end users and LAN administrators. Because most LAN systems control password access on a per-server basis, each user can have several passwords. As LANs get larger and users begin to access more resources, securing these simple systems becomes increasingly difficult. IBM will enhance security through a combination of passwords and privilege assignments that enables a single user logon to access all system resources. This eliminates the need for a user to have multiple passwords for multiple servers--or even for a single system. It also reduces administrator workload and cost, since each user has a single profile on the entire system, not one profile per server. The technology to ensure security will be the Kerberos authentication service developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Project Athena. It is an excellent solution for networks where resources, applications, and user profiles keep changing. Distributed File System OSF's Distributed File System (DFS) extends the operating system's file system by taking advantage of DCE's global directory and security services, providing a secure, enterprise-wide view of the file system. File replication and cloning maximize timely, usable access to data. DFS also ensures file integrity, thus enabling developers to create data location-independent applications. Online Transaction Processing To enhance the core DCE services (RPC, Security, Time, Directory, and DFS), IBM has included additional functions in OLTP. Because the next generation of distributed applications will be used in real-time systems, IBM has incorporated transaction management services into DCE. Both Encina (from Transarc Corporation) and CICS are offered to allow distributed application transactions across a network of heterogeneous systems. They maintain data integrity if a system or network fails at any point during a transaction. Encina monitors basic distributed transaction processes, including transactional RPC, structured file system for indexed data access, and two-phase commit. With Encina, developers can create distributed transaction processing applications that ensure data is changed only when the complete transaction is successfully processed. Another option is CICS. CICS-OS/2 and CICS/6000 make it easy to port mainframe applications to workstations. The CICS family API is supported for both COBOL and C languages. Both mainframe and LAN connections are supported. Today's Solutions--Breadth and Choice No one in the computer industry provides the breadth of solutions nor the interoperability across hardware and software boundaries that IBM does. This is important to many organizations that must deal with an installed base of hardware and software. For example, suppose you have one department with a mix of personal computers and software that includes DOS/Windows, Macintosh, and OS/2 computers attached to a NetWare LAN. Another department may perform intensive graphic design using UNIX workstations. You keep data for both departments on a remote server and require the data to be current at all times. Finally, you update the information on a host at a headquarters location every quarter. With IBM PSP's approach, if your needs are only a subset of those described, you can choose from these offerings, while leaving your options open to grow incrementally as your business grows or as your needs change. Extending Today's Products While distributed systems technologies are being developed, IBM and others in the industry are already working on new technologies such as objects, distributed objects, multimedia, image, wireless computing, mobile systems, symmetrical multiprocessing, and microkernel-based systems. Using distributed systems as the base, these new technologies are being incorporated into an exciting new computing environment for end users, administrators, and application developers. IBM PSP's approach to this new environment begins with today's family of distributed LAN system products. IBM is committed to LAN Server and will offer new products built on the current LAN Server 3.0. With IBM's distributed system technology, this family will be extended to increasingly insulate end users, administrators, and application developers from the specifics of the network, including connections, protocols, service providers, and hardware. The network will continue to be scalable, enabling users to choose product solutions that address current needs while offering the flexibility for system growth. As new technologies, such as objects and distributed objects, are developed and enhanced, PSP will incorporate them into the family to interoperate with current products and provide upward compatibility. Enhancing Scalability IBM PSP's approach to scalability enables users to expand their environments by adding--not replacing--products. Each product family member is simply an add-on to the previous level. The next generation of IBM PSP products will address the requirements of customers of all sizes. At the same time, these products will protect existing investments in hardware, software, and skills, thus enabling growth without the need to migrate or replace. Entry products will offer a low-cost, load-and-go environment that requires no server and minimal administration. This product level is designed for organizations that require easy-to-use personal productivity applications. It will support file and print sharing and an electronic mail capability--sometimes called peer-to-peer communications--that allows people to collaborate on the same information whether they are in the same room or miles apart. Workgroup products will offer all the functions of the entry product level plus advanced system management options and additional connectivity. This environment provides a server and is designed for larger organizations needing higher performance, fault-tolerance functions in the server, more rigorous system management capabilities, and more connection choices. It provides a straightforward growth path from the entry product. Enterprise products will include a set of extensions to the workgroup environment aimed at accessing enterprise data and integrating workgroups with enterprise applications. This product line will include global directory services, full systems and network management, host information access, and mechanisms to give a single-system image to multiple heterogeneous LAN systems. Global security will be implemented with the OSF DCE Security Service, which specifically addresses the challenges of maintaining security in a distributed environment. In addition to stringent security services, IBM's enterprise products will include a backup/restore capability, access control, and software license management. Enhancing Application Development IBM PSP's goal is to make the underlying services of the distributed application environment transparent to end users, administrators, and application developers. We think the best approach to creating this transparency is to develop frameworks incorporating object-oriented technology. Object-Oriented Technology With the magnitude of current industry-wide software backlogs and escalating software maintenance costs, many companies realize that they must shorten their application development cycle to remain competitive. PSP's strategy is to offer products that provide a basis for developing object-oriented distributed programs. From the end user's perspective, object-oriented technology will make using computers more intuitive. The drag-and-drop capabilities of OS/2 and AIX illustrate how easily end users can manipulate the system in an object-oriented environment. While end users benefit from this easy-to-use, easy-to-learn environment, application developers can work faster because of highly reliable reusable code. Object-oriented technology can significantly benefit an application programmer developing a distributed application because the developer can take advantage of existing code in the form of objects. An example of an object that could be created for a LAN environment is one that takes a file on a client and prints it on a remotely located printer. As you can see from this simple example, many different types of applications could take advantage of an object that provides this function. Objects and Object Frameworks The software industry is expected to evolve rapidly into developing software in modules. Many small, general-purpose software modules will be available as foundations for building larger applications--regardless of hardware platform, operating system, or programming language. This approach will greatly reduce development time, resulting in shorter cycles and lower costs. Object frameworks are collections of prebuilt objects with established relationships. They offer built-in, easily extendable, and customizable functions. Object frameworks can be designed for a variety of specific purposes such as system management, transaction processing, compound documents, and graphics. Replication of data across a network is another example. An object framework could contain the objects necessary to create a copy of data, locate the data across the network, and automatically update a file on multiple systems. Object framework technology has the potential to automate the drudgery of development, lower the bar for entry-level developers, and spark a new cycle of software development creativity as profound as the move from machine languages to high-level languages more than 30 years ago. Industry Standards for Objects IBM's object-oriented technology is based on industry-standard Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) from Object Management Group (OMG). The foundation for this technology is IBM's System Object Model (SOM). System Object Model. IBM's SOM technology for packaging object-oriented class libraries is a language-neutral model for defining object libraries that operate across many computer languages. Many in the industry view SOM as a universal translator of applications and objects developed in diverse programming languages. It will be supported on many software platforms, including OS/2, AIX, Windows, MVS, CICS, and AS/400. SOM technology has broad industry support and is being embraced by OEMs as well as language and tool vendors. On June 16, 1993, IBM announced the SOMobjects Developer Toolkit, the first complete CORBA-compliant, cross-platform, cross-language object implementation. This object and framework technology will provide flexible, distributed, and portable systems. In addition, IBM, HP, and SunSoft, Inc. announced plans to work together to enable software portability across the companies' object-oriented software platforms using standards set forth by OMG. The close affinity between the principles of distributed computing and those of objects leads us to believe that the best approach to enhancing application development is based on objects. The significant investment in education and development to produce truly distributed applications can be reduced by marrying the two technologies. Developers can simply use distributed objects and let the underlying distributed system services manage the communications completely. Distributed SOM (DSOM) DSOM is planned to support transparent remote access to objects in a distributed environment. DSOM supports the full object-oriented programming paradigm through distributed computing facilities such as Sockets and DCE. It is based on the SOM currently available for OS/2 and provides language-, network-, and platform-independent access to distributed objects. This technology is being developed together with standards organizations as well as with leading industry language and tools vendors. Like SOM, DSOM will support multiple software environments. Systems Management To enhance our LAN NetView family, IBM is working with other industry suppliers to encourage development of systems management applications. NetWare Services Manager from Novell and LANlord/2 from Microcom are two examples. LAN NetView products will combine selected technologies from OSF Distributed Management Environment (DME), X/Open, the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) System Management Model, and IBM SystemView to help customers manage heterogeneous network environments. LAN NetView includes industry-standard protocols such as CMIP (for standardizing management communications between systems) and XMP (for providing a common programming interface) for system management applications. Using these protocols should increase the number of distributed applications available by making it easier to develop powerful applications that will appeal to a variety of users. Transport Technology To provide application transparency, IBM PSP is developing and supporting programming interfaces such as the industry-standard Sockets and X/Open's transport interface. The Sockets interface, first introduced in UNIX, has become a de facto industry-standard API for communications. With this interface, users and their existing applications can operate consistently and transparently across multiple network environments, including TCP/IP, NetBIOS, IPX, OSI, and SNA. In addition, a single network adapter card can be used with multiple protocols--meaning that with one network adapter, end users can participate in LAN Server, NetWare, and TCP/IP networks simultaneously and transparently. These future developments will be achieved with the MPTN blueprint. Conclusion Never before has technology held such tremendous potential for reshaping the way people and organizations work. Regardless of an organization's size or function, effective growth relies on effective use of information and the ability of the information system to grow and change with it. Distributed LAN systems technology offers the potential for getting needed information to the desktop user. Advanced users are already pushing the limits of today's LAN technologies. Simple resource sharing is giving way to distributed applications. Single LANs connecting multiple users have grown into multiple LANs connecting multiple workgroups. Mission-critical applications that were once locked in the domain of the centralized host/terminal environment are being rightsized to LANs. The environment that now accommodates OS/2, NetWare, Macintosh, DOS, DOS/Windows, and AIX will soon stretch to accommodate even greater heterogeneity. IBM's current set of LAN systems products enables any small business or large organization to develop an effective workgroup computing environment today. IBM is also delivering a stream of new offerings for tomorrow, many of which are now being tested by customers. To ensure that LANs are easy to use, manage, and integrate into your business, IBM PSP's strategy is to provide an open, manageable LAN environment with these characteristics: o Easy access to information anytime, anywhere o Reliable, manageable, and secure industrial-strength systems o Investment protection through scalable systems that grow with your business This environment will serve as an excellent platform for a new generation of distributed applications and a launch pad for the distributed objects of the future. ================================================================ For more information about current IBM PSP products, call (800) IBM-4FAX. A voice menu will provide options for requesting information. For information about PSP products in beta test, call (512) 838-2098. ================================================================ Authors: C. W. "Mac" McCarter is a program manager in IBM's PSP LAN Systems organization in Austin, Texas. He presently develops business and technical strategy for LAN systems. Alisa Nessler is in IBM's Personal Software Products Marketing group in Austin, Texas, where she develops marketing plans and programs for IBM's LAN systems products. DeeAnne Safford is a program manager in IBM's Personal Software Products Marketing Strategy group. She presently develops market strategies for Personal Software Products. ====================================================================== DATABASE 2, RISC System/6000, AIX, Presentation Manager, PROFS, OS/400, DB2, System/390, AIX/ESA, MVS/ESA, AS/400, SystemView and NetView are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. AIX/6000, Workplace Shell, and OfficeVision are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. DEC is a registered trademark of Digital Equipment Corporation. Hewlett-Packard is a registered trademark of Hewlett-Packard Company. LANQuest is a registered trademark of LANQuest Group. Lotus Notes is a registered trademark of Lotus Development Corporation. Kerberos is a trademark of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. LANlord/2 and Microcom are registered trademarks of Microcom Systems, Inc. OMG and Object Management Group are registered trademarks of Object Management Group, Inc. Motif, Open Software Foundation and OSF are registered trademarks of Open Software Foundation. Sun Microsystems, NFS and Sun are registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Encina and Transarc are registered trademarks of Transarc Corporation. UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX System Laboratories, Inc. X/Open is a trademark of X/Open Company, Ltd. ====================================================================== Some of the information in this article may concern future products or future releases of products currently commercially available. The description and discussion of IBM's future products, performance, functions and availability are based upon IBM's current intent and are subject to change. IBM may have patents or pending patent applications covering subject matter in this article. The furnishing of this article does not imply giving license to these patents. It is possible that this material may contain reference to, or information about, IBM products (machines and programs), programming or services that are not announced in your country. Such references or information must not be construed to mean that IBM intends to announce such products, programming or services in your country.