THE OS/2 WARP WEEKLY - A production of SWG Electronic Marketing Covering information relevant to OS/2 Warp and LAN Server ISSUE 55 - 3/8/96 (A real collector's item) ----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----**** ----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----**** The OS/2 Warp Weekly and OS/2 Warp Monthly Newsletters are available on the Internet at http://www.austin.ibm.com/pspinfo/newsletters.html ----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----**** ----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----**** CONTENTS 1. HP OFFERING OS/2 WARP 2. GETTING THE GOODS ON OS/2 WARP SERVER 3. GETTING THE STORY STRAIGHT 4. ONE MAN'S VIEW: IBM's OS/2 WARP SERVER IS HOT HOT HOT 5. BENEFITS OF DYNAMIC IP 6. NEW COMMUNICATION SOFTWARE PACKAGE FOR OS/2 7. OBERON SOFTWARE UNVEILS PERSONAL CONTACT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM 8. OBERON SOFTWARE INTRODUCES DISKSTAT PLUS 9. WARP'D HUMOR ----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----**** 1. HP OFFERING OS/2 WARP An Infoworld story mentions that HP will offer OS/2 on their new HP Vectra XM Series 4 machines. ----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----**** 2. GETTING THE GOODS ON OS/2 WARP SERVER Lots of good information out there on OS/2 Warp Server. 1-800-IBM-4FAX -------------- Document 2380 - Aberdeen Group - IBM's Warp Server: The Whole is Greater than the Sum of the Parts Document 2329 - OS/2 Warp Server - Highlights, Features, Benefits Document 2376 - OS/2 Warp Server - Performance Highlights, Tuning Tips Document 2332 - OS/2 Warp Server - Advanced Document 2888 - OS/2 Warp Server - Specification Sheet Document 2889 - OS/2 Warp Server Advanced - Specification Sheet Internet -------- OS/2 Warp Server Home Page http://www.austin.ibm.com/pspinfo/warpserver.html - General Announcement - OS/2 Warp Server to support SMP - OS/2 Warp Server Announcements of OS/2 Warp Server solutions by ISVs - OS/2 Warp Server references - OS/2 Warp Server to include features benefiting mobile users - IBM adds TCP/IP and backup features to OS/2 Warp Server - All OS/2 Warp Server headlines OS/2 Warp Monthly Newsletter http://www.austin.ibm.com/pspinfo/m10serv.htm - Six Great Reasons to Upgrade to OS/2 Warp Server http://www.austin.ibm.com/pspinfo/m9wsleap.htm - OS/2 Warp Server: A Giant Leap for LANkind http://www.austin.ibm.com/pspinfo/m7server.htm - OS/2 Warp Server: New Member of Family http://www.austin.ibm.com/pspinfo/m7dynip.htm - Introducing Dynamic IP for OS/2 Warp Server ----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----**** 3. GETTING THE STORY STRAIGHT In response to an inaccurate article on p. 26 of the February 26 issue of Information Week, John W. Thompson (general manager for IBM's Personal Software Products Division) mailed the attached letter to the Editor-in-Chief of Information Week. Joseph C. Panettieri was author of the article. *********************** February 28, 1996 Mr. Joel Dreyfuss Editor in Chief Information Week 600 Community Drive Manhasset, NY 11030 Dear Mr. Dreyfuss: After reading your publication's 2/26 story regarding CompUSA and OS/2 Warp, I had to wonder why it was published. Not only did multiple IBM officials explain to your reporter that his story was wrong, but a high-ranking CompUSA executive very clearly said that the story was "completely inaccurate," and that no-one at CompUSA has given IBM a deadline. I'm left wondering what it takes for InformationWeek to decide a source is wrong. So I will reiterate: IBM has not been given any deadlines for OS/2 sales by CompUSA. We work with them on an ongoing basis -- as do most software companies -- on ways to increase retail sales of OS/2, especially this coming quarter as we roll out OS/2 Warp Server. Further, CompUSA just added Stardock's Object Desktop and Galactic Civilizations, both popular OS/2 Warp titles, to its retail lineup. I would appreciate it if you would run a correction to your story in the next issue of InformationWeek. Sincerely, J.W. Thompson General Manager, Personal Software Products Division IBM Corporation ----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----**** 4. ONE MAN'S VIEW: IBM's OS/2 WARP SERVER IS HOT HOT HOT After Nick Marc, Office Manager at Chauvet and Company viewed IBM's kickoff release of OS/2 Warp Server, he was very excited by what he saw. He was especially impressed with the direct comparison between OS/2 Warp Server and Windows NT. It was obvious to him that OS/2 Warp had it all over Windows NT. He felt that OS/2 Server was much faster, easier to install and run, and has man more features than NT. He liked that "Everything about it is drag and drop, makes efficient use of existing resources, runs faster, is more responsive and flexible and costs less than NT." In addition to its performance and function, he liked its looks. The Demo was not Mr. Marc's first experience with OS/2 Warp Server. He says "We've had it running now for about three months and it's solid as rock. We've got DSS (IBM's Directory Security Service currently beta) installed and that makes the entire system super secure and eliminates the need for the staff to have multiple IDs and passwords, even when used remotely from an employee's home. We've also got ASK PSP, a neat little tool for troubleshooting and all I do is supply a basic description of the problem (and I do mean basic) and up pops the answer and the best part? Tells me how to fix it. I love that people run around all day thinking I'm a genius." OS/2 Warp has simplified his life. He uses a program called Mobile File Synchronization that automatically synchronizes the files of home users when they reconnect to the network by caching all files touched while connected so they can be worked on when disconnected and updates the files when they reconnect. When he sets up a new workstation he doesn't have to go off site to install people's software, he can do it from his machine. He can configure and maintain it all right from the server machine. He said,"Installing the TCP/IP stuff was so easy because the Server acts as the central address source and distributes TCP/IP to staff on demand so I don't have to go to their workstation and assign a permanent IP address. Do you know how much time this saves me?" He was pleased with the integrated backup functions in OS/2 Warp Server. "I don't need additional software or third part software to backup the system - something I do in the dead of night automatically by scheduling it when I'm not here and the backup is compressed, again automatically, and it's all so easy because you get this great OS/2 interface with graphical "pipes" that work like plumbing so I know where I'm going and what I'm backing up. I love that." And he was probably most excited about the advanced printing capabilities in OS/2 Warp Server. "We get drag-and-drop printing, we can run all 14 printers at once and we can do very high-speed high-volume print jobs like catalogs and fire them all over the place. I have remote setup, configuration and management from my server machine of all those printers. The User has direct display of actual print jobs and printer status so they don't have to run back and forth to the "group" printers to check their print jobs." "Plus, we get bi-directional printer support meaning I can get instant info on every printer's status especially when some dingbat says the printer's broken or won't work (and I can see it's just a paper jam, or out of paper or low on ink cartridge instead of just seeing the print job sit there in print queue and wondering [what's up?] - making me get up and go to that printer to find it's only one of the above...)." "Hey, here's a big one. Printer drivers are all on my server machine so I don't have to set up separate drivers for each individual printer. I love THIS feature. With OS/2 Warp Server, it's silly and a waste of money to even think of buying NT." ----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----**** 5. BENEFITS OF DYNAMIC IP Network administrators face a host of challenges building and maintaining their TCP/IP networks. Typically, they must assign IP (internet protocol) addresses, host names, and other network information at individual computers. This forces them to track changes every time a computer is either added, removed or relocated in the network. Users or administrators must also manually configure computers for network access. These tasks are time-consuming, error prone, and can disrupt network operations. IBM has addressed these challenges with a new networking technology called Dynamic IP. IBM is introducing Dynamic IP in OS/2 Warp Server. Dynamic IP implements a true TCP/IP "plug-and-go" network solution, greatly simplifying both IP network access and IP network administration. Furthermore, Dynamic IP is well-suited for networking mobile hosts and is fully compatible and interoperable with existing IP network hosts and routers. Dynamic IP is the integration of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Dynamic Domain Naming System (DDNS). Both DHCP and Dynamic DNS are new features to OS/2 Warp, and Dynamic DNS is a first in the industry. DHCP and DDNS are complementary open networking standards developed by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force). Each protocol implements half of the TCP/IP "plug-and-go" network solution. The DHCP protocol centralizes and automates the configuration of IP hosts, including IP addresses, while the Dynamic DNS protocols automatically record the association between IP hosts and their DHCP-assigned addresses. Using DHCP and DDNS, a host automatically configures itself for network access wherever it "plugs-in" to the IP network. That host can then be located and accessed using its permanent, unique DNS host name. Mobile hosts, for example, can therefore freely move about a network without knowledge of the local IP network addresses or services and without end-user or administrator intervention. The OS/2 Warp Server software package includes a Dynamic IP client, a DHCP server, and a Dynamic DNS Server. The Dynamic IP client consists of both a DHCP and a Dynamic DNS client component. The DHCP client may be configured to operate as a simple DHCP client or as a Dynamic IP client, integrating Dynamic DNS client services with the DHCP client. The Dynamic DNS server is a superset of the industry-standard "BIND" DNS server and may be configured to operate as a traditional static DNS server or a new Dynamic DNS server, or both. ----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----**** 6. NEW COMMUNICATION SOFTWARE PACKAGE FOR OS/2 SoftWings Enterprises Inc. announces its release of CamiNet for OS/2, the fastest and most secure communication software package of its kind. CamiNet is a 32-bit multi-threaded, multi-tasking, high performance, secure file transfer and management software product designed to save the customer time and money. The increase in performance is accomplished through the optimized efficiency of CamiNet's operations and intelligent file transfer techniques. CamiNet addresses security of data with state-of-the-art encryption technology, enhanced s3DES, a real bonus for those who transfer data over public networks like the Internet or telephone lines. If the transferring, management and maintenance of information, both sensitive and non-sensitive, is a large part of your business then CamiNet is a product you cannot afford to do without. SoftWings Enterprises Inc. is a software development organization committed to excellence in the continued development of the highest performance and most secure communication computer software products in the world. SoftWings Enterprises Inc. 10018 Lexington Estates Blvd Boca Raton, FL33428 Tel:(407)477-5010 Fax:(407)477-5011 E-mail:softwings@caminet.com ----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----**** 7. OBERON SOFTWARE UNVEILS PERSONAL CONTACT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Oberon Software, Inc. recently announced that it has begun distributing its new personal call tracking and contact management program. The program, named "pLog", will track both incoming and outbound calls, allow for scheduling call-backs, and generate multiple reports on the stored data. The program features a built-in speed dial list as well as integration with the user's existing FaxWorks(tm) phone book. The call history database can be viewed using an array of filters and sort criteria. The report display may be used to activate return calls or new calls, printed to any OS/2 printer device, or exported to a standard data format (SDF) text file suitable for importing into a spreadsheet program, other database, or word processor. If pLog and FaxWorks(tm) are used together in a LAN environment, pLog can supply each workstation user with his or her own speed dial list while accessing the voice numbers in the corporate, FaxWorks(tm) phone book. Oberon Software, Inc. has been developing OS/2 software and providing OS/2 related services since 1988. More than just a specialty, OS/2 related products and services are Oberon Software's only business. Other Oberon products include TE/2 and TE/2 Pro!, FSHL - Oberon Software's Alternative Command Line Executive, DiskStat PLUS!, LstPM, and the Commpak/2 Programmer's Toolkit for creating telecommunications routines under OS/2. In addition, Oberon Software has developed unique, OS/2 based solutions for a number of major corporations in the banking and communication industries. oberon@ic.mankato.mn.us oberon@prairie.lakes.com http://prairie.lakes.com/~oberon ----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----**** 8. OBERON SOFTWARE INTRODUCES DISKSTAT PLUS Oberon Software, Inc. has begun distributing DiskStat PLUS, an updated edition of its venerable DiskStat program. DiskStat PLUS is a low cost, disk space monitoring utility for OS/2 Warp. In addition to providing more textual and graphical display options, the new version has been completely reworked for better Workplace Shell integration, better behavior in LAN based scenarios, and better support for multiple execution profiles. It is expected that the utility program will appeal to all OS/2 users. Home users can use it to view the status of their system swapper file while network administrators may use it to monitor multiple disk drives on multiple servers. (Oberon's been busy lately!) ----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----**** 9. WARP'D HUMOR During a Papal audience, a business man approached the Pope and made this offer: Change the last line of the Lord's prayer from "give us this day our daily bread" to "give us this day our daily chicken." and KFC will donate 10 million dollars to Catholic charities. The Pope declined. 2 weeks later the man approached the Pope again. This time with a 50 million dollar offer. Again the Pope declined. A month later the man offers 100 million, this time the Pope accepts. At a meeting of the Cardinals, the Pope announces his decision in the good news/bad news format. The good news is... that we have 100 million dollars for charities. The bad news is that we lost the Wonder Bread account. ----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****----$$$$----****