brad@Cayman.COM (Brad Parker) (08/29/90)
CAYMAN SYSTEMS SHIPS FREE SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR GATORBOX GatorBox Version 1.5 Supports AppleTalk Phase 1-2 Bridging, 30% Faster Routing, IP Tunneling, SNMP, FastPath Compatibility, AppleTalk Zone Filtering Security Cambridge, MA -- June 11, 1990 -- Cayman Systems today began shipments of its GatorBox(tm) AppleTalk-Ethernet gateway with version 1.5 of Cayman's software, which adds five new classes of features to existing GatorBox capabilities, plus average speedups of 30% (over version 1.4.1) for routing over AppleTalk-Ethernet networks with multiple client-server pairs. Version 1.5 software is available as a free upgrade to all registered users of Cayman's GatorSystem(tm) and GatorShare(tm) software. The Cayman GatorBox interconnects AppleTalk and Ethernets, enabling users in Macintosh networks and VAX/VMS, Unix and DOS communities on Ethernets to share peripherals and files, and to exchange e-mail. The GatorBox's new features address the needs of users in large enterprise-wide networks and managers of large AppleTalk networks. Features like IP tunneling, zone hiding and support for AppleTalk Phase 2 are designed for large networks with 100 or more Macintoshes. Stabler anticipates still greater routing speed increases plus other internetworking features in the 1.5.1 release currently scheduled for shipment this Fall. Version 1.5 is a feature-rich release that adds five broad areas to the GatorBox functionality: 1. Faster routing -- Version 1.5 performs 30% faster for routing over AppleTalk-EtherTalk networks in tests with one to four AppleShare client-server pairs. 2. AppleTalk Phase 2 support -- The GatorBox now supports AppleTalk Phase 2 and acts as a bridge between Phase 1 and Phase 2 AppleTalk networks. 3. Wide area networking -- With Version 1.5, the GatorBox can connect remote AppleTalk neworks via TCP/IP networks that don't route AppleTalk. The GatorBox encapsulates AppleTalk packets in IP packets, so they "tunnel" through IP routers. Macintosh users can see the remote AppleTalk zones at the other end of the tunnel. No other gateway does this. 4. Enhanced security features -- What happens when Macintosh users in a large internetwork see a long, confusing list of AppleTalk zones? Using version 1.5 the administrator can selectively hide zones and devices. Only the zones the administrator selects show up in the Macintosh Chooser. Instead of seeing dozens of networks, Macintosh users see only the zones they need to see. Only the GatorBox has this feature. 5. Improved management -- With version 1.5, network administrators can manage the GatorBox three ways: using atalkad (the AppleTalk administrative process commonly used with the Kinetics FastPath); using SNMP, for which network management tools are available from Digital Equipment Corp., Sun and others; and using Telnet to log into the GatorBox. Support for protocols like atalkad, MacIP and RIP makes the GatorBox a plug-and-play replacement for the Kinetics FastPath. The GatorBox, however, is the only AppleTalk gateway with application software for access to Unix file servers. Using GatorShare software, Macintosh users can access NFS file servers through the standard AppleShare interface. Cayman GatorBoxes are in use at universities, large corporations and government sites throughout the US and abroad. The retail price of the GatorBox is $2795; upgrades to Version 1.5 of the GatorBox system software are available free of charge to registered GatorBox owners. ### Cayman, the Cayman logo,and GatorBox are trademarks of Cayman Systems, Inc. Macintosh, AppleTalk, EtherTalk and AppleShare are trademarks of Apple Computer Corp. UNIX is a registered trademark of AT & T Information Systems. Ethernet is a registered trademark of Xerox Corporation. Macintosh, AppleTalk, EtherTalk and AppleShare are trademarks of Apple Computer Corp. All other products are trademarks of their respective owners. And heres the other part..... Page 1 GATORBOX VERSION 1.5 BACKGROUND INFORMATION First announced April 2 and shipped June 11, GatorBox systems software version 1.5 includes the following features: AppleTalk Phase 2 Support AppleTalk Phase 1 limits the maximum number of Macintoshes in an AppleTalk network to 254. This means that a maximum of 254 Macintoshes can be connected to a single physical Ethernet. Version 1.5 of the GatorBox software fully supports AppleTalk Phase 2, which extends the maximum number of nodes on an Ethernet network from 254 to close to 16 million. To implement this feature, version 1.5 lets the user define the range of network numbers and assign zone names independently of network numbers. The GatorBox with version 1.5 software can also serve as a gateway between Phase 1 and Phase 2 AppleTalk networks. This gives existing Phase 1 users an easy migration path from Phase 1 AppleTalk to Phase 2 AppleTalk. For instance, in a large network environment, dozens of Macintoshes on Ethernet using Phase II EtherTalk could be connected to a small LocalTalk network using Phase 1 AppleTalk through the GatorBox. Users on the AppleTalk Phase 2 portion of the network can take advantage of resources in the Phase 1 networks connected through the GatorBox. Wide Area Networking The GatorBox 1.5 can route AppleTalk packets between IP networks linked only by IP routers or server/gateways that don't pass EtherTalk packets. Remote AppleTalk networks can be connected via a TCP/IP backbone network. With this capability, Fred, the Macintosh user in Carlsbad, could print via the Internet to the LaserWriter in the branch office in Santa Barbara. Then using InBox, QuickMail or Microsoft Mail, Fred could send mail to Susan in Santa Barbara, telling her that his document is waiting for her on the Laserwriter. Using IP tunneling, AppleTalk networks can be linked without using EtherTalk. This is an advantage for sites that exclude EtherTalk from their network backbones to reduce the number of protocols on the network. Security features GatorBox 1.5 lets the administrator restrict the flow of network and zone information between two remote AppleTalk networks connected by a tunnel with GatorBoxes on both ends. Macintosh users have access to the remote site, but only the zones the administrator selects show up in the Chooser. This feature is designed to manage large internetworks with dozens or even hundreds of AppleTalk zones -- all of which would otherwise appear in the Macintosh Chooser. In large networks, administrators also need a mechanism for hiding AppleTalk devices like LaserWriters in one zone from all other zones. GatorBox system software 1.5 includes printer filtering that prevents any device from being seen outside its zone. Improved Management The GatorBox with version 1.5 software supports Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), an emerging standard for network management on TCP/IP networks. With this feature, the GatorBox can be queried for its TCP/IP and AppleTalk statistics. A number of vendors, including Digital Equipment Corp., Sun Microsystems and Wollongong Group, offer network management stations and agents based on SNMP. Cayman Systems is also working to develop a standardized AppleTalk Management Information Base (MIB) to query AppleTalk routers for their AppleTalk statistics. The atalkad support in version 1.5 lets network administrators configure and monitor multiple GatorBoxes and Kinetics FastPaths from a central UNIX host. It can still be reconfigured from a local Macintosh, if desired. The atalkad protocol was developed at Stanford University to provide for centralized AppleTalk administration. Version 1.5 adds the ability to open a Telnet sesion to the GatorBox from a Macintosh on the adjacent AppleTalk. This would let the network administrator query the GatorBox's operating status, routing information and the status of GatorShare users. Protocol Support for Large TCP/IP Internetworks Version 1.5 includes enhanced MacIP and RIP support with these features: ** IP subnetting -- Version 1.5 fully supports subnetting of the AppleTalk network. An AppleTalk network behind the GatorBox can appear as a separate IP subnet. Previously, the GatorBox allocated a range of IP addresses from the IP backbone to the Macintoshes on AppleTalk, thus reducing the number of available IP addresses. This problem disappears when the AppleTalk network acts as a separate IP subnet with its own network number and addresses. ** Support has been added for specification of name servers. This is useful for terminal applications that don't include domain name service, like Brown University's tn 3270 and Stanford's MacIP. The GatorBox supplies these applications with the IP address of the domain name server. ** Routing Information Protocol (RIP) is the most widely used routing protocol on TCP/IP LANs. GatorBox 1.5 uses RIP to resolve network addresses and propagate routing information automatically to other routers and host computers. This feature, combined with the support for IP subnetting, allows the GatorBox to be easily configured to work in even the most complicated TCP/IP networks. Features for Easier Installation For users who need to simply configure the GatorBox for AppleTalk-to-EtherTalk networking, version 1.5 includes a Quickstart feature. It requires a minimum of configuration information and gets the GatorBox up and running in just a few minutes. ### Cayman, the Cayman logo, and GatorBox are registered trademarks of Cayman Systems, Inc. Macintosh, AppleTalk, EtherTalk and AppleShare are trademarks of Apple Computer Corp. UNIX is a registered trademark of AT & T Information Systems. Ethernet is a registered trademark of Xerox Corporation. Macintosh, AppleTalk, EtherTalk and AppleShare are trademarks of Apple Computer Corp. All other products are trademarks of their respective owners. CONTACT: Cayman Systems (617) 494-1999 support@cayman.com