brad@cayman.com (Brad Parker) (12/19/89)
CAYMAN SYSTEMS ANNOUNCES GATORBOX RESTRUCTURING Restructuring creates more flexible configurations In August 1989, Cayman Systems announced the restructuring of the GatorBox, their AppleTalk-to-TCP/IP gateway. The GatorBox is now available at a lower price, with powerful software upgrade options. The restructuring lets users configure the GatorBox as a transport level gateway, or selectively add networking functions like file sharing. The application-level portion of the GatorBox software, which translates AppleShare to Network File System (NFS), has been unbundled and offered as a separate application called "GatorShare." With GatorShare, the GatorBox will function as a file sharing gateway between AppleTalk and EtherNet networks. Now customers can purchase the GatorBox alone ($2795) and use it as a transport level gateway.that supports popular networking software from Pacer, Alisa, and others. . Or they can purchase GatorShare ($1995), which runs on the GatorBox and turns it into a file sharing gateway. As a transport level gateway, the GatorBox performs AppleTalk and TCP/IP routing. The GatorBox's AppleTalk routing gives network users the ability to print to Laserwriters or send electronic mail to EtherTalk hosts. It also supports file sharing using AppleShare for VMS software from Pacer or Alissa Systems. The GatorBox's TCP/IP routing supports services on Ethernet, including terminal emulation. The GatorBox includes NCSA Telnet, a popular software package that lets Macintosh users log into IP hosts, like VAXs or Sun workstations on Ethernet. The GatorBox provides hardware connections to LocalTalk (including Phonenet), standard Ethernet and thin Ethernet. The hardware also features 1 MB of RAM and a fast 10 MHz 68000 processor. The GatorBox software includes a standard Macintosh user interface for easy configuration, a status window and diagnostic messages. GatorShare software runs on the GatorBox. It lets Macintosh users share files with computers running NFS. To the Macintosh user, NFS volumes look like standard AppleShare volumes on a local disk. Using GatorShare, multiple AppleShare clients can store and retrive files on multiple file servers on Ethernet. This gives the user and network administrator greater flexibility. Since GatorShare also runs on the GatorBox, it eliminates installing AppleShare software on nodes on Ethernnet. The NFS protocol is used by a wide variety of Unix workstations. Table 1 lists vendors who provide NFS in their standard operating system or as an option GatorShare is the first of several "GatorBox applications" that Cayman will offer as software products for the GatorBox. The GatorBox applications translate AppleTalk services into their TCP/IP-based equivalents. When downloaded into the GatorBox, they change the GatorBox from an entry-level gateway into an intelligent gateway. Intelligent gateways provide network services like file sharing or electronic mail, and free users from installing networking software on all the computers in the internetwork. GatorShare, the first GatorBox application, is available now. In November 1989, Cayman Systems ships GatorMail-Q, a software gateway between the QuickMail mail systems and SMTP mail systems. GatorMail-M for Microsoft Mail, will be available in early 1990. In 1990 GatorPrint will also be available for the GatorBox. With GatorPrint on the GatorBox, UNIX-based computers can print to LocalTalk-based laser printers. A later release will let Macintoshes print to PostScript-based printers connected to UNIX computers. In conjunction with the unbundling, Cayman announced new retail pricing. Starting August 15, customers can order the GatorBox with its entry level software at the new, lower price of $2795. GatorShare will be priced at $1995. GatorMail-Q is priced at $995 for a package that serves 10 Macintosh users and unlimited SMTP mail users. TABLE 1: Computers that Support NFS Vendor Operating System Standard/Optional Acer Counterpoint C-XIX Optional Alliant Computer Concentrix Optional Apollo Computer Aegis SR9.7 Optional Apple Computer A/UX Standard Ardent Unix Standard ARIX ARIX 5.X Standard Computer Consoles CCI System V.3 Optional Control Data NOS/VE Optional Convex Computer Corp. CONVEX UNIX Optional Cray Research UNICOS Standard Data General DG-UX Standard Digital Equipment Corp. VMS Optional Digital Equipment Corp. Ultrix Standard ELXSI ENIX BSD Optional Gould UTX/32 Standard Harris CX/UX Optional Hewlett Packard HP-UX Optional Integrated Solutions BSD4.3 Standard IBM AIX Standard IBM VM Optional IBM MVS Optional Intergraph CLIX Optional MIPS BSD4.3 Standard Multiflow Computer TRACE UNIX Standard NeXT Computer Mach Standard Prime Computer Unix Standard Pyramid Technology OSX Optional Sequent Computer Systems Dynix v3.0 Optional Silicon Graphics System V Optional Sony Corporation NeWS Standard Stellar Computers, Inc. STELLIX Standard Sun Microsystems SunOS Standard Symbolics ILA Standard Unisys BSD4.3 Standard Cayman, the Cayman logo, GatorShare and GatorBox are trademarks of Cayman Systems, Inc. Microsoft and the Microsoft logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. StarNine is a trademark of StarNine Technologies, Inc. VAX, VMS, All-in-1 and VAXmail are registered trademarks of Digital Equipment Corp. UNIX is a registered trademark of AT & T Information Systems. IBM and PROFS are registered trademarks of Hewlett Packard Co. Ethernet is a registered trademark of Xerox Corporation. ARPAnet is a registered trademark of the Department of Defense. Network File System (NFS) is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.