mb@graphon.UUCP (Mark Brown) (03/28/89)
X WINDOW SYSTEM DISPLAY FROM GRAPHON FEATURES INTERACTIVITY THROUGH UNIQUE RS-232 ARCHITECTURE SAN JOSE, CA, Mar 6, 1989 -- A new low-cost approach to providing X display capability has been introduced by GraphOn Corporation. The OptimaX 200 connects to any Sun 3 or 4 workstation with a serial RS-232 cable. In addition to direct connection, the link may be made through a terminal server or via modem. The OptimaX 200 can serve as an X display for client programs running on the Sun and/or on any computer networked with the Sun. The OptimaX 200 uses a tilt-and-swivel non-glare page white display, refreshed at 75 hertz noninterlaced to eliminate flicker. Resolution on the 14-inch CRT is 800 by 600, yielding essentially the same pixel density as a standard Sun display. An enhanced VT220-style keyboard is standard, and a three button mouse is optional. The footprint is only 12 inches square, and no fan is required. List price is $1395. Availability is immediate with shipment 30 days after receipt of order. OptimaX Software, supplied on a quarter inch cartridge tape for loading onto the Sun, is priced at $395. Only one copy of the tape is needed for any number of Suns. (The tape is needed only once per Sun host for installation, then it may be used for others without restriction.) This software contains the GraphOn X11 Release 3 Server, the Xt toolkit, the Xaw widget set, and sample clients such as the twm window manager, xterm terminal emulator, and xclock. It is shipped with complete documentation, including an installation guide. The unique feature of the OptimaX architecture is that the server runs on the Sun, not on the OptimaX 200. This frees its 12 MHz 68000 processor to concentrate on display and communications tasks, preserving the interactive performance that makes X on a workstation so productive. By creating an efficient communication protocol between the server on the Sun and the display controller on the OptimaX 200, GraphOn has brought interactivity to RS-232 based windowing. Direct connection to the Sun allows communication at up to 38,400 baud, but operation over a 9600 baud modem gives roughly comparable throughput. For many tasks such as program development in xterm windows, even 2400 baud modems are acceptable. In this case the performance of a window is virtually the same as that of an ASCII terminal running 2400 baud. The overhead present in other serial communication strategies, such as using SL/IP plus TCP/IP to carry the client-server dialog, makes operation over low speed lines impractical. Other X terminals have taken the first step toward the OptimaX architecture: eliminating the local execution of client programs. This allows cost savings in the processor and memory, but the local execution of the server and communication protocols still requires processing power, EPROM or RAM memory to hold the server, and an unpredictable amount of RAM memory for working space. Because the communication between the client and the server is verbose, a high-speed connection must be built into a conventional X display. Adding internet protocols further increases cost and reduces communication efficiency. The OptimaX approach places system resources in the optimal locations. The human interface consists of a display, a keyboard, and a mouse. The display device controls the bitmap, font storage, and serial-line communication with the server. The host workstation (which already contains a powerful processor, general-purpose RAM memory, network support, access to fonts, and a virtual memory based operating system) runs the server and handles client-server communication over a network. It may also run clients, in which case an attached OptimaX 200 contributes zero traffic to a potentially busy network. The OptimaX 200 has a built-in VT100/220 mode for convenience in session startup (or for general-purpose use). Through xterm in the X Window System, the user can have access to a number of ASCII screens, each in a separate window. No program downloading is required for initialization of either the VT100/220 or the X mode. "Quite a few skeptics had to play with X on the OptimaX before they would believe it was possible. Now they are as excited as we are," observed Walt Keller, president of GraphOn. "We're offering something that's not only new, but it also makes lots of sense for people with an installed base of workstations." At UniForum GraphOn announced a special introductory offer that includes a 15 day free trial and free OptimaX Software when an OptimaX 200 is purchased for $1395. One to a customer. GraphOn was founded in 1982 to combine emulations of DEC and Tektronix terminals in a single unit. It now offers a broad range of color and monochrome terminals for this market. The OptimaX architecture has been under development for two years, drawing heavily on the fast graphics algorithms and technology of earlier GraphOn products. Company contact: Mark Brown, vice president of engineering GraphOn Corporation 1980 Concourse Drive San Jose, CA 95131 (408)435-8400 ..!uunet!graphon!xinfo