Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!uupsi!pyro!bell
From: bell@pyro.ei.dupont.com (Mike Bell)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: Where does UNIX fit in a graphically-based computer world?
Message-ID: <1990Sep9.182238.3375@pyro.ei.dupont.com>
Date: 9 Sep 90 18:22:38 GMT
References: <1990Sep5.202652.700@sun.soe.clarkson.edu> <14894@burdvax.PRC.Unisys.COM>
Organization: DuPont Electronic Imaging
Lines: 68



    A similar concept was behind the design of our MacBLITZ board. For those 
who dont know, it is a single NUBUS board for the MacII that is a self
contained workstation, running UNIX V.3.1 at 14 MIPS. It has on board 
ethernet, SCSI, and serial ports, and we have written extensive software
that allows Mac programs to communicate with UNIX processes. We also wrote 
drivers to allow the board to speak ethertalk directly(no bridge box) and we put
a CAP-like AFP file server on the board  to take advantage of it. The board 
also acts as an ethernet card for the Mac.

   We thought that it made sense to make a workstation hybrid that allowed 
each machine to do what it was good at; The Mac's easy to use GUI acts as a 
gateway to the extensive but cryptic  processing and comm factlities of UNIX.


 As an example, both Ingres and Informix have been ported to the board. So, 
the Mac that the card sits in, as well as all of the other Macs on the 
network (the card speaks Ethertalk) can perform SQL queries through Hypercard
front ends, or spreadsheets like Wingz. Many people do the same thing today 
with the company Vax; the MacBLITZ allows you to put a Vax INSIDE your Mac
(One with a lot more power !).

   I would be very interested in hearing from people who use Mac/UNIX
connectivity; I would like feedback on the concept, and I would like to hear
from people who make extensive use of Mac/UNIX; I would like to select a few 
VERY QUALIFIED beta sites to help test a major new release of our hardware
and software.  

  Please send any responses to:



	mike_bell@zip.ei.dupont.com




    Thanks.


			Mike Bell


P.S.  For the record, I helped to design the MacBLITZ.





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Mike Bell                                Internet: mike_bell@zip.ei.dupont.com
Senior Engineer                          CSNet: BELLMA%ERVX01@dupont.com
DuPont Electronic Imaging 		 Applelink: D2747
Core Technology Group

    MacBLITZ..... When you feel the need for speed..........

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