Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rice!uw-beaver!ubc-cs!alberta!dvinci!weyr!p1.f628.n250.z1.FIDONET.ORG!Peter.Fitzsimmons From: Peter.Fitzsimmons@p1.f628.n250.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Peter Fitzsimmons) Newsgroups: comp.os.os2 Subject: Re: Speculation Message-ID: <489.25CC1FDB@weyr.FIDONET.ORG> Date: 2 Feb 90 10:20:33 GMT Sender: ufgate@weyr.FIDONET.ORG (newsout1.26) Organization: FidoNet node 1:250/628.1 - RT Labs, Toronto ON Lines: 192 Q50640 PR Advanced Network Operating System LAN Manager 2.0 Announced Microsoft News Releases (NEWS) Microsoft's New Network Operating System Provides Powerful Client-Server Computing, Distributed Administration Redmond, Wash. -- November 6, 1989 -- Microsoft Corporation today announced Microsoft(R) LAN Manager Version 2.00, an advanced network operating system that provides a powerful foundation for client-server computing and tools for distributed administration of local area networks (LANs). LAN Manager 2.00 meets the needs of groups of people who want to easily share information and communicate over LANs. It offers a complete set of tools allowing software developers to create next- generation client-server applications that increase the productivity of groups as well as individuals. It also gives network administrators the facilities to efficiently manage complex networks that have many users and many multifunctional servers. "Networking software is becoming the most strategic system software for business today," said Bill Gates, Microsoft chairman and CEO. "LAN Manager is the solution for two important reasons. It offers the best platform for the development of client-server applications, and it provides powerful network security and administrative tools." Among an extensive list of major enhancements, LAN Manager 2.00 includes: 386(TM)/486(TM) microprocessor support; the OS/2 High- Performance File System (HPFS); multiprocessor support; facilities that let multiple servers be administered as a single server; tighter security at both the workstation and server; fault tolerance; reduced memory requirements for MS-DOS(R) and PC-DOS(TM) operating systems workstations; peer services; an improved user interface; and easy installation. Power for Client-Server Computing --------------------------------- Features required in a network operating system have changed significantly in the last two years. In addition to high throughput and file and print services, a network operating system must also provide a standard platform for sophisticated client-server applications, offer easy day-to-day management and readily connect PCs in multivendor environments. LAN Manager has the power and flexibility to meet these requirements. LAN Manager 2.00 supports 32-bit 386/486-based servers. It also takes advantage of the OS/2 system's rich multitasking features, interprocess communications, and built-in memory protection. It uses the OS/2 High-Performance File System to provide high-speed network throughput. LAN Manager 2.00 can support extremely large disk drives, individual files up to two gigabytes in size and hundreds of users per server. On a 386- or 486-based server, LAN Manager 2.00 automatically installs a 386-optimized network I/O subsystem and a 386-specific version of HPFS (HPFS-386). The combination of a network-optimized I/O subsystem and an HPFS-386 with OS/2 give LAN Manager Version 2.00 the ideal architecture for networking: high-performance file and print services, and a protected-mode, preemptively scheduled standard operating system for running powerful server-based applications. Version 2.00 also supports multiprocessor servers, which can offload networking tasks to a separate CPU and greatly speed up overall system throughput. This provides more horsepower to run server-based applications, such as the Ashton-Tate(R)/Microsoft SQL Server. Relief for the Administrator ---------------------------- With LAN Manager 2.00, administrators can oversee a group of servers as a single server by grouping them into a single unit, or domain. Distributed administration tools allow user accounts across all servers in the domain to be modified in a single operation. By comparison, on most PC networks today, administrators have to update each server individually. In addition, with the new replication feature, software can be updated across the domain in a similar fashion with a single operation. This combination of features greatly reduces the burden of administering multiserver networks and gives users the convenience of a single password and logon for all resources. Other new network administration features include an easy, full- screen, menu-driven installation program; and delegation of common administrative privileges to individuals known as operators, for management of the server, user accounts, and printers or modems. A remote boot feature supports both OS/2 and DOS diskless workstations. Security at Both Server and Workstation --------------------------------------- Network security in LAN Manager Version 2.00 has been strengthened at both workstation and server levels to prevent unauthorized users from accessing and modifying data. Specific security measures include password aging, time- and workstation-specific restrictions, and a password validation delay (effective at blocking password-finding programs). Security on 386/486 servers is strengthened considerably: No one can log on to the server itself without administrative privilege, and no one can circumvent server security by rebooting the machine. Built-In Fault Tolerance ------------------------- Reliability improvements in Version 2.00 include support for a fault- tolerant disk subsystem and uninterruptible power supply as standard features. LAN Manager 2.00 protects disk drives with "hot fix," a feature that automatically transfers data from flawed disk areas to a safe storage space. It also uses disk mirroring and drive duplexing to provide higher-level protection against disk and disk-controller problems. When a power outage occurs, an uninterruptible power supply can signal the LAN Manager server via a standard RS-232 cable. The server then sends warning messages to users and the administrator; if power is not restored before battery life nears depletion, the server performs an orderly shutdown of itself. Reduced Memory Requirements for DOS ----------------------------------- LAN Manager 2.00 reduces memory requirements by at least 50K for DOS clients. It also supports EMS 4.0 expanded memory, saving up to 100K of memory, depending on configuration. Peer Services ------------- Peer services allow clients to use resources of other clients. Any OS/2 1.20 workstation can provide resources directly to other DOS and OS/2 clients. A workstation can be an inexpensive alternative to the addition of another full server, and users can make their own local files available to others or to themselves when they are away from their desks. Peer servers can run OS/2 server-based applications such as SQL Server or Saros(TM) FileShare(TM). MSU Training to be Available ---------------------------- In a related announcement, Microsoft University will offer a revised series of courses on LAN Manager programming and administration. These courses will encompass the new features of MS(R) LAN Manager 2.00 and OS/2 system 1.20. The new classes will begin in January 1990. The LAN Manager programming courses -- LAN Manager 2.00 Programming Environment and LAN Manager 2.00 Applications Programming -- cover extensions to the LAN Manager API (Applications Programming Interface), design of distributed applications, porting of stand-alone applications to the network and interprocess communication mechanisms. The LAN Manager administration courses -- LAN Manager 2.00 Systems Administration and LAN Manager 2.00 Integration and Operation -- will train support engineers and systems integrators to take full advantage of the additional security options, peer services, replication, domains, and fault-tolerance measures of LAN Manager 2.00. Availability ------------ LAN Manager 2.00 will begin shipping to OEMs around the first of the year. OEMs will be announcing shipment schedules separately. Microsoft LAN Manager Version 2.00 requires the OS/2 operating system Version 1.20, and a minimum of 5 megabytes (MB) RAM and a fixed disk on the server. It supports either OS/2 1.10, OS/2 1.20, or DOS 3.30 or later on the client workstations. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ "MSFT") develops, markets and supports a wide range of software for business and professional use, including operating systems, languages and application programs, as well as books, CD-ROM products and hardware for the microcomputer marketplace. # # # Microsoft, MS-DOS and the Microsoft logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Ashton-Tate is a registered trademark of Ashton-Tate Corporation. IBM is a registered trademark and PC-DOS is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. 386 and 486 are trademarks of Intel Corporation. Saros and Saros FileShare are trademarks of Saros Corporation. COPYRIGHT Microsoft Corporation, 1989. Updated 89/11/07 05:00 -- Peter Fitzsimmons - via FidoNet node 1:140/22 UUCP: alberta!dvinci!weyr!250!628.1!Peter.Fitzsimmons Internet: Peter.Fitzsimmons@p1.f628.n250.z1.FIDONET.ORG Standard Disclaimers Apply...