Radio-based wireless local network for Ethernet and Token Ring is ready for NetWare, LAN Server

IBM Corp has formally announced its radio-based wireless local area network system, which is being pitched either as a complete local area network offering, or for extensions to existing wired local area networks using a bridge or router. Compatible with both Ethernet and Token Ring networks, IBM Wireless LAN is available only for Novell NetWare and IBM LAN Server environments, but the company is ‘looking at’ developing versions for other network operating systems, including LANtastic, according to a spokesman. No timescale was given for this development. Rather than the peer-to-peer approach taken by other wireless local area systems, workstations on the IBM Wireless LAN communicate in a ‘cell’ structure with a wireless base station, which takes the form of a non-dedicated local area network server. IBM recommends wiring to connect the base stations together. According to IBM, each cell has a diameter of up to 360 yards and multiple cells can be overlapped. The system is based on AT, Micro Channel, or PCMCIA type II adaptor boards, which handle the physical and Media Access Control layers and incorporate a radio antenna module, connected via a cable: IBM says that the boards are used both for the wireless stations and the wireless bases. The radio modules are being manufactured by Motorola Inc as part of a joint development agreement. The system uses the 2.4GHz frequency band, which IBM says is free for unlicensed use in the vast majority of countries, France being a notable exception, where this frequency range is used by the military. It is said to support radio transmission at a rate of 1Mbps, although the company claims that data compression increases the data throughput. However, IBM adds that it is not possible to say how much extra throughput can be gained, because of the different characteristics of different types of data. According to the company, each station has dedicated 1Mbps of bandwidth, with equal access rights given to all stations. The system is based on a hybrid Time Division Multiple Access/Contention protocol and uses spread spectrum modulation with frequency hopping to avoid interferance and deal with the problems of overlapping multiple cells. The frequency hopping patterns are controlled from the Wireless Network Administrator, which the company says can reside in the wireless base, or an OS/2 local area network-wired station: this is said to modify cell hopping patterns to avoid interfering signals when interference is detected. In terms of security, the company says that stations are registered by the exchange of system-generated security keys between station users and the Wireless Network Administrator attendant at installation time. These keys are then used to authenticate users each time the network is accessed. IBM has incorporated its own data encryption functionality within the system, which is manageble via Simple Network Management Protocol. It will be out by the end of November and all versions will cost $800.

NetView for Windows this month

A Windows implementation of NetView that provides SNMP will ship at the end of July, from $1,900. It includes integrated fault, performance and configuration monitoring for all SNMP devices from workstations to hubs, routers, bridges and switches. IBM says Ethernet and Token Ring networks can be managed by a single NetView for Windows. It will bundle base-level applications with the software and offer others as add-on options. The system uses London-based Network Manager Ltd’s management applications.

SNA Manager/6000 links NetView and NetView/6000

SNA Manager/6000 also featured in the announcement. The software enables SNA-based systems to be managed from NetView/6000 by linking NetView and NetView/6000. IBM says it works with the NetView/6000 graphical user interface tools, and can manage multiple domains from a single point. It also enables large networks to be managed by several different operators. One-time charges range from $15,000 to $7

5,000 and it’s out mid-July. Other new offerings include a job scheduler for AIX which comes with a manager that runs on one RS/6000 node, scheduling tasks via agents that run on all nodes, and feedback completed job information and a user interface from which jobs can be defined and monitored, which can run on the same or different node to the manager. Out in July, the manager will cost $4,000 – agents start at $985 each with up to 10 per node.

SNA Manager/6000 links NetView and NetView/6000

IBM is also readying LAN Network Manager for AIX, which works with NetView/6000 to provide SNMP management of local area network, the company says. Local area network topologies are integrated into NetView/6000 topology displays, it provides a common format for graphical interface displays and supplies local area network alarm information to the NetView/6000 event log. LAN Network Manager for AIX starting price is $13,700 and it’s available from October.

NetView Distribution Manager for TCP/IP-connected AIX offers first RS/6000 communication

NetView Distribution Manager for AIX release 1.1 provides new functionality for controlling distribution and installation of software to TCP/IP-connected AIX, OS/2, HP-UX and Windows systems, IBM says. It offers RS/6000 server-to-server communication for the first time; provides Remote Change Control on servers, other nodes and clients from different domains from a central RS/6000; can re-direct software installation based upon distributed file systems; supports up to 400 change control clients per server and has an enhanced graphical user interface, IBM says. It can work with NetView/DM/MVS 5 to control software distribution from a multiple virtual storage system. Out by the end of the month, NetView DM/6000 is priced at $900 for the base system plus from $300 a client or less depending on the number of clients. NetView Distribution Management Agent for Windows provides Change Control Client services for Windows in TCP/IP networks. The network is controlled by an RS/6000 with NetView Distribution Manager/6000 – the Windows option supports installation of Windows and software. Distribution Manager for Windows accepts the DM/6000 Administrator to change software used in the host and updates the central database. Alternatively, a Change Control Client user, with the appropriate authority, can install and maintain workstation software as and when changes are requested. Furthermore, users can also distribute or collect data across the network. The NetView DM/6000-supported Change Control Domain can comprise Windows client workstations only or a mixture of OS/2, AIX/6000, Windows and HP-UX client workstations. Distribution Manager for Windows on personal computers with IBM TCP/IP for MS-DOS Version 2.1 is out now; price to be announced.

LAN Network Manager for AIX is soon to be released

IBM is also readying LAN Network Manager for AIX, which works with NetView/6000 to provide SNMP management of local area network, the company says. Local area network topologies are integrated into NetView/6000 topology displays, it provides a common format for graphical interface displays and supplies local area network alarm information to the NetView/6000 event log. LAN Network Manager for AIX starting price is $13,700 and it’s available from October.