Argus Systems Group Inc, heir to the Addamax Corp’s trusted system technology, plans to convert its B1-level Compartmented Mode Workstation technology from its System V.4/iAPX-86 base to Solaris 2.x and hopes to have it available on SunSoft’s Sparc and iAPX-86 systems by October 1. The Solaris-based Compartmented Mode Workstation will be submitted to US authorities for Orange Book B1 and Compartmented Mode Workstation ratings and to European authorities for equivalent ITSEC ratings. There is currently no Compartmented Mode Workstation available on Solaris 2.x and Compartmented Mode Workstations in general are rare enough. Sun Federal Systems was believed to be working on some sort of Compartmented Mode development, but its status is unclear. The Argus Solaris products will also support the company’s secure TCP/IP networking product, developed with Digital Equipment Corp, Network Computing Devices Inc and the Trusted Systems Interoperability Group. It will provide complete B1 and Compartmented Mode Workstation network interoperability for heterogeneous environments of MLS MultiLevel Secure systems. The Solaris x86 version of Argus Compartmented Mode Workstation will support the company’s secure MS-DOS and Windows package, which enables Microsoft packages to be used in B1/CMW environments.
Foster
Eventually, Argus will support a secure version of Wabi. As part of its future B1/CMW plans, Argus intends to license DEC’s trusted X Window server and window manager, a standard component of its Ultrix MLS+ Compartmented Mode Workstation as well as the new OSF/1-based DEC MLS+ V3. Argus will standardise on the DEC window system for all its future products, including its Solaris project. Licensing terms are still being negotiated. Argus and Network Computing Devices have both adopted the DEC trusted X Window System to foster a common look and feel among secure products. They will promote a common set of secure X protocol extensions. Meanwhile, Argus is also said to be in negotiations with other unidentified trusted system vendors to license a variety of security products and technologies, ranging from operating systems to tools, utilities and applications. Frederick & Co, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based investment banking firm, has agreed to manage multiple rounds of capital financing to support the Urbana, Illinois-based company’s strategic offensive. Argus did not disclose the level of expected investment.
