Byte Vol 19 No 9

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IBM ThinkPad. Where

light weigh

J. I), rtaer and Associates

ranks IBM hi«ilit->t in customer satisfaction among portaMc computer business users.

Introducing the new ThinkPad* SlOCs. The new standard in subnotebooks. A lighter notebook shouldn't mean a lesser notebook. And with the new ThinkPad 510Cs, you have a lightweight color subnotebook with heavy-duty desktop performance.

Not as light as a frisbee. But it's close.

The ThinkPad 510Cs weighs just 4 pounds.

iBMpr Direct

> > y 5\

ID

3 - SB

Its stylish design fits comfortably in your briefcase or pocketbook. Yet it delivers crisp, intelligent color.

Think of it as a speed demon. At the

heart of every ThinkPad 51 OCs beats a powerful Blue Lightning™ 486 processor with clock-doubled 50/25MHz clockspeed. That's power to spare for running the most up-to-date, graphics-driven applications from spreadsheets to project and presentation management.

For executives on the go, a mobile communications center. The PCMCIA slot handles the fastest data/fax modules available (as well as other Type I or II PCMCIA cards). It comes preloaded with hundreds of dollars worth of communications and business software, including SofNet FaxWorks " Lotus" Organizer" Lotus cc:Mair; E-mail for the Advantis Network, and more.

IBM PC Direct prices and offerings are sublet to change or withdrawal. Offers available only in the U.S. Frices/offenngs in Canada may vary. Remarkeier prices vary. Shipping and handling charges are extra. 'Manufactured in Mexico bytes; total user-accessible capacity may vary slightly based on operating system environment "International Traveler's Warranty service is available to those customers traveling to countries where this product is sold by IBM or IBM t trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. All other brands and product names are registered trademarks, trademarks or service marks of their respective holders Study conducted among business users. PC Direct is a trademark of Ziff Communications Company and is used by IBM under license. ©1994 International Business Machines Corporation

t meets heavy-duty performance

ThinkPad 510Cs Color sub notebook

With the ThinkPad 360Cs,1 satisfaction starts with the right performance, at the right price. The IBM ThinkPad received the coveted J.D. Power and Associates Award for ''Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Portable Computer Business Users." Now the ThinkPad 360Cs draws inspiration from that legacy with an impressive and intelligent blend of sophisticated color performance, offered at a very affordable price. Whether you're handling spreadsheets, creating today s graphics-intensive presentations, or setting up a remote fax feed, you'll find the 360Cs delivers the performance and flexibility you need.

Preloaded with hundreds of dollars worth of presentation and business software. We've made the ThinkPad 360Cs more fiscally responsible than ever by including Windows1'; Lotus Organizer and cc:Mail, Lotus Screencam. Triton

$2399

IBM Credit Lease S89/month

The new ThinkPad 51 OCs

•486BL2-50 Blue Lightning 50/25MHz processor

•16KB 4-way associative on-chip cache •4MB RAM (expandable to 20MB)

•200MB hard drive •7.7" (measured diagonally) VGA color LCD screen •Weighs just 4 lbs. • Local bus video •One Type I or Type II

PCMCIA slot •External 3.5" 1.44MB diskette drive •81-Key Keyboard with integrated TrackPoint II™ •Hundreds of dollars worth of preloaded business software •Runs up to 8 hours on one battery charge

•Rechargeable NiMH battery and AC adapter (30w) •1-year International Travelers Warranty1

ThinkPad 360Cs Color notebook

CoSession Host, SofNet FaxWorks, and more.

Help Ware" service and support adds built-in quality to every ThinkPad. You'll like our 1-year International Traveler's Warranty4 and ThinkPad EasyServ courier repair service (available only in the U.S.). It's good wherever you are, from your home, office or even hotel room. Of course, you also get HelpCenterK technical support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The perfect ThinkPad starts with CustomerFit. The perfect computer isn't just a collection of technologies. It's a reflection of the way you work and the work you do. And it's always at a price you can afford.

Give us a call. Every ThinkPad comes with plenty of options to choose from.

From port replicators to docking stations, PCMCIA cards to plugin color coordinated monitors, we can CustomerFit your ThinkPad to your precise needs. Ask your Sales Representative for details.

$2599

IBM Credit Lease $97/month2

For more value

•Intel 486SX/33MHZ processor

•8KB internal cache •4MB RAM (expandable to 20MB)

•170MB HD (upgradable to 810MB)

•9.5" (measured diagonally) dual scan VGA 256-color display

•Weighs just 6.2 lbs. •One Type III or two Type II

or Type I PCMCIA slots •3.5" 1.44MB diskette drive •85-Key Keyboard with

integrated TrackPoint II

plus function keys for

power management and

battery status •Hundreds of dollars

worth of preloaded

business software •Runs up to 7 hours on one

battery charge

•Rechargeable NiMH battery and AC adapter (30w)

•1-year International Traveler's Warranty'

To order call todav!

Call us, we're open 8am-10pm Monday-Friday and 9am-5pm Saturday (Eastern Daylight Time). In Canada call 1 800 465-7999

m 1800 426-7647

•IBM Credit Lease prices are quoted tar 36-month terms Lease rates quoted are good through 9/30/94 after which time rates are subiect to change without notice Lease available to qualified commercial customers ony When referring to hard drive capacity. MB stands for 1 000.000 (usmess Partners. Other restrictions aaply Please call 1 800 426-7647 tor details on IBM s 30-day moneyback guarantee and limited warranties. Copies available upon request. IBM, ThinkPad. HelpCenter and HeipWare are registered trademarks, and TrackPoint II and Blue Lightning are Software programs listed are licensed to customers under non-IBM software vendor s terms and conditions provided with the package. IBM makes no representations or warranties regarding non-IBM software 1993 J.D. Power and Associates Portable Computer Satisfaction Study.

Travel light.

You 11 go farther.

EVTE

SEPTEMBER 1994 VOL.19, NO.9

News&Views

WINDOWS SUITES

Into the Enterprise 24

New software releases by Lotus and announcements by Microsoft and WordPerfect reflect the companies' different strengths and philosophies.

LASER PRINTERS

Color Laser Moves Toward Mainstream 25

Color laser printers for under $5000 may be appearing in offices soon.

IMAGE EDITING

Photoshop and Picture Publisher Get a Face-Lift 30

The top vendors of image-processing software are unleashing new versions of their high-end programs.

COMMUNICATIONS

Businesses Turn to BBSes 32

Amid all the information-highway headlines, business and government agencies are turning to an informationsharing technology that's existed since the early days of personal computing: the electronic bulletin board system.

PROCESSOR TRENDS

Getting CISC into RISC 38

The RISC-CISC debate is taking some interesting turns that could have a profound effect on the future of the personal computer industry.

PORTABLE COMPUTERS

Bigger and Better 40

Reality is setting in: Small too often translated into flimsy and underpowered products. Subnotebook vendors' renewed efforts will hit the market this summer and fall.

WINDOWS PRINTERS

Inexpensive, Fast, and Slow to Acceptance 40

When looked at from a technological viewpoint, Windows printers ought to be big sellers. But analysts don't expect the category to take off for a couple of years. Here's why.

NEW PRODUCTS

What's New 220

PCMCIA connects notebooks to Ethernet, Macs become multimediaready, open architecture brings visual development to C++, and more.

Cover Story

SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

78

Transforming the PC: Plug and Play

BY TOM R. HALFHILL For over a decade, users have struggled with the arcana of expanding a PC system. Plug and Play promises to make system configuration—and

reconfiguration—a simple and painless affair. Getting from here to there, however, won't be nearly as simple or painless.

Plug and Play with DM I—80

Tips for Plug and Play—82

What They're Saying About Plug and Play—86

Building a Better BIOS—92

Features

SUPERCOMPUTING

The Last Bastion

BY DICK POUNTALN "Computer on a chip" is old hat; are you ready for a "supercomputer on a chip"?

WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

Data over Cellular

BY JOHN BRYAN Support builds for AT&T Paradyne's Enhanced Throughput Cellular.

EMBEDDED PROCESSORS

Processors Proliferate

BY RICK GREHAN While most CPU designers seek bigger processors with more power, others are looking for less. Small is a strategy that's working remarkably well in niche markets.

The Taming Power of the Small—68

47

59

67

Reviews

State of the Art

INTERNETWORKING

Connecting Networks 98

Linking up multiple, far-flung networks for an enterprise calls for high-bandwidth digital connections.

On the Road to ATM 103

BY PETER WAYNER ATM is a strong contender for connecting enterprise networks cost-effectively. Among the first to adopt ATM will be small workgroups that need to move large blocks of data.

LANs Make the Switch

BY JOHN BRYAN Three types of packet-switching hardware—shared-memory systems, shared-bus designs, and multistage switch matrix units— make it easier to maintain highspeed connections among an organization's LANs.

What's on the Market—114

113

4 BYTE SEPTEMBER 1994

WW III

XUJJL

WATCOM ANSI C

WATCOM C+ +

HE^ OFF\CE

POSIX 1003.2 Utilities

Debugger

Multimedia X Window Server

GUI Application Builder

TCP/IP Utilities (ftp, telnet...)

Socket Manager

Ethernet

Token Ring

STD32 bus LAN

Device I/O

Network Manager

Device Manager PI 003.1

Touchscreen

Pen/Tablet

Motif or OPEN LOOK

QNX Window Server

Embedded Window Server

MS-Windows 3.1

DOS Runtime Manager

Data Acquisition Manager

POSIX Filesystem Manager

DOS Filesystem Manager

ISO 9660 CD-ROM Filesystem Manager

Process Manager PI 003.1 PI 003.4

WordPerfect

Excel

I—Ej

Digital 1/0

A/D

D/A

SCSI disk

SCSI tape

SCSI CD-ROM

THE OS OF CHOICE FOR any SYSTEM.

The choice is yours, module by module.

We work in real Time.™

Inside North America - 1-800-363-9001 ext. 101 • Outside North America - 613-591-0931

European division - (+44) 703 611800

QNX Software systems Ltd. 175 Terence Matthews Crescent, kanata, Ontario, Canada K2M 1W8 Fax:613-591-3579 European Division: 17 Bishops Court, Church road, bishopstoke, Hampshire, S050 6PE, England Fax: (+44) 703 641 153

S> QNX Software Systems Ltd. 1994. QNX is a registered trademark of QNX Software Systems Ltd. All other trademarks and registered trademarks belong to their respective owners.

Circle ±31 on Inquiry Card.

The OS of choice

FOR EMBEDDED SYSTEMS.

Opinions

ONTkOI. SDR WARI-:

DHiKATINO SYSTEM

137

With remote-control software, you can access all the resources of y our desktop computer sv stem from just about anywhere. BYTE evaluates the six remotecontrol programs most w idely used for running Windows applications. We lest the programs for performance, features, usability, and versatility.

167

in .1 HKl CI DAWSON I iniiv iv a freely available version of Unix, developed by individuals from all over the world. But it isn't a bare-bones Unix clone, ft is full of the features you w ould expect to find only in a commercial implementation of Unix.

Low-Cost Simulation

171

Big, Fast IDE Drives 151

BY DAVID ESSEX New IDE drives provide performance suitable lor local-bus systems and capacities lh;il exceed u griuby tc. We test eight of the latest.

157

Access 2.0: The Best of Both Worlds?

BY JIM CARLS With new ease-of-use features and enhanced development tools. Microsoft Access 2.0 aims at database dabblers and developers. Reviewer Jim Carls evaluates Access as both an end-user tool and a development environment.

SparcStation Overhaul 161

BY ERIC GARLAND Sun has updated its graphics workstation lineup. BYTE looks at the inexpensive SparcStation 5. powered by Sun's new MicroSparc II processor, and the SparcStation 20. which holds up to four SuperSparc processors.

Dual SuperSparcs—162

CD-ROM IJR1VHS

Lab Report:

24 CD-ROM Drives:

The Best Double-Speed CD-ROM Driv Do You Need Quad Speed?—178 How We Tested—180 Fast Access to Multiple CDs—182 CD-ROM for the Road—182 Honorable Mentions—184 Dubious Achievements—184

s 176

BY JEFFREY FRIT?. No longer an expensive and hardto-justify luxury, high-speed remote access to networks is now possible using ISDN and other digital sen ices available from the phone companies.

The Analog Alternative—126

Core Technologies

Silicon for 3-D

BY PETER WAYNER Inexpensive 3-D hardware is coming to a PC near you, and games, slide presentations, virtual reality—even spreadsheets—will never be the same.

The Fix Is In for Chicago 19

BY JON UDELL

Chicago will be the most radical Windows upgrade ever. Here's what's important and improved in Microsoft's newest operating

191

Object-Oriented COBOL 197

BY RICK GREHAN Object-oriented—hold on to your hat—COBOL is in the works. I low could Mich ,i ihing remain true to the spirit of the language— and what would it look like?

201

BY DAVID YAVIN The issue of replication scheduling is moving to the forefront. Buyers and v endors of distributed data systems should raise their level of awareness about this potentially

BY JERRY POURNELLE Jerry tackles the trinity of SCSI, video cards, and sound cards; as usual.

Books and CD-ROMs: PowerPC: Cultural and Technological Perspective ... 41

BY JON UDELL. RICH FRIEDMAN. AND RICK COOK A chronicle of the PowerPC revolution, college selection via CD-ROM. and an ciicv cJo/vilia o| i omnuter cracking

Commentary:

Why IBM Should License

Win32 278

BY JON UDELL To survive as an operating-sy stem vendor. IBM will need a credible Win32 strategy.

Editorial

BY DENNIS ALLEN

Letters

Computing in a global environment, computing and U.S. politi

Upliulvtical Index lo.Ad\ Index to Advertisers by Product Category Inquiry Reply Cards:

I mm Join "hstmes/tminln u-'U' .in,] selcl Ihe .ippn.pn.ilc suharea lie.

-sep94").

From the UlJNET:ftp to ftp.uu.net. log on .is "anonymous." and enter your user ID as your password. Type "ci puhiisheii/hMe" .iiu'l lype "DIR." Files appear in subdirectories by month. From the BYTE BBS at 1200-9600 bps: Dial (603) 924-9R20 and follow the

'. r h, p, lidnnlhl.t, indMeidco.04 95pe.y8ar European sur

sot questions to BYTE Subscriptions. P

si PTl MBBR iw H VTK

BYTE

Contents by Platform

Index

This page presents the articles in this issue according to computing platform.

Into the Enterprise 24

Lotus. Microsoft, and WordPerfect employ different integration strategies for their Window s applica is

Photoshop and Picture Publisher Get a Face-Lift . .30

Adobe and Micrografx ready the releases of the new versions of their image-editing software for Windows and NT.

Inexpensive, Fast, and Slow

..40

Although Windows printers deliver high-quality output and fast printing at a reasonable price, analysts predict slow market acceptance.

Transforming the PC:

Plug and Play 7f

The Plug and Play standard promises to make PC compatibles easier to configure and maintain. But to achieve full system software support for PnP you'll need to move to a fully integrated PnP operating system like Chicago, or to a future version of NT or OS/2. How do you get there from here?

s..137

As Windows has grown in popularity, the demands made on remotecontml communications have increased. A graphical interface such as Windows works with many times more screen data than older DOS interface programs—screen data that has to travel continuously over a relatively low modem connection. NSTL evaluates six remote-control programs for running Windows applications.

Big, Fast IDE Drives 151

Big, new IDE drives are the answer to big. new Windows applications. These drives have capacities ranging from 540 MB to over I GB and throughput capabilities suitable for the latest local-bus systems.

Access 2.0:

The Best of Both Worlds? 157

Microsoft Access 2.0 includes new

both the end user and the developer. Access takes full advantage of the Windows interface with OLE 2.0 support. OLE automation, right-click menus, hover help, cue cards, a host of wizards, and graphical database design tools.

Low-Cost Simulation 171

Dion examines the Windows version of Electronics Workbench 3.0. a circuit simulator that lets you test out your designs before you build

The Fix Is In for Chicago.

Here's a preview of the improvements you'll see in Microsoft's latest—and most significant—Windows upgrade.

193

Win32

278

Is Chicago the ultir

nate OS/2

killer?

Transforming the PC:

Plug and Play 78

Making the move to Plug and Play will be a slow process. Ultimately, it will mean migrating to a PnP-integrated operating system, such as Chicago, in a future version of OS/2 or NT. Here's a look at PnP and the upgrade kits available to help eas.

Why IBM Should License Win32 278

Should IBM ditch Presentation Manager and license the Win32 API so OS/2 can better compete with Chicago?

Photoshop and Picture Publisher Get a Face-Lift . . . 30

Adobe readies new releases of Photoshop for the Mac. including a completely native PowerPC

Low-Cost Simulation 171

Electronics Workbench, a circuit simulator with versions that run under DOS, Windows, and on the Mac. lets you test out your designs before building them.

SparcStation Overhaul 161

BYTE looks at two new Sun workstations. Starting at $3995. Sun's new SparcStation 5 makes a good, inexpensive workstation. The SparcStation 20 can compensate lor its relatively slow SuperSparc processor by running up to four of them at a reasonable cost.

167

Power of Cooperation

Linux has become what the Internet community wanted: a robust, freely available environment that has all the features of many commercial Unix versions, but with the openness and cooperative spirit of the early days of Unix.

Load Balancing's Inexpensive Performance Boost 26

Load balancing offers a cost-effective way to handle the traffic that passes between a server and the rest ol the network.

This month's State of the Art section examines those topics that are dominating the networking arena today: ATM. switching technology, and remote access.

On the Road to ATM

The switches, LAN convertet interface cards that you need to set up a local ATM network are available today.

LANs Make the Switch 11

Adding switching devices to LANs makes it easier to connect the enterprise.

Digital Remote Access 125

Widely available digital phone links can connect your decentralized, enterprise LANs.

Applications su

bw

24

ATM

103

BBSes 32

BIOS 92

Books 4 1

CD-ROM

34

.41. 176

Chicago

79,

193, 278 38

CISC

COBOL 197

125, 137

ftnmnrpccinn 1A

CPUs

38, 191

Databases

157, 201

DMI

79

Embedded proc.

67

Emulation

38

ETC

59

Graphics

30.

191. 205

151

IDE

15 1

Image editing 30

Macintosh 30, 38

Networks

26,

98, 103,

1 13.

125. 201

Notebooks

40

Operating systef

ns

167,

PCMCIA

193, 278 26

78

Portables 40, 1 82

Printers 25, 40

PrvwAcsnr* 1 1 1 o 1

Programming

..34. 38,

67,

167, 197 125, 137 137

Remote-control

software

RISC

38, 47

Simulation soft*

•re

171

SPARC

161

Spreadsheets 24

Subnotebooks

40

S u percom puti n |

47

Switching techn.

oiogy

1 13

System architec

turn

78

Systems

40,

161, 205

Unix

161 lfi7

Video 19 1

WANs

103. 113

Wireless cellular

59

Workstations

161

YOU'LL LIKE NEW MICROSOFT

ACCESS 2.0 WHETHER YOU'RE

LOOKING FOR

A database OR A

They say you can't be all things to all people. But one database comes really close: new Microsoft Access" database management system 2.0. The first relational database for everyone.

Mail Merge Wnard works directly with Microsoft Wont to place your selected data into the document of your choice.

If you need a database with a small "d," you've found it. Microsoft Access is easy to use. So easy, you can create tables, make forms, and print reports right from the start.

Want that capital "D" variety?

Then fasten your seat belts.

Mcrosoft Access packs speed, power, and control. Helping data base developers quickly create sophisticated database applications.

The fact is, Microsoft Access has something for everyone. Or more precisely, a lot for everyone.

Like new Rush more"1 query optimization, a technology that makes queries lightning fast. So you get your data quicker.

Like Table Wizard, a feature that takes you stcp-by-step through table setup and design.

Like Query Wizard, a helpful assistant who walks you through the steps of finding your data.

In fact, thanks to IntelliSense" technology, a Microsoft Office

event model for added control and flexibility similar to Microsoft'

Eg ,2;

f 1 Mir

Add fully functioiul buttons to a form using the Button Wizard. Microsoft Access does all the work of writing the code behind the button.

Visual Basic" programming system.

Microsoft Access even makes it easy to tap into any current database you have, from Paradox* to Microsoft SQL Server.

You can also count on unlimited no-charge product support

WitbOfficeLinks. 'ltd data directly to Microsoft Excel

i a using the Analyze It

|Ana^el(vMthMSE^dl toolbar biiWm.

by phone (toll charges may apply).

routine tasks will be auto- And for as litt,e as *"*for an Imatic. And your complex upgrade or $359' for the Office -come much easier. Professional upgrade, Microsoft

:ourse, when you're ready to^ccess couWn't be more, well, accesIventure beyond the basics, sible. For a reseller's name, or to

| Microsoft Access is, too. order, call 800-370-8996, Dept. CN3. W'th tools that help develop powerful database applications. Including engine-level validation guar

feature, many of yo

And a program

, language featuring an

Microsoft Of f ice

BYTE

Design Director: Roger Goode Associate Director: Joseph A Gallagher Graphics Manager: Doreen Means Designers: Barbara Busenbark, Jan Mullei Sharon Prtce, Donna Sweeney Production Manager: David R. Anderson Editorial Graphics Manager Virginia Reardon

Director: Claudia Fl<

Senior Advertising Services Representative Lyda Clark

Technical Editors: David Essex. Dave Rowell

Testing Editors/Engineers: Howard

Eglowstein. Ben Smith

Lao Assistant. Selinda Chiquoine

anr Lisa Jo Sleiner . lies Manager: Susan Kingsbury Graphics Production Coordinator Chnsta Patterson

Senior Financial Analyst: Kenneth A. King Financial Analyst: Kattileen Deguise Systems Administrator Peggy Dunham Data Processing Coordinator: Diane Henry Production Assistant Purchaser: Agnes Perry

Mandating Art Director: Stephanie Wamesky Market Research Manager: William Zhao Copyrights Manager: Faith Kluntz Reader Service: Cynthia Sands Assistant Manager. Marketing Events: Carol r ■

tor fast surface delivery, EE-,

livery Non-European countries USJ

face mail, or US$85 for air mail. Single copy

pnceisS3.50intheUS.andi

la Foreign su remitted in U

Receptionist: Beverty Gos:

Rosewood Dr. Danvers. M

Amiga Exchange: Joanne Dow Entertainment and Leisure Exchange: Rich Taylor

IBM Exchange: Barry Nance Programmers Exchange Bill Nicholls

Tojerry Exchange: Jerry Poumelle WIX Exchange: Karen Kenworthy Writers Exchange: Wayne Rash Jr

by Delphi Internet Services Corporati e featuring industry ne pcoming BYTE article! rtable code for BYTE re. BIX also offers where you

IA 01923 Spec.fy ISSN 0360-5280. [1 50 Copying done for olher than personal

''w^^cGraw^HiMnc ."^ohlwod"^

Founder: James H McGraw (1860-1948). id Chiel Operating Otticer. Harold W McGraw III: Executive Vice President, General Counsel, ana Secretary: Robert N —- "to President Treasury Operations Frank □ Penglase; Executive Vice President. Publication

When you carry a MessagcPad" 110, the new Newton" communications assistant from Apple, you earn,' the power that comes from having information at your fingertips. Which means no matter where you go, you always have access to the facts you need, at the moment you need them.

With the Newton Connection Kit 2.0 for Windows, you can exchange information with a range of popular software on your Windows-equipped PC, such as ACT! contact manager, Lotus Organizer, Lotus 1-2-3, AmiPro and WordPerfect*

So now you can do things like reference sales leads from Dynodex and work with data created in Microsoft Word, all from the palm of your hand.

And if you work on a Macintosh; the Newton Connection Kit 2.0 for Macintosh will allow you to easily do the same with all your current Mac" applications."

lb find out more, call 800-365-3690, ext. 100, for the Newton dealer near you. Or check out an on-line service for the interactive demo found on the Newton forum. Either way, you'll find that instead of giving you more technology. Newton gives you something you can really use: help.

Crowing roosters.

Insomniac software developers.

And database managers who'd like to get home sometime before the farm report.

[The dawn of Windows mUdWltV MWS K/SG compu

\1U RoSOfT\MM1CMSNT-. OMHMIHll

o that database managers could get home from work at a reasonable hour, the developers of Windows NT" watched many sunrises from behind their MIPS RISC computers.

(They chose machines built around the MIPS RISC architecture for two basic reasons: sheer performance and superior technology. Fact is, the NEC VR4400" MIPS processor is at the heart of some of the most powerful computers in the world.)

Was it all worthwhile? Absolutely. First, Windows IMT lets companies move their information management into the future without missing a beat. Or shutting down their mainframes.

Second, the brilliant new database management application made possible by Windows NT-Microsoft SQL Servermakes managing databases simpler. And gets enterprise information to end users easily and fast.

Third, the direct descendant of the machines used to develop Windows NTthe powerful, dependable NEC Express RISCserver" - is now available to run a new generation of programs. Which means they will run quickly, seamlessly, smoothly. Allowing database managers everywhere to sleep a lot better.

And the rest is history.

Editorial

Dennis Allen

Plug and Play

An archaic PC architecture leaves us with the albatross of compatibility hanging from our necks

The most frequently heard phrase in the computer industry today, plug and play, is most often used to define what computers are not. That is a sad commentary on the state of computing, and the outlook is only a little brighter. While we all want a plug-and-play world, getting the PC platform there is not going to be a fast or easy process.

The reasons are many, and they are centered on a desire to maintain compatibility with hardware that was engineered in the early 1980s. Intel and Microsoft are leading a commendable effort to get the industry to adopt a set of standards rightly called Plug and Play. The problem, according to Tom R. Halfhill, a BYTE senior news editor and author of our cover story, is that moving to Plug and Play "'won't be painless, won't come cheap, and will likely take years."

It's a move in the right direction, and there isn't anything particularly wrong with the Plug and Play standard—it's probably the best it can be, given the archaic PC architecture it must support. The problem is that if the transition will take years, perhaps moving to another platform altogether might make more sense.

Ah, but market demand is fickle, and as Halfhill points out, previous attempts to move to a plug-and-play kind of world with Micro Channel architecture and EISA have, more or less, failed. It occurs to me that in this sea of change, we're all aboard a boat going nowhere, and we have the albatross of compatibility hanging from our necks.

It is no longer clear to me why we must be so intent on clinging to an ideal notion of compatibility with a PC architecture that was introduced over 10 years ago. What happened to the revolution? Instead of forging ahead, we've become content with what we once saw as the fallacy of mainframes: the failure to embrace change.

Once, legacy systems referred to the mainframes and minicomputers in the data-processing center. Today, though, the real legacy systems are the PCs on our desks running DOS and Windows—including those 66-MHz

486s and Pentiums you just bought. In the end, those systems are still defined as fast, albeit very fast, IBM PC clones.

Working with PC clones in 1994 is like steering a 12meter yacht to the moon—sure it's a fast, complicated boat, but it doesn't do well out of the water. With PC clones, you are still stuck with 640-KB limits, patchwork IRQ (interrupt request) and port management, device-driver hell, and error messages that no user should ever have to experience. Why do we tolerate this misery?

Many reasonable people will argue that software distribution in an enterprise would be impossible without adherence to so-called PC compatibility. Nonsense! Software distribution across networked computers is, for all practical purposes, already impossible. Ask people in large organizations, and they'll tell you war stories of trying to upgrade software across their networks. Even when everyone on a network uses the same brand and model computer and the same operating system, the configuration files, device drivers, additional memory and hardware devices, and even the lowly AUTOEXEC.BAT files can differ wildly. Where's the compatibility in that?

To Intel's and Microsoft's credit, the Plug and Play standard is at least a realistic approach to a market enthralled by the IBM PC standard. The problem is that, at best, it will take years for Plug and Play to significantly change our world for the better. By that time, the IBM PC standard will be even more outdated.

It seems to me that there is a vacuum where a computer industry vision ought to be. It's high time to cut loose this albatross of compatibility and sail ahead. Computer companies say rhetorically they're giving customers what they want. I say, give us what we need, platforms that break with the past. We need systems that don't make us wait for graphics, systems fast enough to deal with the complex issue of real human interfaces, and systems that plug and play into where we're going, not where we've been. ■

/ would like to welcome the newest member to the BYTE family, BYTE Middle East, an Arabic-language edition that will be distributed throughout the Middle East and Arabic-speaking North Africa.

Dennis Allen. Editor In Chief (dallen@bix.com)

BVXE SEPTEMBER 1994

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Letters

I spent the first three months of 1994 developing software in Russia. Everything I saw confirms Edward Yourdon's view

in "Developing Software Over

seas" (June). The Russian programmers on our team were among the brightest I've ever met. They showed a hunger for American technology that neither the American and British team members had ever seen before. Today, few Russian firms can afford to purchase new technologies. Even if they could, they would wait months to legally bring equipment into the country or else depend on "friends." Building ground-breaking systems in developing nations expands our markets—the pie is getting bigger, and American firms can enjoy a sizable slice by actively promoting its growth.

Steven Glickstcin New York, NY

What's in a Number?

L. Chris Miller's article "Transborder Tips and Traps" (June) is interesting but inaccurate when referring to U.K. practice. She claims a billion refers to "I followed by 12 zeros." The statement, "Therefore a BBC announcer says "one-thousand-million dollars' where an American would say 'one billion dollars,'" is untrue. We have followed American practice for at least 20 years. Today's London Times talks of a U.K. public sector borrowing 4 billion pounds, without needing to explain that this means 4.0()().(XM).()00. She also said. "Apple's Trashcan icon, for example, looked like a postal box to British Macintosh users." I know, however, that although 1 find the word Trashcan jarring, the icon looks like a slightly old-fashioned dustbin of the sort inhabited by Top Cat.

Graham Asher London, U.K.

We called the British Consulate in Boston, Massachusetts, to ask for the official value for one billion in the U.K. Representatives there responded that Miller is correct: Officially, in the U.K., one billion is a million million, whereas in the U.S.. one billion equals a thousand million. Unofficially, practice docs vary.—Eds.

No Favoritism Here

Your article "Accelerating Engineering Design" (July), which discussed a Formtek implementation at Lockheed, left out the salient point that Formtek is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed. The article is misleading in that it never mentions that Lockheed, in effect, awarded the contract to an inhouse vendor.

David Hurwitz

San Jose. CA

You arc correct w hen you slate that hormlek is a w hollyowned subsidiary of Lockheed. My research confirmed the special relationship between the two Companies but revealed that procedures for such internal procurements arc more stringent than for arms-length transactions. But given that the effect of the TormtekLockheed relationship was to complicate—rather than simplify—the contract award to l ormtek. in hindsight. I agree. This relationship should hare been made clear.—S. Wallace

Not Socialist Just Equitable

Andy Reinhardt's July Commentary is example of socialist dogma, which has place in a world that is abandoning those unproductive concepts. The federal government is capable of massive projects, but it is incapable of setting technical specifications (e.g.. ii has only recenth acknow ledged TCP/IP—instead of OSI |Open Systems Interconnection]—as an approved networking protocol for federal projects).

Resources on the Internet should be accessible, not free. Reinhardt fears that the cost of accessing the data highway may be "prohibitive for some" and that you and I should bear this burden. He also states that using the data highway may become an "essential aspect of citizenship" and thus must be made available to everyone, regardless of their means. He offers no solution but speculation and conjecture. I. for one. am tired of those who would reallocate my resources without first specifying with particularity any benefits.

Eric Seggehnich Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ

My take on the government's involvement in the information superhighway is that it should follow the model of the interstate highway system. The government built the roads, and anybody with a truck, car, or motorcycle can use 'em. Free. When you stop off at the diner, you pay for the meal.

Terry Friedrichsen

Tuc

n.AZ

Reinhardt's call for "social control" of electronic communications would be nothing more than amusing drivel, if not for the fact that there are people in positions of power who would love to implement such a program. Reinhardt declares that "by granting such a huge opportunity for power and profits to the private sector, we have a right as a society to demand, in return, conformance..." But "the private sector" simply means individuals. And "we" do not exist "as a society"; we exist only as individuals. In Reinhardt's statist Utopia, those who have the means to access the Internet will be forced to subsidize those who don't. Why is anyone entitled to a modem at my expense? Because unproductive people have a "right as a society to demand" it of me? Such a demand has all the legitimacy of a mugger's "right" to my money.

Gary McGath Hooksett. NH

/ reject the notion that my Commentary was "socialist dogma" or (idled for a "statist Utopia. " To the contrary, while I would prefer a data highway along the lines of what Friedrichsen proposes, I recognize the implausibility of a public resource in this era and support instead a private model. That we should aim for inexpensive basic service is by no means a radical notion: Cross-subsidies have been a fundamental tenet of telecommunications law since the 1930s.

I didn 7 propose free modems, just as today we don 7 have free phones or phone service. And I never proposed that the government regulate the content of data-highway traffic. Rather, I asked that the government not abandon its historic responsibility to ensure equity and

We want to hear from you Address correspondence to Utters Editor. BYTE. One Phoenix Mill Lane. Peterborough. NH 03458; or you can send E-mail via the Internet or BIX to editors@bix.conu Letters may be edited.

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Letters

freedom of expression, as it does now for the phone and cable systems. The data highway could turn out to be an open resource that enhances the democratic process or a closed oligopoly that exploits consumers and codifies majority values at the expense of minority ideas and people. I'm hoping for the former. —A. Reinhardt

Forecasting: Criticizing the Criticism

I was delighted that you included SmartForecasts in your review "Forecasting the Future" (June). However, in saying the program "lacks a convenient way of holding out data to verify forecasting accuracy," it's clear Stewart missed the concept of sliding simulation, the process we use to measure forecasting accuracy. Maybe our problem here is that this calculation is automatic; the user doesn't have to ask for it. He also said our Eyeball program "does not document the manual changes made in the forecast graph." However, we do document both on the graph and in the forecast data table that the changes resulted in a "manual" forecast.

Charles Smart President, Smart Software, Inc.

Belmont, MA

Jerry Quenches Windows Envy

For the last few months, BYTE has taken a much more technical turn that I greatly appreciate. The Core Technologies section is particularly good. I am also pleasantly surprised by your June issue. Jerry Pournelle's column abounds with IRQ (interrupt request) problems, addresses that should be DEFF and not DCOO, mixed up DMA channels, incompatible clones, and buggy software. Each month, just reading Jerry's masterful solutions to all this mess is enough to quench any Windows envy I could have. And people think Unix is difficult? Come on! X-Windows is simple compared to Microsoft Windows!

Frederic Mora Montpellier, France

Popular, but Unacceptable

It's been some time since the Comdex Show in Atlanta, and now it's time to say something. The whole week was great, except for one thing that cast a grim and sleazy shadow on the show: porn CD

ROMs. I have no problem with personal freedom and liberty and the right to watch most anything a person wants, but do we really need this shoved in our faces at Comdex? Not only is cutting-edge consumer technology being used as a slime scoop, but the aisles are getting clogged with fish-eyed guys who want a long look.

Brent Carter Jamestown, NC

The Interface Group announced on June 9th that it is excluding the display of all nudity and sexually explicit material from its trade shows. Quoting its press release, "such material has clearly caused offense and is therefore not in the best interests of the shows. "—Eds.

Licensing Encryption

I appreciated Russell Kay's article "Distributed and Secure" (June). But I disagree that Philip Zimmermann's PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) encryption software is illegal because it uses the RSA algorithm without a license. Not all unlicensed use of patented software necessarily violates a patent holder's rights, which is what I assume Kay meant by the term illegal. Also, ViaCrypt sells a commercial use version that is—and always has been—licensed. The noncommercial version (2.6) is now available on an MIT server and is licensed. What's important is that licenses are available for commercial and noncommercial versions of the standard-setting PGP.

Curtis E. A. Karnow San Francisco, CA

At the time I wrote the article, PGP 2.6 had not yet been announced. I was aware of the ViaCrypt product (I men

tioned in the article that one of the people I quoted had bought and was using ViaCrypt), but I had no specific information about its operation and did not realize it was an "authorized" (Ialmost said "legal" but that's another issue, as you correctly point out) version of PGP. What I did know was that I had read a number of statements attributed to RSA president Jim Bidzos to the effect that PGP was totally unauthorized and there was no licensed version. I'm pleased to hear the licensing issues have since been resolved and an RSA-samtioned noncommercial PGP is available for general use.—R. Kay

In "Observing the Conventions" (June, page 96), the U.K. convention for dates should have been in the day/month/year format, not month/day/year.

In our review of Hewlett-Packard's new workstation, the pricing (July, pages 161 and 162) for the HP 9(KX) Series 700 Model 712/60 workstation, as tested, with 64 MB of RAM, a 20-inch monitor, and a 260-MB hard drive, should have read $12,250.

Due to a copyediting error, in "A Taligent Update" (July, page 183), IBM's OS/2 Presentation Manager was incorrectly attributed to Microsoft.

In the News & Views article "Kurzweil Brings Voice Dictation to Windows" (August), the telephone number for Kurzweil Applied Intelligence (Waltham, MA) is incorrect. The correct number is (800) 3801234. ■

COMING UP IN OCTOBER

- UNIX AT 25

Discover the origins, evolution, and prospects of the operating system that everyone is trying to reinvent.

• MOBILE COMPUTING

In the market for a 486 clock-doubled notebook or subnotebook computer? We test these and also examine portable printers to complete your mobile office.

• NT NETWORK SERVICES

Learn how to create network services on Windows NT and delve into the advanced features of the WinSock API.

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News&Views

WINDOWS APPLICATIONS SUITES

Into the

Enterprise

New software releases by Lotus and announcements by Microsoft and WordPerfect reflect the different strengths and directions of each company

Notes/FX 1.1 (the FX stands for Field Exchange). This technology lets users share information from their Lotus desktop applications throughout an enterprise via Notes.

Recent developments at Microsoft and WordPerfect emphasize the importance of group collaboration in the office-suite category . By the time you read this, Microsoft should have released updates of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for Windows that provide Notes/ FX support. The company also says its office applications will support the Microsoft Exchange Server software for information sharing and electronic messaging. Microsoft Exchange Server, which is expected to ship in 1995, will provide an integrated messaging, scheduling, and manage

DANIEL GASTEIGER AND RICK DOBSON

Recalculation speed, macro-language enhancements, and ease of use will always be important considerations when evaluating spreadsheets as stand-alone applications. However, Lotus 1-2-3, Microsoft Excel, and Quattro Pro (which was recently acquired by WordPerfect) are increasingly being sold in software suites and must be judged by how well they work with their brethren word processing, database, presentation, and network applications.

A case in point is the new 1-2-3 release 5 for Windows, which Lotus expects to release by the end of August. As a stand-alone spreadsheet, the new I -2-3 feels more like a release 4.5. But as part of the new Lotus SmartSuite 3.0 for Windows, which is slated to ship by the end of September, the release 5 designation will seem valid to people who want more database management power and integration with Lotus Notes. Four applications in the new SmartSuite—1-2-3, Approach 3.0, Ami Pro 3.1, and Freelance Graphics 2.1—have been upgraded to take advantage of

New

mip.iii

gplai

Us say. led for

WordPerfect's new PerfectOffice 3.0 suite for Windows, which is slated to ship this fall, reflect the company's recent merger with Novell. Features made possible by the suite's integration with network and workgroup services will include the ability to install and update software across a network; client software for integrating with Symmetry, WordPerfect's E-mail, calendaring, and scheduling program; and support for workgroup publishing via the inclusion of WordPerfect Envoy.

When Lotus releases SmartSuite 3.0 for Windows, the package will not have a crossapplication scripting language comparable to that of the Applications Edition of Mic

SOU'S

ml E

. But the

blessing and a curse. K you don't have SmartSuite o effortlessly generate fill-in-the-blanks data-entry for worksheet that contains its associated database.

shown here, on top of the

new suite offers much stronger ties to Notes. Lotus 1-2-3 release 5 offers three levels of Notes interaction: Notes/FX; the NS4 file type; and a Notes ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) driver.

Through Notes/FX, 1-2-3 users can exchange applicationand user-defined data to automate front-office processes and collaborate on forecasting and budgeting. Application-defined data refers to information about

Integration Strategies: Lotus vs. Microsoft vs. WordPerfect

SmartSuite: Shares data and functions such as mailing label generation and dynamic cross-tabs between desktop applications.

Office: Shares data between desktop applications.

PerfectOffice: Will share data between desktop applications.

SmartSuite: Has ODBC and Notes/FX links to Notes, in addition to custom links from 12-3 and Approach.

Office: Has ODBC connectivity to Notes in Excel and Access; will have Notes/FX connectivity to Notes in maintenance

releases of Excel. Word, and PowerPoint. PerfectOffice: Will have ODBC links to Notes in Quattro Pro. Paradox, and WordPerfect.

SmartSuite: A common macro programming language and a full fledged implementation of the OLE 2.0 standard are due in 1995.

Office: Has common programming languages for building custom integrated applications with OLE automation.

PerfectOffice: A new PerfectScript allows cross-application programming and macro recording. SmartSuite: Has common Smartlcons, menus, and dialog boxes across 1-2-3. Ami Pro, and Freelance. Office: Has common icons, menus, tools, and dialog boxes across desktop applications.

PerfectOffice: Has common icons, menus, and dialog boxes across desktop applications.

a Tile such as its author, size, creation date, revision information, and number of worksheets. A new Doc Info dialog box lists most application-defined fields, and information you store via the Doc Info command becomes available to users with whom you store worksheets via Notes.

User-defined fields in 1-2-3 refer to worksheet cells. When you embed a release 5 spreadsheet in a Notes document, you can specify those cells whose contents are to become available to Notes as fields. Changes made in a spreadsheet can affect the associated Notes data

base, and vice versa. Approach 3.0 can also publish database fields and application-defined data to Notes databases.

The NS4 file type enables multiple users to display and modify range values of a spreadsheet without overwriting each other's work. People can work on a file, store it locally, and, through Notes' replication facility, update and merge information in a central Notes database. NS4 files also support Notes' security, so administrators can manage the way that NS4 files are merged into Notes.

The third way to integrate I

2-3 (as well as Approach) with Notes is through the ODBC driver for Notes SQL, which lets you work directly with Notes data on your desktop.

Interacting with Notes is only part of the new 1-2-3's interoperability story. Lotus 1-23 uses OLE to borrow capabilities in Approach. A new Tools Database Form command lets you create custom forms to input, edit, and search for data in 1-2-3 databases. An Assistant guides you through the form's creation. Other Assistants help you build database reports using Approach and access Approach's mailing-label facility.

For stand-alone users of I 2-3, the most dramatic addition to release 5 is Lotus Maps, which lets you associate maps with your geographic data. A much-improved Print Preview mode lets you view more than one page at a time.

When choosing your office suite, your best choice will depend on your commitment to key applications. Organizations with a heavy emphasis on Notes will find the special hooks in 1-2-3 and Approach strong incentives to choose Lotus SmartSuite. Those with a commitment to Visual Basic will appreciate the power and ease with which they can cobble together applications in the current Microsoft Office suite using Visual Basic for Applications and OLE automation. The jury is still out on PerfectOffice, but with WordPerfect's acquisition of the Quattro Pro spreadsheet and I million licenses of Borland's Paradox database for Windows, the company has served notice that it has no intentions of being just an also-ran in this product category.

LASER PRINTERS

Color Laser Moves Toward Mainstream

Color laser printers for under $5000 may sound like science fiction, but (he reality may be appearing in offices soon. Last year. QMS's ColorScript Laser 1000 shattered the previous $30,000 price barrier with its $12,499 price tag. Office personnel who once thought color was only for print shops could now produce color-enhanced documents and transparencies in-house. Now other companies are following QMS's aggressive pricing.

Grady Yarbrough, senior product manager at QMS, sees the beginning of a broader market for color laser printers, where customers will want to replace older laser printers. Eventually. Yarbrough foresees, color lasers will dominate the color market due to their high quality, ability to print on any paper, and lower cost than dye-sublimation printers. But he also thinks many customers are waiting for the price to drop below $5000.

George Mulhern. marketing manager of HP's Advanced LaserJet Operations, says "the HP Color LaserJet Printer with

300 dpi w ill list for under $7500 and have consumable prices at about the same rate as [those for] the HP ColorJet 1200C." HP says it will announce a target release date for the Color LaserJet in mid-September. The company says the printer will target everyday busi ness printing.

Xerox's product manager for Workgroup Color Printing. David Kwiatkouski. sees two markets for his company's $8495 4900 color laser printer. The first is "offices that already use color but want to switch from minutes-per-page [i.e., dye sublimation] to pages-per-minute technology." The second is companies that want to bring all their color work in-house.

Greg Porell. director of Color Imaging Products and Service for market-analysis company BIS (Norwell, MA), is not as optimistic as the color printer companies. "Users want color but aren't really willing to pay much for it. Inexpensive, colorjet printers are very popular,'' he says.

Porell says that, for the short term, col

I for occasional will find that color rk better. In the future, as prices drop, en their appeal. "Production quality"

or laser printers will remain a small market, primarily for short-run color illustrations and spot color. Farther down the road, Porell believes that breaking the $5000 color laser printer price point is important but that "speed, not price, will open up the broader market for color laser printers."

—Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

News & Views

NETWORKS

Load Balancing's Inexpensive Performance Boost

A Typical Network with Load Balancing

NLM = NetWare loadable module NIC = network interface card

As client/server computing becomes more common, network servers need to handle an ever-increasing number of I/O requests from client PCs. As networks grow, the bottleneck that limits network performance is most often associated with passing data between the server and the network over an Ethernet connection.

Network administrators trying to minimize this bottleneck have had several solutions to choose from. One is to upgrade the client and server machines to higher-speed networks, such as FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) or 100-Mbps Ethernet. Another option is to move the servers to high-speed netw orks and connect them to LAN segments with either routers or Ethernet-switching hubs. A third option, called load balancing, offers a costeffective way of handling the traffic that passes between a server and the rest of the network.

As the term implies, load balancing "balances" the traffic between a server and a network over multiple network adapter cards. Load balancing requires a bridge or Ethernet switch between the server and

Load-balancing software running on a server balances traffic to and front numerous Ethernet LAN clients, while an Ethernet switching hub is used to direct traffic between the server and the appropriate LAN segment.

the clients (see the figure at left) and software running on the server.

For servers running NetWare, load-balancing software conies in the form of an NLM (NetWare loadable module), such as Balance.NLM from Network Specialists (Lyndhurst, NJ) or Switch.NLM from Kalpana (Sunnyvale, CA). As adapter cards are added to the server, the throughput increases proportionally. A typical load-balancing solution can increase the aggregate bandwidth between the server and clients from 10 Mbps to 20 or 30 Mbps via the addition of one or two Ethernet adapter cards in the server.

In addition to adding bandwidth, load balancing provides a level of fault tolerance. If one of the network adapter cards or network cables fails, traffic between the server and the network is simply passed to the other connections. That's in sharp contrast to the total disruption of traffic flow that takes place when a single highspeed connection linking a server to a network fails.

When does the performance enhancement from load balancing save money compared to moving to higher-speed LAN technologies such as FDDI and fast Ethernet? Surprisingly, the answer is simple if the server uses an Intel 486-class CPU. A

486-class server running a mix of common word processing, database, and file transfer operations in NetWare can deliver only about 20 Mbps, according to the results of an Infonetics Research (San Jose, CA) server-bandwidth congestion test that compared Ethernet switching/load balancing, fast Ethernet, and FDDI.

For the most common NetWare environments with 486 servers, that means load balancing with Ethernet switching is a practical, cost-effective choice, according to Michael Howard, president of Infonetics. The Infonetics study also determined that when a network server is upgraded to a Pentium-class CPU or better, then the processor is no longer the limiting factor. Howard says that for more powerful servers (i.e., Pentium or better) running a mixture of client/server applications, an upgrade to 100-Mbps technology will likely be needed.

Such sentiment is echoed by switchinghub vendors, who will most likely play a role in all three scenarios. "In the short term, multiple | network interface cards] are the best solution today, because [this approach) lets you use inexpensive lOBaseT Ethernet cards and gives you a degree of fault tolerance," says Jim Goede. product marketing manager at Lannet (Irvine, CA). "Down the road, you will see people moving to 100Base-T or FDDI to connect servers to the network."

—Salvatore Salamone

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News & Views

WINDOWS AND MAC IMAGE EDITING

Photoshop and Picture Publisher Get a Face-Lift

The top vendors of imageprocessing software are unleashing new versions of high-end programs that have plenty of power to alter images. Adobe plans to release new versions of Photoshop for Windows, NT. the Mac, and the Power Mac by the end of September; Micrografx planned to release a new version of its Picture Publisher image-editing program for Windows 3.1 and Windows NT this summer.

Adobe's ((415) 961-4400) Photoshop 3.0 ($895) maintains its extensive set of editing and retouching tools but adds mightily to its performance and productivity. The most significant update is support for multiple layers. With this feature, you can now edit an element of an image on separate layers, a process akin to the manual design method of working on individual sheets of acetate. The result is laster and easier editing: You can experiment with ideas, color changes, and techniques on discrete layers and see the results

without affecting the original image. When all the image elements are arranged to your satisfaction, you can "flatten" the image when saving the data into a file so that the layer information is discarded.

Another welcome new feature is enhanced color correction, which includes the ability to selectively adjust ink amounts on individual color channels (or color plates), a new CMYK quick preview, and the ability to interactively saturate or desaturate colors with a new Sponge tool. Adobe has improved upon Photoshop 3.0's tweaks by adding customizable floating palettes, a new preview feature for filters, and a Commands palette for assigning one-button access to often-used commands or for creating custom palettes for different editing tasks.

Photoshop also has another feature that's sure to please its fans: It is significantly faster than the current version, both on the Power Mac | and under Windc

mi of Picture Publisher's Clip Art Manager lets you drag and drop a clip

The new Windows version supports multithreading under Windows NT, allowing it to siipixirt dual-processor PCs. On the Mac platform, the program is available in a completely native PowerPC version; Power Mac users will see an overall performance boost over Photoshop 2.5.1, which was written i 680x0 processor ode but used a plug-in module 51$ written in code for the PowerPC that offered performance enhancements for certain opera

powerful imageediting program

spend a bit less money, consider Micrografx's ((214) 234-1769) forthcoming Picture Publisher 5.0 ($595). (The status of Aldus's

Wii

Back." February BYTE] is unclear now that Aldus and Adobe have announced plans to merge.) Picture Publisher 4.0 already had layers available, but the new release adds several ease-of-use and productivity enhancements, including customizable toolboxes and work spaces, new monitor and printer-calibration tools, and extensive use of Chicago-style tabbed dialog boxes.

To save time and system resources. Picture Publisher allows you to work on images in low resolution and then automatically apply the edits to the high-resolution version of the image. And for those who can't make up their minds, the program has an Infinite Undo feature that saves your command list and allows you to undo all or selected commands.

If you are budget-conscious and only want to do occasional editing, you can choose from several less-expensive tools in Windows, including Leadview 3.0 for Windows (Lead Technologies. (704) 549-5532), PhotoFinish 3.0 (Softkey International, (617) 494-1200). and PhotoPaint (Corel. (613) 728-8200). -Jon Pepper

30 BYTE SEPTEMBER IW

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News & Views

COMMUNICATIONS

Businesses Turn to BBSes

The concept of the information highway has captured the imaginations of computer users and editors alike. But in the midst of all the headlines, one alternative that business and government agencies are increasingly using to share information has existed since the early days of personal computing: the electronic BBS.

Says Scott Brinker. president of Galacticomm (Fort Lauderdale, FL, (305) 583-5990), which produces The Major BBS, "We have seen a significant ramping up of sales in 1994. People used to see the BBS as a hobbyist venture. Now it's seen as a real tool for business." Boardwatch magazine, which covers the BBS market, estimates that at the end of 1993. approximately

60.000 BBSes operated in the U.S.—roughly twice as many as there were 18 months earlier. Today's BBSes offer multitasking (allowing multiple users to perform activ ities such as E-mail, file transfers, and electronic chatting), customizable GUIs, security, and gatcJt, E-mail,

each other.

In the business environment, BBSes are most popular for external communications, such as customer support, and for providing a central information system for field offices. In contrast to a product like Notes, which requires a user to have client software to access a Notes database, anyone who has a terminal program can dial into most BBSes. In addition, many BBSes offer the advantage that the operator has complete control over the sys

nected to the office LAN, so internal users also have the ability to post files and messages.

Friedman estimates that the company spent under $15,000 (about $5000 for the PC, $1000 for modems, $6000 for an X.25 line lease, and $2000 for software ) to hook up 30 offices around the world. "There really was no alternative other than some kind of WAN | wide-area network]," says Friedman, adding that since he's set fc the system " up—which took about a

such as deletng old files, is

add-on option for The Major BBS called Search and Retrieve 3.0 lets users search several megabytes of preindexed text files, using up to eight keywords. It also adds the ability to preview graphics

works.

world of business is, BBSes sit between internal LANs running Lotus Notes or Microsoft Mail and external on-line services, such as CompuServe and BIX. BBSes provide a relatively inexpensive way—both in terms of cost and training—for employees to communicate with outside customers and with

tern, from the user interface to the levels of security.

Citibank uses The Major BBS to connect its audit-division offices all over the world. "We used to send audit reports on diskettes by overnight express," says Gene Friedman, the firm's manager of data communications. "It was expensive and unreliable." Today, the offices send reports by modem directly to the central BBS at Citibank headquarters in New York. The BBS is con

Another interesting BBS application is that of Wieck Photo Databases of Carrollton, Texas, which supplies photographs and graphics to the media. Using the Macbased TclcFinder BBS from Spider Island Software (Irvine, CA, (714) 669-9260), Wieck offers a central repository in which news services and major newspapers, such as the Washington Post and the New York Times, post their photos, which can then be downloaded via JPEG data compression by other newspapers and publications. Travis Hughes, a partner in the business, says newspapers and public-relations firms use his company's service to retrieve photographs to use with articles and trade brochures.

Some BBS systems are de

t BBS Suite fro Software (Bakersfield, CA, 1805) 8732500) offers many new features designed to appeal to both the business t fields. Anew

e called wcCode

signed to run on LANs and modem connections alike. One such system is the Mac-based FirstClass from SoftArc ((905) 415-7000) of Markham, Ontario, Canada (see "A FirstClass Experience," September 1993 BYTE). This system uses a client/server model and supports multiple network protocols. The client software, which is installed on Macs or Windows-based PCs calling into the system, is distributed free of charge, while the server software is priced according to the number of users. SoftArc also offers a command-line client interface that allows connections for any computer that can emulate a VT100 terminal.

SoftArc's vice president of corporate affairs, Scott Welch, says that a "Big 6" accounting firm is now using FirstClass to maintain an "intellectual capital" repository, available to all the firm's offices around the country. If one office generates a report on the textile industry, for example, it's posted on the FirstClass BBS so that other offices can access it.

BBSes are relatively easy to set up and maintain and artpriced in the $200-to-$1000 range, depending on the configuration and number of users. The bottom line is that if you want full control over your company's internal and external communications, a BBS is worth considering.

—Nicholas Baran

32 BVXE SEPTEMBER 1994

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News & Views

TALK

CD-ROM COMPRESSION

Two Ways to Cram More Data on a CD-ROM

For a lot of < and corporate CD-ROM software developers, 660 MB just isn't enough. Once a rarity, multidisc packages are now becoming more common. Because each additional CDROM disc increases production and packaging costs, developers are seeking ways to get more data on a disc.

Until now, lossless compression utilities have not been available for CD-ROM drives because of incompatibilities between DOS and CD-ROM file systems. Two companies aim to change that. CD-ROM USA (Golden, CO, (303) 526-7600) has created a driver for Stac Electronics' Stacker that allows it to compress files written to the CD-ROM file format. EWB and Associates (Carlsbad, CA, (619) 930-0440) has announced a package comprising a number of compression schemes that are optimized for CD-ROM. Both companies claim to minimally double the amount of data that can be recorded on a disc.

CD-ROM USA's CR1-X2 Driver, which is available now, fools PCs into writing to the ISO-9660 file format that is standard for most CD-ROMs. The computer thinks that it is writing to a standard DOS FAT (file allocation table), but in reality it's writing to an image of the DOS FAT that the CRI-X2 Driver creates in virtual memory. The driver then encapsulates all the compressed files into one large file on the disc. To the computer, it looks like one large ISO 9660 file. The CRI-X2 Driver, however, sees all the files as compressed DOS FAT files.

CapaCD, EWB's compression utility, takes a similar ap

proach in that it encapsulates the compressed files into one large file. But the program sees the data in the file in either ISO 9660 or Apple HFS format. The advantage to this approach, according to EWB. is that it avoids the limitations of the DOS file system, including its 2-GB maximum volume size.

EWB says its own "distributed indexing" scheme, where each compressed file carries its own indexing data, offers another advantage: It provides faster file access. The CRI-X2 Driver places all the indexing data in one header for the entire compressed volume. EWB says that the CapaCD utility will be available sometime during the third quarter.

While CD-ROM USA uses the popular Stac compression engine, EWB has gone with its own engine, which is called Multipress. Actually, it is several engines; each, the company claims, is optimized for a particular data type, such as text, image, or audio.

EWB president Ed Brakus sees the choice between the two engines as a technology issue. "Stac will need to develop an entirely new compression technology to catch up," he says. CD-ROM USA is banking on Stacker's proven track record and the close ties between Stac Electronics and Microsoft (Stac and Microsoft announced in June a cross-license agreement to end their diskcompression patent dispute).

In reality, there is likely room for both engines. Some companies need as much compression as they can get. Others will sacrifice the smallest possible file size for a familiar and trusted compression method.

—Michael Nadeau

Seer-Sem Offers Realistic Forecasting for Programmers

One of the MIS world's many holy grails is a forecasting methodology that can be accurately applied to software projects: a software swami, if you will, to whom you could hand a project specification and who would hand back an accurate prediction of how much time or lines of code a given project would require.

That's the basic idea behind Seer-Sem from Galorath Associates (Los Angeles, CA, (310) 670-3404). A simplified description of Seer-Sem might be that it is a software engineering tool that leads you through a well-structured hierarchy of fill-in-the blank fields. When this process is complete, Seer-Sem generates a variety of reports and charts that tell you what resources your company will have to devote to the project.

Seer-Sem is extremely flexible. For example, the package is quite content to wori( with incomplete information, thanks to "knowledge bases" that are provided with the package. When you begin describing your project, you tell Seer-Sem what type of application your organization will be building—for example, a CAD package or a database package—and Seer-Sem will draw from its knowledge base of such applications to fill in the missing information. Of course, the more you tell Seer-Sem about your application, the more you override those defaults, and the more accurate Seer-Sem becomes.

As you use Seer-Sem, Its knowledge bases team more about your programmers, engineers, and organization, and its predictions become fine-tuned. Galorath updates the program's knowledge bases about once a year.

To test the package, I fed it information from a database-engine project I worked on some time ago, the fruits of which (to be honest) never saw the light of day. Seer-Sem allows three levels of hierarchy in the software's model: CSCI (computer software configuration Kern, which is topmost in the hierarchy), CSC (computer software component, the middle level), and CSU (computer software unit, the bottom level).

The manual doesn't press a rigorous definition of what should be at each level, so I considered CSCIs to represent individual programs, CSCs to represent major functions, and CSUs to represent individual routines (i.e., the actual code). This is probably a good approach, as I was able to quickly factor my application into its components.

For example, to enter information about a CSC, Seer-Sem's outlinestructured questionnaire required that I provide the following: an estimate of new lines of code and an estimate of pre-existing code. The preexisting code category was further divided into subcategories, such as whether the code was designed for reuse and what percentage of the code would have to be redeveloped and retested. I could also select the development language, such as assembly, C, C++, Ada, or SQL The pick list is quite extensive. All this data influences the program's predictions.

I suspect that Seer-Sem's greatest benefit is largely hidden. As you fill in the blanks, you are forced to dig up information about the project that cannot help but lead you to a greater understanding of ft. The journey becomes its own reward.

And my test project? Seer-Sem told me that I was looking at a twoyear job. No wonder I never finished it.

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News & Views

PROCESSOR TRENDS

Getting CISC into RISC

The RlSC-versus-CISC debate is taking some interesting turns that could have a profound effect on the future of the personal computer industry. For the past few years, conventional wisdom has stated that, all things being equal, RISC performs better.

What's muddying the waters is software. For better or for worse, as Andy Keane, manager of product marketing at Mips Technologies, puts it. the 80x86 architecture "owns the binary." The one bright spot in the RISC firmament—Apple's success with its Power Macs— is because of Apple's powerful influence in the Mac software universe.

The challenge facing RISC vendors is to support enough of the 80x86 software base so that switching to, RISC becomes a tolerable al

ported to RISC. The fact that an application written to the Windows NT Win32 API can be compiled relatively painlessly to 80x86, Mips, Alpha, and (soon) PowerPC platforms encourages the likes of Mips. DEC, and Motorola to stay the course while NT increases its market share. Their RISC PC strategies are predicated on the belief that the migration of the Windows 3.1 installed base to the far-more-capable NT platform is inevitable.

Chicago (aka Windows 4.0) applications written to the Win32 API should increase the number of programs that can take advantage of most of the features of an NT platform. But Chicago's pop

o make a

\ntemi

The prevak proach today is to <. \ ] offer some sort of I software emulation that allows users to continue to use their DOS/Windows soft- ■ ware on RISC hardware. But software emulation, for the most part, is too slow, while the installed base of RISC PCs is too small to tempt most software makers into converting their 80x86 software into native RISC code.

A more patient approach is to wait for the binary to come to you. Mips and DEC are banking on Windows NT to provide a ready source of applications that can be easily

^whasdevelop a Pwees an(J,gawu. cn signify br,Q6 ^=■

ularity may discourage faster migration to NT, especially given that NT currently requires about three times as much RAM as today's 4-MB PCs. Neither Mips nor DEC sees a major impact for NT in the general desktop market before 1996.

Two years is a long time, and a number of companies

arc working hard to get more of that 80x86 binary today. Prominent among these is IBM. which is now working to perfect its PowerPC 615 chip. Like software emulators, the 615 will let you run 80x86 code on a RISC platform—in this case, a native PowerPC machine. The difference is that the 615 provides a hardwareemulation capability that is significantly faster at executing 80x86 binaries than softwarebased emulation. How much faster is unknown, and it depends greatly on how IBM approaches hardware emulation.

Approaches to hardware emulation include providing an assist to a softwarebased emulator, putting a separate 80x86 processor on the same die as , a RISC processor, and creating a hybrid execution pipeline that can handle RISC and CISC instruc' tions. The first solution is the least costly, but it provides the smallest 80x86 performance gain. The second solution provides the best 80x86 performance gain, but it yields very big— and therefore very expensive— chips. The third solution, according to sources, is the one IBM has settled on for the 615.

The 615 has two modes of operation. In one, it acts like a normal PowerPC chip. When the operating system tweaks a specialized mode bit, however, the 615 decodes 80x86 instructions into microcode that

Apple's Mac Quadra 610 DOS-compatible system

(see "Apple Provides PC on a Mac," January BYTE ) Apple no longer makes the system but might offer a similar but improved product for Power Macs. Eric Wee, a spokesman for Apple, says the original DOS compatibility card for the Quadra 610 was produced in limited quantities because Apple couldn't predict what the consumer demand would be for the first systems.

However, Apple recently demonstrated a Power Mac 6100 running a prototype DOS compatibility card that had a DX2/50 processor and could play SoundBlaster files. Dave Daetz. productline manager for cross-platform products at Apple, says that if Apple were to release a DOS compatibility card for Power Macs, it would likely offer improved networking over the original card. Apple wouldn't comment on whether it will bring a DOScompatible Power Mac to market, but Apple's past technology demonstrations have typically evolved into products.

is then sent to the execution pipelines. In 80x86 mode, the 615 also tracks things like 80x86 condition codes. Switching between modes is much like a standard context switch.

As for performance, one estimate puts the 615's 80x86 capabilities on a par with those of a 100-MHz Pentium, although there is too little information available to judge this estimate's validity. Also unknown are the physical characteristics of the chip. These questions will remain unanswered until IBM begins sampling the chip—probably in the first half of 1995. Given that schedule, don't expect to see 615-based systems until late 1995 at the earliest. —Bob Ryan

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News & Views

PORTABLE COMPUTERS

Bigger and Better

Call it a reverse trend. For years, major PC manufacturers seemed bent on producing the smallest and lightest "full-featured" machines possible. The subnotebook category of portables that emerged, which typically comprises systems that weigh between 1.9 and 4.6 pounds and are about 8.75 inches wide, attracted the kind of excitement usually associated with a flashy new sports car.

But now reality is setting in: Small too often translated into products that were too flimsy or underpowered for all but the most minimal work. Subnotebooks often had compromises in screen size, number of PCMCIA slots, and storage capacity.

Expect to see a new round of subnotebooks introduced this summer and fall that are more similar to their slightly larger brethren (e.g., with larger screens, more power, and even somewhat larger size) or repositioned in the market as portable communications devices instead of as fullfledged desktop replacements.

A prime example of the first trend is the NEC Versa S series, which NEC is touting as a reduced-weight notebook rather than a subnotebook. The machine, which ranges in weight from 4.2 to 5 pounds depending on the choice of display (monochrome or TFT |(hin-film transistor] color), is just about the standard notebook size: 10.8 inches wide and 8.3 inches deep. NEC includes a larger display (9.5 inches), more power (up to a 50-MHz 486DX2), and more disk space (up to 260 MB). Toshiba's new Portege T3600CT subnotebook offers similar improvements over the current T3400CT model.

AST is also upgrading its new Ascentia 500S subnotebook, with a keyboard that's 95 percent the size of the Ascentia notebook's keyboard. The Ascentia 500S is a system that will be positioned as a "mobile companion" for on-the-go professionals who need to communicate. It will be available only with a passive-matrix display, partly because communications doesn't generally require active-matrix screens.

Zenith Data Systems is trying to cover both ends of the spectrum w ith a new color version of its Z-Lite subnotebook. The company has added larger hard drives (up to 340 MB), a standard 7.8-inch passivematrix color LCD, and a 33-MHz Cyrix

486DLC processor. Zenith is complementing the liny 4.3-pound machine with the ZStar EX, which sports a faster processor (a 50-MHz 486DX2 from Cyrix), a larger keyboard, and many options in a traditional notebook-size package ranging in weight from 5.2 to 5.7 pounds.

Epson has discontinued its line of subnotebooks. Instead, the company is making its ActionNote notebook line lighter—but not smaller—to minimize compromises. A new line of ActionNote computers will

have a 66-MHz Cyrix 486DX2 3-V processor and weigh about 4.9 pounds. Part of the weight savings was achieved through putting a 14.4-Kbps data/ fax modem on-board and including just one PCMCIA Type II slot instead of two.

And Gateway 2000, which helped pioneer the subnotebook mar1 ket with its tiny Hand

1 Book line, has dropped

prices on current models in anticipation of adding faster processors, and possibly color, in the same form factor. But Gateway is now marketing the HandBooks as super-portable communications tools. It appears that vendors are realizing that less is indeed less, after all. —Jon Pepper

WINDOWS PRINTERS

Inexpensive, Fast, and Slow to Acceptance

Whether they're based on Microsoft's At Work or Destiny Technology's (Santa Clara, CA) WinStyler printing architecture. Windows printers can deliver high-quality output, fast printing, and, through bidirectional feedback, instantaneous, user-friendly information regarding a print job's status.

Also, because they use a desktop PC's CPU and RAM to off-load tasks such as rasterization, which previously required a powerful RISC processor and memory in a traditional printer, Windows printers arc inexpensive. For example. Destiny predicts laser printers based on its 1200-dpi WinStyler solution will ship in ihe second half of this year in the $750 price range.

Even so, market analysts and managers at leading printer vendors sec slow market acceptance of this printer category. One of the problems with Windows printers has been incomplete networking. Printers based on the WinStyler technology can currently communicate only with the desktop PC to which they are connected. Current At Work-based printers, such as the LexMark WinWriter 600, are networkable, but only the PC that is directly con

nected to the printer gains the benefit of bidirectional feedback through the graphical At Work interface.

Destiny planned to improve WinStyler's networking capabilities by shipping to vendors in August a solution that delivers bidirectional feedback to users on NetWare and Windows for Workgroups networks; printers based on this new technology should start appearing in the first half of 1995. And Microsoft says it will add bidirectional communications over networks in a future release of its At Work software.

Another problem with Windows printers is their incomplete DOS support. For example, printers based on the current WinStyler technology require you to print from MS-DOS applications inside Windows, but not all applications can print this way.

Analysts at BIS Strategic Decisions (Norwell, MA) believe that as more users buy new Windows PCs, Windows printing will eventually take off as a product category: Until then, the engineers and marketers in Santa Clara and Redmond will be busily working on new versions of their solutions and educating the market.

40 BYTE SEPTEMBER 1994

ASSEMBI

pentium™

90MHZ, REAL POWER, REAL-TIME VIDEO.

'With the Ambra DP90PCI, AMBRA...has developed a machine that offers excellent performance at a reasonable price." — PC Magazine, lune 28, 1994

With its superscalar architecture and an enhanced floating-point unit, the Pentium processor sets the performance standard (up to 1 50 MIPS). The Intel Pentium 90MHz processor combined with PCI local bus I architecture, makes the AMBRA

w,|af&| ^\ 90MHz mini-tower ideal for [ yy ,./|A1 resource-intensive applica" tions—such as multimedia,

3D graphics and statistical modeling. What's more, it protects your investment— it's upgradable, expandable and runs over 50,000 X86 applications. All this, along with the greatest number of PCI Ml options and features, enables you to create JHI the most powerful PC ever. i——

m

JBI33S

Ar

90MHZ INTEL PROCESSOR delivers industryleading processing speeds up to 147% faster than a 486DX2/66MHZ.

256KB L2 WRITE-BACK CACHE boosts performance above the integrated 16KB internal on-chip cache.

VIDEO OPTIONS UP TO 32 MILLION WINMARKS. PC/ video options provide up to 12.1 Winmarks (4.0).

PCI-SCSI-2 OPTION (EXPANDABLE TO 8GB)

data and advanced applications.

TSENG

90MHz PENTIUM STANDARD FEATURES

A Intel 90MHz Pentium CPU

▲ 64-bit CPU-Memory-Cache Data Path

A 256KB L2 & 16KB LI Cache

A Fast 32-bit PCI/IDE Controller

A 4 ISA, 2 PCI & 1 ISA/PCI Slots

A 3.5* 1.44MB Diskette Drive

A 6 Drive Bays

A Lexmark'" 101-Key Keyboard

A MS-DOS' 6.2, Windows'" 3.1, Mouse

A One-Year IBM Onsite Service

© DP90PCI NOW $2899

Business Lease: $W3/Month A Intel 90MHz Pentium CPU A 8MB RAM, Max: 128MB A 720MB Enhanced IDE Caviar'"

Hard Disk Drive A 15" FST-NI Color Monitor-LR

0 3.6" viewable screen size) A Double-Speed Multisession CD-ROM A PCI Graphics Accelerator 2MB DRAM

© MediaPro'" 90 NOW $3599

Business Lease: $I28/Monfh A Intel 90MHz Pentium CPU A 16MB RAM, Max: 128MB A 720MB Enhanced IDE Caviar

Hard Disk Drive A IS* FST-NI Color Monitor-) R

03.6" viewable screen size) A Double-Speed Multisession

CD-ROM Drive A 16-bit 5ound Card & 2 Speakers A TrueVideo"* Capture Board with Tseng

Video Image Processor

© MediaPro 90T NOW $3999

Business Lease: 5' 42/Month

A Mini-Tower Chassis

A Intel 90MHz Pentium CPU

A 16MB RAM, Max: 128MB

A 1.4CB (2x720MB Enhanced IDE

Caviar Hard Disk Drives) A 15" FST-NI Color MonitoM R

03.6" viewable screen size) A Double-Speed Multisession

CD-ROM Drive A 16-bit Sound Card <N, 2 Speakers A TrueVideo Capture Board with Tseng

Video Image Processor

TRUEVIDEO

A Connects to Standard Camcorders & VCR A Video Capture of Still & Motion Video A Comes w jth Video lor Win. I.

& Intel Indeo1" Compression Versatile Performer

A High-Performance Graphics & Video A Capture & Import Directly into

Windows Applic ations A Perfect "Color Scanner" for Presentations.

Image Databases Fast, Powerful Image Processing A Ultra-Smooth, |itter-&-Stagger-Free

Live Video A Vidro Ac< deration of ( lips Irom

CD-ROM & Hard Disk A 31 Million Winmarks 4.0 at 1024x768,

256 Colors, at 70Hz Lifelike Display

A Nl Display of Up to 800x600 (16 Million Colorsl or 1280x1024 (256 Colors)

A Stretch Images Up to 1200 Times with No Loss of Image Quality

A Selectable Refresh Rate- of 30 Frames/Sec, 60 Fields/Sec, or 30 Fields/Sec

LED HERE ARE OUR

Pentium power starts at $1899.

"The AMBRA Pentium PCI Desktop makes it clear that this is the new Window s/Multimedia system standard."

—Windows Sources, April 1994

With this much power at your fingertips, you'd think you were sitting at a workstation. Because now the affordable AMBRA Pentium desktop has arrived. It brings you the latest in personal computer technology; a Pentium

60MHz microprocessor with PCI local bus. Standard features included are AJM ^\ 256KB L2 and 16KB L1 caches, a I in 64-b't CPU-memory-cache data path,

V |Jv J a high-performance floating-point unit, a fast 32-bit PCI/IDE controller, and a system RAM that is expandable to P©|"ltiUm™ 128MB and compatible with over r, . c . . . o . 50,000 X86 applications. This

combination of performance and compatibility positions the AMBRA Pentium 60MHz systems to meet the needs of the emerging wave of new 32-bit applications and next generation operating systems.

60MHZ INTEL PROCESSOR

delivers 100 MIPS with its superscalar, dual-pipelined, enhanced floating-point architecture, increasing your overall productivity.

PCI LOCAL BUS GRAPHICS ACCELERATOR options provide a 32-bit or 64-bit graphics engine—ideal for demanding GUI-based applications.

PCI/IDE DISK CONTROLLER

increases performance by using 32-bit disk access reaching transfer rates up to ; IMB/sec (vs. 2MB for standard IDE transfers).

60MHZ PENTIUM PCI STANDARD FEATURES

A Intel 60MHz Pentium CPU

▲ 64-bil CPU-Memory-Cache Data Path

▲ 256KB L2 & 16KB L1 Cache A Fast 52-bil PCI/IDE Controller

▲ 4 ISA, 2 PCI & 1 ISA/PCI Slots

▲ 3.5" 1.44MB Diskette Drive

▲ (> Drive Bays

▲ Fast Serial Ports—16550 UART A Enhanced Parallel Port—

ECP/EPP A Lexmark 101 -Key Keyboard A MS-DOS 6.2, Windows 3.1,

Mouse

A One-Year IBM Onsite Service

© DP60PCI

now$1899

Business Lease: 568/Month A Intel 60MHz Pentium CPU A 8MB RAM, Max: 128MB A 420MB Enhanced IDE Caviar

Hard Disk Drive A 15" FST-NI Color Monitor-LR

(13.6" viewable screen size) A PCI Graphics Accelerator

1MB DRAM

© DP60PCI

now$2199

Business Lease: $78/Month A Intel 60MHz Pentium CPU A 8MB RAM, Max: 128MB A 540MB Enhanced IDE Caviar

Hard Disk Drive A 15" FST-NI Color Monitor-LR

(13.6" viewable screen size) A PCI Graphics Accelerator

2MB DRAM A Double-Speed Multisession

CD-ROM Drive

LIMITED QUANTITIES

© DP60PCI

now*2299

Business Lease: $82/Month A Intel 60MHz Pentium CPU A 8MB RAM, Max: 128MB A 720MB Enhanced IDE Caviar

Hard Disk Drive A 15" FST-NI Color Monitor-LR

(13.6" viewable screen size) A Diamond Viper PCI Graphics

Accelerator 2MB VRAM

Order any system with a CD-ROM drive and upgrade to multimedia with a 16-bit sound card and 2 stereo speakers for $49 (offer expires 9-30-94).'

LOWEST PRICES EV

The fastest 486 ever is now even faster.

"... the D466 l/VL (is) the fastest 486DX2/66 we've ever tested."

—InfoWorld. April 4,1994

See for yourself. This is one powerful PC. In fact, video performance is now 20% faster with new Tseng W32p video drivers. Add higher performance through VESA- IDE, VESA graphics and enhanced parallel ports. Add investment protection with an upgrade path to Pentium technology and PCI. For expandability, there are 5 expansion slots and 5 drive bays in the desktop model; 8 expansion slots and 6

^^■^1 drive bays in the mini-tower, graphICS upgradable to 2MB, providing \ iHl • J01 True Color at 800x600 resolution.

V il\S^ J At this price'A M adds up to an

* incredible value.

GRAPHICS WINMARK 4

AMBRA 4100 l/VL'

UPGRADABLE TO PCI.

Switch to PCI expansion slots by upgrading the riser card and flashing the BIOS.

TRUE COLOR. Increased color depth to meet or exceed today's demanding multimedia applications— supports 800x600 True Color.

FAST SERIAL PORTS. Two

lb-bit high-speed serial ports use a fast 16550 UART. The FIFO buffer allows continued serial communication while the CPU is processing other data.

ENHANCED PARALLEL PORT (ECP/EPP) int reases print performance from 200KB/sec to 2MB/sec— in simple terms, 133 times faster.

l/VL DESKTOP STANDARD FEATURES

A Upgradable to PCI & Pentium Technology

▲ 256KB Write-Back L2 Cache

▲ Tseng W32p VESA Graphics Accelerator—1MB, Upgradable to 2MB

A VESA Local Bus IDE Hard Drive Controller

▲ 4 16-bit ISA& 1 32-bit VL Bus Slots

A 3.5" 1.44MB Diskette Drive A 5 Drive Bay s A Lexmark 101 -Kev Keyboard A ms-dos <>..• Windows 1.1 Mouse

A Upgrade to Mim-Ti >w< r $75 A One-Year IBM Onsite Service

D466 l/VL

now*1599

Business Lease: $57/Month A 486DX2/66MHz Processor A 4MB RAM, Max: 64MB A 212MB Enhanced IDE

Caviar Hard Disk Drive A 15" FST-NI Color Monitor-LR

(13.6" viewable screen size)

Thf AMWK.4 D4bk IA

<y BEST BUY D466 l/VL

now$2299

Business Lease: $82/Month A 486DX2/66MHz Processor A 8MB RAM, Max: 64MB A 540MB Enhanced IDE Caviar

Hard Disk Drive A 15* FST-NI Color Monitor-LR

(13.6" viewable screen size) A 16-bll Sound Card &

A Borland Office"*On CD:' (WordPerfect,' Quattro' Pro & Paradox"!

A Productivity Pack on CD:' PhoneDisc USA Business Macromedia Action! SE Macromedia Authorware SE Clipmedia2 Business & Industry

© BEST BUY D4100 l/VL

now$2299

Business Lease: $82/Month

A 100MHz Intel DX4 Processor

A 16KB LI Cache

A 8MB RAM, Max: 64MB

A 720MB Enhanced IDE Caviar

Hard Disk Drive A 1 5" FST-NI Color Monitor-LR

(13.6" viewable screen size)

Tseng

ER.

THE ULTIMATE NOTEBOOK.

"...their ergonomic design and attractive features go a ways toward differentiating them from the throng of notebook PC< available." —PC Week, May 9, 1994

Powered by a fast Intel DX4/75MHz processor, the N75D sets a new standard for notebooks. The 10.3-incr dual-scan color display screen is sharp and vivid. With integrated audio playback/ record, your multimedia presentations pcwwid will be very powerful. And ««utfU94taue w|m an ergonomjca||y

designed wrist-rest and a long-lasting NiMH battery, you'll work comfortably for hours. It'll fit comfortably within your budget, too.

ERGONOMIC KEYBOARD WITH AN INTEGRATED 16MM TRACKBALL rrtah data entry quick and comfortable.

340MB UPGRADABLE HARD DISK enables store tons of data and virtually all kinds of advanced applications.

A 9.5" TFT ACTIVE MATRIX COLOR OR A 10.3" DUAL-SCA\ DSTrW COLOR DISPLAY lets you harp, vivid graphics.

SYSTEM STATUS PANEL lets you nonitor battery life, disk Irive activity, suspend/ and n

INTEGRATED ADVANCED AUDIO

playback and edit functions give your multimedia presentations impact. Or use the record capability through the inline jack.

STANDARD NOTEBOOK FEATURES

A Integrated Audio (Speaker ■inri Microphone)

▲ Centered 16mm Trackball

▲ System Status Panel

▲ 4MB RAM, Max: 20MB

▲ 3.5" I.44MB Diskette Drive

▲ Type III PCMCIA Slot (1 Type III/ 2 Type III

▲ 85-Key Keyboard

▲ MS-DOS 6.2

▲ Windows K >r Workgroups i. 11 A,6.7 I'ounds, Including

NiMH Battery

▲ Includes AC Adapter and Case

III/ N75D-340

now$2599

Business Lease: S92/Monlh

A 75MHz Intel DX4

▲ 340MB Hard Disk Drive, Upgradable

A 10.3" Dual-Scan DSTN Color Display with Local Bus Video and 1 MB Video RAM

(D N75T-340

now$3499

Business Lease: $ 124/Month

A 75MHz Intel DX4

A 340MB Hard Disk Drive, Upgradable

A 9.5" Active Matrix TFT Color Display with Local Bus Video and 1 MB Video RAM

W N100T-450

now$3699

Business Lease: $131/Month

A 100MHz Intel DX4

A 450MB Hard Disk Drive, Upgradable

A <>. V Active Matrix TFT Color Display with Local Bus Video and 1 MB Video RAM

11800-200-3390

N100 AND N75 OPTIONS A 4MB Memory $249 A 8MS Memory $449 A 16MB Memory $1149 A NiMH Battery $139 A Battery Charger $99 A 2.4/9.6 klips Data/

Fax Modem $169 A 14.4 kbps Data/

Fax Modem $259 A 12Volt DC Auto Adapter $79 A AC Adapter $89 A Docking Station $399 A Deluxe Carrying Case $99 A New GlidePoint $89 A N100T/N75T

Extended Warranty $349 A M^SD Extended

Warranty $299

AM BRA

IN ORDER TO BUILD AFFORDABLE,

WE ASSEMBLED

When you buy a computer, you're buying more than just the computer itself. You're also buying the company.

As you look beyond speeds and feeds— and of course, price, price, price—what are you getting? Are the systems reliable? Does the company stand behind their products? Will they even be in business a few years from now?

These are the same considerations that guided us when we created AMBRA,™ the direct-order personal computer company.

OUR COMPANY—A CAREFUL ASSEMBLY OF ROCK-SOLID COMPONENTS.

In a sense, putting our company together was not unlike building a computer. As a nimble, entrepreneurial company, we're able to look at processes rather than departments. Every aspect of our product design, manufacturing, vendor selection, quality control product testing and customer service is carefully constructed to work as an efficient, interdependent part of a larger, integrated system.

What's more, we continually look for ways to improve all of these processes—all to bring you consistent, reliable computing, from the moment you take an AMBRA system out of the box.

AN OPTIMIZED DESIGN IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

The development of every AMBRA system starts

with a simple question: What can we do to bring better computing to today's powerhungry PC users?

Our in-house engineering staff and product development experts constantly assess the evolving needs of both people and businesses. Based on these needs, we then develop system designs that fully exploit and optimize the power of the latest technologies.

The components of choosing a supplier.

We scrupulously examine our potential vendors—for quality, technology and value. We inspect their manufacturing sites. We use reputable suppliers—such as Intel, IBM' and Western ^L^^: M Digital. We test the components in-house—for ruggedness, compatibility and our own demanding benchmarks.

Once we've established a successful partnership with a supplier, we continue to use them as the single source for that particular component. In the long run, this helps us ensure consistency, qualify and compatibility.

YOU CAN'T MANUFACTURE THIS LEVEL OF QUALITY.

Next, we send our qualified components to our integrator and manufacturer. Since 1982, they've manufactured over 24 million PCs for demanding clients known for their insistence on delivering quality.

This facility is ISO 9000 certified, which

m

HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTERS, THE COMPANY FIRST.

means stringent adherence to an established procedure of quality checks, documentation and reporting. Checks along the manufacturing line include assembly verification, initialization wake-up testing, and automatic functional testing for every system.

CHECKS AND RECHECKS.

Our in-house engineering staff performs full component-level and manufactured system evaluations and release tests. Even the packaging is tested. (i XX j

What's more, every new xjftm^r Ambra system receives XXCAL Gold Certification, as well as FCC, UL and CUL certification.

We continue to monitor and evaluate every aspect of the entire design and manufacturing process, to deliver more powerful, more reliable personal computing.

As testimony to our success, our products have received numerous glowing reviews and "Best Buy" endorsements. Among them, InfoWorld, PC World, Windows Sources, PC Week and PC Magazine.

Every system we sell is backed by toll-free IBM technical service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And for desktops and mini-towers, IBM onsite technical service is included. Finally, if you're not completely satisfied, return your purchase within 30 days, and we'll give you your money back. Period.

At AMBRA, we're committed to you, our customer. We'll always be there when you need us—now and in the future.

PENTIUM POWER STARTS AT |UST $1899, THE FASTEST 486DX2 EVER IS ONLY $1599, AND OUR 75MHZ DX4 NOTEBOOK IS ONLY $2899.

We do more than just promise high-powered, low-priced computing. We're ready to deliver—today.

In the pages that follow, compare our reliable, leading-edge technology. Pentium1" desktops and mini-towers, optimized lA/Ls and powerhouse notebooks, among others.

Compare our prices—the lowest ever. And when it comes to our reliable service and support, there is no comparison.

Compare, and you'll be sold on our computers—and our company.

WE'RE RIGHT THERE—WITH ROCK-SOLID SERVICE AND SUPPORT.

After we sell you a computer, we stand behind every purchase. In fact, we've enlisted the best support in the industry.

± 1_. AMBRA

WE COULD GO ON AND ON.

All AM BRA

Desktops and MiniTowers Feature:

ie Path to Pentium

A 3.5" 144MB Diskette Drive A Lexmark 101-Key Keyboard A MS-DOS 6.2

■Year IBM Onsite Senia

*iP 486DX2/66MHz

now$1799

Model D4bb l/VL Business Lease: SM/Month A 256KB L2 Cache, Write-Back A 8MB RAM, Max: 64MB ▲ 270MB Enhanced IDE Caviar

Hard Disk Drive A 15" FST-NI Color Monitor-LR

(1.1.6" viewable screen sizei A Tseng W32p VESA Local Bus

Graphics Accelerator 1MB A VESA Local Bus IDE Hard Drive Controller lit ISA &

A 5 Dri\

Bays

486 DESKTOP SYSTEMS _

©486SX/33MH2

now$1299

Model D433SXA

Business Lease: S4(uMonth

A 128KB L2 Cache, Max: 256KB

A 4MB RAM, Max: 36MB

A 212MB Enhanced IDE Caviar

Hard Disk Drive A 15" FST-NI Color Monitor-LR

03.6" viewable screen sizei A VESA Local Bus Graphics

Accelerator 1 MB A VESA Local Bus IDE Hard

Drive Controller A 5 ISA Slots 4. 5 Drive Bays

<D 486DX2/S0MHZ

now $1369

Business Lease: S49/Month

A 128KB L2 Cache, Max: 256KB

A 4MB RAM, Max: 36MB

A 212MB Enhanced IDE Caviar

Hard Disk Drive A 15" FST-M Color Mcinitor-LR

(13.6 viewable screen size) A VESA Local Bus Graphics

Accelerator I MB A 2 VESA & 1 ISA Slots A 3 Dnve Bavs

© 486DX2/66MHZ

now$1599

Model D466DXA

Business Lease: $57/Month

A 128KB L2 Cache, Max: 256KB

A 8MB RAM, Max: 36MB

A 212MB Enhanced IDE Caviar

Hard Disk Drive A 15" FST-NI Color Monitor-LR

(13.6" viewable screen size) A VESA Local Bus Graphics

Accelerator 1 MB A VESA Local Bus IDE Hard

Drive Controller A 5 ISA Slots & 5 Drive Bays

PENTIUM PCI'S

(B 60MHz PCI NOW$1899

Business Lease: $68/Month A Intel 60MHz Pentium CPU A 8MB RAM, Max: 128MB A 420MB Enhanced IDE Caviar

Hard Disk Drive A 15" FST-NI Color Monitor-LR

II 3 6" viewable screen sizei A PCI Graphics Accelerator

1MB DRAM

<$6

) 60MHz PCI

now$2299

Model DPbOPCI Business Lease: $82/Month A Intel 60MHz Pentium CPU A 8MB RAM, Max: 128MB A 720MB Enhanced IDE Caviar

Hard Disk Drive A 1 5" FST-NI Color Monitor-LR

113.6" viewable screen size) A PCI Diamond Viper Graphics

Accc erator 2MB VRAM

W 90MHz PCI

now$2899

Business Lease: SW3/Month A Intel 90MHz Pentium CPU A 8MB RAM, Max: 128MB A 720MB Enhanced IDE Caviar

Hard Disk Drive A Double-Speed CD-ROM Drive A 15" FST-NI Color Monitor-LR

(13.6" viewable screen size) A PCI Graphics Accelerator

Add a Double-Speed Multisession CD-ROM Drive, 16-bit Sound Card and 2 Speakers to Any System, for $198.

Ask About Our CD 5-Pack Specials for $79.

S4l/486SX/33MHz

NOW$1699

Model S433C-I20

Business Lease: SMVMonth

A 4MB RAM, Max: 12MB

A 120MB Hard Disk Drive

A 9.5* Dual-Scan Color Display

A 1 Type III PCMCIA Slot

A 3.5" Diskette Drive

A 86-Key Keyboard

A Integrated 16mm Trackball

A 6.6 Pounds, Including Battery

A MS-DOS 6.2, Windows 3.1 A Borland Office (WordPerfect, Quattro Pro and Paradox f

486DX2/50MHz

now$2999

k').5"/

ix TFT C

Display 4 l Type in PCMCIA Slot A 3.5" Diskette Drive A 86-Kev Keyboard A Integrated 16mm Trackball A MS-DOS 6.2, Windows 3.1 A 6.6 Pounds, Including Battery A Carry Ijg Case

Get configuration ©, with a 9.5-inch dual-scan display and 4MB RAM, now for only

$2199

CALL TODAY.

1800-200-3390

yefuin lot.ii tnK Oiionnqs ma\ differ m Canada. Offerings, pn .. ii.itm-, .in-- fhc rcpurybiliK nt the customer. Lease based an . ["'RAM .iting mj4,>.ciOV.fl.l...v -0Hz. Test from PC VUg.

n- -uh i>i • hi t 'ij'ijir without prior notice. (Vice tiy IBM C/edil Corp L'pgiade good at lime of l

A:

AM BRA

Books & CD-ROMs

PowerPC: Cultural and Technological Perspective

JON UDELL

The PowerPC family of processors has rocketed to prominence atop two powerful boosters. One is technological. These speedy processors exemplify practical RISC design. The other is cultural. The PowerPC has become a lightning rod for those weary of Intel and Microsoft's near-monopolistic control of desktop computing. Like the revolution it chronicles, Inside the PowerPC Revolution mixes technology and rebellion.

On the technological front, there's plenty of engaging and informative discussion of RISC versus CISC, pipelining, branch prediction, multiple execution units, primary and secondary cache architectures, chip fabrication, and how these subjects relate to the PowerPC 601 and 603. (There's some coverage of the 604, which was announced as the book went to press.) All this will be useful to readers looking for a clear, accessible primer on RISC.

The authors point out, for example, that there's nothing minimalistic about RISC. The PowerPC, as is typical of the RISC genre, has plenty of instructions, some rather complex. There's nothing "reduced" about RISC. The PowerPC merely exemplifies what (he authors call "microprocessor new art"—abundant registers, simplified addressing, fixed-length instructions, specialized execution units, and pipelining. A solid analysis of Intel's Pentium shows why it's vulnerable, not only to RISC competitors like the PowerPC, but also to alternative 80x86 offerings like Cyrix's MI.

On the cultural front, things sometimes get heavy-handed. Take the inexplicable claim that the 80x86 instruction set is "unfriendly to object-oriented operating systems." Say what? The IBM/Apple/Motorola alliance has a lot going for it, but to anoint microkernel-based PowerPC systems that IBM and Apple have yet to deliver as the ideal platforms for object computing is just plain weird.

A fascinating survey of IBM's previous RISC efforts—the early 801 project, the ill-fated RT, and the RS/6000—reveals lessons learned along the way and puts the PowerPC in a historical context. But the authors don't place the PowerPC in a modern context. There's no discussion of Mips. Alpha, SPARC, PA, or other RISC alternatives.

On Apple's side of the PowerPC coin, that's probably OK. After all, Power Macs did vault Apple, almost overnight, to the top of the heap of RISC-system vendors. The authors tell this incredible Cinderella story with relish, describing Apple's new machines in detail and not flinching from revealing the software compromises that got the product to market so quickly.

On the flip side of the coin, though, there's an awful lot of hand waving in support of IBM. With no corroborating ev idence, the authors all but proclaim victory for PReP (PowerPC Reference Platform) systems running IBM's still-embryonic Workplace operating system and human-centered user interface, while deriding "Bill Gates' Windows NT drivel." This unnecessary antagonism detracts from an excellent discussion of the operating-system options for Pow erPC systems and the strategies those operating systems will use to emulate legacy Mac and Windows software. On balance, though, you'll learn a lot

about the history, politics, technologies, and com- INSIDE IDE POWERPC REVOLUTION mercial prospects of PowerPC-based systems, and Jeff Duntemann and Ron Pronk about RISC in general. ■ Coriotis Group

ISBN 1-883577-04-7

Jon Udell is a BYTE .senior technical editor at large. You $24.95 can contact him on the Internet or BIX at judelHi hix.com.

THAT PERFECT MATCH

BARRON'S PROFILES OF AMERICAN

COLLEGES, 19ttl ed. Laser Resources, Inc., 20620 South Leapwood, Suite F, Carson, CA 90746, (310) 324-4444, $49.95

LOVFJOY'S COLLEGE COUNSELOR interMedia

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You quickly learn that there are an awful lot of schools out there when you start to search for that "perfect match" for your child. Two hefty resource tomes, Barron's Profiles of American Colleges and Lovejoy's College Counselor, have been transported, with varying degrees of success, to CD-ROM.

Of the two, Lovejoy's is by far the easiest to use because of its slicker user interface. Above and beyond the standard facts about median SAT scores and degree offerings, Lovejoy's includes campus photos and, in some cases, short but mostly inane talkinghead videos. ( Lovejoy's professional version includes additional information on two-year schools—community, vocational, technical, trade, and business—and lets a high school guidance counselor store up to 1000 student profiles.)

The Lovejoy's disc lets you search for schools in numerous ways: alphabetically, geographically, by admission competitiveness, by cost, by areas of study, and even by sports (228 colleges and universities across the U.S. offer lacrosse, a fact of utmost importance to my college-bound eldest son).

However, both CD-ROMs only scratch the surface in providing helpful information in what most students and parents would agree is a difficult, frustrating, subjective, and emotional process. They would be greatly improved by opinionated material from sources such as U.S. News & World Report's annual college guide. I'd like to quickly search for those colleges that experts believe give the best value for the dollar, have the best dorm food, have the lowest reported incidence of rape or alcohol abuse, or have the lowest rates of locking students out of popular courses. Both publishers say they are updating their CD-ROMs by the end of the year.

—Rich Friedman

SEPTEMBER 1994 BVXE *A

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Books & CD-ROMs

SECURING YOUR INTERNET CONNECTION

FIREWALLS AND INTERNET SECURITY: REPELLING THE WILY HACKER by William R. Cheswick and Steven M. Bellovin Addison

Wesley Professional Computing Series, ISBN 0-201-63357-4, S26.95

LilRU

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Forget The Silence of the himhs. This is the book that will keep system administrators sleepless and shivering. While it wasn't intended as a compendium of computer-user honor stories, once you finish it. you will never look at the sendma i l program in quite the same way again.

This is an encyclopedia of computer I cracking via a network. It is neither exhaustive nor sufficiently detailed to be of much use to the wouldbe digital criminals of the world (who, as the authors point out. have better sources of information), but it is invaluable to those who want to foil them. Ostensibly, the audience is system administrators for Unix sites connected to the Internet. The focus is on Unix, as the mother tongue of the Internet, and the authors assume a fair level of Unix literacy. However, much of what they have to say applies to any network, and much more is applicable to NetWare. DOS, and Windows.

The basis of a safe connection, according to the authors, is a firewall, a computer system that sits between the Internet and your LAN, acting as an active gateway to keep the bad guys away from your goodies. However, bringing in your network connections through a separate system and calling it a firewall isn't enough. Creating a tnie firewall means limiting what that system will pass along to other systems, what an outsider can do with it. and how to ensure that you can keep track of who is trying to do what. Sometimes creating a firewall means creating a fool's paradise, where the crackers can bask in the delusion they have penetrated the system as they are being hunted down.

Chapter 10. "An Evening with Berferd," includes a detailed account of a persistent attempt to crack the AT&T Internet gateway that the authors are responsible for. It shows how a determined attack proceeded and was defeated. The account is also a wry comment on the nature of modern Internet culture and computer criminals. The crackers were a group of Dutch teenagers who were beyond legal reach, because cracking was not then a crime in the Netherlands. When the law failed, someone from AT&T called the mother of one of the ring members. The cracking attempts dropped off sharply

A useful appendix provides sources of information on building Firewalls, network management and monitoring tools, auditing software, and cryptographic software. A 20-page bibliography and a checklist of security holes round out the book.

The book deals with serious business, but through it all, the authors maintain a sense of humor, sprinkling the text with quotes from Juvenal to Tolkien to E. E. "Doc" Smith. ■

—Rick Cook

Rick Cook writes about computer, but act asinnalh turns his hand to ence fiction. You can contact him on BIX as "rcook."

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The Last Bastion

DICK POUNTAIN

The new Mips R8000chip set signals a number of trends in processors. First and foremost, it shows the determination of Silicon Graphics, which acquired Mips in 1992, to take a piece of the supercomputer market. Conventional wisdom has thus far held that microprocessors can't cut it in supercomputing, despite what they've done for mainframes and minicomputers.

The launch of the R8000—currently in limited production—is also further confirmation that the RISC processor market has matured to a point where products need to be differentiated. Applying every trick in the design textbook and announcing the world's fastest CPU is no longer enough; now you need to answer the question "Fastest at what?" and then demonstrate the proper design trade-offs to make your answer credible.

Mips's answer is that the R8000 is fastest for technical and scientific computing tasks involving huge data sets and lots of floating-point math. The R8000's design emphasizes an external cache of up to 16 MB in size and with gigabyte-per-second bandwidth, so it's not intimidated by applications that won't fit into on-chip cache. Combined with a loosely coupled superscalar floating-point processor, this cache enables the R8000 to claim a peak performance of 310 SPECfp92 and 108 SPECint92 (faster than IBM's Power2 on floating-point operations), or 300 MFLOPS, which is equivalent to the performance of the Cray Y-MP.

The cost of this performance is a four-chip set with over 1000 pins, high power consumption, and a high price, so you definitely won't want to use it in a PDA (personal digital assistant). But because the R8000 is binary-compatible with existing Mips chips, you can run a network of Silicon Graphics workstations

The Mips R8000 takes microprocessors where they have never been before: Into the realm of supercomputing

driven by less expensive R4400s. all accessing an R8000-based departmental compute server. Mips is not alone in moving to this high-end/low-end strategy; the PowerPC group (with the yet-to-appear 620 at the high end) and Hewlett-Packard (with the PA-RISC 7200) are blazing similar trails.

The Silicon

The R8000 chip contains the integer-register file and multiple execution units, primary caches, and the branch-prediction unit, while its sister FPU—the R8010—contains the floating-point registers and two full floating-point execution units. Both chips are fabricated in a 0.5-micron CMOS process operating at 3.3 V and are designed to run at 75 MHz in the first generation. The R8000 and R8010 are large chips (17.3 mm by 17.2 mm each), although between them they contain only 3.4 million transistors, which is fewer than the PowerPC 604 crams onto a single, much smaller die. Both chips are packaged as 595-pin PGAs (pin-grid arrays). continued

SEPTEMBER 1994 H V I K *T

MM!

To build an R8000 system, you also need a pair of custom dual-ported RAM chips, which act as tag RAM for the external cache; this external cache must be built from SSRAM (synchronous static RAM) chips, which are more expensive than ordinary SRAMs. The SSRAMs and the huge die will probably make the R8000 the most expensive microprocessor chip set ever built, but the supercomputer market is not known for bargain pricing.

Mips Goes Superscalar

The R8000 is a 64-bit superscalar processor that issues up to four instructions per

cycle. This is a departure for Mips, which was previously the champion of superpipelining (i.e., deep pipelines and fast clocks) as an alternative to multiple-instruction issue. However, Mips's designers realized that their floating-point performance goals could be met only by a vector processor or by going superscalar, and they preferred the latter as a more general-purpose solution.

The R8000 integer unit contains four integer-execution units (see the figure "R8000 Microarchitecture"). Three of these units—two ALUs and a shifter— operate in one cycle; the fourth, a multi

R8000 Microarchitecture

Global

Global

tag

cache

8-KB lines,

1 to 16 MB,

tour sets

-*

replacement

ply/divide unit, is not pipelined and takes four to six cycles for a multiply and 21 to 73 cycles for a divide. There are four parallel pipelines within the R8000, each five stages deep (i.e., fetch, decode, address generate, execute, and write back). Two pipelines feed the integer ALUs, and two are for loads/stores, allowing ALU operations to occur in parallel with data-cache accesses. Of the four instructions that the R8000 can dispatch each cycle, two are integer or load/store operations, and two are floating-point operations.

With this degree of parallel issue, Mips had to find a cure for the "load shadow" problem of earlier RISC pipeline I designs: The cycle immediately following (and, hence, shadowing) a load instruction can't use | the result of that load. As with branch-delay slots, the compiler | tries to fill this dead slot with an independent instruction, but no compiler can be expected to find four such instructions.

Mips's solution was to place the ALU one stage later in the pipeline than usual (after address generation), which removes the load-to-ALU shadow but instead introduces an ALU shadow over the load addresses: Whenever a base address is calculated using an ALU operation, there is a one-cycle delay before the address can be used by a following load or store. Mips considers this a good trade-off for two reasons: because load-use dependencies occur far more often than compute-load dependencies and because extensions to the R8000 instruction set include a new register+register addressing mode for floating-point loads/stores that reduces the need to precalculate addresses.

The integer-unit pipelines incorporate several other tricks to increase internal parallelism. For historical reasons, the Mips instruction set requires all branches to be followed by a one-cycle delay slot. The R8000 has to retain these delay slots for backward compatibility, but it executes them in parallel with their branch instruction. The on-chip data cache is dual-ported to support two memory accesses per cycle, and it incorporates a bypass so that a store followed by a dependent load can still be issued in parallel. continued

48 BYTE SEPTEMBER 1994

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Aligning Instructions for Multiple Dispatch

The R8000's instruction buffer is a FIFO (first-in/first-out) queue in which each entry is a quadword (i.e., 128 bits) containing four instructions read from the instruction cache. The last entry in this queue is made visible via a set of four 32-bit registers called the ondeck registers, which feed another set of four dispatch registers. The latter are equivalent to the instruction register of a conventional single-issue microprocessor and connect to the decode logic and the register file. The figure at right shows four cycles of the buffer operation with individual instructions represented by letters of the alphabet. The cycles are explained below.

Cycle 1: Instruction C depends

on the result of A, so the dispatch logic decides that only instructions A and B can be issued in parallel (as D must not be issued out of order). Cycle 2: A and B are dispatched for execution, E and F move from the on-deck registers to replace them, and the pro

I

Unaligned Dispatching

Buffer iMlNjQlPl Mf

lElFlGlHl

Dispatch lAjBjC D|

[aTbI

gram counter points to C. Cycle 3: C, D, and E are dispatched in parallel and are replaced by G and H (from the on-deck registers) and I, which bypasses the on-deck registers. The emptying of the on-deck registers triggers a buffer advance on the next cycle.

Cycle 4: The buffer advances one line and reads four more instructions from the cache. _,—|—. F and G are dispatched.

The overall effect of this mechanism is to provide a continuous stream of aligned instructions for execution. Meanwhile, the dispatch-decision logic has to manipulate only the four dispatch registers and is not burdened with the whole ii fetch pipeline.

The FPU

Floating-point instructions are executed in the R8010, so the R8000's dispatcher puts floating-point operations into a queue where they can wait, without holding up the integer pipelines, until the R8010 is ready for them. Floating-point operations can, therefore, execute out of order in relation to any following integer instructions, but the R8010 uses FIFO (firstin/first-out) queues at both input and output to ensure they execute in order among themselves. This decoupling of the FPU from the integer pipelines improves integer performance by hiding not only the delay of floating-point execution, but also the latency of the external cache pipeline, which is mostly used for floating-point data (more about this later).

The downside of this decoupling is that while integer exceptions remain precise, floating-point exceptions become imprecise, being reported as asynchronous interrupts some time after the causing event. You can confine the extent of this lag, at a price, by writing code that repeatedly reads the floating-point status register (which flushes all pending exceptions), or you can enter a precise-exception mode, in which the integer pipeline is stalled for the whole duration of a floating-point operation. This provides backward compatibility with earlier Mips CPUs, but at the cost of a large hit in integer performance.

The R8010 contains two identical float

ing-point data paths that are completely indistinguishable to software. These data paths can perform double-precision multiplies, adds, divides, square roots, and conversions, as well as a new, fused multiply-add (i.e., multiply A by B and then add C without intermediate rounding), which is especially useful in image processing and similar applications.

It's the execution of two such multiplyadds per cycle at 75 MHz that allows Mips to claim 300-MFLOPS peak performance. Floating-point compares and moves take one cycle; multiplies and multiply-adds take four cycles and are fully pipelined; long operations, such as divides and square roots, are not pipelined and can take up to 20 cycles. However, the data paths are fully independent, so while one unit is executing a long, nonpipelined operation, the other can still execute one pipelined operation per cycle.

A major design goal for the R8000 was to achieve superscalar instruction issue that's not critically sensitive to instruction alignment. Some superscalar RISC processors can issue instructions in parallel only if they're aligned on 64-bit or 128-bit boundaries; otherwise, the time taken to align the instructions would consume all the advantage gained. For example, the DEC Alpha can waste up to three cycles when branching to a nonaligned target.

So often in the RISC world it's up to the compiler (and, hence, the wretched compiler writer) to solve this problem by padding the instruction stream with NOPs to achieve the correct alignment. This reduces code density and can cause secondary performance losses by increasing the cache-miss rate. Mips solved this problem by implementing an instruction buffer that takes blocks of instructions from the cache aligned on 128-bit boundaries and issues up to four aligned instructions per cycle into the execution units. The text box "Aligning Instructions for Multiple Dispatch" explains how the instruction buffer does its job.

To dispatch four instructions per cycle, you have to fetch four instructions per cycle, and that makes the R8000 very vulnerable to breaks in the instruction stream caused by program branches. To reduce this impact, the R8000's designers implemented a dynamic branch-prediction scheme. The branch cache holds 1-KB entries, and, for the sake of speed and economy of silicon space, it's direct-mapped, allowing it to be physically laid out as just an appendage of the single-ported instruction-cache RAM. The branch cache employs a 1-bit prediction scheme, which has a rather low accuracy. However, its large size of one entry per line (i.e., per four instructions) in the instruction cache compensates for this by eliminating almost all conflicts. continued

SO BYTE SEPTEMBER 1994

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Mips needed to achieve a bandwidth of over 1 GBps from the global cache; this required some drastic steps.

The fetch stage of the integer pipeline accesses the branch and instruction caches in parallel, reading from the branch cache a single prediction bit (i.e., taken/not taken), the instruction-cache index of the branch target, and the alignments of both the last instruction in the source block and the branch target. These latter two quantities are used to mask off the unwanted instructions from the quadwords that contain the source and target. In the interest of space, only 10 bits of the instruction-cache index are stored in each branch-cache entry; the remaining high-order bits of the target address are recovered on the next cycle from the virtual instruction-cache tag. This scheme assumes that all predicted branch targets will hit in the instruction cache; consequently, this increases the penalty for instruction-cache misses.

Because each branch-prediction entry is shared among four instructions, the possibility of cache thrashing arises if two branch instructions occur in the same fourword block (no more than two could occur because of Mips's compulsory branch-delay slots). The answer to this problem is to design compilers that avoid creating such small basic blocks (i.e., branches so close together).

Another extension to the R8000 instruction set helps with this task; the new conditional move instructions can often implement IF.. .THEN... ELSE structures, using either a single branch or none. For example, the instruction

cmove %rl-*r2?«ccl

says, "move the contents of register r2 into rl, but only if condition code ccl is set." Conditional instructions always execute, consuming one cycle even when the move doesn't happen, so they don't cause a discontinuity in the instruction stream.

Mips claims that, although this branchprediction scheme is somewhat less efficient than multibit ones, it works uniformly with respect to the taken and fall-through cases and for jump-to-register instructions, so the same hardware can predict branches, jumps, and subroutine calls/returns. It turns out to be very effective for dynamic object-oriented programs that call many small procedures (i.e., methods) indirectly via pointers. The code generated by such programs is full of jump-to-register instructions with invariant targets, which get predicted very well.

The Cache Hierarchy

The biggest problem faced by the R8000's designers was getting sufficient memory bandwidth to keep such a fast floatingpoint processor fed. The answer, as usual, lay in the cache architecture. The integer R8000 has separate 16-KB on-chip instruction and data caches, both with a 32-byte line size filled from an external secondary cache (which Mips calls the global cache) in two 16-byte chunks. The instruction cache is direct-mapped and is both virtually addressed and tagged.

Virtual tagging confers two advantages here. First, it dispenses with an instruction TLB (translation look-aside buffer) and the associated speed penalty for TLB misses. Also, it

| means that the instruction

cache's contents need not always be a subset of the global cache, so the loading of huge floating-point data sets into the global cache doesn't have to displace still-useful instructions.

The data cache is direct-mapped and virtually addressed, but it's physically tagged and is used only for integer loads and stores. It's dual-ported to support two loads (or one load and one store) per cycle. Unlike the instruction cache, the data cache's contents are always a proper subset of the global cache, with coherency maintained by hardware. All floating-point loads and stores bypass the on-chip data cache and go directly to the off-chip global cache after they're translated to physical addresses in the TLB.

The global cache, which can be anywhere from 1 to 16 MB in size, directly feeds the R8010's FPU and acts as local memory in multiprocessor systems. To reduce thrashing problems (such as during repetitive matrix processing), the global cache is four-way set-associative, with a sector size configurable to between 32 and 128 bytes.

To meet its floating-point performance target. Mips needed to achieve a bandwidth of over 1 GBps from the global cache; this required some drastic steps. The first was to implement the cache in what was at design time (1990) an exotic new breed of memory, the SSRAM. These chips integrate input and output registers onto the chip, so access is internally pipelined into three cycles: address setup, RAM access, and data output.

The R8000 global cache is interleaved in two banks of 64-bit-wide SSRAM cycling at 10 to 12 nanoseconds, for a total bandwidth of 1.2 GBps. This, however.

does not take into account set a; ity, which, if implemented in the most straightforward way (i.e., reading all four sets in parallel), could quadruple the bandwidth requirement again. To avoid this, Mips designed a custom four-way-associative tag RAM, in which addresses must be looked up before the SSRAMs are accessed.

The end result is a five-stage pipeline between the R8000 and the global cache: cycle 1, address into tag RAM; cycle 2, tag lookup; cycle 3, signal cross from tag RAM chip to SSRAM chip; cycle 4, SSRAM access; and cycle 5, data out to the R8000 or R8010. The cost of a miss in the on-chip data cache is, therefore, seven cycles (five for the pipeline plus two loads to fill a line), while an instructioncache miss costs 11 cycles, as it must also pass through the TLB and branch-prediction cache.

The main motivation for uncoupling the R8000 from its R8010 FPU was to hide this five-cycle external cache latency from integer code. In a tightly coupled design, each floating-point load could cast a 20instruction shadow (5x4 instructions per cycle), whereas in the actual design it casts none.

One problem with interleaved caches is that two data references might attempt to access the same bank during the same cycle. Even the smartest compiler cannot always foresee such conflicts, which threaten to halve the available bandwidth by stalling one of the references. Mips provides special hardware—a one-entry queue coupled to a crossbar called the address bellow—that has the ability to delay one of each pair of cache references to improve the chances of the ideal odd-even, oddeven sequence.

For example, a pathological sequence such as odd-odd, even-even, odd-odd, even-even would normally stall on one reference of each pair and run at 50 percent efficiency, but the address bellow delays one reference (the one marked with an asterisk) to yield odd-stall, *odd-even, oddeven, odd-even, in which only a single cycle is lost. The address bellow can resolve only local conflicts, however, and it relies on the compiler to generate a sensible global mix of odd-even references.

Cache Coherence

The R8000 design uses a relatively simple scheme to maintain consistency between the on-chip contents and the global cache's contents. First, the on-chip integer-data cache was made write-through with respect to the global cache: there is enough write bandwidth for the global cache to

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absorb write-through at full speed without buffering. This reduces the amount of chip logic and also simplifies multiprocessor support, since you can invalidate a data-cache line at any time with no pending write-backs to worry about.

Integer-cache write-throughs can potentially steal bandwidth that is needed for floating-point loads and stores, but Mips claims this is seldom a problem with real-world code. The global cache itself is write-back and uses a snooping protocol to support multiprocessor buses.

This split-level cache poses a special problem of consistency between integer and floating-point data. Suppose, for example, that location A is first written by an integer operation in both caches and then rewritten by a floating-point operation in the global cache only; a subsequent integer load would fetch stale data from the onchip cache. Simply invalidating the onchip cache line whenever a floating-point store occurs would provide a cure, but at the cost of causing severe cache thrashing during the processing of data structures that contain both floating-point and integer data within the same cache line. This is quite common, especially in graphics applications.

Instead, Mips employed an invalidation scheme whose granularity is liner than a whole cache line. Every 32-bit word in the on-chip integer-data cache has a valid bit attached. In a newly filled cache line, all these bits are set, but a floating-point store to the global cache causes the corresponding bits in the on-chip cache to be cleared. Integer stores of 32 or 64 bits set their corresponding valid bits, while integer stores of smaller size (e.g., bytes) and integer loads cause a cache miss if the appropriate bit is not set.

Like the Hewlett-Packard PA-RISC 72001 wrote about last month (see "A Different Kind of RISC," August BYTE), the Mips R8000 design is evidence that RISC designers are looking beyond benchmark performance to the difficult real-world computing problems that are, at present, fodder for supercomputers. The R8000 looks like it's set to be the floating-point performance winner for a while, but it's hard for me to shake off the nagging feeling that the multichip implementation raises some of the very problems it solves and that in the future we will see the R8000 chip set shrunk down to a single die, just as the IBM RS/6000 shrank to become the PowerPC. ■

Dick Pountain is a BYTE attributing editor based in London. You can reach him on the Internet or BIX at dickp@btx.com.

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Data over Cellular

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The cellular-phone network was built with voice communication in mind. Thus, the transmission glitches and pauses caused by handoffs are merely an annoyance, because the human brain is great at inferring what it doesn't actually hear.

The explosion in portable computing, however, has created an explosion of interest in wireless data communication—particularly in cellular data communication, because cellular is the most popular and accessible form of wireless communication now available. The problem is that the mere annoyances that plague voice transmission over cellular are anathema to data communication. Dropped or missing bits or bytes cause retries or, in the worst case, a lost connection.

Cellular transmission is a circuitswitched technology. In it, cellular transceivers switch between frequencies to avoid interference as new calls come on the air or simply to acquire a better signal-to-noise ratio on a transmission channel. Because the transmission is wireless, it is susceptible to all types of atmospheric conditions, emissions, and electronic interference. The act of switching itself also produces a momentary cessation of the transmission signal, which interrupts the data stream.

Last year. AT&T Paradyne (Largo, I FL), a data and communications technology firm, introduced ETC (Enhanced Throughput Cellular) as a means of solving not only data-continuity problems, but speed, error-correction, reliability and call setup, and handshaking issues as well. Other protocols (e.g.. MNP level 10 and V.42 error correction) deal with these issues, but none as comprehensively as ETC. With more than a dozen cellular prov iders supporting ETC, it is quickly becoming a checkoff item for cellular data communication.

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Modem Standards

Modem standards are numerous, and they come with confusing names and numbering schemes. The ITU-TSS, which recently replaced the CCITT, sets the V.xx standards. The ITU-TSS is located in France, so its designations, like those of the CCITT, are French. The "bis" designation, for example, means "second," as in the second iteration of a standard. Thus, V.22 is the original 1200-bps standard, while V.22bis is 2400 bps. V.32 covers 4800 and 96(X) bps. V.32bis adds 72(X) bps, 12 Kbps, 14.4 Kbps. and some last rate-negotiation parameters to the speed switching. In particular, if either modem specifies a transmission speed, the connection must maintain that speed or disconnect.

V.42 is an error-correction protocol based on LAP-M (Link Access Procedure-Modem), which in turn is basically HDLC (highlevel data-link control), the original bit-oriented synchronous link-layer protocol used in data connections. MNP level 10 is

SEPTEMBER 1994 BYTE 59

ETC,

V.42/

MNP level 10

V.32bis

(de facto protocol

(industry

standards for

standard

cellular data)

protocols)

For the greater part of its journey,

another error-correction scheme. It's a de facto standard, widely used but not formalized by a committee.

Cellular communication is organized on OSI's seven-layer network model. ETC*s big advantage over protocols like MNP level 10 and V.42 is that it operates on both layer 1 (i.e., the physical layer) and layer 2 (i.e., the link layer). The physical layer is largely concerned with how the data is modulated for transmission. Today's modems use simultaneous amplitude and FM The link layer is where handshaking and error control are handled.

To realize all the benefits of ETC, a modem that supports both V.32bis and V.42 is required. V.32bis is used because it handles the handshake setup between modems, and it is easier and faster to take advantage of the handshake than to duplicate the effort. As the handshake lakes place, the sending modem determines if ETC is supported by the modem on the receiving end. If it is supported by both modems, they work together to determine the highest data transfer rate the circuit is likely to support. Only after this has been established do you get a connect message.

V.42 is put to similar use. Standard im

plementations of it require the sending modem to repeal all frames transmitted after a flawed frame is received, regardless of whether subsequent frames are error-free. ( This is also the ease with MNP level 10.) On average, a modem will have received two additional frames by the time a retransmission request reaches the originating modem. Thus, all three frames would need to be retransmitted. However, ETC uses V.42's selective reject feature and requires the retransmission of only frames with errors.

ETC Enhancements

Besides working with existing protocols. ETC brings many improvements to the table. One of the primary benefits is Transmit-Level Control. A typical (i.e., nonETC) modem's amplitude modulation may often exceed the cellular channel's transmission capabilities. This results in a condition called clipping, a harmonic distortion that damages the signal.

V.32bis-compliant cellular modems have a flat-frequene> response, but the cellular network gives the frequencies from 600 to 30(H) Hz. the ordinary vocal range, a 6-decibel boost. ETC deemphasizes the

same bandwidth area by 6 dB, which results in more consistent data transmission. The theory and the effect are similar to the function of Dolby noise reduction in stereo tape recording and playback equipment.

ETC also monitors the cellular channel. Auto-rating is a technology that works in conjunction with the V.32bis standard to measure disruptive phenomena, like harmonic distortion, phase jitter, and signal-tonoise ratios. The measured figures are translated into a cumulative absolute number, which is compared to a table of acceptable levels for any given transmission speed.

While V.32bis supports speeds of 4800 bps to 14.4 Kbps, ETC will let the modem drop even lower, to the V.22 standard of 1200 bps. ETC skips the V.22bis 2400bps standard, because a quirk in the modulation algorithm causes it to yield worse results than V.32bis at 4800 bps. Autorating is capable of adjusting the transmission speed, in certain cases, as often as every 5 seconds, although a more realistic number is about every 15 seconds. This reduces the risk of dropped calls while simultaneously taking advantage of the fastest possible transmission rates. The net

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Modem Pools

One of the tangential benefits of ETC (Enhanced Throughput Cellular) design is that it works, albeit not at its best, when present in only one-half of a modem-tomodem connection. This is the theory behind a relatively new concept called modem pools. One of the reasons that so many cellular carriers are endorsing ETC is that it makes their services look that much better, but they're not stopping with appearance.

A modem pool is an array of modems, maintained by the cellular carrier, that provide error correction and signal-reliability enhancement without active participation or investment from the end user. The primary modem at the carrier accepts the mobile call and applies the appropriate error-correction technology (e.g., TX-Cell, MNP level 10, or ETC). The data is translated (if necessary) to a landlme-based error-correction protocol (e.g., MNP level 2 or V.42) and is switched to a second modem back-to-back with the primary modem. The second modem switches the

call to landlines and on to the call destination. The user sees only the results, which, with ETC, are good.

Primary Access (San Diego, CA) is the supplier of modem-pool hardware and software to the cellular industry. Primary's product is a single digital platform supporting many pairs of back-to-back modems. The modems themselves are DSP (digital signal processor) systems that are configurable via software. These platforms are interfaced on Tl lines that provide 24 channels and a cumulative bandwidth of 1.5 Mbps.

One of the carriers using this technology is NYNEX Mobile Communications (Orangeburg, NY). The company selected ETC because it delivers increased reliability for NYNEX services. It also increases the throughput of all data calls, resulting in increased customer satisfaction. Installing ETC in the network relieves corporate customers from the responsibility and cost of replacing or upgrading all their modems. Finally, it gives the end user point-to-mul

tipoint benefits, rather than the point-topoint benefits that are derived from any protocol required on both ends of a connection.

Jim Ducay, director of wireless data services for NYNEX, believes that "Cellular can meet all of our customers' needs, both voice and data. One such need is wireless modem service, which we supply with ETC-protocol support in the network. The entire process is transparent to the customer, who only sees increased carrier reliability and throughput." While this system delivers benefits without customer investment, if the end user does have ETC installed on his or her end of the link, the benefits are greater.

Of the 15 cellular providers currently endorsing ETC, about half have implemented modem-pool technology in their systems. Most provide it as a value-added service to the customer at no cost. Some are even looking at the possibility of providing reduced-rate data-only s their customer base.

effect of this protocol is the efficient use of air time, which is the expensive component of cellular communication.

ETC also breaks up data to be sent into smaller frames than most error-correcting protocols. ETC frames are 32 bytes in length, one-quarter the standard V.42 setting. (There is a modem command that enables the manual selection of smaller frame sizes, but who has ever used it?) Using smaller frames has two positive results in error correction. First, frames that the receiving modem determines need replacing are smaller and can be sent in less time than their larger predecessors. Second, a modem can send more frames before receiving an acknowledgment from the receiving device.

This is another timesaving device. The transmit/acknowledge cycle takes time to complete over the length of the cellular circuit, and while it is transpiring, no data can be transmitted. Even though 15 32byte frames represent about half the data of seven 128-byte frames, the net result of a longer transmission window is more data sent.

Finally, ETC increases the number of retries a modem will make when attempt

ing to send a frame with errors. Currently, standard modems will retry about eight times before breaking the connection. ETC makes 20 attempts, which results in a significant percentage in the percentage of maintained calls.

Deploying ETC

ETC will provide improvement when present in only a single modem in a connection, but it isn't as significant as when it's present in both. If ETC is present in both sending and receiving modems, test results have shown that its overall reliability is nearly 20 percent greater than when it is present at only one end of the connection. One factor to note here is that to provide any improvement, MNP level 10 is required on both ends of the connection, while ETC may be present at only one end. This is the theory behind cellular carrier's modem pools (see the text box "Modem Pools").

ETC provides improvement in transfer rates for all file sizes, but a real bonus of the protocol is that significantly larger files can be sent in under 1 minute. None of the other protocols now available can beat the 1-minute threshold, even for files as small

as 4 KB. which means that the same call will cost twice as much w ithout ETC. Obviously, as the file transfers get larger, the percentage of savings is not as dramatic. However, the average on-air lime for the transfer of a 100-KB file is 3 minutes, 57 seconds, for an ETC-ETC connection.

Real-World ETC

ETC is available in AT&T products like KeeplnTouch. which is a PCMCIA cellular modem card, and Dataport and Cornsphere, which are desktop system cards. For pre-ETC customers of these products, the technology is downloadable at no charge to the end user. AT&T has licensed ETC. and several modem vendors have also done so. Among the hardware vendors are Compaq, Intel, and Xircom. The list of the service providers who support it reads like a who's who of cellular communication in the U.S., and several of the companies are involved in communications operations worldwide.

Intel's Cellular Faxmodem was the first ETC-compliant product available from a third-party vendor. The Cellular Faxmodem for PCMCIA, descriptively if unimaginatively named, was introduced in June. It

62 BYXE SEPTEMBER 1994

Reach for the Stars

j

9WHTON

SCL-728SXL

17" Flat Screen

1,280 x 1,024 (60Hz) High Resolution Mac Compatible

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1,280 x 1,024 (60Hz) High Resolution

1

SC-428UXL

14" 1,024 x 768 (75Hz) High Resolution

For generations, we have looked to the stars as symbols of that which cannot be reached. To be considered a star, one must display rare talent and ability to rise above the masses. While the average person may never literally reach the stars, it is possible to put one to work for you. * Consider the Samtron StarPower™ line of high resolution monitors. Featuring digital controls, flicker-free screens to ease eye strain and non-interlaced displays for edge to edge viewing, the entire line complies with EPA Energy Star™ standards. * In addition, every Samtron monitor comes with an unparalleled three year parts and two year labor warranty, adding up to heavenly performance at down-to-earth prices. * Contact your local dealer about the StarPower line.

You wont even need a telescope to see them up close. MONITORS WITH STARPOWER™ ZTm

The StarPower Line Features:

• Super Fine Dot Pitch

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• VGA, SVGA, XGA, VESA Compatible

• Multi-Scan

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SAMTRON DISPLAYS, INC 14251 E. Firestone Blvd. *101 U Mirada, CA 90638 Tel: 310 802-8425 Fa: 310 802-8820 Customer Service: Tel: (800) SAMTRON.

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Circle 139 on Innulrv Carrt rRFSFI I FRS -mm

"FirstClass Outperforms Competitors

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Connectivity via network or modem to other FirstClass servers or other mail systems Remote or local administration with the same client all others use Messages with multiple fonts, styles and colors & unlimited attachmentSimultaneous multiple file transfer: Background searching Gateways to the Internet with full Usenet newsgroup replication Fax gateway for individual or

SoftArc Inc. |

LA LI Global-Area Communications

Phone: 416-299-4723

is compatible with both wireless and wired communications and is capable of 14.4 Kbps, the fastest V.32bis speed. Besides supporting ETC, the Cellular Faxmodem supports MNP level 10. enabling error correction in communication with modems that also support MNP level 10 but do not comply with V.42.

The retail price for the Cellular Faxmodem is $349; an RJ-11 phone cable is a $99 option. The modem is compatible with AT&T's cellular phones and Nokia Consumer Electronics' Technophone. It is not. however, directly compatible w ith the line of cellular phones from Motorola Codex, the best-selling cellular products in the U.S. Some third-party vendors make products that let you attach an ETC-compliant modem to just about any type of phone, but a direct connection to a Motorola phone through its MC2 bus requires a Motorola modem or a KeeplnTouch card.

The Motorola Difference

Motorola's products do not feature ETC. Instead, Motorola has developed its own proprietary protocol called ECC (Enhanced Control Cellular), which is designed to provide the same advantages as ETC. ECC works, like ETC, at both the physical and link layers of the cellular network model. Unfortunately, no further information on ECC was available at press time, including whether it is compatible with other standards, what its specific benefits arc. and the availability of licenses from Motorola.

Xircom is an industry leader in the development of LAN and WAN (wide-area network) technology for the mobile market and a technological partner of Motorola. However. Xircom is going with ETC. Jim Soriano, senior engineering director at Xircom, says. "Our products feature a Motorola 68302 processor and plenty of RAM and are capable of supporting multiple simultaneous protocols: space and compute power are not a problem. Xircom simply feels that ETC is the best protocol for the type of marginal conditions that cellular

The LANAVAN group at Xircom is devoted to providing remote connections to LANs and other types of networks. It developed and is marketing two ETC products, the CreditCard Ethernet + and the Pocket Ethernet +. As its name implies, the CreditCard Ethernet + is a PCMCIA product, while the Pocket Ethernet + plugs into a system's parallel port. Both are unique in that they provide an Ethernet interface and a V.32terbo-compatible modem. (Terbo is a word play on the V.32ter standard, which wasn't passed. V32terbo is capable of 19.2-Kbps modulation.)

Xircom chose ETC because AT&T is actively marketing and supporting the product; the secrets of MNP level 10 and ECC, on the other hand, remain veiled. Xircom has left its options open, though. If ECC becomes an important standard, you will be able to download the technology onto Xircom products. ETC will be available as a software upgrade in the fourth quarter at no charge for those who own the CreditCard Ethernet + and the Pocket Ethernet +.

The Cellular Future

The fact that cellular today is a virtual circuit-switched technology adds to the necessity of a product like ETC. Signals sent in an open-broadcast format will always be more susceptible to various types of interference than data carried over a wire.

ETC is just one way to safeguard the transmission of data over a cellular connection. Part of its popularity comes from the fact that ETC isn't required on both ends of a connection. You can buy an ETC modem and still benefit even if your cellular carrier doesn't use it on the other end of the connection. The same can't be said of ETC's biggest rival, CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data).

CDPD is a connectionless digital transmission technology that uses some of the unused bands in the cellular frequency spectrum to transmit digital information. Because it breaks information into packets, it can take advantage of standard digital compression and error-correcting techniques. It also doesn't need the long setup time an analog cellular connection does.

Many of the same companies that support ETC also support CDPD. These technologies are not mutually exclusive; one cellular base station can support them both. Because it is required by both parties in a transmission. CDPD technology will roll out far slower than will ETC. Both will undoubtedly exist side by side until after the turn of the century, when the analog cellular network makes the transformation to all-digital technology.

Because of its open-standards nature, and the backing of companies like AT&T, IBM. Intel, and others, ETC looks like a ready-made success. There is no question that it represents a significant boon to the many thousands of cellular users around the country, and that it makes cellular data communication a viable tool for the mobile business p

John Rryon is o freelance technology writer m, i onsuluml baud in Son lose. California. You a. send him h-nnul on the Internet or BIX tit eti

Go Ahead, Get Carried Away

I

Let Your Imagination Go Wild

Go ahead. Let yourself get carried away. Because when you buy a computer from Gateway 2000" you can lose yourself in a whirlwind of extraordinary computer systems and fantastic software. You'll feel like there's absolutely nothing on earth you can't do! So let your imagination run wild. Soon you'll be opening the doors to Gateway 2000 where prices are a breeze and computer dreams really do come true!

Most Gateway desktop systems now include larger hard drives, including a 1GB hard drive on our P5-90XL PentiutrT-bascd machine. So there's no way you can get caught short of space. A TelePath™ fax/ modem is included on our new Pentium-based multimedia systems. And CD-ROM drives are standard on all desktop systems. Just imagine what you can accomplish with Microsoft's Office Professional, including the latest versions of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint" and Access*, now standard on all 486 PCI and Pentium-based systems.

A standard three-year limited parts warranty on all desktop systems and Gateway monitors tops off our tradition of bringing you the best service and support in the industry.

Sound too good to be true? Well, that's not all. The Gateway HandBook" 486 portable PC is now priced at legendary low prices.

Gateway 2000 has grown to become a Fortune 500 company, but we're still the down-to-earth Midwesterns who have always given you a good old-fashioned value. Go ahead, take a visionary's leap into the Gateway 2000 experience. Soon you'll be saying, "There's no place like Gateway, there's no place like Gateway."

0 0

All the inavilibk' latent in

4 6 - 2 0 5 8

provided hy Gateway 21)00 employees and family members.

Supernatural power. Mesmerizing features. Stunning software. It's the Gateway 2000* experience. A place where you can have the best CPUs in the land — and so much more — when you buy a Gateway 2000 Pentium™-based system. And while others are huckstering their stripped-down Pentium-based computers, Gateway presents systems packed with the all the stuff dreams are made of!

There's virtually no end to the features included: hard drives up to 1GB, CD-ROM drives, outstanding sound and video performance, the best software, fax/modems on two new multimedia models, and a standard three-year limited parts warranty.

Your dream machine no longer eludes you. Gateway 2000 is making those dreams come true! Raising The Roof Extras ^

We always want to keep our customers ahead of the industry. So along with lntel*'s super-charged Pentium processor. Gateway helps you extend the life of your system by including

incredible 540MB, 730MB or 1GB hard drives on all Pentiumbased systems. Get used to the feeling of being spoiled, because you also get CD-ROM drives, superior video performance and a ton of memory on all desktop systems!

All Pentium processor-based models include a PCI local bus and an enhanced PCI/IDE controller allowing your hard drive to transfer data up to twice as fast as non-enhanced systems.

And now Gateway's high-quality desktop systems and Gateway monitors are backed by a three-year limited parts warranty. Believe it — this is one of the best warranties you'll find anywhere! Multimedia Mania

For those who insist on only the very best, your Shangri-La is our new P5-60 and P5-90 Best Buy multimedia systems. Watch out, 'cuz they're jam-packed with all the premium multimedia features you can imagine! V Including a TelePath'" fax/modem and communications software so you can speak to the world from your own living room. And tunes never sounded so good with a 16-bit

t

f

sound card and Yamaha* stereo-quality speakers. Play your audio CDs, hear audio clips or record audio all in perfect harmony.

Wondering what '•multimedia" really means for you? It's a whole new universe of knowledge, entertainment, communication and educational capabilities. Talk about being entranced! You'll experience interactive, full-motion video and stereo audio. And Gateway gives you the key to this universe in a super-fast, feature-packed machine.

Get the best of all possible worlds with these new P5-60 and P5-90 Best Buy multimedia machines! Software Nirvana

It's a sweet deal. All Gateway Pentium-based systems now come with Microsoft Office Professional, an incredible combination of Microsoft's most popular business applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint* presentation graphics program, and Access* database, all on a single CD with on-line manuals. These programs in Office Professional are so tightly integrated, they work together as if they were a single

program. Also included is Corel Professional Photos CD Sampler with tools to view Photo CD images.

Call for more great software options including our valuepacked Multimedia Starter Pack. P5-90XL Paradise

Is it fantasy or for real? Well, it's the Gateway P5-90XL. This ultimate high-flying Pentium-based PC has a largerthan-life 1GB hard drive. You're gonna get all the power and speed you need for today and tomorrow! And an ATI GX video card using the Mach 64 graphics accelerator, one of the first and fastest 64-bit accelerators on the market. It's awe-inspiring to see the display on the 17-inch CrystalScan* monitor. Sound, you ask? Ensoniq*'s Soundscape'" wavetable sound card makes a staggering difference in audio quality. And you'll get a great balance of crisp highs and plenty of heart-pounding bass — in full stereo sound from the Altec Lansing ACS-31 speakers, with subwoofer.

And for the system of your dreams, we'll configure a system specifically to fit your needs. Get everything under the sun with a powerful value-packed Pentium-based system from Gateway 2000!

GA1EWW2000

COLORBOOK

You'll be transported to outer bounds when you discover the ColorBook from Gateway 2000.' Experience the rapture of color portability and performance with a 250MB hard drive on our 50MHz and 75MHz models. A rainbow of 256 brilliant colors in VGA mode bursts from an incredible 10-inch dual-scan screen on three ColorBook models. You won't find another portable screen this big, this affordable, anywhere else.

And while everyone else is hiking up their color portable prices, Gateway still offers you an incredible value on our feature-packed ColorBooks, from the $1,999 SX model right up to the DX4-75. And our DX2-50 model recently won PC World's Best Buy award in the Power Moblile PC category.

All Gateway ColorBooks are based on the Intel" SL Enhanced 486 processor with enough power and memory to run all your Windows applications. Weighing less than 5.7 pounds, measuring 1.77-inches thin, all models include two PCMCIA Type II or one Type III slots, excellent battery life, carrying case and a great suspend/resume feature. Our DX2 and DX4 models also include PCMCIA tax/modems. You also get Microsoft Works™ or MS Office Professional standard.

No, it's not an illusion ... it's the ColorBook from Gateway 2000.

> GATEWAY^**)

HANDBOOK486

Visualize the ideal portable experience. On the road to enlightenment you'd like to have a lightweight, compact, real 486 PC at an uncommonly low price. The Gateway 2000 HandBook* 486 is so extraordinary, it's portable computing Utopia! With unbelievable prices on all HandBook models (they start at just $999!) there's never been a better time to indulge yourself in a world of 486 power that you can take anywhere.

The HandBook's slight frame — weighing less than three pounds and measuring roughly 10x6 inches — makes it an enchanting little PC. The HandBook DX2-50 gives you more MIPs per pound than any other portable PC. With Microsoft Office Professional included, the DX2-50 is an unbeatable value. And at these prices you can get the HandBook as a companion to your desktop system.

The HandBook's features are astounding. It has a bright, backlit VGA screen and a comfortable, touch-type keyboard along with an external diskette drive and leather carry ing case. With two batteries included, the HandBook also lets you "hot swap" — change batteries or peripheral while the PC is running »ithout rebooting the system or losing data.

All Gateway ColorBook and HandBook portable PCs come with a standard one-year limited parts warranty. A special VIP warranty is available only at the time of purchase for an additional $100.

The Gateway 2000 Family PC

There's no place like home when you have a Gateway 2000" Family PC" in the house. Every member of your family will be swept away as they discover inspiration, entertainment and learning experiences.

This fully equipped multimedia system takes you to a whole new dimension. You get a fast CD-ROM drive to run the best programs and games with sound, pictures, animation and video. With its high-quality sound card and speakers, the Family PC lets you play music CDs, hear audio clips or record audio — all with magical stereo sound.

The Family PC's fax/modem has all the communication software you need to access information and other computer users from all over the world through on-line services.

Experience a virtual software playground with Microsoft Works'" Multimedia Edition, MS Encarta 1994 Multimedia Encyclopedia, MS Money,'11 new MS Complete Baseball, MS Golf, and Corel Professional Photos CD Sampler.

You won't find another home PC more loaded than the Gateway Family PCs and our Pentium-based multimedia systems — in any land.

3-Year Warranty

Gateway desktop systems come with one of the strongest warranties in the industry. All Gateway 2000 desktop PCs arc backed by a three-year limited warranty on parts. The new three-year limited parts warranty includes Gateway monitors.

Gateway customers also receive a 30-day money-back guarantee and toll-free technical support. And PC Magazine readers recently honored us, for the fourth consecutive time, with their highest rating in PC Mag's Service and Reliability survey.

On-site service is available during the first year in most U.S. locations and may be provided without charge if our technicians determine it necessary.

For details on our new warranty and all of our service and support policies, please call or write for a free written copy.

Payment Options

Gateway accepts most major credit cards and C.O.D. terms, with net 30-day terms and leasing options available to qualified commercial customers. You can also apply for the Gateway 2000 DuoLine™ MasterCard* Card, issued by Dial National Bank, Des Moines, Iowa.

To Other Worlds

Gateway 2000 customers in Canada and Puerto Rico receive toll-free telephone service in both countries (sec the back page of this ad for special X00 numbers) along with award-winning technical support and CSA approvals. On-site service is available in some Canadian and Puerto Rican locations, and our international shipping rates are among the most competitive in the industry.

^A^p^ "You 'we got a friend in the busmSr^^^

8 0 0 - 8 4 6 - 2 0 5 8

®

CI®hM

rtssa re LcAi

Multimedia Systems .

4SX-33 FAMILY PC I 4DX2-66 FAMILY PC

■ Intel* 33MHz 486SX CPU*

■ 4MB RAM

■ 340MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive

■ Local Bus Graphics with 1MB TDouble-Speed CD-ROM, 16-Bit

Sound Card & Speakers T 2400/9600 Data/Fax Modem

■ 3.5" Diskette Drive

■ 14" Color SVGA Monitor

■ Mini Desktop Case

■ 101-Key Keyboard* Mouse

■ MS-DOS* 6.2 &WFW 3.11 ?MS Works™ Encarta, Baseball,

Money,™ & Golf T 3-Year Limited Parts Warranty

$1499

■ Intel 66MHz 486DX2 CPU*

■ 8MB RAM, 128KB Cache

■ 420MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive

■ Local Bus Graphics with 1MB T Double-Speed CD-ROM, 16-Bit

Sound Card & Yamaha* Speakers ▼ 2400/9600 Data/Fax Modem

■ 3.5" Diskette Drive

■ 14" Color SVGA Monitor

■ Mini Desktop Case

■ 101-Key Keyboard & Mouse

■ MS-DOS 6.2 &WFW 3. II f MS Works, Encarta, Baseball.

Money, & Golf ^ 3-Year Limited Parts Warranty

$1999

Professional Systems.

■ Intel 60MHz Pentium™ CPU*

■ 8MB RAM, 256KB Cache

■ 540MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive

■ PCI Enhanced IDE Interface

■ PCI Local Bus Graphics with 1MB J Double-Speed CD-ROM

T16-Bil Sound Card & Yamaha Speakers

TTelePath™ II 14.4K Fax/Modem

■ 3.5" Diskette Drive

■ 15" Color Crystal Scan' Monitor

■ Desktop Case

■ 101-Key Keyboard & Mouse

■ MS-DOS 6.2 &WFW 3.11 T MS Office Professional CD T 3-Year Limited Parts Warranty

$2499

PS-90 BEST BUY

■ Intel 90MHz Pentium CPU*

■ 8MB RAM, 256KB Cache

■ 730MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive

■ PCI Enhanced IDE Interface

■ PCI Local Bus Graphics with 2MB J Double-Speed CD-ROM

T 16-Bit Sound Card & Yamaha

Speakers TTelePath II I4.4K Fax/Modem

■ 3.5" Diskette Drive

■ 15" Color CrystalScan Monitor

■ Desktop Case

■ AnyKey" Kcvboard & Mouse

■ MS-DOS 6.2 &WFW 3.11 f MS Office Professional CD f 3-Year Limited Parts Warranty

$2999

■ Intel 33MHz 486SX CPU*

■ 4MB RAM

■ 340MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive

■ Local Bus Graphics with 1MB T Double-Speed CD-ROM

■ 3.5" Diskette Dm c

■ 14" Color SVGA Monitor

■ Mini Desktop Case

■ 101-Key Keyboard & Mouse

■ MS-DOS 6.2 & WFW 3.11 TMS Works 3.0 CD

▼3-Year Limited Parts Warrantv

4SX-33 $1299 4DX2-66 $1599

(W'540MB Hard Drive)

Portables

■ Intel 66MHz 486DX2 CPU*

■ 8MB RAM, 128KB Cache

■ 730MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive

■ PCI Enhanced IDE Interface

■ PCI Local Bus Graphics with 1MB T Double-Speed CD-ROM

■ 3.5" Diskette Drive

■ 15" Color CrystalScan Monitor

■ Desktop Case

■ AnyKey Kevboard & Mouse

■ MS-DOS 6.2 & WFW 3.11

V MS Office Professional CD

V 3-Year Limited Parts Warranty

$2199

■ Intel 60MHz Pentium CPU*

■ 8MB RAM. 256KB Cache

■ 540MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive

■ PCI Enhanced IDE Interface

■ PCI Local Bus Graphics with 1MB f Double-Speed CD-ROM

■ 3.5" Diskette Drive

■ 15" Color CrystalScan Monitor

■ Desktop Case

■ AnyKev Keyboard & Mouse

■ MS-DOS 6.2 & WFW 3.11 * MS Office Professional CD T 3-Year Limited Parts Warranty

$2299

■ Intel 90MHz Pentium CPU*

■ 16MB RAM, 256KB Cache V 1 GB 10ms IDE Hard Drive

■ PCI Enhanced IDE Interface T ATI Mach 64 with 2MB VRAM ? Double-Speed CD-ROM

f 16-Bit Wavetable Sound Card & Altec ACS-31 Speakers

■ 3.5" Diskette Drive

■ 17" Color CrystalScan 1776LE

■ Tower Case

■ AnyKey Keyboard* Mouse

■ MS-DOS 6.2 & WFW 3.11 T MS Office Professional CD ▼ 3-Year Limited Parts Warrantv

$3999

HANDBOOK* 486

■ 2.94 Lbs., 9.75" x 5.9" x 1.6"

■ SL Enhanced Intel 486 or DX2 Processor

■ 4MB or 8MB RAM (expandable to 20MB)

■ 80 to 250MB IDE Hard Drive

■ External 3.5" Diskette Drive

■ 7.9" Backlit VGA Display

■ 2 NiMH Batteries* AC Pack

■ Suspend/Resume Feature

■ I PCMCIA Type II Slot

■ EZ Point™ Integrated Pointer

■ 78-Kev Keyboard

■ Parallel, Serial & PS/2* Ports

■ Leather Carrying Case

■ MS Works for Windows 3.0 or MS Office Professional

■ MS-DOS 6.2, WFW 3.11& Serial Transfer Cable

HANDBOOK 486SX-25

4MB RAM, 80MB Hard Drive, Works

t$999

HANDBOOK DX2-40

8MB RAM, BOMB Hard Drive, Works

$1499

HANDBOOK DX2-50

8MB RAM, 2 MS Office Pr

$2499

■ 5.7 Lbs., 11.7" x 8.5" x 1.77"

■ SL Enhanced Intel 486. DX2 or DX4 Processor

■ 4MB or 8MB RAM (expandable to 20MB)

■ 3.5" Diskette Drive and Removable 250MB IDE Drive

■ 10.3" or 9.4" VGA Dual-Scan STN Color Display

■ NiMH Battery & AC Pack

■ Suspend/Resume Feature

■ 2 PCMCIA Type II Slots (I Type III)

■ Integrated Trackball (2 buttons)

■ 85-Key Keyboard

■ Parallel, Serial, PS/2 & VGA Ports

■ MS Works or Office Professional

■ MS-DOS 6.2 & WFW 3.11

GATEWW2O00

COLORBOOK486SX-33

4MB RAM, Case. Works

t$1999

COLORBOOKDX2-40

4MB RAM, Fax/Modem, Case. Works

$2699

COLORBOOKDX2-50

8MB RAM, Fax/Modem, Case, Office Professional

$3199

COLORBOOKDX4-7S

8MB RAM, TelePath Fax/Modem, Case. Office Professional

$3699

"You've go! a friend in the business. "*

0 0 - 8 4 6 - 2 0 5

Upgradable f jlff^j.

WW

610 Gateway Drive • P.O. Box 2000 • N. Sioux City, SD 57049-2000 • Phone 605-232-2000 • TDD 800-846-1778 • Fax 605-232-2023 • FaxBack 605-232-2561 Component Add-On Sales 800-846-2080 • Sales Hours: 7am-10pm Weekdays. 9am4pm Saturdays (CDT)

Extraordinary Extras!

A wonderland of value: Gateway 2000's peripherals and software, sold only with the purchase of a system.

MULTIMEDIA Basic Audio Multimedia Kit

Here's everything you need to add multimedia to a Gateway PC.

■ Gateway 2000 16-bit CD-quality sound card, compatible with Sound Blaster'" cards, with MIDI game port, mic in, stereo line in/out

■ 2 Labtec^CS-180 speakers $109 (with system purchase)

Wavetable Audio Multimedia Kit

Once you've heard wavetable audio, basic audio will never do!

■ Ensoniq* SoundScape'" 16-bit wavetable sound card, MT-32 and KM mode compatible. Supports most software for popular sound cards and standards including General MIDI, Sound Blaster, AdLib, Roland MPU 401, MS Windows Sound Sytem and MT 32

■ New Altec Lansing ACS-31 three-piece speaker system

I MidiSoft" Sound Explorer and Time Warner's Aegis'" software $249 (with system purchase)

Altec Lansing ACS-31 Speakers

A Gateway exclusive from Altec Lansing: a three-piece speaker set at a twopiece price. Two 3-inch free-standing speakers crank out up to five watts per channel while the subwoofer can deliver 15 watts of heart-pounding bass. $119

Multimedia Software Starter Pack

You get nearly $700 worth of software for less than $100! Package includes Cinemania '94, Mad Dog McCree, Tuneland, Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook, The Lawnmower Man, Sitting on the Farm, Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, Chess Master 3000, U.S. Atlas and World Atlas. You also get a compact disc cleaner and 20-disk storage rack. $129

MONITORS

CrystalScan* 17-Inch Monitor

Non-interlaced color monitor with intelligent multi-scanning analog color display capable of 1280 x 1024 resolutionin non-interlaced mode, .26 dot pitch. Upgrade from a 14-inch CrystalScan I024NI monitor $395

Upgrade from a 15-inch CrystalScan 1572 monitor $335

(Prices good only for upgrades at the time of system purchase.)

Communications & Storage

TelePatlT II Fax/Modem

Internal faxmodem. 14,400bps modem. V.32bis, with 14,400bps fax capability. Includes CommWorks'" data and fax communication software. CoSession'" Host remote diagnostics, plus a CompuServe' trial membership. $99

Colorado Memory Systems* TBU

250MB internal tape backup unit copies up to 9.5MB per minute. Comes with MS Windows'" and DOS software, one tape and cable. $149

Printers

Hewlett-Packard 4L LaserJet Printer

A full-featured 300dpi printer loaded with enhanced PCL 5 and 26 scaleable typefaces with 1MB standard HP Memory Enhancement Technology. Parallel cable included. $699

Hewlett-Packard 4L LaserJet Printer

A 600dpi printer for four times the dots of 300dpi laser printing with enhanced PCL 5 and 45 scalable typefaces. 2MB standard memory and 3 universal SIMM slots available for additional memorv or PostScript fonts. Parallel cable included. $999

Epson* Stylus'" 800 Ink Jet Printer

Get the look of a laser at a dot matrix price with the Stylus 800. Prints 150 characters per second at 360dpi — fast and quiet! $289

Call for other printer options, including more Hewlett-Packard printers.

NETWORKING

Ethernet Adapter from 3Com®

Ultra high-performance 16-bit Ethernet cards from the world leaders in F.thernct technoloev.

16-bit Triple Media Card supports BNC. AUI and Twisted Pair media $119 16-bit Twisted Pair only $99

Token Ring

IBM* 16-bit Token Ring card $429

Portables

Peripherals and upgrades available only with a Gateway portable purchase.

H IA <

4,400 Fw/Modem. $249 ■ Token Ring adapter. $449 (Also in XJACk" version, same price) ■ HandBook' VGA adapter. $229

■ 9,600/2,400 Fax/Modem. $149

■ Ethernet adapter. $149 Other Accessories

I 2.2Ah NiMH batteries. Call for prices a Extended VIP warranty — we ship a replacement to you within ;- $4!) 24 hours during warranty. Point

of sale only. $100

HandBook 3.5" external floppy. $99

■ ColorBook'" carrying

■ HandBook leather carrying case. $55

Call the Gatew ay 2000 special Component Add-ons division at 800-846-2080for our complete line of extras for Gateway customers.

GATEWAY2OO0

8 0 0 - 8 4 6 - 2 0 5 8

The Quickest Way for the CD-ROM Revolution to Pick Up Speed.

Introducing the 4PleX Quad Speed CD-ROM Drive with a 1MB Buffer.

If you've been waiting for CD-ROM drive performance to really take off, get ready to hold on tight. The new Plextor 4PleX leaps past the capabilities of 2X and 3X drives, and puts you in the forefront of the multimedia revolution. The fastest (600KB/sec) data transfer rate yet seen will whiz multimedia video, graphics and animation across your screen, providing you with realism and excitement that slower CD-ROM drives can't match.

4PleX quad speed drives are available in both internal (standard half-height size for easy mounting in your PC) and external configurations. Both models feature a massive 1MB buffer, the largest ever found on a CD-ROM drive. They connect to your system through a SCSI-2 interface, which offers tremendous performance advantages over the IDE- and ATAPI-interfaces used by many competing drives. 4PleX drives surpass MPC-2 specifications, and are XA and Kodak Photo CD multisession compatible.

Plextor drives are designed for maximum performance and minimum downtime. They are built at an ISO 9002-approved factory in Japan, boast an industry-leading 70,000 MTBF (15% duty), and are covered by a two-year warranty. If you encounter any difficulty installing or operating a 4PleX drive, call our toll-free technical support line, where real people with real answers (CD-ROM is all they do!) will assist you.

Why wait? Join the multimedia revolution with a revolutionary 4PleX CD-ROM drive. Call toll-free 800-4PLEXTOR (800-475-3986) for more information and the name of a dealer near you.

I Ask for a free I copy of o u r I brochure,

I "15 Questions -125") Burton Drive

I To Auk Mare Silnta clam CA !ir,(,r'4

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Processors Proliferate

RICK GREHAN

While companies such as DEC, Intel, and Mips have been cranking up the megahertz on their latest 64-bit CPUs, wrapping spacious PCI-bus-based motherboards around them, and strapping on heat sinks the size of waffle irons, other companies, such as Microchip Technology, Motorola, and Zilog, have been happily slipping tiny microprocessors into the nooks and crannies of our lives.

Microprocessors have been used in automobiles for some time, and you've probably guessed that many of the talking and otherwise electrically animated toys that your children now lust after have some sort of microprocessor inside. Cordless and cellular communications equipment are also obvious homes for these chips, but maybe you haven't guessed that one of the biggest markets for microprocessors is the hand-held infrared controller: that thing you use to change channels with every night.

Welcome to the world of the IBP (itty-bitty processor), where bigger and faster take a back seat to—more accurately, barely cling to the rear bumper of—smaller and lower-power. While denizens of the PC motherboard are only now beginning to acclimate themselves to the reduced electronic blood pressure of 3-V power, some IBPs are already running at 2 V and less. While PC CPUs expand their data buses to 32, 64, and even 128 bits, IBPs echo—with some modification—the famous line from The Treasure of the Sierra Madre: to wit, "Data bus? We don't need no stinking data bus."

It's true. After all, these are microcontrollers. By definition, as many of their pins as possible are given over to I/O lines, since they are the means by which the CPU communicates with the outside world. All program memory and RAM data reside entirely on the CPU. There are no external data or address lines. These

Good things in small packages are generating big product opportunities

would require external RAM or ROM, plus traces to connect everything, all of which means more real estate, and that's a definite no-no in the land of the small.

An IBP. however, is a very special microcontroller—one that takes the micro in microcontroller seriously and one that fits entirely in a 20-pin, 18pin, and sometimes even 16-pin DIP chip. The unbelievably small footprint of these processors makes them hard to take seriously. But don't be fooled. Inside are full-blown CPUs (albeit 8-bit ones) with accumulators, index registers, stacks, and well-rounded instruction sets. They are always adorned with parallel I/O ports; virtually all have one or more timers: many are available in versions with on-chip serial I/O; and some can be outfitted with specialized analog components.

Simply put. they provide electronic intelligence that can be targeted at specialized applications. A single IBP, for example, has the ability to do the job of a pile of discrete electronics. Then you can take that same IBP and reprogram it, and it can do the job

SEPTEMBER 1994 BYXK 67

The Taming Power of the Small

Ollk'l

nail n

I development systems besides the Basic Stamp from Parallax. Blue Earth Micro, for example, sells a device that connects to your PC's serial port and looks no bigger than an RS-232 gender changer, yet it includes 8051 with 32 KB o RAM and a BASIC inter preter on-board. But eve these featun pete with the elegan plicity of the Basi< (see the photo).

The Basic Stamp is a surprisingly small, yet surprisingly complete, PIC 16C56 develop

software mentioned above. The code on the PIC 16C56 also contains all the routines

that

, right. I

a 4 Mil/

olt

age regulator, ami a handful -not even a thimbleful, actually—of passive electronics. The whole thing can be powered by a 9-V transistor battery (you can see the battery clip in the photo).

A three-pin header connects the Basic Stamp to your PC's printer port via a cable supplied by Parallax. Parallax also supplies development software that allows you to program the Basic Stamp in a trimmed-down version of BASIC.

necessary to download n from your PC onto the board's other chip—a 256pyte serial EEPROM. Eight of the PIC processor's pins are available as I/O from t header strip that lies adjacent to the prototyping space.

The Basic Stamp's dialect of BASIC s limited but capable. Obviously, math

For example, the BUTTON function reads the state of a switch on an input pin. handles debouncing automatically, and lets you specify an auto-repeat delay and rate (if the button is held down). The PULSIN function reads the duration of a pulse on one of the PIC's I/O pins, accurate to 10 microseconds. The PWM function will output a pulsewidth modulation on one of the processor's output pins. With the SERIN and SEROUT functions, you can specify pins as serial inputs and/or outputs and transmit or receive characters at speeds of up to 2400 bps.

By anyone's standards, the Basic Stamp is quite an accomplishment of both hardware and software engineer

:. Docurr 4s that i

ssihle i«

trallax sug

age. about 80 lines of BASIC on a BasicStamp. And since your code is being programmed into an EEPROM each time

Measuring 1 A by 2A in sic Stamp is not much b Matchbox car. When you c least half of the board's s prototyping area, the Bas

chip i

: Ba

I'IC

I6C56 processoi grammed it with a run-time kernel that executes the tokeni/ed BASIC program that you create using the development

If I were to achieve a similar programming feat. I would die a happy man.

of a different pile of discrete electronics. Repeat that last sentence over and over to yourself, and you begin to appreciate the versatility of IBPs.

Similarities

Before delving into some individual examples of IBPs, we should first get our bearings. After all, most of us have been living in a larger world; we need to get accustomed to thinking small.

As I mentioned above, the distinguishing characteristic of an IBP is its tiny footprint. If you are at all versed in digital electronics, you know that typically a 20-pin

DIP holds, for instance, a collection of eight tristate transceivers, not a whole processor. With an IBP. all the ROM and RAM the processor needs is on-chip. Since there are no external address or data lines to feed, more chip pins can be given over to I/O.

Timers are usually critical in embedded applications; they are used for tasks that can be as simple as making lights blink or as complex as generating accurate pulse trains. Every IBP that I have been able to find has on-chip timers, including a specialized version referred to as a watchdog timer (at least one processor's data book

calls it the COP—computer operating properly—watchdog). Its raison d'etre is keeping the processor from lapsing into a coma due to a program failure or a hardware glitch.

Once the processor is started and the watchdog is armed, the program must reset the timer within a certain time period; otherwise, the watchdog will reset the processor. Developers therefore build into their programs routines that reset the watchdog every so often. If a failure in program flow occurs, the reset routine won't execute, and the watchdog will resuscitate the processor upon time-out. continued

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68HC05 Microcontroller

| Index register (8) | * j Prog-am countel 116,

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The Manufacturer's Perspective

While users and developers might view IBPs as atomic, indivisible units of computing, manufacturers see them as a collection of parts rather than as individual, discrete CPUs. I discussed this idea with Paul Grimme, Motorola's HC05 operations manager, and James Goodhart, Zilog's Z8 microcontroller channel manager. Both described remarkably similar approaches to product design. Specifically, manufacturers have, over time, built foundries of processor parts. At the heart of these foundries are processor cores to which manufacturers can attach varying amounts of ROM and RAM, as well as I/O ports, timers, and other peripheral components.

In essence, this is object orientation on a microelectronic scale. It's one area where product longevity does not lead to obsolescence; it leads to increased reliability. For example, the Z8 was available as long ago as 1979; to Zilog's Goodhart, that means not only have all the bugs been worked out of the silicon, but it's given Zilog plenty of time to build up a library of useful software algorithms. When a customer approaches Zilog with a new custom microcontroller specification, Zilog can

dip into its hardware foundry and software library, quickly lash together the needed components, and. according to Goodhart, "turn a new design in six to nine months."

This is precisely what happened when a major TV OEM manufacturer recently knocked on Zilog's door. Zilog was able to quickly build a 2-V custom IC with a XX core and specialized timers. The result was the Z86L71, the heart of the TV OEM manufacturer's multibrand infrared re

Of course, other manufacturers of IBPs have similar stories. As I mentioned earlier, microchip IBPs are crawling throughout the automotive industry. And have you got a Logitech MouseMan cordless mouse next to your computer? If you had x-ray vision, you would see a 20-pin Motorola 68HCL05J1A inside.

Anatomy I: Motorola's HC05

Motorola's HC05 line has—like those of the other manufacturers in this article—a number of members, thanks to Motorola's voluminous component foundries. HC05 microcontrollers are all proud descendants of the venerable 6800, an 8-bit processor that found its home in such long-gone personal computers as Ohio Scientific's Chal

lenger series and computers marketed by Southwest Technical Products.

Of course, as compared to its ancestor, the HC05 is both much expanded and much reduced. For example, if you examine the block diagram of the 68HC05J1A (a 20-pin member of the HC05 family) in the figure "68HC05 Microcontroller," you'll see that the chip has a single 8-bit accumulator and an 8-bit index register. The original 6800 had two 8-bit accumulators, referred to as the A and B accumulators. (Later members of the 6800 family—the 6801, for example—provided instructions that allowed programmers to manipulate the two accumulators as a single, 16-bit accumulator.) In addition, the 6800's index register was 16 bits wide, allowing indexed address operands to span that processor's full 64-KB address range.

It was perfectly reasonable for Motorola to choose a reduced register set for the HC05; that design translates directly to less chip real estate. Furthermore, a 16-bit index register wouldn't provide any advantage on a processor with only 64 bytes of user RAM. All I/O ports (which, by the way, the original 6800 did not possess as on-chip components) and user RAM lie within that processor's first 256 memory locations and are therefore directly addressable by the index register.

The HC05's instruction set also shows modifications to the original 6800 beyond those that you might expect as a result of the reduced memory space and register set. The HC05 repertoire includes bit-set and bit-clear instructions, as well as the bit-test-with-accumulator instruction that was present on the 6800. A rich set of bitmanipulation instructions is a bonus for efficient embedded systems, since the processor spends much of its time either reading from or writing to single I/O pins. Finally, the HC05 has an unsigned 8-bit by 8-bit multiply instruction (the 16-bit result is cut into two halves and placed in the accumulator and index register).

Motorola continues to carry the HC05 to lower and lower levels of power and size. In February, a collection of HC05 members were introduced that operated at 1.8 V. One, the 68HCL05K0, is an HC05 processor with 512 bytes of ROM and 32 bytes of RAM—all in a 16-pin package.

Anatomy II: The Slog Z86xx Series

Members of Zilog's Z86xx family all have beating in their silicon substrates the heart of that company's workhorse microcontroller, the Z8. A block diagram of one representative, the Z86C04, is shown in the figure "Z86C04 Microcontroller." This particular version of the Z86xx is

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Z86C04 Microcontroller

3 8 3 i t

I/O lines

A diagram of the Z86C04, an 18-pin, low-end version of the Z8 family. Note that with 14 pins given over to I/O. only four pint remain for the power supply, ground, and oscillator. Although this part can operate at voltages as low as 3 V, its oscillator can run at up to 8 MHz.

available in an 18-pin package. Cousins to the Z86C04 can run at voltages as low as 2 V and at clock speeds as high as 20 MHz. (There are two branches to the Z86xx tree: the Z86Cxx branch, which can operate down to 3 V, and the Z86Lxx branch, which can operate at 2 V.) The highest clock speed of the low-cost Z86xx processors is 12 MHz.

The original Z8 was Zilog's first onechip microcomputer. Interestingly, it uses a Harvard architecture (i.e., separate program and data memories), which might not mean much if you were to use the Z8 in its most minimal configuration: only on-board ROM and RAM active. However, the Z8 can also be configured so that some of the I/O pins are given over to address and data lines. In that case, you can attach 62 KB of external program memory and 62 KB of external data memory. (This is, of course, not the case with the Z86xx family, whose members are designed to be used only with on-chip data and program memory.)

With only 18 pins to the outside world, a Z86xx processor is basically a Z8 in its minimal configuration. The Harvard architecture might otherwise be an inconvenience, because an embedded application may need constant data from a table burned into ROM—which would be in the code space. Fortunately, the Z8 includes special instructions for reading from the code space into registers.

One powerful attribute that members of

the Z86xx family inherit from the Z8 is that processor's unique register structure. Specifically, the internal RAM of the Z8 is all registers. There is no accumulator or index register (as with the 68HC05); every member of the internal register set (referred to as the register file in the figure) can be addressed with equal ease.

You'll notice that the figure indicates 144 members in the register file. Actually, only 124 of the registers are available for general-purpose use. The others are reserved for specific operations, such as I/Oport control, I/O-port data, timer control, the stack pointer, flags, and so forth.

Although the original Z8 had three onchip I/O ports, and was thus more a microcontroller than a microcomputer, its instruction set looked more like one designed for a microcomputer. In particular, there were neither bit-manipulation nor branchon-bit-condition instructions. Furthermore, none were added as the Z8 core was moved into the small form factor of the Z86xx processors (as Motorola had done when it moved the 68xx instruction set down into the HC05). Zilog acknowledges this deficiency in the processor but points out that the weakness is offset by the fact that, in the HC05, one has to move data into a register (the accumulator) to do any work, while on the Z8 the data is in a register to begin with.

Zilog has added peripheral components to the Z86xx that make it more attractive for use with embedded applications. There

is, for instance, a watchdog timer on all Z86xx processors; some even have an onchip serial interface. The figure "Z86C04 Microcontroller" shows an "analog comparators" block; there are two individual analog comparators on the Z86C04.

You can configure the processor so that I/O lines normally given over to one of the ports are devoted to the analog comparators. In such a case, the comparators can be used as building blocks for A/D or D/A converters. Zilog's Goodhart told me that, by using discrete components and clever software, one Z86xx customer built an A/D converter with 12-bit accuracy.

Anatomy III: Microchip's PIC 16C5x

The Microchip Technology PIC 16C5x series is a species of the larger Microchip PIC 16x genus; all share more or less the same core processor architectures. Any differences you find are in physical features, such as available I/O pins and specialized on-chip components (the 16C71, for example, has an on-chip A/D converter). A block diagram of the PIC 16C5x processor is shown in the figure "PIC 16C5x Microcontroller."

The PIC processors have features that make them technically more interesting than the Motorola and Zilog components. To stan off, the HC05 and Z86xx processors are more or less variations on previous 8-bit-processor themes, while the PICseries processor is actually—get this—a RISC processor. There are only 33 instructions in the PIC 16C5x processor's repertoire; compare this to the 117 instructions in Motorola's HC05 instruction set and the approximately 75 instructions in the Z8 instruction set.

Understand that this is a RISC processor only in the sense that it has a reduced instruction repertoire. RISC processors typically have large register sets, and operations proceed by fetching data into the registers, manipulating the data once it's there, and then returning the results back to memory. There are only 25 8-bit read/write memory locations on the PIC 16C5x processor, and they're all referred to as registers (as they are on the Z8). There is a W register, a kind of half-hearted accumulator that participates in most mathematical operations. If, therefore, this is considered a RISC chip because all operations occur in registers, remember that there's no other place where they can occur.

It's perfectly reasonable to be skeptical of the benefits of a reduced instruction set in such a small processor. In the larger world of 32- and 64-bit processors, the rule of thumb is that a RISC processor requires more machine-code instructions per

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Direct RAM address

WDT/RTCC L^J o tions I prescaler 1 ■ I

General

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purpose

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register file

R

f~ ~~ I address, . To on-chip

Inflection mm^ pc L^eprom

1 dec°der I address lines

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W m+ Stack~j

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the full range of clock speeds, from 0 MHz all the way up to 20 MHz. All have a power-saving sleep mode.

Perhaps the best example to date of IBP innovation, however, is available thanks to the PIC 16C5x and some imaginative people at Parallax, who developed the Basic Stamp. This is a microcontroller development system that connects to your PC via a parallel port and requires only two ICs. (See the text box "The Taming Power of the Small'* for details.)

A Mock diagram of the PIC 16C 5x se

of microcontrollers. Note the on-chip stack Kl

It do not have I/O port C; the associated registers ar

high-level operation. This is not the case with the PIC 16C5x, however. The trick is that the instruction-bus width on the PIC 16C5x is 12 bits, and—if you consider that to be the processor's word size—all instructions are PIC-word-wide instructions. For example, the instruction to load an 8bit literal into the W register encodes the operand in the upper 4 bits, and the literal value in the lower 8 bits. (Astute readers are now saying to themselves: "Fixed instruction length: another RISC attribute.") This should be put into perspective, however. The PIC chips achieve the reduced-instruction part of the RISC acronym by eliminating instructions that many programmers may deem downright necessary. For instance, there are no comparison instructions, nor are there any cc ditional branch instructions. There is unconditional GOTO instruction (implemented as an absolute, as opposed to a rel

ative, branch), and conditional branching can be built into a PIC program by placing a GOTO immediately following one of the four instructions that include a "skip if condition" modifier. Such instructions will skip the next instruction if a particular condition is met.

Here's an example: The DECFSZ instruction tells the processor to decrement one of the registers and, if the result is zero, to skip the next instruction. You can see that, if the next instruction happened to be a GOTO, the effect would be a "decrement register and branch if not zero" instruction.

There are other remarkable traits lurking in the PIC processors. Their CPUs are actually pipelined, with overlapping fetch and execute cycles. All instructions, except GOTO, execute in a single machine cycle (GOTO takes two cycles). Some members of this processor family enjoy

In 1993, Motorola published the results of research concerning microcontroller applications. The research focused on home, office, and auto use and included projections to the year 2000. The big winner was the home. Motorola forecast that the typical home in the year 2000 will have over 200 microcontrollers embedded in appliances, telephones, VCRs, stereos, and so on.

Zilog's Goodhart probably wouldn't argue with his competitor's finding. "The largest consumer electronics usage right now is IR remotes," he says. Goodhart envisions the day when that handheld channel-changer in your living room grows in capabilities (but not in size) until it becomes the ). The fsr input device to all the computer W •» « and electronic gear in your home, s general- [j^ an jncurable infection, the use of IBPs is spreading. While doing research for this article, I found it impossible to identify just one or two market forces driving IBP proliferation. The marketing currents that today push technological development come from all compass points: portable communications, intelligent PC peripherals, autos, consumer electronics, and even toys, for heaven's sake.

While some CPU builders sweat and strain on new designs for bigger caches, bigger data buses, and bigger address buses, it's refreshing to know that other designers are discovering wholly new products and markets for the incredible, shrinking IBP. ■

Rick Grehan is technical director of the BYTE Lab. He has a B.S. in physics and applied mathematics and an M.S. in mathematics/computer science. He can be reached on the Internet or BIX at rick_g@bix.com.

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Cover Story

Transforming the PC:

PLUG/

An industry-wide effort, Plug and Play will make PC compatibles easier to configure and maintain while reducing support costs for vendors and users. Although businesses and individuals both stand to gain substantial benefits, the transition to full adoption of Plug and Play won't be painless, won't come cheap, and will likely take years.

TOM R. HALFHILL V*^

At first glance. Plug and Play looks like a collection of paradoxes. To achieve its ambitious goal of making PC compatibles easier to set up and use, it requires changes to the computer's BIOS, operating system, peripherals, device drivers, and applications software. Changes are made to nearly everything, in fact, but the core component that most needs changing: the decade-old PC system architecture with its obsolete ISA bus. And although Plug and Play does a remarkable job of making PCs friendlier while maintaining compatibility with existing hardware, it also requires that you eventually replace almost all that hardware.

Another paradox is the marketing challenge presented by Plug and Play. The handiest way to describe what it does—"Plug and Play makes your PC as easy to set up as a Mac"—isn't likely to be embraced by its biggest backers, which include Microsoft, Intel, and Compaq. And the users who most desperately need Plug and Play—first-time buyers who have no experience configuring PCs—probably won't be the primary target of Plug and Play advertising because, as one Intel marketing person explains, "'Naive users expect PCs to work this way already."

Hard Truths

Underlying these paradoxes are some hard truths. The PC's system architecture has remained fundamentally unchanged for 10 years. Faster microprocessors, bigger hard drives, and more memory have unquestionably led to more powerful PCs. but underneath it all lies the same foundation that IBM defined for the PC in 1981 and extended for the AT in 1984. Without a single fining leader since IBM lost control over the architecture in the mid-1980s, the world's leading computer platform has been propelled forward by sheer market momentum. Meanwhile, the foundation has been slowly cracking under the weight of more and heavier hardware and software. The 8-MHz ISA bus is now a bottleneck when it's mated with a 100-MHz Pentium processor.

78 BYTE SEPTEM1

Cover Story

PLAY

Expansion slots are crowded with devices that were rare or unheard of a decade ago: LAN cards, fax modems, CD-ROM interfaces, SCSI host adapters, stereo sound boards, and video digitizers. The 640 KB of RAM that once seemed luxurious is now choked with contentious device drivers and TSR programs. IRQs (interrupt requests). DMA channels, I/O memory ports, and other system resources are now fought over like the last pebbles of ore in a played-out gold mine.

The results are ominous. Users are frustrated with the complexities of IRQs, DIP switches, jumpers, and drivers. Technical-support costs for businesses and \ en dors are skyrocketing. Marketers worry that the supply of customers willing to tolerate this chaos will soon reach a saturation point. An "unacceptably high" return rate (reportedly in excess of 25 percent) for multimedia upgrade kits sold for PCs prompted CompUSA (Dallas, TX), a nationwide retailer, to offer free installation in PCs purchased from its stores. Microsoft says nearly half the calls to its Windows help lines are from users struggling to install or configure hardware and software. A 1993 study by the Gartner Group (Stamford, CT) estimated that the five-year cost to a business of owning a Windows-based PC was more than $37,(XX), largely due to system complexity.

Past attempts to renovate the PC architecture—such as Micro Channel architecture and EISA—or to establish alternatives like ACE (Advanced Computing Environment) have met with limited success or total failure. The most successful alternative is Apple's Mac, but its proprietary nature has discouraged widespread adoption.

Experience has shown that users want a gradual transition, not a clean break with the past, and no tive will succeed without pervasive industry support. Plug and Play is a conscious effort to heed those lessons while driving the market forward.

In the short term. Plug and Play is an impressive patch on the creaking PC architecture. Although doesn't add any system resources, it does codi" way existing resources are rationed. In the long Plug and Play is a ladder to a future architecture that

by the end of the decade will recast the PC platform. The primary I/O bus will most likely be PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect). Branching off will be a cascading series of secondary I/O buses (e.g., Enhanced IDE, PCMCIA, SCSI, Access.bus, PI394, and others). The hardware will be more tightly integrated with the system software, much as it is in today's Mac. For both the industry and users, the challenge is how to get there from here.

Step by Step

Plug and Play has three immediate goals. First, it will make PCs easier to set up and configure. Second, it will ease the task of installing new hardware and software. Third, it will endow PCs with entirely new features, such as the ability to change configurations on the fly and allow both the hardware and software to respond dynamically to configuration events. Examples include adding or removing a PCMCIA fax modem, attaching a mobile computer to a network, or hooking a notebook computer to a docking station.

It's important to distinguish between Plug and Play as an officially defined framework and plug and play as an increasingly popular buzzword. % Many new devices, peripheral buses,

Cover Story

and platforms arc described as "plug and play," and they may offer the advantages of easy setup, configura- . tion, and expansion. But Plug and . • Q Play (usually abbreviated PnP) grew out of an ISA-specific standard first proposed by Microsoft and Intel at the Windows Hard- » ware Engineering Conference in \\ March 1993.

Over the following months, the two companies founded the Plug and Play Association, distributed preliminary specifications, and solicited input from<" vendors and users via the PlugPlay Forum on CompuServe. The association released the latest revision of the ISA specification in May. A revised PnP BIOS specification, authored by Phoenix Technologies, Compaq, and Intel, appeared at the same time. Meanwhile, a number of ^^^^^ companies and industry groups have collaborated on PnP specifications for other buses, ports, and devices.

Full PnP compliance requires changes to four major elements of a PC system: the computer's ROM-based BIOS, the operating system, hardware devices, and applications software. When all those pieces are in place. PnP will bring automatic, softwaredriven configuration to almost every I/O bus and port on a PC, including ISA, EISA, PCI. VLBus. PCMCIA, SCSI. Micro Channel architecture, IDE, Access.bus, PI394. parallel ports, RS-232 serial ports, and SVGA monitors. PnP will also configure hard-wired motherboard devices in your system, such as the keyboard, mouse, joystick, and display controllers. No more jumpers, no more DIP switches, no more messing with configuration files such as AUTOEXEC.BAT, CONFIG.SYS. SYSTEM.INI.orWIN.INI.

At least, that's the plan. PnP is off to a good start and is slowly gathering strength throughout the industry, but some confusing gray areas in the specifications leave room for improvement. For example, some new PnP ISA cards actually add a jumper that users must change when installing the device in a non-PnP system. "These things will get refined as we go along, in a point-one release or whatever," says Carl Stork, Microsoft's di

SO BYTE SP.PTKMHliK I W-l

rector of Windows hardware programs. "The important thing is that we're doing the best we can at providing a solution that works now."

So nirvana isn't right around the cor

Plug and Play with DMI

In some ways, Plug and Play overlaps another industry initiative that promises to make PCs easier to maintain: DMI (Desktop Management Interface). DMI is a new standard proposed by the Desktop Management Task Force (Hillsboro, OR), an industry group that counts DEC, HewlettPackard, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Novell, SunConnect, and SynOptics among its charter members.

Finalized in April, DMI is a standard mechanism for managing PCs, servers, peripherals, and applications from the network level to the desktop. It should be particularly useful for network administrators who use desktop management tools to maintain and troubleshoot LANs. It supports existing standards like SNMP as well as PnP.

"DMI is a superset of PnP," says Shannon Gray-Voigt, who is the industry standards marketing Tianager for Intel and a member of the DMTF. "Both technologies have the same goal. PnP is really a step toward DMI."

DMI adds a layer of system software that provides configuration information and other services to higher-level applications. It stores the information on the computer's hard disk in a series of small files called MIF (Management Information Format) files. Ideally, every hardware and software component on the system would have its own MIF file describing various attributes of the component, including the system resources it needs. Diagnostic tools can query the MIF files to help users and administrators solve problems.

On a PnP system, the DMI layer can talk directly to the PnP Configuration Manager to retrieve information about the machine. This communication is vital, because a PnP system can reconfigure itself on the fly. A network management tool might get confused if a PC's network card swapped resources with another device and suddenly appeared to drop off the LAN.

The DMTF's goal is to put DMI services on all major operating systems, including MS-DOS, Windows 3.1, OS/2. Chicago, and NetWare. Apple is involved, too, so DMI could become a broad-based standard for managing heterogeneous networks.

ner, but the journey is under way. Most current users will spend years building *L toward full PnP capability. Most

people will have to buy a new computer or motherboard just to upgrade the BIOS, because BIOS ROMs typically aren't upgradable.

To get full system software support for PnP, you'll need a PnP-integrated operating system like Chicago. Fu> ture versions of OS/2 and Windows NT will utilize PnP as well. Chicago is scheduled for release this year. IBM says a new version of OS/2 will fully support PnP in the first half of 1995. Another version of OS/2 that's due this fall (sometimes called Warp) will allow hot-plugging of PCMCIA cards but won't include other elements of PnP. NT won't fully integrate ^^^^ PnP until Cairo (scheduled for 1995), but it already includes some foundation features, such as a system configuration record and a browsing tool called the Registry Editor.

A Stopgap solution is to retrofit MS-DOS and Windows 3.1, a task that Microsoft delegated to Intel. Intel's Plug and Play Kit for MS-DOS and Windows 3.1 is available to vendors, who will resell it to users with PnP systems and devices. The retrofit offers significant benefits, but it doesn't go as far as a fully integrated PnP operating system. For example, the only I/O buses it supports are ISA, PCI, and PCMCIA, and its ability to reconfigure on the fly is severely limited. As of now, there is no retrofit for OS/2 2.1 or other operating systems, although IBM's PC-DOS 6.3 already supports PCMCIA hot-plugging and will add hot-docking in early 1995.

All of today's hardware devices (including internal cards and external peripherals) will work in a PnP system, but because they are as susceptible as ever to configuration problems, you will eventually need to replace them if you want full PnP flexibility. Likewise, current applications software is compatible with PnP. but any applications that need to respond to configuration events (e.g., a communications program that knows when a fax modem has been added or removed) must be upgraded. The bottom line is that

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Cover Story

Tips for Plug and Play

to derive maximum benefit from PnP, you'll eventually have to replace or upgrade almost everything you own.

Fortunately, PnP softens the transition by letting you mix and match virtually any combination of PnP and non-PnP components. The more parts of your system you upgrade, the more PnP functionality you'll get. How smoothly you'll weather the transition depends on how quickly PnP products come to market, how much you've got invested in current technology, and how soon you can afford to upgrade.

Time Slices

"PnP is more of a long-term solution than a short-term solution," says Carter J. Lusher, program director of personal computing at the Gartner Group. "We probably won't see widespread PnP products until early 1995. Most companies depreciate their machines on a three- or five-year cycle, so I don't expect to see them converting to PnP until late 1996 at the earliest."

Not surprisingly, Microsoft, Intel, and other PnP backers prefer a more optimistic

Chicago's Device Manager

• Be sure the next PC or motherboard you buy has a BIOS that supports Plug and Play. This may take! cause PnP may not t by all vendors.

• Look for a BIOS that's stored in flash ROM, not mask ROM. It will be easier to upgrade in the future.

• Upgrade to a fully integrated PnP operating system as soon as it's available. If your computer isn't fast enough or doesn have enough memory, Intel's retrofit for MS-DOS and Windows 3.1 is a good inter

view. "The release of Chicago w ill accelerate demand for PnP software and devices, especially on high-end systems," says Stork. The first systems with PnP-enabled BIOS ROMs began shipping a few months ago, and all the major BIOS vendors support PnP. Peripheral vendors seem to be moving a little more slowly, but the first PnP devices—including a SCSI host adapter from Future Domain (Irvine, CA)—actually appeared in 1993, based on the PnP SCSI specifications.

Even without all the pieces in place,

• PnP cards and peripherals will be scarce for a while, but they're worth having if you can waft. Plan on gradually replacing your legacy cards.

• Watch for software vendors to announce upgrades to applications that can benefit by responding to dynamic run-time events.

there's enough to gain by incrementally adopting PnP that it should quickly become a checkoff item for future purchases. This is especially true for businesses, because configuration woes directly affect productivity and maintenance costs. The Gartner Group 's most recent estimates put the five-year cost of owning a Mac at about 10 percent less than a Windows PC. The difference is partly attributable to the Mac's plug-andplay capabilities, which date from the release of the Mac II in 1987.

Mac users, incidentally, tend to regard PnP as merely the latest effort in the industry's 10-year struggle to turn PCs into Macs. It seems to prove once again that everybody wants a computer that works like a Mac, but for various reasons, only about 12 percent of them want to buy that computer from Apple.

Actually, PnP can do some tricks that even today's Macs can't do, such as hot-docking. Nevertheless, there is no denying the Mac's lead in plug-andplay technology, made possible chiefly because Apple maintains rigid control over the Mac's system architecture and system software. That's the advantage of a proprietary platform. To change something, all Apple has to do is send an internal memo to a dozen product managers.

That's an oversimplification, of course. But change is much more difficult on the PC side, where hundreds of competing vendors must coordinate their actions. The power vacuum left behind by IBM has largely been filled by Microsoft (the leading system software vendor) and Intel (the leading chip vendor), with help from Compaq (a contender for the title of leading system vendor). Like Border collies working on a sheep ranch, these companies

82 BYTE SEPTEMBER (994

T

Keycode #UEBR

T

IRQ Assignments in PCs

are running hard to get everyone else moving in the same direction at the same time.

Resource Bottleneck

Users who have trouble configuring their PCs typically run afoul of conflicts between devices contending for the same system resources. PnP doesn't solve the root problem by adding more resources, but it does try to resolve conflicts by assigning currently available resources in a more systematic manner.

The scarcest resources in a PC arc IRQs, DMA channels, I/O memory ports, and conventional memory. For historical reasons that in some cases date back to the 1970s, even the latest Pentium PCs are limited to the same set of resources.

IRQs are crucial to the operation of I/O devices, allowing them to send hardware interrupts to the CPU. Without them, the CPU would have to continually poll I/O devices to check for activity. Thanks to IRQs, the device can sit idly on the I/O bus without consuming processing cycles and interrupt the CPU only when the I/O device needs processor time. In PCs, IRQs are mediated by PICs (programmable interrupt controllers) on the motherboard.

Early PCs and XTs had a single 8259A PIC chip that could handle eight IRQs, numbered IRQ0-IRQ7. It quickly became apparent that eight IRQs weren't

enough, so IBM added a second PIC to the AT in 1984, creating an arrangement common to all PC compatibles to the present day. Unfortunately, this yields only 15, not 16, available IRQs, because the second PIC is a slave that bridges to IRQ2 of the master PIC. This prevents IRQ2

from being assigned to another device.

The slave PIC also upsets the priority assignments of IRQs. In PCs, lower-numbered IRQs are serviced before highernumbered ones. However, because the IRQs on the slave PIC are cascaded onto IRQ2 of the master PIC, the slave inputs (i.e., IRQ8-IRQ15) inherit the priority of IRQ2, thus enjoying a higher priority than IRQ3-IRQ7 on the master PIC. Some I/O devices are especially picky and demand high-priority IRQs, so the numbering makes a difference. Adding more PICs at this point isn't feasible because it would disrupt the PC system architecture. (See "IRQ Assignments in PCs.")

If all this sounds complicated, it is. Firsttime PC users who don"t know an IRQ from the IRS are often thrust into this quagmire as they struggle to install and configure their expansion boards. Some boards are software-configurable, meaning you can change their IRQ settings by running a setup program, but others require you to fiddle with DIP switches or jumpers.

IRQs are just the beginning. Some devices also want a DMA channel. DMA grants a device direct access to system memory without using the CPU as an intermediary. Although this boosts system

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throughput, hccause a typical PC has only seven DMA channels, it creates another source of conflict.

Next come the I/O ports. The rivalry over this system resource predates the 80x86 family itself. At least as far back as the 8080 chip—a 1974 predecessor to the 80x86 line—Intel CPUs have offered special instructions for communicating with I/O devices and have allowed those devices to be mapped into a block of address space that's separate from main memory.

This was a clever conservation measure in the days when a typical microcomputer had a few kilobytes of RAM. But today, when Pentium CPUs execute at speeds of 100 or more MIPS and computers have megabytes of RAM, the scheme leads to maddening constraints on the way I/O space is allocated.

To communicate over the bus, each I/O device needs to reserve some address locations, known as I/O ports. (These ports are not to be confused with physical ports, such as parallel and serial connectors.) Because only 16 address lines are used to access I/O devices, the total address space available for those ports is 64 KB. The original 8-bit I/O bus in PCs and XTs made this even worse by decoding only 10 of the bits on those 16 lines, thus reducing the I/O address space to 1 KB. And the first 256 bytes of that I KB of address space are re

I/O Addressing in PCs

served for motherboard devices. Barring the use of a trick or two that let you gain a few extra noncontiguous bytes, all the I/O ports on the ISA expansion bus had to be

mapped to the remaining 768 bytes.

In 1984. IBM's AT extended the architecture with a 16-bit I/O bus and allowed devices to decode all 16 address lines. Theoretically, this liberated the 63 KB of I/O address space ignored by the original architecture. Unfortunately, to maintain compatibility with older devices that don't recognize 16-bit addresses, most of that memory is off limits, and what's left is scattered around in 256-byte fragments. Even I/O buses that came later and were designed for 16-bit addressing from the start (e.g., EISA, VL-Bus, and PCI) must deal with these fragments to preserve backward compatibility with ISA cards. As a result, I/O devices in today's PCs continue to squabble over tiny crumbs of bytes, even in systems that have many megabytes of main memory. (See "I/O Addressing in PCs.")

You can map device drivers into main memory instead of I/O memory, but that causes headaches, too. Operating systems like DOS that run in 80x86 real mode are normally limited to I MB of addressable memory, and only 640 KB is so-called conventional memory. This space can become so overpopulated with drivers and TSRs that some applications hungry for conventional memory won't run at all, no matter how much RAM is free elsewhere in the system.

What They're Saying About Plug and Play

"PnP will help us build our systems better, build them more quickly, and have more confidence that they'll work properly when delivered to the customer. Home users should be able to buy an accessory, take it home, install it themselves, and get it to work the first time. It will let them expand their systems without fear."—Mark Clauder, product manager for Compudyne products at CompUSA (Dallas, TX), which operates 78 superstores throughout the U.S.

"There's a crying need for PnP, no doubt about that. This is why the Macintosh is still popular, and why so many people who get their hands on a Mac

never want to go back to a PC or Windows."—Carter J. Lusher, program director for personal computing, the Gartner Group (Stamford, CT).

"PnP will probably eliminate about 20 percent of our [technical-support] calls, but we still get about 60 percent of our calls from people who don't understand much about the software of networking. We spend lots of our time helping people configure their software, like Windows for Workgroups or LANtastic. It's not really our problem, but you can't tell people that or they get really upset."—Fred Thiel, vice president of marketing and sales, Alta Research (Deerfield Beach, FL), man

ufacturer of the first PnP-ready ISA network adapter.

"I certainly think a move away from the ISA bus would be a win, but our success is not gated by that."—Carl Stork, director of Windows hardware programs, Microsoft (Redmond, WA).

"We will have full support for PnP in OS/2 at about the same time Microsoft does [in Chicago]. And we have a 32-bit operating system that's stable and has been out there for several years."—Lois Dimpfel, director of the Boca Raton Programming Center, IBM Personal Software Products.

Kevcode#llKBT

Cover Story

PnP attempts to bring order out of this mess by apportioning system resources according to a complex but consistent set of rules. As is the case with welfare reform, PnP also promises to take care of the truly needy first.

In this case, the truly needy are so-called legacy devices—those that don't support PnP. Another paradox? Not really. Legacy devices often require users to select IRQs and DMA channels by changing DIP switches and jumpers. Once they're adjusted, those settings can't be changed without taking the computer apart and monkeying with controls that are smaller than your lingers. Too often, the result is w hat's referred to in the industry as a "negative user experience." So PnP gives legacy devices first dibs on system resources and tries to fit everything else in around them.

The degree to which resources are rationed greatly depends on which components in your system are PnP-aware. There are numerous combinations, and the most likely ones are summarized in the table on page 90. The prime components in this process are the BIOS and the operating system. (See "How Plug and Play Works.")

If the BIOS supports PnP, it tries to configure the system first. If it succeeds, you're home free. If the BIOS fails, it hands off to the operating system. If the operating system supports PnP, it finishes the job or tells you if a conflict can't be resolved w ith your current setup.

If the operating system doesn't support PnP, you must pick up where the BIOS left off. At the minimum, a PnP BIOS will auto-configure three devices

at boot-up time: an input device (typically the keyboard controller), an output device (typically the video controller), and an initial program load device (typically the hard drive that holds the operating system). The PnP BIOS also configures motherboard devices (e.g., the PIC. the DMA controller.

and the floppy drive controller) and maybe other devices as well. (See "Building a Better BIOS" on page 92.)

If your system has a legacy BIOS (no support for PnP), you can still gain by upgrading to a PnP operating system—either one that's "ully integrated (e.g., Chicago) or the retrofit solution for MS-DOS and Windows 3.1. In either case, a new layer called Configuration Manager does its best to configure any PnP devices in the system and minimize the chances that you'll have to manually edit any configuration files, such as CONFIG.SYS or WIN.INI.

In going about its business. Configuration Manager calls upon new system software components known as bus enumerators, as well as the resource arbitrator. Bus enumerators are drivers that check each I/O bus to see what devices are installed and which resources they need. Each bus has its own enumerator, but PnP leverages existing mechanisms wherever possible. For example, the SCSI driver itself enumerates the SCSI bus. The information is reported back to Configuration Manager, which calls the resource arbitrator. The resource arbitrator employs sophisticated algorithms to balance the needs of all the devices, gradually building a hierarchical configuration table called the

If the resource arbitrator can't configure everything, the last resort is new utilities that help you identify and solve configuration conflicts. Intel's upgrade kit for MS-DOS and

88 BYTE SEPTEMBER 1994

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Cover Story

Windows 3.1 includes a program called the ICU (ISA Configuration Utility). Some PnP BIOS vendors offer similar utilities, such as PnPView from SystemSoft (Natick, MA) and Phoenix System Essentials from Phoenix Technologies (Norwood,

MA). Likewise. Chicago will have a builtin tool that*s called Device Manager.

Although you still might have to take the computer apart and play with DIP switches on legacy devices, these utilities will offer some guidance by informing you

how resources are allocated and which resources are available. That alone is a big improvement over the current method, which relies heavily on trial and error.

When the configuration process is complete, the information in the RAM-based

THE ROAD TO PLUG AND PLAY

What You Get

What You Have

ASSISTED CONFIGURATION OF HARDWARE

AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION OF HARDWARE

AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION OF HARDWARE AND DRIVERS

DYNAMIC CONFIGURATION OF HARDWARE AND DRIVERS

DYNAMIC CONFIGURATION OF HARDWARE. DRIVERS, AND APPLICATIONS

Non-PnP BIOS, non-PnP operating system. non-PnP devices. non-PnP applications

No

No

No

No

No

PnP BIOS,

non-PnP operating system, non-PnP devices, non-PnP applications

No

Boot devices

No

No

No

Non-PnP BIOS PnP or retrofitted operating system, non-PnP devices, non-PnP applications

Yes

No

No

No

No

PnP BIOS,

PnP-retrofitted operating system, non-PnP devices, non-PnP applications

Yes

Boot devices

No

No

No

PnP-retrofitted operating system, some PnP devices, non-PnP applications

Yes

PnP devices

No

No

No

Non-PnP BIOS, PnP or retrofitted operating system, some PnP devices, non-PnP applications

Yes

PnP nonboot

PnP nonboot devices only (with PnP operating system)

PCMCIA only (with PnP operating system)

No

PnP-retrofitted operating system, PnP devices. non-PnP applications

Yes

Yes"

No

No

No

PnP BIOS,

PnP-retrofitted operating system, PnP devices, PnP applications

No

PnP BIOS,

PnP operating system,

Yes

PnP devices

PnP devices

PnP devices

No

PnP BIOS,

PnP operating system, PnP devices, non-PnP applications

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

PnP BIOS,

PnP operating system, PnP devices, PnP applications

Yes

Yes

Yes

tic configuration of hardware": The system <

ome help from

■Automatic configuration of hardware and drivers" capability of automatically loading and setting u editing CONFIG.SYS.

"PnP BIOS" = Plug and Play BIOS "PnP OS" = Operating system such "PnP-retrofitted OS" = Operating system v Windows 3.1 with Intel's Plug and Play "PnP devices" - Expansion boards and (x

Chica

KL-vonk- #UEBV

Cover Story

hardware tree is stored in some type of nonvolatile memory. Some low-cost clones will cram an abbreviated bit- (' mapped table of the configuration data c^-Y^, (maybe 64 or fewer bytes) into tf system's extended CMOS. Other systems w ill build a more verbose registry (perhaps 2 to 4 KB) and store it on the hard disk or in the same flash ROM as the BIOS. The next time you boot up, the PnP BIOS or Configuration Manager can survey the computer's status and compare it with this registry to see if anything has changed since the last session If there's no change, the system continues booting up normally. Otherwise, the configuration process begins anew.

Now it's apparent why you'll eventually want to replace your legacy devices. The more of these devices in your system, the less flexibility is enjoyed by the PnP

BIOS and Configuration Manager. Because boot-up and legacy devices get the first crack at system resources, any devices that boot up later must make do with

whatever resources are left over. And some devices are very particular about the resources they need.

Although the PnP configuration process is complicated, remember that almost everything happens in the background— especially in an up-to-date system with a PnP BIOS, a PnP operating system, and PnP devices. Ideally, the machine will boot up in a minute without any intervention on your part, even when you've altered the configui worst-case scenario, you may have a partial PnP system with several legacy devices whose conflicts cannot be resolved, forcing you to take manual action. Upgrading to a full-fledged PnP system will reduce such headaches. Although Intel's upgrade kit for MS-DOS and Windows 3.1 is a good solution for the interim, it will never offer the same

Building a Better BIOS

IVey to the success of Plug and Play is the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), which is primarily responsible for booting up a PC compatible and handling lowlevel device I/O. Without the BIOS cornerstone, even a fully PnP-integrated operating system like Chicago cannot provide hassle-free system configuration.

The BIOS is a historical holdover from the days when hard drives weren't available for PCs and even floppy drives were optional. Some mechanism was needed to bootstrap the system before a higherlevel operating system loaded, and the solution was to store some low-level code in ROM chips on the motherboard. By some accounts, Microsoft would like to see the BIOS vanish from the PC architecture altogether. (Programmers in Redmond have reportedly been spotted wearing T-shirts with the slogan "BIOS? We Don't Need No Stinkin' BIOS!") But short of redefining the PC platform, the BIOS will be around for a while longer.

To accelerate the rollout of PnP. Intel has been supplying a set of PnP extensions to BIOS vendors. This kit makes it easier to get a PnP-ready BIOS to market, while still leaving room for vendors to differentiate their products. As usual with a BIOS, however, you probably won't perceive much difference unless something goes horribly wrong.

In a PnP system, the BIOS is minimally responsible for booting up motherboard devices like the DMA controller and

the PIC (programmable interrupt controller), as well as an input device (typically the keyboard controller), an output device (typically the video controller), and an initial program load device (typically the hard drive that stores the operating system, although some mobile computers might boot up the system software from ROM or a PCMCIA card).

Due to gray areas in the PnP specifications, what happens next isn't clearly defined. If the system has a PnP operating system as Chicago will, Microsoft would prefer to see the BIOS bow out at this point and let the operating system's more sophisticated arbitrators take over. But some BIOS vendors are going a little further, incorporating simpler routines that try to configure all other devices in the system. That's desirable for PCs without a PnP operating system. But if there is a PnP operating system, the BIOS might leave the machine only partially configured and limit the operating system's options for resolving the problem. Unfortunately, the current PnP specifications don't define a way for the BIOS to know if a PnP operating system is going to run.

"PnP is a really complex technology," explains Albert Saraie, senior marketing manager for advanced technology at Phoenix Technologies (Norwood, MA), the leading BIOS vendor. "If we try to solve every problem in the PC industry the first time around, we'll never get anything out the door."

Phoenix shipped its first PnP-ready BIOS early this year, and it's already appearing in new systems from NEC and Gateway 2000. Like most major BIOS vendors, Phoenix offers its PnP BIOS in a flash ROM, as well as a conventional mask ROM. Flash ROMs are rewritable, so if the BIOS ever needs upgrading, the system vendor can distribute a simple flash upgrade program on a floppy disk. The only way to upgrade a mask ROM is to swap chips.

Adding PnP to a BIOS isn't a trivial task. For the sake of economy, everything has to fit inside a single flash ROM with 1 Mb (128 KB) of memory. SystemSoft (Natick, MA) says its new PnP BIOS includes the regular system BIOS (about 64 KB), PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) extensions (10 to 12 KB), power management (2 to 10 KB), and PnP support (12 to 16 KB). Computers with an onboard VGA controller (mostly notebooks, but also some desktops) require an additional 32 to 40 KB of BIOS code. If there's any room left, BIOS vendors want to make it available as nonvolatile storage for PnP configuration information.

SystemSoft's solution is to compress the BIOS code to conserve space in the flash ROM and then decompress the code and copy it into shadow RAM during bootup. Other BIOS vendors also take this approach. SystemSoft began shipping its PnP BIOS in February, and the first systems should be available now.

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Cover Story

PnP functionality as a fully integrated BIOS and operating system. A true PnP system offers PnP support for every I/O bus and port, with provisions for easily incorporating new buses in the future.

Change on the Fly

Dynamic configuration is perhaps the most exciting benefit of full PnP integration. Until recently, this wasn't a factor, because few I/O buses allowed hot-plugging. But newer buses like PCMCIA and PI394 actually encourage you to add or remove

94 BVXE SEPTEMBER 1994

devices while the computer is running. To cope with this, the operating system must juggle system resources and device drivers without unduly pestering you. Moreover, the operating system should be able to pass messages about dynamic events to applications, which in turn should be capable of responding appropriately.

Retrofitted system software just isn't that versatile. It doesn't pass messages about dynamic events, and it lacks the dexterity to juggle device drivers in memory. Chicago, on the other hand, will broad

cast messages of dynamic events to all running applications, and it can also load and unload drivers as their associated devices come and go, thus maintaining only the minimum working set of drivers in RAM. Without resorting to tricky hacks, MS-DOS (and, by extension, Windows 3.1) must load its drivers during boot-up to avoid conflicts later on. In fact, as anyone who has wrestled with a CONFIG.SYS file knows, DOS can be very stubborn about the order in which device drivers load.

Flexible System

The ability of a PnP system to morph itself in response to a wide range of dynamic events is in tune with today's increasingly flexible work force. Outbound salespeople and telecommuters who visit an office once a week could dock their notebooks or plug into a network without a second thought. A worker with a PDA ( personal digital assistant) could stroll into a instantly print a document via an infrared link to a PnPaware desktop system. Users could share a single fax modem or LAN adapter between their notebook and desktop merely by swapping a PCMCIA card back and forth.

Indeed, PnP and hot-pluggable I/O buses are considered key technologies in the never-ending quest to turn PCs into consumer appliances. "Our culture is such that we're always warned against opening the back of any electronic appliance, including our $300 TV and VCR," says Timothy Saponas, Intel's manager for desktop ease of use. "If people aren't comfortable opening their $300 TV to change parts, are they going to be comfortable opening their $2000 computer? I think not."

PnP is a significant step forward for PCs. Painless configuration when installing new hardware and software is long overdue and really does little more than drag PCs. kicking and screaming, into the 1980s. But the ability to dynamically reconfigure a system to keep pace with active users—although still in its infancy—hints at what lies ahead in the late 1990s and beyond. ■

Tom R. Halfhill is a BYTE senior news editor based in San Mateo. California. You can reach him on the Internet or BIX at lhalfhill@bix.com.

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State of the Art

Connecting Networks

When you want to link one network with others, you're going to need some heavy-duty connectivity. ATM, digital switching, and ISDN are among the candidates you should consider.

Two topics dominate the networking arena today—ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) and switching. You could argue, of course, that because ATM is a switching technology, it is subsumed under the general switching umbrella. Practically speaking, however, ATM is such a powerhouse that it deserves a category unto itself.

ATM is nothing more than a compromise designed to handle two conflicting types of applications and data. The first is regular old data communications—you know, the type of communications trafficgenerated when you hitch together geographically separate LANs. Such traffic is characterized by its bursty nature and consequent varying bandwidth requirements. Experience has shown that such traffic is best handled by shoveling the data into packets of varying—and normally large— sizes and transporting them via some sort of switching matrix.

The second type of traffic ATM must contend with is the high-volume data required for multimedia applications such as voice and videoconferencing. This traffic has traditionally been handled by dedicated connections: You dial a phone number and someone answers, establishing a connection. Connections are much more predictable in their bandwidth requirements than arc packetized data communications, and they also include a real-time character that is normally absent from data communications. Simply put, if you can't move that video data fast enough to reconstruct a sustainable signal on the receiving end, you're hosed. Dedicated circuits arc the best way to handle such real-time data, but they are expensive to operate.

Enter ATM. As with traditional data communications, it is packet-based, allowing it to handle bursty traffic. Unlike most other data packets, the ATM packet

is a fixed-length cell containing 5 header bytes and 48 bytes of data. (In comparison, X.25 packets can consist of several thousands of bytes.) The fixed and predictable packet length makes it possible to switch ATM cells in hardware—there's no need for each switch to parse the contents of every packet. The fast hardware switching allows ATM networks to maintain the high data rates that are required to support connection-oriented data and applications in a switching environment.

ATM isn't the best of both worlds— standard data communications works best with large packets, while real-world data types prefer dedicated connections—but it is the best available compromise. The hype is not just hype; ATM is a tsunami that will transform the face of networking. To find out when and where the wave will break, read Peter Wayner's article "On the Road to ATM."

Despite its wonders, ATM presents one intriguing difficulty: its name. What are people going to call all those user-unfriendly machines that dispense cash at all hours of the day and night?

Mammals into Dinosaurs

Network+Interop is the most important networking and data communications trade show on the planet. While attending the June get-together in Las Vegas, I heard a number of people refer to the need to "upgrade legacy LANs" or "integrate legacy LANs into future networking architectures." Excuse me, but isn't the term legacy an adjective you use to describe lumbering mainframes and archaic SNA (Systems Network Architecture) implementations? When did Ethernet become a dinosaur?

Such questions brought benign (condescending?) smiles from the networking cognoscenti, who patiently explained the

shortcomings of today's LAN technology in the face of tomorrow's multimedia applications. No need to rip out such legacy systems, I learned with relief; there's nothing wrong that a liberal dose of switching can't see you through. John Bryan explains it all in "LANs Make the Switch."

ISDN, Anyone?

The more organizations depend on LANs, the bigger becomes the issue of how you provide remote access to LAN services. Jeffrey Fritz—who in real life provides networking serv ices to thousands at West Virginia University—discusses in the article "Digital Remote Access" how digital technology is being brought to bear on the problems of remote access. Remember all those "Year of the LAN" proclamations during the last decade? Soon, someone is going to have to declare a "Year of ISDN." It looks like it's finally going to happen.

Digital services are becoming more accessible and ubiquitous, but analog technology (i.e., modems) also has much to offer in the remote-access realm. For example, at Networld+Interop, Dayna Communications announced a new remoteaccess server that uses PCMCIA modems to connect the outside world with AppleTalk—and soon IPX and TCP/IP—networks. PCMCIA technology eases physical configuration problems and provides hot-swapping to boot.

Setup times make analog solutions inappropriate for LAN-to-LAN connections, but the modem still has its place in singleuser access to LANs. Given the advance of digital technology, however, I wonder how long it will be before I start hearing solutions to the problem of "legacy modems"?

The Collapsing Backbone

The net effect of the new and evolving networking technologies described here is difficult to predict in the short run. Certainly, there will be confusion as router vendors, such as Cisco Systems, invade the hub arena, and hub vendors, such as SynOptics Communications, get into routing. ATM simply adds another flavor of spice to these mixtures.

The long-term picture is clearer. The internetworking functions you need to perform will increasingly take place in a single box. Your multiprotocol network will be multiprotocol in one place only, the switching hub. thus making your network backbone more accessible and manageable than ever. ■ —Bob Ryan, Senior Editor

On the Road to ATM

LANs Make the Switch

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State of the Art

On the Road to ATM

With its ability to move large blocks of data quickly, ATM brings networking nirvana a step closer

PETER WAYNER

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a..,,.y t v tv ^ v yVj

For the last several years, the networking world has been promising the average PC user that networks sporting ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) would provide the tantalizing option of "bandwidth on demand." But no matter how often each of us said "Please," it was still hard to find and buy such systems. This is quickly changing. The manufacturers of routing sw itches and NICs (network interface cards) are rolling out product after product. The major providers of long-distance network infrastructure—including AT&T. MCI, and RBOCs (regional Bell operating companies) like Ameritech—already have limited ATM networks operating or in the final stages of testing. Clearly large segments of the network world believe that ATM is the Emerald City—and they need to get there fast.

But the journey to a fully functional. ATM-based network that links computers throughout the country will take years to complete. Although the destination sounds clear and most of the standards are set, many details are sure to change as companies define in practice the capabilities they will actually build into the ATM infrastructure. The service providers, hardware manufacturers, and users (e.g., LAN operators. WAN [wide-area network] operators, you, and I) are dancing a complicated jig, and no one is taking the lead. Vendors are trying to judge how much bandw idth to offer and how many features will be in demand, while users are trying to figure out just how much they need to buy.

In the end, the interaction between the network-service providers and users will define the overall shape and cost structure of the ATM-based network. Although the same basic standard protocols will unify the entire network, there will still be significant differences in what will be available. Some service providers will invest heavily in an approach that might be more suited to, say, transmitting video, and this will let them offer that service relatively

SEPTEMBER 1994 BVXE 103

State of the Art

On the Road to ATM

g LANs via ATM ■ ■■■.»■

■ ■■■»•■

□ a □ czi c=i

cheaply. Others will invest in another approach that might allow them to price asynchronous data, such as E-mail, at a bargain-basement price. Everyone is guessing about the right mix of product and services and hoping that their hardware will match the market's future needs.

The wide-open nature of the market, coupled with the regionalized structure of the phone business, means that you may well see a fragmented market that will seem strange to everyone used to the modern homogeneity that has been brought by worldwide corporations such as CocaCola. Some services may end up being less expensive in Los Angeles than in New York, simply because the local phone companies make different choices when they install their switches. These kinds of differences on the information highway will make life, at the very least, exciting for network managers trying to optimize their decisions. However, the differences are bound to smooth out after a few years, as everyone begins to get firm ideas on which ATM services will sell successfully.

The companies that manufacture the switches and routers used by LANs and WANs are hedging their bets. They stress the flexibility of their machines and use seductive terms such as tariff arbitrage to imply that users will be able to rework

104 BYTE SEPTEMBER 1994

their network schemes to use the least expensive service available. This flexibility is one of the best features of ATM, even though users may grow to hate the array of choices that this freedom brings.

The bottom line is that users will need to pay attention to the details and make many choices about bandwidth, types of service, and other protocols. The one real advantage of ATM is that all the modern network-interface devices are driven by software, and it will often be easy to switch protocols just by switching software.

At the Desktop Level

For the time being, most of the action will be confined to networks installed in single offices and on corporate campuses. The switches, LAN converters, and interface cards that you need to set up a local ATM network are available today. You may have trouble finding software that would make it possible to use all the neat features, such as real-time video, but this is certain to change by the middle of 1995.

LAN administrators will have two choices: They can retrofit old networks with clever hardware that links the old LAN to ATM clients outside the LAN, or they can build new networks. New ATM LANs let users manage large amounts of bandwidth without overloading the net

work, but it costs much more for new cabling, interface cards, switches, and software. Retrofitting is cheaper and easier, because you can reuse old cable, cards, and software, but it does not provide much of the superior performance of ATM. It allows interoperability, but performance is limited by the old LAN. The first groups to adopt local ATM networks will be small workgroups that need to move large blocks of data. Many ATM network manufacturers cite Wall Street traders and seismic prospectors at oil companies as prototypical examples. These workers need to move large amounts of data quickly. The oil companies, for instance, like to move large numerical simulations of drill sites to graphics workstations, where they can visualize the data. ATM networks are among the few solutions that offer this much raw bandwidth.

The prices for small networks like these are dropping. A basic ATM network linking about 15 workstations costs about $1500 to $2000 per desktop machine for the interface card, and about $20,000 to $25,000 for the central switch. Many manufacturers are already in this market (see the text box "Selected Sources for ATM Products"). This network would run over C5 twisted-pair wires and deliver 155-Mbps bandwidth to each machine. Servers would probably be allocated even more bandwidth because of their naturally higher demand.

Prices vary widely depending on the need for additional features and perhaps for different interface electronics. One significant difference between interface boards is in the amount of on-board buffering they provide. Under ATM, the most time-consuming task is breaking up every transmission into standard 53-byte packets and then reassembling them on the other end. Some interface cards rely on the host processor to do this work and save money. This savings, though, can be a false economy, because heavy network traffic can easily bog down a workstation by requiring virtually all its CPU time.

While high-end users will always drive the edge of new technology, the primary market will be low-end users. One company. First Virtual (Santa Clara, CA), is aiming to provide the world with 50-Mbps connections at a cost of $500 each per PC. Unlike the manufacturers of the 155-Mbps networks, the company is not yet shipping a product. It says, however, that production could begin in early 1995. It is not clear at this time whether

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State of the Art

On the Road to ATM

delivering this price/performance point will be successful. The low cost will attract many users; however, the networks may be too slow to handle high-bandwidth applications such as desktop video. Much of ATM's ability to knit together real-time and bursting data will go to waste. Other manufacturers say that they plan to aim for the higher 155-Mbps standard, because customers need a solid reason to move to ATM technology and wide-open performance is their selling point. They offer hints that this level of service will be available for about $700 in 1995, but for now, they refuse to announce any products.

Many manufacturers will produce variations on the ATM theme. All the cards and systems will work together, but users will need to think carefully about the details.

Retrofitting LANs

If it weren't for budget constraints, most people would be using ATM- capable LANs today. Most users, though, won't need the speed or features of an ATM network until functions like videoconferencing become widespread. Even if you don't need to move large blocks of data quickly, however, you still might want to connect a LAN to a larger ATM WAN. This is why companies are making Ethernet LAN routers with an ATM backdoor. Some are making entirely new routers, while others are building gateways that plug into older routers with an FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) link. Both of these let you connect your old Ethernet LAN to ihe ATM world without replacing your old interface cards or software.

Connecting to ATM WANs will be especially attractive to firms that have workers with different needs. Programmers, for instance, often place heavy loads on networks when they compile. Workers who use word processors, however, usually place the greatest load on the network when they open and close files. Those workers with low network demands can stay with the old network and can use an Ethernet-ATM gateway to reach the rest of the network.

Network managers who choose this last path will gain a fair amount of flexibility. They can place an important file server in the ATM branch of the network, and the gateway will route the traffic correctly. More important, the flexibility of ATM will let the manager move the file server to different locations, including across the country. This flexibility may help protect systems against fire and other disasters.

; LANs

ATM is not intended simply as a highspeed replacement for LANs. The strength of the technology lies in its ability to link many networks and to switch traffic among them. The same 53-byte protocol works throughout the network. This flexibility promises to let network administrators mix and match connections to adjust the throughput to meet changing needs.

For this reason, the next growth spurt in ATM networks will occur in campus environments where users can string up their own networks. The ATM Forum, a cross-industry standards group, recently accepted a formal standard known as the UNI (User-Network Interface) that specifies how different switches may communicate. Several equipment vendors demonstrated the robustness of this standard by linking the switches of many manufacturers at the 1994 Interop conference.

If you run a multisite network, you will have many different options for linking the switches. You can pull your own fiberoptic cable, run copper coaxial, or string up twisted-pair wires between buildings, if they are close enough. Or you can run the link through your local phone company's network by simply buying a connection for each machine. This approach can end up cheaper if the telephone company already has fiber installed in each building. Each network manager has to evaluate the cost of running the cable and compare it to the prices the local telephone network charges for the connection. The important fact is that the basic switches and software will work with either choice.

Top-Layer Players

The greatest confusion and activity seems to center around the highest level, as the service providers try to determine just how much service to offer in what areas. All the major long-distance carriers (e.g., AT&T, Sprint, Wiltel, MCI. and MFSNet) are committed to offering ATM services. Several of the local RBOCs will also offer local service and some—such as Ameritech—have unregulated segments that may compete anywhere in the country.

The phone companies are struggling to anticipate demand so that they can plan how much to spend on each part of the local phone switches. At the time this article was written, users could buy T3-class ATM service (45 Mbps) as a permanent virtual circuit. This is effectively a leased line that offers a few additional features for ATM users. You get bandwidth on

demand, as long as you always demand and pay for 45 Mbps per month. There are still other advantages over pure leased lines. Your ATM switches will be responsible for breaking up all the 45 Mbps of transmitted data and assigning it to your own internal traffic. In some cases, you will also be able to send bursts of data that are larger than 45 Mbps.

By the end of this year, some companies will begin to offer Tl-level service (1.5 Mbps) as well as OC3 (155 Mbps). This service will allow you to knit a 155Mbps LAN on the East Coast with one on the West Coast without losing any speed.

The most exciting part of ATM longdistance service will be SVCs (switched virtual circuits), and these will not emerge until well into 1995 and 1996. They will provide pure nationwide bandwidth on demand, limited only by the speed of your own local service. You will pay only for the circuits as you use them. One of the barriers to the emergence of this service is the telephone companies' internal networking standard known as the BICI (Broadband Inter-Carrier Interface), which governs the way that telephone company switches exchange data and call-setup information for billing purposes.

When the BICI standard is finished, the companies will have no trouble linking their services. That means that an East Coast RBOC like Bell Atlantic will be able to join with a company that services only another region of the country; together they will be able to serve customers who need connections between the two locations.

The Transition

Today, many network integrators who need to link up a WAN successfully are making interim choices that can be changed later. Many of the switch manufacturers, for instance, make switches that can spit out packets in some of the older standards, such as Frame Relay. These switches use software to handle the protocol-level bundling, which means that you can upgrade them to ATM specifications when the time is right.

Some customers may never switch over to ATM, because they find that the fee structure for Frame Relay is better suited to their needs. They may never need to use the guaranteed bandw idth feature of ATM. This approach will probably be available only for the short run if ATM becomes popular. Supporting multiple standards costs money, and the most popular ones tend to drive out the others.

Paying the Pipe-er

It's still not clear how these switched virtual circuits will be priced, and the differences between the services offered by the different carriers is sure to be intriguing. This is one of the major ways that the companies will be able to differentiate their services. It is all too likely that they will come up with a welter of creative pricing plans that will make choosing a long-dis

tance carrier for your home phone seem simple by comparison.

One option sure to emerge will be to pay for only what you demand on a penniesper-megabit-per-second basis. In this area, there will probably be at least two major classes of services: Class A, for guaranteed continuous data (e.g., video), and Class C, for variable-rate data that doesn't need to get to the other end as smoothly. At this point,

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State of the Art|

On the Road to ATM

it is uncertain how carriers will structure their prices, but one estimate is that Class A data links could cost three times as much as Class C data links. This is based on the experience of network managers who have found that they can overbook, packing three Class C users into a single Class A.

This ratio, however, is bound to change. Some local networks may find that the demands for the Class C service are different from those in the past, and this would force them to lower the amount of overbooking. Alternatively, some carriers may find themselves with excess capacity in parts of their network and choose to lower the price on Class A service to encourage consumption. Off-peak pricing and other such features will add further complexity.

Another option that may remain popular is the flat-rate bill. This seems a bit stodgy for a technology that was developed to offer unparalleled flexibility. But it promises no surprises on the monthly bill, and this will be a big advantage for some people.

Basic ATM service is as close to a commodity as it gets. Bits are bits, and they have to get from one place to another.

from one place to another, and that's that. The telephone companies are certain to invent as many features as they can, because they realize that highly competitive commodity markets are the enemies of profits. They are considering intriguing features. For example, Ameritech says that it will throw in Internet access with its ATM service. That means that if you happen to address your packets to an IP address, the Ameritech network will send them to the right location. The company also plans to offer offsite backup, which will allow you to store blocks of bits in their computer for a price.

Every company says that reliability standards will be an important feature. Connections with guarantees of lower downtime will cost much more than standard-rate connections. The companies will compile extensive statistics, and each user will be able to decide how to choose whether to pay extra for less downtime.

Taking the ATM Plunge

tential applications are not written, but they are tantalizing. In essence, the table is set, the banquet is prepared, and now we need to see who comes to the party.

The speed with which people join the system will make a big difference. If everyone buys into the plan immediately, then the economies of scale will be wonderful. ATM lets you share your leased lines so well that many users may be able to get all the advantages of a leased line at a price that might be one one-thousandth of the price today. But this will happen only if the phone company can find 999 other people to share that line with you.

ATM is already likely to succeed on the corporate high end. But the market for ATM could really emerge if we see applications that engage the entire population. This service could become the equivalent of phone service in the future... if everyone wants it enough to justify the cost of laying fiber or C5 twisted-pair wires to each house in the country. The phone companies could provide video on demand with a service like this. The possibilities for games are endless. The only thing that is uncertain is whether the general public will become interested in such a high level of service. These questions need not be addressed for several years. Until then, ATM manufacturers will have enough work to do in satisfying the anticipated demand for network users. ■

Options

Thetra

nsition to ATM promises to be ex- Peler Waynen „

f Baltimore, Maryland, is a con

The basic ATM service

is as close to a citing.

The technology is prove

1. Manu- suiting editor for

BYTE. He t an he reached on the

commodity as it can get. Bits must get facture

rs are shipping products

The po- Internet or BIX

I nwayner<&bix.com.

Selected Sources for ATM Products

Hughes LAN Systems

NetEdge Systems

SynOptics

Communications Corp.

International, Inc.

1225 Charleston Rd.

P.O. Box 14993

Communications, Inc.

5 Carlisle Rd.

33 Riverside Dr.

Mountain View. CA 94043

Research Triangle Park, NC

4401 Great America Pkwy.

Westford, MA 01886

Pembroke, MA 02359

(800) 732-4252

27709

Santa Clara. CA 95052

(800) 342-5926

(800) 327-9526

(415) 966-7300

(800) 638-3343

(408) 988-2400

(508) 692-2600

(617) 826-0099

fax: (415) 960-3738

(919) 361-9000

fax: (408) 988-5525

fax: (508) 692-9214

fax: (617) 826-7745

Circle 982 on Inquiry Card.

fax: (919) 361-9060

Circle 988 on Inquiry Card.

Circle 976 on Inquiry Card.

Circle 979 on Inquiry Card.

LightStream Corp.

Circle 985 on Inquiry Card.

Transwitch Corp.

Chipcom Corp.

First Virtual Corp.

1100 Technology Park Dr.

Newbridge Networks, Inc.

8 Progress Dr.

118 Turnpike Rd.

3393 Octavius Dr.,

Billerica, MA 01821

593 Herndon Pkwy.

Shelton, CT 06484

Southborough, MA 01772

Suite 102

(508) 262-1000

Herndon, VA 22070

(203) 929-8810

(508) 460-8900

Santa Clara. CA 95054

fax: (508) 262-1111

(800) 343-3600

fax: (203) 926-9453

fax: (508) 624-9585

(408) 988-7070

Circle 983 on Inquiry Card.

(703) 834-3600

Circle 989 on Inquiry Card.

Circle 977 on Inquiry Card.

fax: (408) 988-7077

fax: (703) 471-7080

DigiBoarrl

Circle 980 on Inquiry Card.

Motorola Codex

20 Cabot Blvd.

Circle 986 on Inquiry Card.

Xyplex, Inc.

330 Codman Hill Rd.

6400 Flying Cloud Dr.

Fore Systems

Mansfield, MA 02048

StrataCom, Inc.

Boxborough, MA 01719

Eden Praine, MN 55344

174 Thorn Hill Rd.

(508) 261-4000

1400 Parkmoor Ave.

(800) 338-5316

(800) 437-7241

Warrendale. PA 15086

fax: (508) 337-8004

San Jose. CA 95126

(508) 264-9900

(612) 943-9020

(412) 772-6600

Circle 984 on Inquiry Card.

(800) 877-0519

fax: (508) 264-9930

fax: (612) 943-5398

fax: (412) 772-6500

(408) 294-7600

Circle 990 on Inquiry Card.

Circle 978 mi Inquiry Card.

Circle 981 on Inquiry Card.

fax: (408) 999-0115 Circle 987 on Inquiry Card.

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Circle 126 on Inquiry Card.

State of the Art

LANs Mare the Switch

The switching capabilities of bridges, routers, and hubs add new power to LANs and make it easier than ever to connect them to enterprise WANs

JOHN BRYAN

As more people participate in client/ server environments, the computing model shifts from a physical workgroup to a project orientation. In the project-oriented environment, there is a need for networks that satisfy the end user's demands for bandwidth, access, and security, while still providing management capability at the corporate level.

Currently, networks are generally expanded using router, bridge, and fast-backbone technologies. All enable more diverse network topologies and improve performance through segmentation and increased bandwidth. Routers and bridges have always used switching technology; only recently has the switching hub brought switching to the workgroup level.

Until now, LANs with access to shared media were standard. A 10-Mbps Ethernet network and 4- and 16-Mbps token-ring networks serve most business applications well, but they have inherent limitations. As more nodes are added, the available individual bandwidth decreases.

For example, in a 10-node lOBase-T network, each individual node can theoretically send or receive 10 Mbps but in practice have only 1 Mbps available. With little or no network traffic, there's no problem. But delays increase as nodes become more active or the network grows, as each node contends for a piece of the total bandwidth. With this example, if all 10 nodes are transmitting, total available bandwidth may be as low as 4 Mbps. The same is true for token-ring networks; the more nodes contending for the token, the less time any individual node has to transmit.

Of course, most LANs have more than 10 nodes. Burgeoning traffic volumes and | graphical applications mean that changes o must be made. At least two approaches § have already been tried. The first was to in| crease network speed. FDDI (Fiber Dis§ tributed Data Interface) runs at 100 Mbps

SEPTEMBER I!

BYXK 113

State of the Art

LANs Make the Switch

What's on the Market

On the low end, MicroAccess (Fremont, CA) markets an Ethernet switching hub that is in their network servers. The hub is a six-port single ISA or EISA card with lOBase-T or BNC thinEthernet connectors. The card makes up to 60-Mbps total bandwidth available, and you can install multiple cards in the same server. The card has a built-in SNMP agent that enables all SNMP-compliant managers, including MicroAccess' own, to manage the card. At $2499, this product is eminently affordable.

NetWorth (Irving, TX) has several Ethernet/FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) PowerPipes switching products, from the Series 3000 TriSegment Stackable hubs to the Series 6(XX) Switching and Network Services hubs. PowerPipes is a 12-port Ethernet hub channeled into an FDDI connection to the server. An ASIC (application-specific 1C) buffers and translates incoming Ethernet frames into FDDI frames. Outbound packets are FIFO (first-in/firsl-out) buffered so that frames don't stack up on the FDDI ring. A custom ASIC handles all switching logic. List price for PowerPipes is $7495 for single-attached copper and $8995 for dual-attached Tiber.

Catalyst or Cut-Through

What one firm calls a shared-memory design, another may call a shared bus. Cisco Systems (Menlo Park, CA) labels as shared memory its Catalyst product, an eight-port LAN switch designed to give 10 Mbps to each of its connections. One of the ports can be configured as an FDDI or CDDI (Copper Distributed Data Interface) link, providing a high-bandwidth pipe to a network backbone. Catalyst lists for $9600: the FDDI option is an additional $1995, while the CDDI option lists for $995.

The Catalyst has 2400 2-KB buffers (300 per port), as well as 760 for each output port. The switch copies incoming data to the input memory buffers. At the same time, it sends the packet's MAC (media access control) destination address or other information to the switch logic, which moves the packet from input

to output buffers and then to the port.

An IDT 3081 RISC processor sends the data across a 32-bit-wide, 20-MHz proprietary bus that, with 640-Mbps bandv. idth. easily handles traffic from all ports simultaneously. This data-switching mechanism is called a store-and-forward process, because once the data frame is stored, it may be forwarded or copied to any designated destination port.

An alternative is the cut-through switch. Introduced by Kalpana (Sunnyvale, CA), the cut-through switch reads only the address header and immediately transmits the frame to its destination. This reduces switching time but can allow bad packets to pass through, causing problems down the line.

Another vendor, Xedia (Wilmington. MA) uses a shared-bus architecture it calls Smartswitch in its three MAD (media access de\ ice) products. The first product, MADswitch, is a six-port Ethernet switch with a slot for a 100-Mbps card, due later this year. This 100-Mbps connection may be Fast Ethernet. ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode), or FDDI. The Smartswitch architecture breaks incoming Ethernet frames into 64-byte packets or cells. You can use 512 cell buffersenough for several Ethernet frames—for either input or output. Once the frame is converted to cells, it is transferred over the bus and the exit port, where the processor reassembles the message.

Each port has an IDT R-3000 RISC processor that handles port operations, including filtering nonvalid messages, cell reassembly, and transmission; each port can handle several different operations at once. The cell-transmission bus is a proprietary, 8-bit configuration, and Xedia has 16-. 32-. and 64-bit versions ready for the future. The MADswitch lists for just $2995, about half the price of most switched hubs.

Xedia's other products are MADswitch/PC and MADremote. At $2695, MADswitch/PC is a full-featured, single card that offers a 60-Mbps ISA interface port. MADremote is an ISDN-remote

Ethernet switch that can interface with four ISDN B channels at various speeds.

As with Cisco's Catalyst, these products offer SNMP software for managing switches and nodes. However, not all switches offer this capability. When you research switches, look for software that is compatible with your environment.

fore Systems (Warrendale, PA) uses a shared-bus design in the contentionless time-division architecture of its ForeRunner ASX-100 ATM switch. Rather than a high-speed backplane, this "bus" is just four chips that are each capable of 622 Mbps and use TDM (time-division multiplexing) to pass data. This architecture gives the switch a much greater capacity than the sum of its ports' bandwidths: the ForeRunner's switch fabric supports 2.5 Gbps of bandwidth.

Fore's switch products include on-board ForeThought software to manage call connections and ATM routing without a dedicated workstation. This saves money on installation, provides higher performance, and offers greater reliability.

The ForeRunner will support up to 24 ATM devices or NICs (network interface cards), each transmitting at 155 Mbps. Modules for other interface speeds include 100-/140-Mbps TAXI, DS-3, and SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) OC-3. The ASX-100 also has a direct Ethernet interface and an FDDI port.

Each switch has a SPARC II RISC processor with 16 MB of RAM and a 120MB hard drive. The processor controls bus access and sets up ATM circuits and operations. ATM permits two priorities of service, so 512 KB of buffer space at each port is configured in dual-priority RAM. Software handles setup, but data transfer occurs solely in hardware. Fore claims sub-10-microsecond latency in any data transfer, while setup takes less than 10 milliseconds. The ForeRunner ASX-100 starts at $23,995 for four ports, ranging up to a 24-port configuration for $34,000.

TE SEPTEMBER 1'

Multistage Matrix Switches

One area where matrix architecture may have the lead is in its capacity to expand to super-high-density port designs— switch systems with 1000 or more ports. This type of switch will seldom be used in LAN environments but will likely prevail in central office installations.

That said, LattisCell is a multistage matrix switch with what SynOptics Communications (Santa Clara, CA) calls a parallel ATM architecture. Each LattisCell is essentially a stand-alone switch, the various models differing primarily in how the 16 ATM connectors are apportioned.

SynOptics uses a number of techniques to reduce traffic contention. First, it distributes traffic over multiple paths. The matrix switch itself runs at twice the speed of the incoming ports, so there's plenty of bandwidth (breach port. Buffering is available at each sw itch element

When a cell enters the switch, Connection Management software reads its header—with information on the cell's origin, destination, and priority—then sets up the ATM's virtual channel throughout the span of switches. This software resides on a separate Sparc-Station that can control several LattisCell switches. The workstation only needs to be attached (via Ethernet) to a single switch: data for other switches is passed along a special ATM connector.

Prices begin at $27,950 for the 10115, a switch with 12 RJ-45 SONET/SDH connectors that support 155 Mbps over Category 5 L'TP (unshielded twisted pair cable), and four ST-type (shielded-twisted) connectors for 155 Mbps over multimode fiber. The $31.950 10124-S has 16 fiber-optic ports: 12 100-Mbps ports used for4B/5B encoding and four 155-Mbps SONET/SDH ports. Finally, the $35,950 LattisCell 10114 provides 14 155-Mbps SONET/SDH ports and two BNC 45Mbps DS3 ports.

To link lOBase-T Ethernet to ATM. SynOptics has the $9995 EtherCell. Using the basic LattisCell architecture, the EtherCell provides 12 lOBase-T ports and a single ATM port, either RJ-45 or fiber optic. This switch converts incoming variable-length Ethernet frames into

fixed-length ATM cells and then handles all switching as in the LattisCell.

Token-Ring Solutions

Madge Networks (San Jose. CA) plans to introduce a token-ring switch early in 1995. This product will feature a sharedmemory technology that Madge developed and Texas Instruments will manufacture and market. The device will handle switching between rings or individual nodes and provide a link to ATM or FDDI. It will offer full-duplex tokenring support, allowing a server to simultaneously send and receive 16 Mbps over the same connector. Token-ring NICs can be upgraded to full duplex via a software download; Ethernet NICs need a hardware change that would probably be as expensive as the original card.

Switching Packets and Cells

The MMAC-Plus from Cabletron Systems (Rochester, NH) provides over 500 ports of connectivity in a shared-bus design that handles both packet and cell switching simultaneously. This intelligent, fault-tolerant, modular hub has room on its backplane for up to 14 modules (connectivity or network services). Connectivity modules are available for all major network protocols, while network services modules provide distributed management and computer services.

ATM cells are switched as is; for nonATM input. MM AC uses SFPS (secure fast packet sw itching). The system backplane has two system management buses (SMB-I and SMB-10). a flexible network bus consisting of two dual FDDI rings, and the dual-channel INB (internal network bus), which is based on the IEEE standard for FutureBus. Finally, there is space for a cell-transfer matrix, due in 1996. This will offer a switching fabric capable of data rates in excess of 60 Gbps.

The dual-channel INB is governed, like Fore's ForeRunner ASX-100. by TDM. Each INB data channel is 64 bits wide, runs at 40 MHz. and can sustain a data rate of 2 Gbps or a burst rate of 2.5 Gbps, for a total of up to 5 Gbps. The TDM design can insert packets or cells on the bus for point-to-point switching, while signaling and bus arbitration occur on a separate 8-bit management and control bus.

The core design is powered by an Intel 960 processor. The Spectrum for Open Systems software (release 3.0) can manage networks of more than K).(XX) nodes. Spectrum is compatible with HewlettPackard Openview for Unix and Windows, IBM Netview/6000, SunConnect SunNet Manager, and Novell NMS. Spectrum 3.0 lists for $15,000. MMAC-Plus starts at $ 11.500 without connection modules, which run from $3000 to $50,000; a typical average-cost-per-Ethernet connection is about $500 per port.

Fault-Tolerant Managed Switching

The LANplex 6(XK) is available in both four-slot and 12-slot chassis from 3Com (Santa Clara, CA). LANplex provides fault-tolerant sw itching, although it's less capable than Cabletron's MMAC. LANplex supports only Ethernet and FDDI: ATM modules are planned for early 1995. Current modules connect to one of three FDDI buses in the system. Future modules, including ATM, will connect directly to the High-Speed Interconnect Bus with sustained transfer rates of 3.2 Gbps.

3Com's starter kit includes the chassis, management module, power supply, and software. The management module hooks up via an integrated dual-attached FDDI backbone connection. The fourslot version is $16,073, while the 12-slot chassis kit starts at $31,900. An eightport Ethernet switching module is $12,500. An FDDI six-port fiber module is $8500, and a 12-port FDDI module is $9950. The average price per port of the LANplex runs $ 15(X) and up.

Forced Frame Relay

Cascade Communications (Westford, MA) offers several multiservice switches based on a common architecture. Its topof-the-line B-STDX 9000 offers Frame Relay. SMDS, and ATM switching in a shared-bus architecture capable of data rates as high as 1.2 Gbps. If incoming data isn't Frame Relay (e.g., SNA/SLDC or X.25), the B-STDX encapsulates the data links and carries the data as Frame Relay. An Intel 960 RISC processor handles switching in each module.

B-STDX pricing starts at $30,000; a fully redundant, fully configured T3 system typically runs about $160,000.

SEPTEMBER 1994 BYT K 115

State oi the Art

LANs Make the Switch

but suffers from other problems, including cost and complexity (see "All-Terrain Networking," August 1993 BYTE). But shared access, even at 100 Mbps, will eventually lead to the same problems.

Another solution is to divide the network into separate segments connected by bridges or routers. Each segment is shared, but communications can occur simultaneously in different segments, easing con

gestion. This is the right approach, but network growth will eventually cause the same traffic problems. The logical solution is to reduce each segment to one node, and that's where switching comes in.

Switching in LANs is exciting because it reverses the bandwidth equation. In the earlier lOBase-T network example, 10 nodes got 1 Mbps each. However, with a switched hub, each node can realize its

full 10-Mbps potential; the total segment capacity would be close to 1(X) Mbps. Except for some overhead, this relationship is maintained right up to the hub's bandwidth capacity.

As a result, segment traffic in legacy networks is greatly augmented without having to change NICs (network interface cards) or cabling. This has been the primary focus of switched hubs for LANs. In WANs (wide-area networks), the focus is more on reliability and efficiency.

Today, switching technology is being used for all types of network protocols at the LAN and WAN levels. Vendors offer switching products for Ethernet at 10 and 1(X) Mbps, for token ring at 4 and 16 Mbps, and for ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode). In addition, Fibre Channel is a switched technology being developed for high-end workstation use (see "Fibre Channel Speeds Up," August BYTE).

Bridges and Routers—How Switching Works

Switching is required whenever a network signal must move between carriers (e.g., Ethernet to X.25) or change speeds (e.g., 10-Mbps Ethernet to 100-Mbps FDDI). Two primary categories of switching are packet and circuit. Packet switching uses a fixed-length data cell (e.g., an entire Ethernet frame, packets of arbitrary size, or ATM "cells"). In circuit switching, the carrying element is switched, generally for the duration of an entire message.

Bridges use MAC (media access control) address information from the datalink layer of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) network model to determine an incoming packet's destination. When a bridge encounters an unknown MAC address, it sends that packet to all its ports; this is called flooding, and it can present both traffic and security problems. Bridges learn address/port relationships dynamically—if a new address is real, it gets added to the correlation table. But if a bridge hasn't yet assimilated a new address, packets may be sent to users who aren't supposed to receive them.

The MAC layer also reserves certain addresses as "broadcast" designators— packets that are supposed to go to everyone on the network. Unfortunately, this interrupts all other messaging. Used too frequently, the result is a broadcast storm that can thoroughly disrupt a network.

Routers take a different approach, using the OSI network layer, which establishes a different addressing scheme for each type of network protocol. To be compatible with

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State of the Art

multiple standards, routers have more complex switching logic than bridges, with associated delays and added cost.

Neither the classical bridge nor the router is a connection-oriented switch, and this presents problems. Connectionless switches do not maintain an end-to-end link, thus eliminating the possibility of data streams and isochronous traffic.

What's in a Name?

i To allow each of its ports to operate at its maximum rate, a switch must handle the total potential traffic volume of all attached nodes, as well as switching overhead, the

I extra code bits assigned to each data-traffic unit. These traffic units might be variable-length Ethernet frames or constant

' length packets, such as 53-byte ATM cells.

I Xedia's Smartswitch architecture, for instance, uses a 64-byte packet for Ethernet switching. For variable-length packets, software must determine the beginning and end: this introduces complexity and takes longer. Fixed-length packet switching can be implemented completely in hardware, which is faster.

Switch type can be defined by function, by the traffic units switched, or by hardware configuration. Most people are familiar with functional labels—bridge, router, and switched hub. The traffic-type

I label—Frame Relay, Ethernet, token ring, Fibre Channel, and ATM cell—tells you the intended use, but it gives no clue as to what's happening inside the box. What's happening inside the box determines the relative advantages and disadvantages, as well as the adaptability to future needs.

Several vendors produce so-called super hubs (or, as SynOptics Communications calls its Model 5000, Network Center Hubs)—switches that support some combination of Ethernet, token-ring, FDDI. ATM, and WAN connections. Cabletron , Systems, 3Com, and others have products in this category, but only Cabletron currently supports all those topologies.

Approaches to Packet Switching

Generally speaking, there are three types of packet-switching hardware: shared-memory systems, shared-bus designs, and multistage matrix switches. But simple categories don't define all the products, and vendors' definitions don't adhere to any particular standard. No one design seems dominant for any given type of switch. As

I a result, a savvy network manager needs to assimilate an intimidating array of infor

' mation before making decisions. In fact,

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price-per-port costs, even within a single category, range all over the place.

Shared-memory and shared-bus architectures have common elements. Both buffer I/O in memory that's connected to the switch logic by a bus. The sharedmemory design generally relies on a logicmanaged common pool of memory for switching between ports, while the sharedbus design uses a bus whose bandwidth is significantly higher than the accumulated demands of all attached ports.

A multistage matrix switch is an array of switching nodes, each with two inputs, two outputs, and a control line. Any input can be directed to any output. A number of ATM switches use the multistage-matrix-switch design. Because ATM cells are fixed-length, each node switch in the matrix can be a simple, fast, low-cost part such as an ASIC (application-specific IC) or FPGA (field programmable gate array). Xilinx (San Jose, CA), the leading FPGA vendor, has done extensive research on multistage matrix switches, such as a Banyan or Benes, implemented in a single FPGA.

ATM switches are not always based on the multistage-matrix-switch design. Fore Systems (Warrendale, PA) uses a variation on the shared-bus theme in its contentionless time-division architecture, and it has sold more ATM switches than anyone else—though that may also be a function of availability. Fore cites four advantages for TDM (time-division multiplexing): It is nonblocking. has a predictably low latency, provides integral multicasting without copying, and will support flexible interface speeds.

Nonblocking means it won't prevent an incoming cell from entering the switch fabric, because the fabric has greater capacity than any possible load. Multistage-matrixswitch vendors have reduced, but not eliminated, traffic contention in the switch fabric. Fore's ForeRunner ASX-100 offers the lowest latency times for any ATM switch, though matrix switches are almost as fast. To perform a multicast, a multistage matrix switch has to copy cells at appropriate switch nodes until it sends packets to the correct output pons; this adds traffic to the switching fabric. The ForeRunner sends only one copy of any cell onto its bus, and ports take it off as necessary.

WANs at Speed

Switching is an expensive proposition, though cheaper than replacing NICs and rewiring a network to gain speed. But for

wide-area applications, limiting costs are not for hardware but for data transmission. For instance, maintaining a connection between Chicago and Minneapolis on a T32 link—a 32-Mbps link equivalent to Tl lines—costs close to $30,000 per month.

The trick is to provide bandwidth on demand at all levels. Currently, most WAN connections are provided through PVCs (permanent virtual connections), whose parameters—but not necessarily routes— are established in advance. On the other hand, SVCs (switched virtual circuits) provide resources as required, w ith billing according to use. SMDS (Switched MultiMegabit Data Service) and Frame Relay vendors are expanding their SVC offerings, but some time-sensitive applications, like voice and full-motion video, really work best with the small cell size and short latency of ATM. Most WAN connections are supplied by routers, though the trend is moving from the circuit-switched router to the packet-switching variety.

One of the interesting and exciting possibilities of sw itch technology is virtual networking—using software to create network user segments regardless of physical location or connection type. The goal is to make participants appear local to each other to facilitate communication.

For a physical network, the network administrator can map out workgroups, establish connections, and collect management data. In a virtual network, this is not so simple. In fact, at this point, virtual networking seems to introduce more problems for both network managers and users than it solves. For instance, how do you maintain routing address conventions if a user belongs to two or more networks? For that matter, can a single node exist in two virtual networks simultaneously? How do you guarantee data security?

Where the Technology's Heading

Switched networks will take us into the next generation of communications. Integrated voice, data, and imaging over any distance is only possible with the performance that dedicated bandwidth can provide.

The promises of the Information Highway will come true only when people can economically deliver this power to every desktop. Switching is one of the key components that will make that happen. ■

John Bryan is a freelance technology writer and consultant based in San Jose. California. You can reach him on BIX c/o "editors."

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Power Macintosh is a trademark ol Apple Computer, Inc IBM is a registered trademark and PowerPC, the PowerPC logo. PowerPC 601. PowerPC 603, PowerPC 604. PowerPC 620, RISC System/6000 and IBM Microelectronics are trademarks of the International Business Machines Corporation. © 1994 IBM Corp.

At a certain point, everyone understands the benefits of RISC over CISC.

Update

In July, we shipped our one millionth PowerPC 601 microprocessor, after just ten months of production.

In the debate over which microprocessor technology is best for today's emerging computing needs, there's one point on which everyone can agree.

It's the one in the middle of the chart to your left. And what it illustrates is that, over time, microprocessors powered by RISC technology will outperform those driven by 15-year-old CISC architecture.

That's vital news for everyone who makes or uses personal computers. Because the fact is, it takes the extraordinary processing power of RISC chips like our PowerPC family to drive today's and tomorrow s leading-edge computers and software. Which makes possible such innovative applications as realtime voice dictation, wireless networks, voice and handw riting recognition, and full-screen, full-motion multimedia, to name a few.

Some of these startling capabilities are already at work in advanced PCs and workstations. Two acclaimed examples are IBM's RISC System/6000 workstation and Apple's Power Macintosh series, both powered by our PowerPC 601. Smaller, faster and less expensive to produce than non-RISC chips, the 601 makes it possible lor these systems to run faster than CISC-based models. \et cost roughly the same.

Of course, all these advantages are hardly accidental. The fact is, because RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) processors carry only the most frequently used instructions, they offer streamlined performance levels that CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing) chips simply can't match. Specifically, the simpler instructions implemented in RISC processors are typically executed in one system clock cycle, while CISC instructions often take five or even fifty system clock cycles to execute. The result is that the average number of system clock cycles per instruction in RISC typically eliminates advantages touted by CISC manufacturers.

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State of the Art

Digital Remote Access

Digital phone links are finally becoming more widely available and fast enough to link

remote LANs and workstations. Frame Relay, Switched 56, and ISDN are the services to look for.

JEFFREY FRITZ

Remote access to enterprise networks used to be in the same class with caviar, expensive limousines, and upperclass beach resorts—a luxury available only to a privileged few. Because connections to corporate computing services from offices or homes required a fair amount of engineering by the telephone company and MIS, they were neither easy nor cheap. Changes required issuing phone company work orders and were frequently out of the question. Eventually, even making new connections became difficult, as unused copper pairs in the telephone company's cables became scarce.

In addition, you needed a dedicated terminal to access corporate information systems; this equipment was installed in corporate offices and perhaps a few remote locations but was too expensive to place in employees' homes.

Today, as corporations move away from mainframe-based systems and onto LANs, terminals are being replaced by personal computers. PCs and LANs facilitate remote access to computing resources but don't, by themselves, solve the problems of remote connectivity. The key that unlocked the door to the remote office was the arrival of affordable, reliable digital telecommunications services coupled with inexpensive network hardware. A variety of digital telecommunications services now support remote connections to enterprise networks. Among the most common are Frame Relay, ISDN, Switched 56, and Tl.

Frame Relay Initially designed as a barrier service for ISDN (which in turn was originally intended to be the front-end access to WAN [wide-area networks] and metropolitan Frame Relay networks), Frame Relay has become an independent technology based on the X.25 protocol. Normally, X.25 incorporates extensive error checking at every node in the circuit. Frame Relay's assuming operation over reliable

State of the Art

Digital Remote Access

THE ANALOG ALTERNATIVE

rccess to digital services yet Several tele

ticularly smaller, independent

implement digital-based services. Even in the larger RBOCs (regional Bell operating companies), digital deployment is spotty. Many users are located too far from the central office to be eligible for digital service.

vices in their area. A variety of protocols have modem-based remote

being equipped with PPP or SLIP capabilities that support

these protocols add si

than 9600 bps—should be used for the conSome vendors are building remote-network access protocols into their products. Apple's AppleTalk Remote Access allows a remote Mac to dial into an AppleTalk network. Network modems, such as the Shiva NetModem, allow to AppleTalk and Novell networks.

Protocols such as SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol) or PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) are intended for remote TCP/IP network access. Terminal servers, bridges, and routers are

be a perfectly viable alternative if digital services are unavailable or too expensive.

digital links, removed the error checking to provide greater efficiency.

ISDN Most RBOCs (regional Bell operating companies—the offspring of the AT&T breakup) have considered ISDN to be, in one form or another, the mainstay of their residential and business telecommunications services. The problem is, they kept ISDN a secret, which has delayed its deployment and also confused users. The carriers generally believe that ISDN can meet the voice, video, and data needs of almost every user.

ISDN comes in two primary flavors: BRI (Basic Rate Interface) and PRI (Primary Rate Interface). BRI ISDN offers what's called a 2B+D service (i.e., it has two 64-Kbps B [barrier) channels and one 16-Kbps D [data] channel). PRI, at least in North America, has 23 B channels and one D channel; all PRI channels are 64 Kbps. Each B channel can support simultaneous and independent voice, video, or data connections. Therefore, one BRI can support voice plus two data calls; voice, video, and data; or multiple data calls. The choice is up to the user.

It's becoming easier to order ISDN, but it's far from one-stop shopping. Recently. I attempted to get rates from Bell Atlantic for an ISDN business connection. It took three separate calls to two different Bell

126 BYTE SEPTEMBER 1994

Atlantic sales agencies before I had the information in hand—and I knew exactly what I wanted. I pity the poor user who doesn't know what to ask for.

Digital 56-Kbps Service Older than ISDN, digital 56-Kbps service is still popular. It comes in two varieties: dedicated and switched. Dedicated 56 is a hard-wired serv ice configured much like older copper circuits. Changes require work orders and several days. As with ISDN, Switched 56 can place calls to a variety of destinations. The user dials the connection, uses the service, and then hangs up.

Switched 56 service has its flaws, including an intolerably long call-setup time. The telephone carriers' in-band signaling systems can set up only one node at a time. If multiple nodes are needed, setup can take a considerable amount of time (e.g., a coast-to-coast connection can take more than 13 seconds and in-state calls aren't much faster). This long delay is deadly to most network applications, which are likely to time out well before the connection is completed.

Digital 56-Kbps service provides connectivity, but it's expensive. Generally. 56-Kbps service costs more than ISDN and offers less than half the bandwidth and half the channels of a BRI. In some cases, 56-Kbps service can be nearly as expensive

as Tl service. As a result, it is rarely used for residential connections.

Tl The digital mainstay for corporate networks, Tl service has a bandwidth of 1.544 Mbps and is commonly used to connect various enterprise network sites. A variant, called Fractional Tl is related to ISDN's PRI service; it breaks the Tl pipe into multiple channels. Tl lines are expensive and thus are rarely run to home offices and small businesses.

Personal Bridges

The appearance of low-cost network devices is radically changing the deployment of digital services. Until recently, bridging or routing equipment was expensive. Connecting a remote site required two bridges and a pair of CSU/DSU (channel service unit/data service unit) devices, or, for ISDN, a pair of terminal adapters. The total cost of all this gear was well over $3(),(KX)—far more than is to be spent for a single user.

Today, full-featured ISDN Ethernet bridges, as well as internal PC cards that serve as bridges or routers, are available for under $2000. Single-user, "personal" bridges can be found for around $5(X)—not much more than a high-speed analog modem costs—and that includes everything you require on the remote side, except for the PC, NIC (network interface card), and network software. This is a costeffective way to connect homes and small businesses to the corporate or university enterprise.

Ramming 10 Mbps Down a 128-Kbps Pipe

It's important to maximize the efficiency of slower-speed digital links used for remotenetwork access. And let's face it, even 128 Kbps is slow when compared to typical network bandwidths.

We've all seen what happens during a heavy storm when rainfall exceeds the capacity of the storm drains—the streets get flooded and dangerous. The same holds for interLAN connections. LAN bandwidth is typically 10 Mbps for Ethernet and 4 to 16 Mbps for token ring. ISDN's 64-Kbps channel achieves only a fraction of those speeds and, at first glance, seems inadequate for connecting networks.

In practice, this isn't really a problem. Although 100 users may share a 10-Mbps Ethernet network, each uses only a fraction of the available capacity. The entire bandwidth of a 64-Kbps ISDN link, however, can be devoted to a single user. In addition,

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State of the Art

Digital Remote Access

not all network traffic needs to use the slower-speed link. Most LAN traffic remains local. Only traffic going from one LAN to another crosses the link, and this is typically only a small percentage of the total. Keeping local traffic local is the reason you connect networks with bridges or routers in the first place.

Also, many existing network devices themselves—repeaters, bridges, concentrators, and NICs—act as bottlenecks to network speeds. Tests performed on production LANs at West Virginia University indicate that, on a lOBase-T Ethernet, user throughput is typically no more than 700 Kbps. On a busy Ethernet or on one using slower NICs, actual user throughput can drop to around 300 Kbps. Using data compression, ISDN bridges can provide throughput greater than 210 Kbps. Thus, the apparent difference in bandwidth isn't nearly as marked as it first appears.

West Virginia University has networks in which 50 users are connected through a single 64-Kbps ISDN channel. Because the users perform interactive work (primarily database lookups) rather than file transfers, their traffic requirements are relatively light. The connection is so efficient that the users can't tell whether they are connected through ISDN or directly to the remote network.

Bandwidth management is the key to successful operation of digital links. Suppose n requirements

change—for example, additional remote workstations are added or a remote workstation begins performing highly dataintensive tasks—and the single 64-Kbps connection no longer provides enough bandwidth. To support users' needs, you simply add bandwidth to the connection in the form of additional B channels.

ISDN network devices can aggregate multiple B channels into one virtual channel. For example, many ISDN Ethernet bridges combine the two BRI B channels to provide 128 Kbps of aggregate bandwidth. This is achieved behind the scenes, using techniques such as Multilink or BONDing (bandwidth on demand). Multilink is a software-based method for adding channels to the network connection. BONDing does much the same thing in hardware. It is more expensive and takes longer to set up or change than Multilink, but it has found favor in videoconferencing applications. Whether Multilink or BONDing is used, the result is the same—bandwidth is added as required. Users and network applications are none the wiser; all they see is a wider data-throughput path.

Multilink and BONDing are dynamic. If one channel is sufficient, only one channel is used. When the link needs to pass more traffic, the network device places more calls and adds channels as needed. When traffic demand falls off, the extra channels are dropped. Thus at any given moment, the network is using

only the number of channels it requires to handle the traffic across the link. This minimizes connection costs.

Filtering

One of the most important ways to equalize digital connections with higher-speed LANs is filtering, the elimination of unwanted network traffic. For an enterprise network operating with a wide variety of protocols, filtering can add up to 30 percent more effective bandwidth. If you don't need to transport multiple protocols across the link, it's better to filter them out on the enterprise side of the network.

Networks frequently contain multicast and broadcast packets, which are bad news for a narrow-bandwidth network connection. They consume considerable bandwidth and, in many cases, represent superfluous traffic. Every network device receives multicast and broadcast traffic, and many devices generate it. On a large network, this represents a lot of traffic that isn't necessarily relevant to the remote user. A server on the enterprise LAN may simply be looking for a local client when it sends out multicast or broadcast packets. These quickly add up and, on a large network, can become quite numerous. This isn't much of a problem on a 1.544-Mbps Tl link, but it can make a big difference for slower links like ISDN. There have been cases of networks with over 128 Kbps in multicast traffic alone

While filtering can significantly reduce multicast and broadcast traffic, be careful not to eliminate them without first analyzing whether network services will be adversely affected. Some network protocols actually require broadcast or multicast traffic. For example, a network can age out a remote workstation that hasn't been heard from in a while. If there is subsequent traffic for that workstation, the ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) won't find it in the device table entries, and the network may have to send out a broadcast. Also, if broadcasts are carelessly filtered to the remote workstation, the network won't be able to locate the workstation.

Although not used as often as protocol filtering, address filtering can prevent packets from reaching particular devices on either side of the network. This might improve performance or add security options.

Security for Remote Access

There is an increased risk of unauthorized activity any time network access is given to more people. This problem is parti

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State of the Art

Digital Remote Access

cularly acute with dial-up connections. Unless appropriate controls are in place, anyone can dial into the network.

Remote network devices typically provide some form of security. The most common methods are 1CL1D (Incoming Caller Identification) and authentication. Digital services such as ISDN can automatically supply the telephone number of the calling party. Network devices can check the ICLID before accepting the call to determine if the call is coming from a legitimate user. If the number isn't recognized, the call is rejected. This simple security procedure isn't foolproof. It won't work if the call originates at a location that doesn't issue the calling telephone number, and it can be fooled by using call forwarding to route the connection through a second number.

A better method of implementing security employs user authentication. Here the remote bridge sends a password or a random number called a challenge, depending on which authentication scheme is used. The network bridge compares the password with a stored string or performs a computation on the challenge. If they match, the user is authenticated and given access to the network.

A separate authentication bridge can be used. As can be seen from the figure "Authentication at the Bridge," the authentication bridge accepts calls from remote users. It verifies that the call originated from a legitimate bridge. The authentication bridge then finds an open bridge in the network bridge bank, instructs the open bridge to call the remote user back, and drops the original call from the user. This arrangement not only provides security but also makes it possible to perform call billing and charge-backs from a central location. (For a more complete discussion of network security issues and available control measures, see "Distributed and Secure," June BYTE.)

You Can't Get There from Here

The network side of the remote LAN connection is important. Digital services are of little value if there isn't anything to connect to on the other side. It's one thing to install an ISDN, Switched 56, or Frame Relay line. It's quite something else to provide real connectivity through the digital network. Whether it's the corporate comput

130 BYXE SHPTHMBER 1994

ing system, the Internet, or the Nil (National Information Infrastructure), there must be a destination to connect to on the enterprise side. For the Internet and the Nil in particular, many questions are yet unanswered: Who will provide network access? How will they do it? At what cost?

How to coordinate network access is an increasingly hot issue. If normal telephone service was like these digiions, I would first send you a letter asking

you what kind of phone you have. I need to know because my phone will only work with equipment that is from the same manufacturer. If your equipment is different from mine, we can't talk.

Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? Unfortunately, this situation is very common in remote-network access. Before we can connect, I must know the answers to a number of important technical questions: What equipment do you have—a bridge or a router? What vendor made the equipment? Which network protocol or protocols should be used? Can your phone network connect to my network? What network addresses can I use? Gathering all this information from every network you want to connect to would be a nightmare. This is a big problem with ISDN, which has many different flavors that don't all interoperate.

Happily, Bellcore, the research arm of the RBOCs, has developed a standard that addresses some of these issues. Called NISDN (National ISDN), it provides for a series of progressive interconnection standards for ISDN voice and data services. Currently, N-ISDN 1 and N-ISDN 2 have been widely accepted by switch vendors and service providers. Work continues on an even more robust version. N-ISDN 3, which is planned to be the final iteration.

Many vendors realize that interoper

ability is critical to sales. The Enterprise Network Data Interconnectivity Family of NIU-F (the North American ISDN User's Forum) will soon release an interoperability agreement that will allow any vendor's bridge to talk to any other vendor's bridge. A similar agreement will cover router-to-router communications. (Sorry, no router-to-bridge agreements yet—unless your router can pretend to be a bridge.) These won't resolve all the interoperability issues, but they're a good start. With full device interoperability, national and international standards, and a simplified way to order digital lines, plug-and-play networking may yet be possible.

Packet Resequencing

Moving data between networks presents another interesting problem. Consider a network in Washington, D.C, that is linked via a multiple-channel connection to an enterprise network in New York City (see the figure "Split Telephone Routing"). The telephone network directs the call on channel two over a fiber route directly to New York. But the phone system sends the channel-one connection via a satellite link that goes through Cincinnati before it reaches New York. Strange as this sounds, it happens all the time. Two calls placed one right after the other may routinely be given very different routings. The routes aren't necessarily short, either; the telephone company network uses least-cost, not shortest-length, algorithms for routing call connections.

With the link in place, the Washington bridge is ready to send its traffic. The table "Putting Packets in Order" shows the sequence in which packets are placed on the two channels and the order in which they arrive at the destination. As the table shows, the bridge alternates channels, putting the first packet on channel one and the second on channel two. However, because of the longer transmission delay on channel one. packet number two will arrive well before packet number one. In fact, for much of the transmission. New York will see two packets arrive from channel two for every one that arrives from channel one. A very nasty situation.

Some network protocols (e.g., TCP/IP) aren't bothered by packets that arrive out of sequence; they just rearrange them in the proper order. Other protocols may

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State of the Art

Digital Remote Access

PUTTING PACKETS IN ORDER

Splitting messages into separate packets sent along parallel routes with different transmission times may mean that they arrive out of order and thus require resequencing.

INPUT PACKET

PLACED

ARRIVAL PACKET

OUTPUT PACKET

COMMENTS

ON CHANNEL

SEQUENCE

(RESEQUENCES

B1 B2 B1

2

HHHHI

Waiting for packet 1s arrival.

2

3

B2

•

5 B1 8 Delay waiting for packet 3's arrival.

6

B2

3

3

7 8 9 10

B1 B2

10

5.

7

11 •

Packet 5 delivered just in time Now all packets have arrived.

B1 B2

6

8

B1 transmission

delay = 2 x B2

10

come unglued, however. Their designers simply never considered the possibility that networks would be connected by multiple links that can deliver packets out of sequence.

There are two ways to deal with this problem. One is to place each protocol on a single link. Routers, even when using multiple channels, allow protocols to be delivered on a single channel. If there are three protocols on the network, it uses a separate channel for each.

Resequencing the packets is more elegant, because it allows multiple links to exist behind the scenes, increasing bandwidth for all protocols. Any protocol's packets are sent over multiple links and then reassembled in sequence on the other side before being handed over to the remote LAN. This fools the protocol into believing it has a higher-bandwidth connection operating over a single link. And that makes every protocol happy. Many bridge and router products designed for digital links include internal algorithms that resequence the packets before releasing them to the network.

Whose Network Am I on Now?

Network protocols use numerical address schemes to determine where to send traffic. Each device on the network must have a unique network address, expressed as a number. If a computer runs multiple protocols, such as TCP/IP, IPX, and AppleTalk, it may require multiple addresses.

Addresses are generally associated with the network that the computer is connected to. With dial-on-demand, however, remote users may need to connect to mul

132 BVTK SI I'i I \llil l< P

tiple networks. They may link up with the corporate LAN to complete some work and then connect to a regional network to pass E-mail.

This can present problems, because the network addressing numbers and naming conventions will change from network to network. The address that was correct for the first network is wrong for the second. This is dangerous: bat! addresses can wreak havoc on enterprise networks. They can confuse network devices, cause conflicts, generate additional traffic, and cause remote-user and network problems as devices argue over which naming convention or address number is really correct. Unfortunately, network numbers aren't easy to change; it usually means fiddling with a configuration file, something the casual user cannot and should not be expected to do.

The problem of network number assignments for dial-in users has yet to be solved. Until it is, you should be careful when connecting to multiple networks.

Bridge Loops

It's all too easy to create bridge loops. Suppose an office in Cambridge. Massachusetts, uses a bridge to connect to its corporate enterprise network across the rivet in Boston. A second bridge connects Cam bridge to an office in Framinghan miles away. One day, the folks in F ingham enhance their communications byinstalling a bridge link between Framing ham and Boston. Unfortunately, neither they nor the Boston office mentions this to the Cambridge office. A triangle now exists from Boston to Cambridge to Fram

ingham and back to Boston. Packets travel merrily around this loop, never dying. Because bridges don't expect to encounter a loop topology, they usually contain no intelligence to remove packets from the network. Therefore, the packets will travel forever around the circle. This condition is called looping, and it can be serious. Bridge loops can easily generate enough excess traffic to bring down an enterprise network.

A protocol called Spanning Tree can overcome this problem. Unfortunately, many remote bridges don't support Spanning Tree because it adds cost and complexity. In addition, it adds more traffic to the link.

Since remote bridge calls can be connected and dropped at will, bridge loops are difficult to spot. Network managers have to be extremely careful to coordinate their network topologies to avoid bridge loops. Fortunately, this is seldom a problem for networks using routers, which can deal with parallel routes and looping without difficulty.

Making the Connections

Despite these problems, digital services are now a viable means of providing remote LAN access. Generally, the most inexpensive form of digital telecommunications is ISDN. After years of unfulfilled promises and delays, it looks as if ISDN is finally beginning to flourish. A number of RBOCs have announced "ISDN Anywhere" programs that allow you to order ISDN services even if your local phone company's central office isn't equipped to provide it.

Clearly, our world is changing. Today there is more reason than ever to tie homebased and traveling workers to the corporate umbilical cord. Full network-service capabilities allow efficient and effective work to be done in remote offices, on the road, or at home. Digital communications services are—at long last—ready to provide remote access to a wide variety of networks. ■

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Afv thanks to Robert Downs of Combinet for his assistance with this article.

Jeffrey Frit: is a leleummnmi, alums engineer responsible for the design and management of data communications for West Virginia University, including its ISDN Applications Lab. He is the author of Sensible ISDN Data Applications IWVU Press. 1992). He can be reached on the Internet at jfritz@wvnvm.wvnet.edu or on BIX c/o "editors."

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The Tattered Cover Longmont

United Techbook Co.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Washington, D.C.

Reiter's Scientific &L Technical Books GEORGIA Atlanta

Oxford Bookstore HAWAII

Honolulu

Honolulu Book Shops Ltd. ILLINOIS

Champaign T I S Bookstore Chicago

University of Chicago Bookstore

Naperville

Books & Bytes

Rockford

Media Play

MAINE

Magazines Inc. MASSACHUSETTS

Boston

Boston University Bookstore Waterstone's Booksellers

SoftPro Cambridge Harvard COOP MIT Coop New Bedford Bay Colony News Watertown Words Worth Westborough The Open Book

NEBRASKA

Nebraska Bookstore NEW HAMPSHIRE

Contoocook

Yankee Book Peddler

NEW JERSEY

Newark

Newark Book Center Princeton

Princeton University Store

NEW YORK

Cornell University Campus Store

New York City

Coliseum Books

Computer Book Works

Mount Sinai Bookstore

New York University Bookstore

Rochester

Total Information Syracuse

Orange Student Bookstore

OHIO

Beachwood Wit & Wisdom Dayton

Books and Company OREGON

Portland

Conant & Conant Booksellers Powells Books

PENNSYLVANIA

Bethlehem

Lehigh University Bookstore

Montgomeryville

Atlantic Book Shop

rmutaetpma

University of Pennsylvania Bookstore TEXAS

University Co-op Society Dallas

Taylor's Ltd. WASHINGTON

Seattle

University of Washington Bookstore

WISCONSIN

Madison

University of Wisconsin Bookstore Milwaukee Harry W. Schwartz B

Osborne^

Get Answers - Get Osborne For Arrnrarv. Oi.alirv and Value

EXCEED 4: THE NEW GENERATION OF PC-TO-UNIX INTEGRATION SOFTWARE.

New eXceed 4 is different, because to us, PC-to-UNIX integration is more than just file and print services, and more than just X-terminal emulation. It means delivering the power of the network to your PC's desktop, and eXceed 4 for WindoiK is the only integrated suite of PC-to-UNIX software built to do just that.

Listen to what's in eXceed 4 for Windows:

O A performance optimized 32-bit PC X server. © Simple one-step, no-pain installation, making eXceed 4 easier to use than anything you've seen before.

Built-in eXceed BASIC, so you can write scripts to customize and automate repetitive tasks. © VxD-based TCP/IP network software.

Q Dial-up X, point

1 and-click I Windows \ access to \ X over [ standard \ telephone

lines. I A proven and powerful X Development Kit that lets you easily develop X clients.

■m

I keyboard mapper, transport I activity monitor, Xtrace debugger and Launch Pad.

In fact, everything you've I asked for - for adminstration, for use, for development is included in new eXceed 4 for Windows.

At Hummingbird, our goal in PC X server technology is to be either first...or first.

Hummingbird was first to implement PC X servers for both DOS and Windows. We were first with Windows NT and OS/2, and first with Xpress, the fastest dial-up access to X over standard phone lines.

The most advanced suite of Network Administration tools in the industry. Tools that can drastically reduce the cost of maintaining PC-to-UNIX connectivity software.

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once again we're first: With the best PC-to-UNIX connectivity package which gives you all you need to work more efficiently and control costs better.

theX-WindowV

Software Roundup

Remote-Control Windows

Reviews

NSTL evaluates six programs that let you control your PC remotely

Remote-control programs are a special category of communications application. They go beyond just connecting with another computer to actually taking control of it. Connecting through phone lines and modems or through LAN connections, these programs can put all the resources of one PC, usually called the host, at the disposal of a remote user's computer. The local PC screen (the remote or viewer) duplicates the host PC's screen: The keyboard enters characters directly to the host PC, and the mouse moves the host PC's mouse pointer. The local screen constantly receives data from the host PC screen, detailing every change in status. Likewise, the keyboard sends data to the host PC every time a key is hit. For all practical purposes, the remote user may as well be sitting in front of the host PC.

In the early days of remote-control software, most of us used these programs to access our office systems from home PCs. You could leave your office PC and modem on with the remote-control program running in host mode. You could then call in and take control from the home PC, perhaps running Excel to update a spreadsheet file or using Freelance Graphics to create charts. You could also transfer files from your office to your home PC. Companies could also provide technical support for PCs at remote sites via modem. Technicians could take control of a problem PC at a remote site, view the problem directly, and fix it without spending hours on the phone or traveling to the site.

to dial in (via modem) to a network-connected PC at the office, log in, and run network applications or update shared files on the network. Technical-support use of remote control has expanded to include connecting directly through the company LAN. Helpdesk personnel on the sixth floor of an office building can now use remote control through

the network to fix a problem on an executive's PC on the eighteenth floor.

The Windows Connection

As Windows has grown in popularity, the demands made on remote-control communications have increased. A graphical interface such as Windows works with many times more screen data than older DOS interface programs—screen data that has to travel continuously over a relatively slow modem connection. Even with the faster modems now available, the response time for Windows applications over remote-control connections was not acceptable until remote-control programs written specifically for Windows emerged.

This report evaluates the six remotecontrol programs most widely used for running Windows applications. Carbon Copy for Windows, CoSession for Windows, Norton pcAnywhere for Windows, and ReachOut Remote Control arc Windows applications that have taken over from previous DOS-based versions. Remotely Possible was introduced originally in Windows form. Close-Up is the sole DOS application we tested. Even though it is not Windows-based, it runs Windows applications and is positioned in direct competition with the other programs. For this issue, we did not consider programs that do not connect via modem.

Smart Screen Refresh

The bottleneck caused by modems can have a significant effect on the speed of

remote-control operations. For the LAN versions of these programs, performance would be affected by the speed of a session link between two LAN workstations rather than a modem; however, since networks are many times faster than modems, this review concentrates on performance of remote control via modems.

To boost performance, remote-control programs try to minimize the amount of data that needs to be transmitted. In the past, remote control worked by sending and refreshing the entire image of the host PC's screen to the remote PC every fraction of a second. The constant rate at which the screen images were sent to the remote PC was called the screen refresh rate. The remote PC's screen accurately reflected the host PC's screen as changes at the host PC would be included in the next screen refresh.

Many times, a change is limited to a small section of the screen (e.g., moving the mouse pointer an inch, pulling down a menu, or highlighting an object), and only the changed data needs to be refreshed. The remote system can use the screen data it already has and just refresh the unchanged parts of the screen. By cutting out redundant screen-refresh data, a remotecontrol program can greatly increase the response time.

Smart screen refresh is implemented in one form or another in Close-Up, CoSession, pcAnywhere, ReachOut Remote Control, and Remotely Possible. It is not a standardized feature, which is to say that

OVERVIEW

/ &/

¥/

/*///£/ i/i ih

KEY

ReachOut Remote Control CoSession for Windows

4.0 1 0c

$199 $199

$199

**** Excelle

Close-Up

6.0

** Below average * Poor

**

Norton pcAnywhere for Windows

Carbon Copy for Windows Remotely Possible/Dial

1 0

2.0

■ ■

A ■

A

A

A

■

A

A

$199

$199 $199

A Good ▼ Unacce

stable

I

SEPTEMBER 1994 BYTE 137

Reviews

Software Roundup

some of the programs appear to filter out more redundant screen data than do others.

Caches speed the performance of hard drives and memory chips, and they also work well for remote-control programs. The idea behind a cache is to keep recently used data in a temporary storage area that is quickly accessible. If the data is soon needed again, it is much quicker to access it from the fast-access temporary storage area than to retrieve it from the original source. So, elements of a recently displayed screen are saved as a cache in extended memory. If the remote user returns to a recently displayed screen, the entire page redraws from the remote PC's screen cache, eliminating the need to transfer large amounts of data over the modem from the host. Screen elements that are often redrawn from a screen cache include bit maps, text, and fonts.

All the tested programs use caching to boost performance, although the effectiveness of the caching algorithms differs. The Page Redisplay performance test is a good example of a screen cache being employed to redraw a screen. Close-Up's Photographic Memory caching is especially effective.

Data transfer via modem is regulated by a communications protocol, which is a method for breaking the data stream into small packets and checking that each packet arrives intact. If a packet does not arrive intact (e.g., noise on the phone lines sometimes corrupts an individual packet), the protocol interrupts the data flow and resends the damaged packet.

Each of the remote-control programs

Highlights

Strengths

•—

Very easy to learn Excellent manual

No remote printing No inactivity disconnect

Fastest page redisplay Fastest remote printing

winTn?fiiesa,'°n °'system and

Very limited on-line help No background file transfers No support of SVGA resolutions over 800 x 600 pixels

CoSession

Fastest transfer of graphics file

Setup features somewhat difficult Slowest remote printing

Fastest overall file transfer times Largest number of programming

Best on-line help system

Slowest page-redisplay times No utility for modem customization No password encryption

Fastest program overall Most versatile program No modification of system.ini and win.ini files

No message on a connection loss Limited script programming

Best quality overall

Bidirectional file transfer

Fastest transfer of compressed files

Lowest overall usability No programming features Slowest performance overall

tested uses a proprietary transfer protocol, and the efficiency of the protocol has a significant effect on the speed of data transfers between modems. Packet size and error-checking methods can speed or slow data transfers, depending on how they are set. Larger packets, for example, provide better performance when there is little

Callbacks Required

Disallow Prompts on Callbacks C-i' Ed* Enable Temporary Password I (w°ld*

Reboot on Disconnect [rTi File Transfer Access |Full

|N0

1*1

|Full

1*]

Enable Audit Log

Disallow Printer Redirection

Intruder Guard

Virus Checking on File Transfer Disable Remote Clipboard

S3

53

noise on the phone lines, because the protocol need not resend corrupted incoming packets. But they hurt performance when there are higher levels of noise on the phone lines, because the larger packets take more time to be retransmitted. Some protocols pause as each packet is checked; others do not pause, or pause less often, allowing an almost continuous transmission and providing significantly better performance. Again, with noisy phone-line conditions, this method can actually hurt performance.

Another feature employed to improve performance, specifically during file transfers, is to compress files as they are sent and uncompress them at the receiving system. Depending on the level of compression that can be attained, the time saved overall is more than worth the time it takes to compress and decompress the file. Carbon Copy, Close-Up, CoSession, pcAnywhere. and ReachOut Remote Control all use file compression.

If the file will not compress, the time spent trying to compress it is wasted and slows performance. NSTL's File Transfer performance test illustrates this point. In this test, a compressed file is transferred

Outstanding.

Call us to find out more about how Hardlock can provide your masterpiece with the security it

Once in a while, something is created that goes above and beyond the ordinary. Something better than the rest. In the realm of copy protection locks, the Hardlock™

copy protection system rises above the others in securing your applications against unauthorized use. Hardlock is the only lock that uses a programmable algorithm, far more complex to decode than simplyreading the contents of a memory chip. Hardlock also features selectable anti-debugging and reverse engineering protection as well as protection against hardware emulators, which no other lock has.

Security. Quality. Technology. Hardlock is state of the art.

For DOS, Windows, Windo ws NT, OS/2, Unix, Xenix, PES Single User, Network, CD-ROM Applications and More

For a distributor in Europe contact FAST Electronic GmbH, Tel: 49-89-53 98 00-20 Fax: 49-89-53 98 00-40 • In Brazil contact HT-MACH. Tel: 55-21 -257-0314 Fax: 55-21-235-6808 •In Cbile contact Datasoft S A, Tel: 562-246-7443 Fax: 562-208-0591 - In Peru contact V.C.H.I., Tel: 51-14-440537 FBC 51-14-475984 •In Mexico contact D C. Computacion, Tel: 611-43-41, Fax: 611-46-41

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Software Protection ■ Data Security lorselure Phone 708-808-0300 ■ Fax 708-808-0313 SSSS

Reviews

Software Roundup

twice, once with file compression enabled and another time with it disabled. Carbon Copy, pcAnywhere, and ReachOut all have faster times with the feature disabled.

CoSession and Close-Up appear able to turn off compression when transferring a compressed file and so achieve the same time for both tests.

Remotely Possible doesn't compress files, but it benefits from external compression because the V-series v.42 modems we use for testing compress data automatically.

CARBON COPY CLOSE UP COSESSION NORTON PCAHVWHERE REACHOUT REMOTELY FOR WINDOWS FOR WINDOWS FOR WINDOWS REMOTE CONTROI^ POSSIBLE/DIAL

Load host program in upper memory

•

•

• •

•

Unload host without rebooting

•

•

o •

o

o

o

•

•

Exit to DOS on host

•

•

• •

No modification of system.ini or win.ini

o

o

•

o

TSR not required for

•

O

•

•

Operating-system support

DOS4.0x ^^^^^^^^^^^

•

•

• •

DOS 5.0

•

•

• •

DOS 6.0 or higher

•

•

• •

HKMHM

• •

DOS/Windows 3.1

•

•

®

• • ■■■■■■■■■■

®

®

®

®

®

OS/2 2.0

®

®

®

■■■■LVHHHTHi

®

OS/22.1X ® ® ® ® ® ®

Modems and optimization

Remote uses screen-refresh data only

•

Remote uses "smart" screen-refresh data

only O

•

DTE rates to 115.2 Kbps

•

Operates at 230.4 Kbps (DTE)

■MEBB

v.32bis high-speed modems

•

v.42bis compression modems

•

Compression algorithm

•

o

DOS graphics

SVGA 800- x 600-pixel resolution

•

•

SVGA 1024- x 768-pixel resolution • 0 • • • •

Remote at higher resolution than host • ® • • • •

Host at higher resolution than remote • (D © • • •

SVGA 1280- x 1024-pixel resolution

mm

Security

User passwords • • • • • •

Setup screen password

Password encryption • • • • •

Data encryption O • •

Host can place initial call • • • • • •

Disable host screen/keyboard/mouse • • • • • 5

Disable remote screen/keyboard/mouse

O

Remote initiates host reboot

•

Inactivity disconnect

• 0 • "~'v

Lock out remote directory access

o

o

o ©

Intruder notification

HHMK3HI

■HOB

SffiOHHI

o •

Virus checking

o

®

o

•

• = yes; O - no.

2 May run as a Windows session, not as a natr. ® Higher-resolution PC drops to match lower re

e application, solution in Windows.

® If remote displa © At additional ch

® Checks its own

is EGA or better.

rge to comply with government encryptio cted to Windows access only.

140 BYTE SEPTEMBER 1994

Reviews

Software Roundup

CARBONC0P1

CLOSE-UP

COSESSION FOR WINDOWS

NORTON PCANYWHERE FOR WINDOWS

REACHOUT REMOTE CONTROL

REMOTELY POSSIBLE/DIAL

Host full file transfer control

•

o

•

O

Remote full file transfer control

•

•

•

•

Bidirectional file transfer

o

o

O

o

Background transfer

•

HKHM

•

•

Lock out remote file transfer

o

•

P

•

Lock out remote send function

•

•

Lock out remote receive function

•

o

Drag-and-drop transfer

•

•

•

0

Sort files by name

•

•

•

•

o

Sort files by date/time

•

o

O

•

•

o

Transfer prottcols

Proprietary

•

•

•

•

•

•

ZMODEM

•: o yv";

m

DMHM

•

•

o

YMODEM

o

o

o

•

•

o

XMODEM

o

•

o

•

•

o

o

o

o

•

•

o

ASCII

•

KMMkl

•

•

o

Others

0

•

o

o

o

o

Communications session

Remote can exit host Windows sessio

•

- •

•

•

•

Single voice and data line

•

•

•

o

Phone directory

•

•

•

•

•

User-definable dialing prefix

•

•

•

•

•

Software chat mode

•

•

•

•

•

Modem customization utility

•

•

mm

•

•

o

o

•

•

o

V-52 terminal emulation

MUM

•

o

IBM 3101 terminal emulation TTY terminal emulation

Other terminal emulations

O

o

Q •

o

o

O

O

• • •

0

•

•

o •

o

Programming

Editable macros

o

o

O

o

•

o

Learn mode for creating macros

O

RSMMMeI

p

o

Scripting language

•

•

®

o

Scripts prompt for user input

®

o

•

®

o

Step through scripts for debugging

o

o

o

Check scripts for syntax errors

•

•

o

o

o

•

o

o

Subroutines with parameters

o v i

• o

®

•

p.

o

DO ...WHILE loops

o

o

®

0

o

o

FOR...NEXT loops

.0 , ;;x....

o. , 1

®

O ":' :'

o

IF... THEN... ELSE statements

o

o

®

»

®

o

Case statements

, . 0

®

o

o

Event-triggered automated scripts

o

®

•

®

o

Time-triggered automated scripts

®

•

®

•

®

o

Script compiler

o

o

®

•

o

o

Display remote hardware information

o

o

o

o

•

o

Display host hardware information

O '

•

o

Display host/remote connection inform

ation O

o

•

o

•

o

Transaction logging

•

•

•

•

•

® Using macros to access Carbon Copy as ® During terminal emulation onty.

a DDE server.

0 Via add-on mo ® No ELSE.

142 BYTE SEPTEMBER 1994

We've Got Lots Of New Ways To Help You Show Your Stuff.

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They're easy on your pocketbook too. And not just because of their low initial price and two-year warranty. When "on" but inactive, power consumption goes down from 130 watts to less than 5 watts. Imagine the cost savings if you had ten monitors. Or a thousand.

■

For full-time low power, no radiation and even more versatility, check out our handsome, new LCD monitors.

Their active-matrix displays provide bright, sparkling color (and b/w) even when viewed from wide angles. They weigh less than six lb. and can even be wall mounted. For even bigger shows, our low-cost LCD projection panel can turn your whole wall into a computer monitor. It's flicker-free, shows millions of colors and comes complete with on-screen menus, freeze frame and enlargement capability, a patented overhead projector light blocker, wireless remote control and its own rugged carrying case.

More than one million CTX monitors were purchased by computer professionals in the USA last year. Call us today and find out why.

CTX

We just make great monitors.

For more information, contact the CTX regional office n

e USA

>n n:_'4J--,,

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(61998 Midwestern Region 500 Park Blvd., Ste. 295C, Itasca. IL 60143.708-r

Region 12251 Crosby Rd„ Ste. A21, Carrollton, TX 75006.214-4169610, Fax 214-2457447. emational, Inc. All brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Circle 80 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 81).

Reviews!

Software Roundup

0 5 10 15 20 25

Carbon Copy Close-Up CoSession pc Anywhere ReachOut Remote Remotely Possible

Average at 57.6 Kbps

,23m

>d by how well the

nt file types, be

er protocol and compression algorithm match with the format of the a two-page Word for Windows 6.0 document for the Remote Printing ar Page Redisplay tests. Pie Video Display tests measure the programs' speed displaying a series of I mostly) graphical files. We made every effort during the testing to optimize the performance of the programs. We conducted the tests at DTE speeds of 9600 bps and 57.6 Kbps. AD times are in seconds; shorter bars indicate be

Modem compression, however, generally doesn't match software compression.

Resolving Resolutions

When a remote user connects to a host PC, the assumption is that the screen data from the host PC will exactly fit in the screen of the remote PC. That assumption will be challenged if both screens are not at the same resolution. With Windows supporting resolutions of up to 1280 by 1024 pixels, one system may well be running in a higher resolution than the other. Most of the programs support a variety of SVGA resolutions (Close-Up supports up to only 800 by 600 pixels), and all allow PCs with differing screen resolutions to connect.

The programs handle different screen resolutions in several ways. Where the remote PC is at the higher resolution, the host PC's entire screen fits into a small window on the remote screen. If the remote PC is at the lower resolution, the host's screen will be too big for the remote's screen. The remote then displays one area of the host's screen, and you access the rest by scroll bars, mouse, or arrow keys. Close-Up takes a unique approach, forcing the higher-resolution PC to drop to the resolution level of the other PC. The other programs take approaches that are reasonably similar to each other. ReachOut, pcAnywhere, and CoSession have scroll bars for moving around the host screen; Remotely Possible uses the mouse and arrow keys. Carbon Copy brings up a small box to represent the other screen.

Security

User passwords and a master password for the host PC are good precautions against unauthorized access. User passwords are individual passwords that remote users must enter during the initial connection to the host. The master password limits access to the screen where all the other user passwords are edited. Without a master password, anyone with a user password could open the password table and memorize or change the other individual passwords. All six programs support both user passwords and a master password.

Automatic dial-backs are the next level of protection. A dial-back number is associated with each log-in name and password. When someone logs in, the call is disconnected and the host calls back a the designated callback number. This ketos an unauthorized user with someone else's password from connecting unless the call is made from the legitimate password holder's phone (where the callback is received).

continued

144 BYTE SEPTEMBER 1994

THE BEST OF ITALIAN SOFTWARE IS LOOKING FOR

DISTRIBUTORS WORLDWIDE!

EXTRACAD II

A powerful and flexible two-dimensional computer-assisted design program, with professional performance. As well as covering all manual design techniques, thanks to the speed and ease of design given by the program interface, I ICC CO

EXTRACAD II allows the U°T ° , execution of mechanical Sl'prick K° architectural, chemical, electronic and civil design,

„ ..." „ MS-DOS VERSION

as well as many others. Available

in several languages

EXTRAMATH

An excellent program for physics studies, divided into l-xperiments. Dictionary and Test. Initially it is possible to simulate physical models (with the possibility of altering boundary conditions) with result display both on video and on paper. The Dictionary functions allow easy search of the laws of kinematics. Finally, it is possible to cany out easy tests for sell evaluation.

Function calculation for Windows is a useful tool for the analysis of mathematical functions. The program allows the plotting of functions, the calculation and plotting of second differential and primitive functions (maxima, minima, flex points and zeroes), the calculation of limits defined integral functions and more,

MS-DOS VERSION

Available in several languages

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IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTOR IN IYALY, PLEASE CONTACT US

Reviews

Software Roundup

CoSesslon is a very strong program in nearly every category. Its speed is quite good, particularly in file transfer and video display tests, two very important performance categories. CoSession's feature set is extensive, and it will operate at a DTE rate of 230.4 Kbps, one of only two tested programs to do so. Some aspects of the program are

The dial-back feature should not be con- Carbon Copy, Close-Up. pcAnywhere. and

fused with a roving callback, which will ReachOut Remote Control support roving

call the remote user at any number. Roving callbacks.

callback is a convenience feature primar- Encryption is probably the ultimate level

ily used to reverse long-distance charges of security. Users worried about phone

incurred during a modem c six programs support automatic dial-backs;

line tapping or eavesdropping should choose a program with the ability to en

500 River Ridge Dr. Norwood, MA 02062 (617) 5511000 Circle 1078 on Inquiry Card.

Symantec Corp. 10201 Torre Ave. Cupertino, CA 95014 (408) 253-9600 Circle 1081 on Inquiry Card.

ReachOut Remote Control 4.0

P.O. Box 4085

Santa Barbara, CA 93140

(805) 964-6767

Circle 1079 on Inquiry Card.

CoSesslon for Windows 1.0c

Ocean Isle Software 1201 19th Place Vero Beach. FL 32960 (407) 770-4777 Circle 1082 on Inquiry Card.

Remotely Possible/Dial 4.0e

200 Middlesex Tnpk.

Avalan Technology, Inc.

P.O. Box 6888

116 Hopping Brook Pk.

Holliston, MA 01746

(508) 429-6482

Circle 1083 on Inquiry Card.

crypt the log-in password upon log-in, or even all the data during the connection. A line tap would be able to intercept only gibberish, because it would not have the encryption key needed to translate the gibberish back into meaningful data. All the programs except pcAnywhere support password encryption. Data encryption is supported by CoSession, ReachOut Remote Control, and Remotely Possible, but because of strict federal regulation of data encryption products, users should arrange with their software dealer to make sure it is included with their purchase.

Remote-Control Choices

Close-Up, with support for more than 600 modems, includes more than three times the drivers of any other program. It provides excellent performance when redisplaying a screen on the remote system, thanks to its built-in Photographic Memory caching. Users will find this especially useful when moving through a multipage document. Usability is hampered by the absence of on-line help throughout most of the program and the lack of icons and windows such as the other programs offer. Close-Up is notable for its ability to work with third-party virus-checking programs.

CoSession is a strong program in nearly every category. Its speed is quite good, particularly in file transfer and video display tests—two important performance categories. CoSession's feature set is extensive, and it will operate at a DTE rate of 230.4 Kbps, one of only two tested programs to do so. It has excellent on-line help, but some aspects of the program are difficult to learn.

No other program matches the allaround excellence of ReachOut Remote Control. It delivers in almost every category, with the fastest overall performance, the highest usability rating, and the most features. Testers unanimously rate it number one in the general usability evaluation. ReachOut also offers a built-in virus checker. With its optimal mix of performance and power, ReachOut should handily meet any remote-control needs. ■

This report contains the results of The Software Digest Ratings Report, a monthly publti atum from the Notional Software Testing Laboratories (NSTL). To obtain com

esullM

t NSTL I

5434). BYTE anil NS of McGraw-Hill. Inc

i, AW.

148 BYTK

Circle 288 on Inquiry Card.

If you work away from the office, or need to ^ provide remote support, get the product that's ideal in the field. ReachOut Remote Control. It supplies the power to remotely control any PC running Windows or DOS. From anywhere. To anywhere. View a remote PC's screen in one Window while working locally in another Window. Use ReachOut's exclusive Remote Clipboard to cut and paste data between the two. Transfer files at record breaking speeds. Even synchronized files

INFO

between two PCs.

WORLD

ReachOut has earned three major awards in the past 18 months. The latest being "Product of the Year" for 1994 from LAN Magazine. Which goes to show that ReachOut is one powerful networking tool. Info World proclaimed "ReachOut offers superb screen, mouse, and file transfer speeds and provides as

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I Hardware

Big, Fast IDE Drives

The first high-capacity IDE drives show a lot of promise, particularly if you have a local-bus system that supports them well

DAVID ESSEX

The need for fast, high-capacity hard drives has recently challenged the well-established popularity of the ATA (AT Attachment) interface used with IDE drives. The low cost and relative technical simplicity of IDE drives are little help when the data-storage requirements of workstations and multimedia machines push against a BIOSand DOS-imposed 528-MB capacity limit. Further, on local-bus systems, ATA's 2- to 3-MBps data-throughput rate is no match for the nominal 5- to 20-MBps rates of the SCSI bus, putting IDE at a speed disadvantage in multimedia environments.

To meet this challenge, last year hardware and system software makers began updating the ATA standard—pushed somewhat by an Enhanced IDE standard proposed by Western Digital (see "IDE Takes Off." March BYTE). Parts of Westem Digital's proposal relating to increased capacity (well beyond 528 MB) and higher ATA bus throughput were adapted by the SFF (Small Form Factor Committee), an ad hoc industry group. The resulting SFF proposal is now in the hands of ANSI, where it could pick up other enhancements, such as CD-ROM support, on its way to becoming known as the ATA-2 standard.

A few (540-MB) drives began implementing the SFF guidelines last year. This past spring and summer, larger, faster drives arrived, and they are the subject of this roundup. All offer burst data transfer rates over the ATA interface of at least 11.1 MBps. The performance story remains more complicated, however, as the data density of magnetic media, spin rates, and efficiency of read/write head movement continue to play major roles. The point is well illustrated by the varying throughput and seek speeds exhibited by the reviewed drives, which range in size from 540 MB to 1.08 GB.

In the Channel

The eight IDE drives reviewed here are representative of hard drive manufacturers' latest efforts to bring drive electronics up to speed with local-bus systems and improvements in the mechanical aspects

larger capacities is

of drive architecture. Standard ATA data transfers going over the typical ISA bus are limited to a bandwidth that cannot handle the faster stream of bits created by newer drives. Growing ever smaller, these drives have more densely packed platters with drive heads that are themselves getting smaller, lighter, and quicker, both mechanically and electronically. Even when matched with higher-throughput local-bus computers, IDE drives could not match SCSI rates, because the CPU's standard way of controlling throughput (called Processor I/O, or PIO) did not let it recognize when 100 percent of the shared local bus's bandwidth was available for data transfers.

The solution to faster PIO, implemented on all the reviewed drives, is called flowcontrol using lORDY (the I/O Channel Ready line on the ATA bus). Flow control lets the drive electronics regulate the CPU's data transfer functions so the drive can reliably communicate with the bus at higher speeds. The SFF has standardized new ATA timings using flow control (called PIO Mode 3) at 180 nanoseconds per cycle. The result, in theory, is maximum internal transfer rates, or burst rates, of up to 11.1 MBps. That translates into at least a doubling of effective data transfer rates, a result more or less borne out by the BYTE benchmark tests. I measured sustained buffer-to-host rates as high as 7 MBps.

An alternative method. Fast Multiword DMA, uses the computer's DMA con

left are the 1-GB Micropolis Taurus 4110A, the 1-GB IBM 0662 Model A10, the 540-MB Seagate STS660A, the Western Digital Caviar AC2540, the 728-MB IBM DSAA3720, and the 540-MB Quantum ProDrive LPS 540AT. Not included in the photo are Seagate's 1-GB ST31220A Medalist 1080 and Western Digital's 1-GB Caviar AC31000.

trailer instead of the CPU to handle data transfers between the drive and system memory. SFF defines Mode 1 DMA transfers to allow burst rates of up to 13.3 MBps, roughly equivalent to PIO Mode 3. (A new PIO Mode 4 offers burst rates of up to 16.6 MBps and shows up here only on the 1-GB IBM 0662 Model A10 and Seagate ST31220A, although systems weren't available at review time to support or test these rates.)

Faster throughput was not the only IDE improvement I hoped to observe in the tested drives. The SFF proposal provides two translation schemes that let DOSbased systems break the 528-MB barrier. The first, CHS, involves a simple translation between the slightly incongruous cylinder-head-sector parameters in the system BIOS and those in the drive firmware.

The second scheme, LBA (logical block address), translates the CHS information into a 28-bit address that can be used by the operating system, device driver, and drive interface. All the reviewed drives support the more advanced LBA standard, but they use the simpler CHS in older systems with BIOS code that doesn't support LBA. Many newer systems also support only CHS, because it's more difficult to modify a BIOS to support LBA. The CHS scheme has an upper capacity limit of 8.4 GB—enough for now.

Small size and energy efficiency are two more benefits common to these drives.

continued

l BYTE 151

Reviews

Big, Fast IDE Drives

None is more than 1 inch high; Seagate's 540-MB ST5660A is only 0.75 inch high (it's also smaller than the others in length and width). These reduced dimensions will allow computer manufacturers to continue downsizing system boxes. In addition, the drives all boast low wattages, helping to meet federal government procurement requirements specified in the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program.

Drive Testing

I used two PC systems to test the hard drives: a Compaq Deskpro XE 450 (50MHz 486DX2) and a Zeos Pantera (60MHz Pentium). Each system provided a built-in local-bus IDE connection and a BIOS that supports IDE drives larger than 528 MB. The Compaq was a year-old ISA system with a 170-MB Conner IDE drive; the Zeos was a more recent PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) design with a 425-MB Western Digital IDE drive. In both systems, the host drive was configured as an IDE master and the test drives as slaves, using the appropriate drive jumpers if necessary.

I used three tests: the file I/O parts of BYTE's low-level DOS benchmark. Quantum's QBench 1.30, and NSTL's PLATT (Page Level Availability Time Test) (see "Lab Report: 32 High-Speed Hard Drives," September 1993 BYTE). Each test takes its own read on the complexities of drive performance.

The BYTE file I/O test measures read and write I/O from the DOS file level. QBench works at the BIOS level, measuring sequential and random reads and writes. It produces a weighted average of access times and data transfer rates based on profiled DOS applications (65 percent

152 BTTS .SEPTEMBER 1994

sequential I/O, 35 percent random; 60 percent read, 40 percent write).

The NSTL PLATT benchmark is based on a profile of hard drive activity measured from Windows business applications running with Microsoft's SMARTDRV caching program. The access-time results from 12 tests, a mix of random and sequential read and write operations, are weighted and averaged according to the Windows profile. One part of the PLATT allows calculation of sequential throughput (dividing the 16-KB block size by the returned access time in milliseconds).

The age difference between the two test systems influenced drive installation and performance. While the Compaq automatically worked with the two Western Digital drives and the 1-GB Seagate, it required utility software such as OnTrack's Disk Manager (prov ided with many of the drives) to recognize the other drives, and it wouldn't work with the 540-MB Seagate unit unless set for 528 MB. The BIOS in the newer Zeos system recognized and worked with all tested drives, automatically configuring to their maximum capacity through a setup menu selection.

The Zeos, with its more sophisticated IDE controller, got much higher throughput rates in many of the tests, showing that the system can be a bottleneck with new, faster drives. Testing the five biggest drives on both systems showed that the 1-GB IBM 0662 Model A10 picked up the greatest throughput benefit from the faster system; the Micropolis Taurus 4110A, the 728-MB IBM DSAA-3720, and the Western Digital Caviar AC31000 showed intermediate gains. The 1-GB Seagate drive made smaller but still substantial throughput gains. The fastest measured throughput.

7 MBps, came from the 1-GB IBM drive on a PLATT sequential-read test that pulls most of its data from the drive's built-in buffer. The test system's ATA bus speed had no effect on access-time tests.

IBM DSAA-3720 and 0662 Model A10

Although the two IBM drives differ from each other substantially, both employ the magnetoresistive head technology invented by IBM. Magnetoresistive read and write heads require fewer copper coils and material layers than standard thin-film heads. The benefit, according to IBM, is smaller, simpler heads that allow higher data density and better durability. Both IBM drives also employ digital read channel electronics that allow reliable reading of more densely packed data (see "Digital Hard Drives," March BYTE).

These two IBM drives do, in fact, have some of the highest track density of the group (as high as 4300 tracks per inch for the 728-MB DSAA-3720), and the 1-GB 0622 claims a top-rated MTBF (mean time before failure) rating of 500,000 hours.

The 1-GB IBM drive's smaller, more efficient heads and higher data density do not seem to give it any overall performance advantage over the 1-GB Micropolis Taurus, however. The Micropolis makes up in access time what it loses in data transfer rate. In the file I/O test, the Micropolis drive bested the field and exceeded the 1GB IBM unit's speeds by 3 percent to 13 percent. The IBM drive fared better in the NSTL PLATT benchmark, where its higher throughput slightly edged out the Micropolis drive's quicker access times.

The IBM unit did slow down in the PLATT sequential test that accesses four areas of the drive simultaneously (an

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Reviews!

Big, Fast IDE Drives

indication of server capability), but it was still as fast as or faster than any other drive but the Micropolis Taurus in this test. Both 1-GB drives have a large (512KB) buffer, so differences in caching algorithms are the most likely reason for the IBM drive's performance drop-off.

IBM's 728-MB DSAA-3720 has the smallest cache in the group (96 KB), and, at 4500 rpm, its rotation is slower than the 1-GB drives'. But it compares favorably to the 1-GB IBM drive for multimedia uses, because it doesn't have to perform TCAL (thermal recalibration), a periodic compensation for heatinduced mechanical changes that can translate into lost video frames. (Some of the other reviewed drives don't need to do TCAL, either.) IBM says it's preparing a workaround to mitigate TCAL's effects on the 1-GB drive.

The small cache may be one reason why the 728-MB drive has lower throughput than two of the smaller (540-MB) drives when, theoretically, its higher track and areal density would let it pump bits faster. In the file I/O tests, the 728-MB IBM drive generally falls slightly behind the 540-MB Quantum and Seagate units, although it passes two 1-GB drives on the Pentium QBench test.

Micropolis Taurus 4110A

As noted above, the 1-GB Micropolis Taurus performs slightly better than the 1-GB IBM drive even though it lacks the data density advantages of magnetoresistive technology. It avoids some of the downside

On a Faster System

Running on a 60-MHz Zeos Pentium system with a more sophisticated IDE interlace than the 50-MHz Compaq 486 Deskpro had, several of the drives Improved marked!)

I, as shown here by the QBench test. The 1-GB IBM and

of high capacity by employing five platters. It thus has two more than the three-disk IBM drive, giving it an edge when performing nonsequential seeks on large files (measured by the Short Seek and Long Seek tests in the PLATT benchmark).

The Micropolis can confine such files to a narrower range of cylinders (tracks that are the same general distance from the drive spindle) because the extra disks allow more capacity per cylinder. In other words, the more stacked up the cylinders, the shorter the distances the read/write heads must move when randomly accessing in a file.

Both IBM and Micropolis state that the 1-GB drives' 5400-rpm rotational speeds reduce latency time (the time it takes for the requested block to pass under the head once the head has arrived at the correct track) to 5.56 milliseconds. This is an easily proved mathematical verity and, cou

pled with the low average seek time (8.5 ms) claimed for both drives, should lead to quick data access. In those tests measuring random-access times in the Windows-oriented PLATT benchmark, the two drives did better than all the others, with the Micropolis generally faster than the IBM. In the DOS-oriented QBench test, however, the two Western Digital drives were fastest in data-access-time tests.

Using more disks contributes to the Micropolis's high $739 street price, but then Micropolis offers an industry-leading fiveyear warranty. (IBM offers a five-year warranty on its 1-GB " IDE drive but not on the 728

MB unit.) Those looking to push the capacity limits of the IDE interface ought to seriously consider this drive.

Quantum ProDrive LPS 540AT

While the ProDrive LPS 540AT is larger than 528 MB and supports fast local-bus transfer modes, it won't be Quantum's fastest or largest IDE drive by the time you read this. Quantum's new 540-MB Lightning drive should be faster, and a 730-MB version of the Lightning will be larger. While relatively slow in the group reviewed here, the ProDrive LPS 540AT is still a fast drive with an attractive price. The drive supports PIO Mode 3 and Fast Multiword DMA, so the ATA interface throughput can potentially match the drive.

However, in both the access-time measures important for random file I/O and the throughput measures important for sequential file I/O, the drive placed well back

IDE HARD DRIVE FEATURES

Specs like these can give a good picture of a drive's capabilities, although they do not take into account one important attribute: the effectiveness of the caching algorithms for the drive's built-in cache. Larger drives get the best technology—for example, the higher (5400-rpm) spin rates for the 1-GB IBM and Micropolis drives. They also have higher MTBF ratings and the longest warranties.

DRIVE

IBM DSAA-3720

IBM 0662 Model A10 Micropolis Taurus 411 OA

Quantum ProDrive LPS 540AT Seagate ST5660A

Seagate ST31220A Medalist 108C Western Digital Caviar AC2540

Western Digital Caviar AC31000 "Track-to-track, including settling time;

CAPACITY DISKS NO. OF HEADS/ SPIN AVERAGE SEEK TIMES (MINIMUM/

(MB) RECORDING RATE lATENCf AVERAGE/MAXIMUM; MS)'

SURFACES (RfM) (MS)

728 2 4/4 4500

1062 3 6/5 5400

1057 5 10/9 5400

541 2 4/4 4500

4500 4500

4495

4/12/25

0.6-2.5/8.5-10.1/ 1.5/8.5/20 4/12/23 3.5/12/30 3.5/12/25 4/11-13/25

CACHE/

TRACK

4077 2756

2875

BYTE SEPTEMBER 1<

in the pack (though rarely last). Among the three 540-MB drives reviewed here, it placed second in sequential-access tests, behind the Seagate ST5660A. The ProDrive fared best in several of the simpler PLATT sequential tests, indicating that it may be a better drive for Windows than DOS, since that test is modeled on the use of hard drives in a Windows environment.

Two factors may have depressed the throughput results. Like the Western Digital drives, the Quantum ProDrive has a fairly small (128-KB) cache/buffer. And at 2875 tpi, it has the second-lowest track density of the group (the Micropolis Taurus 4110A has the lowest).

One final note: Quantum, like Western Digital and Micropolis, ships its drive with a specially licensed copy of OnTrack Computer Systems' Disk Manager to perform the CHS translation needed to get above the 528-MB DOS/BIOS barrier on systems with older BIOS code.

Seagate ST5660A and ST31220A

Seagate's mid-capacity entry has little that overtly differentiates it from the other 540MB drives. When tested, however, the ST5660A showed seek and throughput speeds that put it not only at the top of the 540-MB group but in range of the 1-GB drives. For example, in the file I/O read test, the ST5660A's 559.4 KBps placed it fourth overall, behind three 1-GB drives. In the PLATT benchmarks, it jumped toward the top in the sequential tests.

Note that the Seagate was the only drive I couldn't configure for more than 528 MB on the Compaq test system. The Compaq's BIOS didn't automatically recognize it, and Seagate has no plans to offer its own or a third-party driver. That shouldn't be a

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PRICE

300,000

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500,000 500,000

5

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300,000 300,000

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250.000

3

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Reviews!

Big, Fast IDE Drives

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problem later on in the year, as the Phoenix BIOS, AMI's latest BIOS, and others designed to handle higher IDE capacities and LBA translation become more widely available. However, if you own an older system, you may not be able to access the ST5660A's top 12 MB without a utility like OnTrack Disk Manager.

The Compaq had no trouble with Seagate's 1-GB ST31220A Medalist 1080. Formatting nicely at over 1079 MB, the Medalist performed competitively with the 1-GB IBM and Micropolis drives on the Compaq, running neck-and-neck with Seagate's smaller 528-MB unit. Both Seagate drives did well on sequential tests, but not as well with random I/O. Read results were consistently behind writes for both Seagates (they use the same caching algorithms). On the Zeos Pentium system, the 1-GB Seagate fell significantly behind other 1-GB drives on throughput tests.

Western Digital Caviar AC2540 and AC31000

Although Western Digital, champion of the Enhanced IDE movement, has en

dowed its Caviar IDE drives with all the right high-speed protocol support—Mode 3 PIO and Mode 1 DMA—its efforts do not seem to have brought superior performance. The drives are fast, but not as fast as the others I tested. The 540-MB AC2540 and 1-GB AC31000 provided similar results in most tests, with the larger, newer drive coming out a bit ahead.

The Western Digital drives placed last or next-to-last in most throughput tests. For example, the AC2540's 495-KBps result placed it last in the file I/O read test. In the PLATT benchmark, the Western Digital drives placed in the slower group with the 540-MB Quantum and 728-MB IBM drives. QBench results were mixed: slowest in transfer time but fastest in access time. The QBench access-time result derives from both sequential and random operations, so the built-in cache helps out. The PLATT benchmark's seek tests, where the Caviars didn't do as well, are based on random I/O and more reflect the drives' mechanical abilities.

But keep performance in perspective.

The Western Digital drives offer capacities and seek times that would have been unheard of in an IDE drive two years ago. If you have an older ISA system that you're upgrading for increased capacity, look at Western Digital's pricing, because you aren't likely to see great performance differences between drives without local bus.

With capacities over 1 GB and support for local-bus transfer rates, new IDE drives remain your best bet for desktop systems, where lower drive-interface overhead gives them a speed advantage over comparable SCSI drives. SCSI shines only in multitasking, multidrive situations and can provide multigigabyte capacities. Drive utility programs like OnTrack's let you use these drives on just about any system with IDE connectors, but newer systems that automatically recognize large capacities and provide local-bus throughput are where they belong. ■

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Access 2.0: The Best of Both Worlds?

With ease-off-use features and enhanced development tools, Microsoft's database manager aims at dabblers and developers

It's the holy grail of database vendors: building a database manager with the ease of use of a flat-File database and the power to satisfy demanding developers. Microsoft reached for this elusive goal with the initial release of Access and hopes to close in on it with Access 2.0. The new features and capabilities in 2.0 aim at the low-end user with ease-of-use improvements and at the database developer with enhanced connectivity and programming options. But the package can be intimidating and may leave the low end behind.

Objects Through Windows

Access 2.0, like l.x, is an object-oriented RDBMS (relational database management system). Users new to this approach to data management will find a major difference between products like Access and traditional command-driven DBMSes: Instead of wrestling with a long list of commands and control statements whose behavior may be less than obvious, you wrestle with long lists of object properties whose meanings may be even less obvious.

An object is any item in the system that you can manipulate as a unit. Objects in Access include data tables, reports, screen forms, and controls such as input fields and buttons. A properly is a characteristic of an object and can range from input masks to validation rules to "what-happens-when" instructions for specific events (e.g., a mouse-click). The properties available to the user for some objects can be alarmingly long. Still, object orientation can be such a superior way of organizing desirable programmed behaviors that it is well worth the effort to push yourself up and over the required learning curve.

Access also takes the Windows interface about as far as it can go: OLE 2.0, right-click menus, hover help, cue cards, and a host of wizards. And you can copy and paste objects (e.g.. an entire table) as easily as you can manipulate highlighted rows and columns.

£He Edit Mew Format Window Help

B70PMIB- SE3E3 J^OnlMBll»M0M

The previous version of Access was an accomplished data manager, but it could try

cess include data tables, reports, screen to 1 property is a characteristic of an object and can range from input masks to validation rules to "what-happens-when" instructions for specific events (e.g., a mouse-click). The screen shows the properties assigned to the See Product Details button. The On Click option of the Properties window lists actions that can take place when the user clicks on the button. In this case, the mouse-click triggers an event procedure la block of code). Clicking on the ellipsis next to the Event Procedure label brings up the snippet of code to be executed.

the patience of anyone used to the kind of blazing speed you get with DOS-based databases. There were also some features of a finished database application that should have been easier to implement.

The new features in this version are extensive. Besides the additions covered in "A Few New Features in Access 2.0" on page 160, three other new features deserve notice. The first is the program's more comprehensive set of wizards It is the function of a wizard to answer the question, "What on earth do I do with all these properties?" These programmed helpers can make a big difference in the ease and speed with which you set up the pieces (i.e., objects) in an application.

The next feature of note is the Solutions database. This bundled sample is a finished application as well as a storehouse of how-to information, including code samples, that help you climb the learning curve. I wish the Solutions database had been available when I was struggling with version 1. Finally, the Rushmore query

optimization technology purchased with the Foxpro acquisition may seriously cramp your coffee breaks.

Space for Your Stuff

A full installation of the new version requires 22.4 MB of disk space. After including the space needed for Windows swap files and such, I squandered 2 hours on a scarch-and-compress mission to get the 30 MB I ultimately needed.

Space requirements are compounded for advanced I .x users who have live applications. Changes and additions in the new version make it prudent to keep the old version alive until your applications prove themselves ready for 2.0. Even more prudent (don't say I didn't warn you) would be to read any readme files on Disk 1 before you install the new version. Tables created under previous versions will automatically convert to 2.0 format when you open the MDB file, but all other major objects must be opened and saved. This can be tedious for a complex application.

continued

SEPTEMBER 1994 BVXE 157

Reviews

Access 2.0: The Best of Both Worlds?

A Sample Application

To get a feel for the new version, I created a project-oriented marketing database that might be used by any professional services firm, such as architects, engineers, or dataprocessing consultants. Many large professional firms must continually produce marketing aids, proposals, and government forms that present the firm's experience in a variety of ways, including crosstabulated resumes for staff members. Since proposals are often custom-tailored to fit the job being sought, updating and collating this information can be tedious. I set out to create the basic table structure, input forms, and two reports: one for project information and another for a staff resume\

The initial design for the system required 13 tables, organized around a list of Projects. Two categories of tables were needed. The first would include resource tables, such as lists of employees, regular consultants used by the firm, "approved" code lists, and so on. The second category of tables would define the intermediate relationships between the individual projects and the resource lists.

You can create tables manually or with a wizard. I discovered that the new Table wizard is most efficient if you've already created those tables that the wizard cannot. In my sample application, these would be the intermediate tables, which would consist of only two fields, both being primary keys of other tables. For example, the list of employees who had produced particular projects would be defined in a

table called Project Team. I created this table manually with two fields, ProjcctID and EmployeelD, which together would create unique keys. Creating the compound key was easy; I just highlighted both fields and clicked the Key icon on the toolbar.

As you work with each table field, a list of applicable properties (e.g.. formatting and validation rules) appears below it. An important aspect of designing a table is to finalize, as much as possible, the properties for each field before creating queries and forms. Since the properties you include in the table design are inherited by the queries, forms, and reports based on them, this can save time. Although you can override these properties in other objects, it is more efficient to specify what you want at the table level.

To define the Project table and resource lists, I used the Table wizard. This function works best as a library of predefined tables. The Table wizard ships with over 50 sample tables. A library of tables helps enforce field-naming conventions from one development project to another, so macros and modules developed in one project are more easily usable in a new one. You can customize the default table list with your own; I recommend this, as some of the default fields are too generic.

The Table wizard also helps you define relationships between tables. You can choose an existing table, and Access will

create the relationship to the new table, even adding a linking field if necessary.

You can define and edit relationships with the new graphical Relationships window, using point, drag, and click operations. When defining relationships, you specify whether to enforce referential integrity (preventing the entry of nonexistent foreign keys) and whether to allow cascading updates or deletes (where a change to the "one" of a one-to-many relationship also changes the "many"). One warning: The window can show either all relationships or only direct ones. I wasted an hour trying to change the original CuslomerlD field type, a modification the system refused to allow because the Customer table was "involved in one or more relationships." I was beginning to believe that the relationship was a bit too clandestine until I realized that I wasn't displaying "all" relationships.

Creating Forms

The heart of any database application is its interface, defined by its screen forms. Using the Forms wizard, it is fairly simple to set up basic forms from the four available types—Single Column, Tabular, Graph, and Main/Subform—and in one of five styles. Also, a new AutoForm form type creates best-guess forms based on the table or query selected. In addition to dataediting forms, you can build forms that use Access's rich macro capabilities to organize your application and control processing, eliminating much of the coding this normally requires.

My Marketing database makes heavy use of subforms within the main project form. These handle the data for project consultants, teams—anything with a one-to-many relationship. Data entry for subforms generally depends on first entering a valid ID from a related resource list (e.g., to enter a Project Team member, you enter a valid EmployeelD from the Employees table). This means that the subform will typically use either a list or combo box for data entry of the key field. Unfortunately, the Forms wizard does not set this up for you; there is a Control wizard for these types of controls. Using it, you can quickly set up one of these for your key field, but you will have to delete the original field, add the new control, and then make sure to edit the Tab Order to restore the original field sequence. Before a new member can be added to a

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Reviews

Access 2.0: The Best of Both Worlds?

A Few New Features in Access 2.0

Graphical relationships Visually design the database and define table relationships

Expression Builder

Point and click from a fist of common expression elements to quickly build complex expressions

AutoFomVAutoReport

Generate forms and reports automatically based on a table or query

OLE automation

Build a custom environment with Access objects and with objects exposed by other compliant applications

Cascading updates and deletes

Design unlimited levels of cascading updates and deletes to maintain consistency and integrity of data at the table and query level

nput masks

Apply input masks to automatically add formatting or insert special characters into each field or record.

New SQL features

Pass SQL statements directly to ODBC databases and create Union queries and queries that create, change, or delete objects in attached SQL tables.

Project Team, the person must already exist in the Employee List. Most well-designed databases let the user add a new record on the fly when the system detects a nonexistent foreign key. I was surprised to find that this is not possible in Access without some programming. Fortunately, the Solutions database includes a detailed explanation of how to do this (including sample code that you can copy).

Printing forms is only satisfactory, especially if you optimize the screen readability with specific color schemes. When installing a new application, you'll often need a data verification report that mimics the input screen, especially for complex

tables. Although you can drop a form into a new report design, the result may be less than readable without further work.

Queries and Reports

Access lias a healthy set of querying tools, including a new Query wizard that aids in creating some of the more complex types of queries, such as cross-tab queries and queries to find nonmatching records in a second table. Since most forms and reports are based on queries, this is an important feature. One major drawback of the previous version was the inability to export the results of a query to other data formats. Version 2.0 corrects this.

Access's reporting features are similar to the process of creating forms, both in concept and application—from using the Report wizards to the ability to drag an existing report from the report list and drop it into a report definition as a subreport.

Worthy Effort

Powerful? Certainly. Easy to use? Well.... The experience required to take full advantage of this powerful program depends not on the program's design but on the demands of complex data-processing systems. Access cannot design your database for you. Nor can it greatly reduce the tweaking needed for a maturing application as users begin to call for variations on the processing themes they see.

For professional developers, the range of object properties available means the end of a great deal of coding. For the average user. Access shortens the time that needs to be spent setting up a productive database and reduces some of the experience needed. But Access does not fill the niche for flat-file managers at the low end. For anyone with major data management needs who has the time or resources to implement it. this program can pay back the investment handsomely. ■

Jim Carls is a consultant and freelance writer in Memphis. Tennessee. He has over 14 years' experience in system design and user training. He provides custom software, training, and technical assistance to corporate clients, primarily in xBase languages such as Clipper. You can reach him on the Internet or BIX at editors® bix.com.

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! Systems

SparcStation Overhaul

The new SparcStation 5 is a competitive low-cost workstation. The SparcStation 20 presents a more complex picture.

ERIC GARLAND

■ n March, Sun Microsystems reH vamped its line of SPARC procesH sor-based Unix workstations. Two new series are the multiprocessor-capable SparcStation 20 series, a redesign of the SparcStation 10 series that it replaces, and the SparcStation 5 series, low-priced workstations based on Sun's new MicroSparc II processor. The new SparcStation 20 series includes models geared toward multimedia and accelerated 2-D and 3-D graphics. Sun has discontinued the SparcStation 10 and lowered the price of its low-end model, the SparcClassic. Prices now range from $2995 for a no-frills SparcClassic to $29,995 or more for a four-processor model of the SparcStation 20.

The new SparcStations represent significant speed increases over previous models, but the workstation market is competitive. Hewlett-Packard's PA-RISC line and Silicon Graphics' Mips-based computers have tested faster than Sun's machines and are cutting into Sun's sales. Still, Sun held nearly half the workstation market last year, and many people will find the new systems of interest: There's something to be said for reliability and a large base of applications. With the SparcStation 20, you can also increase performance with multiple processors. In this review, I look at one of Sun's new highend SparcStation 20 models and the more cost-effective SparcStation 5.

New SparcStations

Sun offers the SparcStation 20 with up to four 50-MHz or two 60-MHz SuperSparc processors (see the text box "Dual SuperSpares"). The base system comes with one processor, a 535-MB hard drive, a 17-inch color monitor, and 32 MB of RAM for $ 12,195. You get your choice of 8-bit 2-D/ 3-D wireframe graphics or 24-bit accelerated graphics ami imaging. I tested a SparcStation 20M, a model geared toward multimedia; it has the same components as other SparcStation 20 models but adds videoconferencing capabilities. The review unit arrived with a single 50-MHz chip. The $18,843 test configuration also included two 535-MB hard drives, 64 MB

ie SparcStation 5 (left) starts at $3995. The SparcStatioi 14,590 and can run up to four SuperSparc processors.

of RAM. 1 MB of RAM cache, and a 20inch 1280- by 1024-pixel color monitor.

All SparcStation 20 models come with a microphone and 16-bit audio. The 20M adds accelerated video playback, video capture and compression, a video camera, videoconferencing software, and Photo CD support. The standard built-in networking combined with video and audio features makes the SparcStation 20M a prime platform for desktop videoconferencing. With the exception of the videoconferencing software, however, the package doesn't provide utilities or tools to take full advantage of the computer's multimedia potential.

The high-quality 20-inch monitor provides a very stable, readable image. A wireless remote control makes it easy to make all screen adjustments while staying a comfortable distance from the monitor—very elegant.

The SparcStation 5 base model was designed to be inexpensive. For the $3995 base price, you get a 535-MB hard drive, a 15-inch color monitor, and 16 MB of RAM. The $7745 SparcStation 5 I tested came with 32 MB of RAM. a 17-inch Sony monitor, and hardware and software

for videoconferencing. The system I tested had a 70-MHz MicroSparc II processor. Higher-end models based on an 85-MHz MicroSparc II start at $9595 with 32 MB of RAM, a 17-inch color monitor, and I GB of hard drive storage.

Both new SparcStations come in the same well-designed case, and you can turn a SparcStation 5 into a SparcStation 20 with a simple motherboard swap. The SparcStation 20 system board has four 32bit SBus expansion slots (two were free in the test machine) and two 64-bit MBus slots to hold SuperSparc processor cards. Each card can hold one or two processors. Using 64-MB SIMMs, you can put up to 512 MB of memory on the motherboard. The SparcStation 5 motherboard provides three SBus expansion slots and eight SIMM slots, each of which can hold up to 32 MB, for a maximum of 256 MB.

For either SparcStation, you open the case by removing two screws from the back, one of which is the grounding screw. This spring-loaded screw is held in place so that you can't lose it. When you attach a locking cable to the case, it blocks removal of the other screw, preventing access to the inside of the machine.

continued

SEPTEMBER 1994 BYTE 101

Reviews 1

SparcStation Overhaul

Dual SuperSparcs

Sun tests show that a second SuperSparc processor improves performance by 20 percent to 40 percent for most existing Solaris 2.3 applications. Once available, programs tuned for multiple processors will do even better. Sun points out that you don't have to see a performance doubling to justify a second processor: If the percentage performance increase for your applications is more than the percentage price increase for the additional CPUs, you come out ahead. If you order your system with two processors on

one CPU board, the ,

additional cost for

the second CPU is around $1500, or 12 percent, over the base model list cost. However, if you add it later, you'll pay a steep $4500, or 37 percent, of the base price for a second processor board.

Near the end of my review of the SparcStations, I received and installed in the SparcStation 20M a second 5a MHz processor board. Installation was simple because the system recog

BYTE Unix Benchmarks

nized and automatically worked with the new processor. Although I had no benchmarks ready to test multiprocessing, I did test around the edges of its potential using BYTE's Unix benchmarks. These tests are not multithreaded, nor are they designed to benefit from multiple processors, yet the second CPU provided an overall performance gain of around 12 percent. That fits with SPARC'S higher estimates for more complex applications. The best performance gain with multiple CPUs comes

when you're running

more than one application. With two tests running simultaneously (with a script), performance didn't differ markedly from when running one test with one CPU. As long as you run Solaris 2.x (which as yet has half the applications base of Solaris 1.x), a dual-processor system can run a fairly heavy-duty application in concert with other tasks with virtually no performance degradation.

The inside is well laid out, with nxim for two internal hard drives and two removable-media drives. The hard drives are cleverly mounted in plastic caddies that make upgrading simple. The caddy handle, when down, locks the drive into place. When you swing the handle up, it levers the drive out of its connector so you can sim- (test conflgu ply lift it out. Sun offers external SCSI devices that can expand the storage capacity of the computer to up to 138.6 GB for the SparcStation 20 and 42 GB for the SparcStation 5.

Both SparcStations came with a full array of ports on the back panel, including ports for lOBase-T Ethernet

•ation with 64 MB of RAM, hard drives. 20-inch color monitor, and videoconferencing options)

(test configuration with 32 MB of RAM, 535-MB hard drive, 17-inch color monitor, and videoconferencing options)

Sun Microsystems Computer Corp. 2550 Garcia Ave. Mountain View, CA 94043 (800) 821-4643 (415) 960-1300 fax: (415) 969-9131 Circle 1077 on Inquiry Card.

(AUI [attachment unit interface] optional), SCSI-2. IBM/Centronics parallel adapter, serial (two), audio in and out, video input (two), S-Video input, and keyboard. The optical mouse plugs into the side of the keyboard, reducing cable tangle.

SPARC Performance

BYTE's Unix benchmarks provide a measure of Sun's CPU progress. The Arithmetic and Dhrystone results for the SparcStation 20 with a single processor showed that the new system had approximately five times the performance of the SparcStation 1+. File copy showed a dramatic improvement, with a speed index of 15; the improvement is

somewhat due to better hard drive performance, but more so to caching. The Execl test actually ran slower on the SparcStation 20 than on the original SparcStation, due to the overhead inherent in Solaris 2.3. The Pipes test was the only other test to rely heavily on the operating system and thus showed only minor improvement.

SPECint92 results from Sun show the 20M test unit's 50-MHz SuperSparc processor scoring like a 90-MHz Pentium. The SuperSparc's SPECfp92 score is about 35 percent faster than the same Pentium. BYTE's native-performance benchmarks painted a dimmer perf ormance picture, indicating that the SparcStation 20 had roughly two-thirds the integer performance and 50 percent better floating-point performance than a 66-MHz 486. Keep in mind that the native-performance tests are affected by the quality of the C compiler used for each platform. Still, these numbers put the single-processor SparcStation 20 at a performance disadvantage relative

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Reviews

SparcStation Overhaul

BENCHMARK RESULTS

The Unix tests show that Sun's current SPARC systems are several times faster than the SparcStatic 1+. The native performance tests indicate that they're hardly faster than a 66-MHz 486 system.

BYTE NATIVE-PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS

BYTE UNIX BENCHMARK

SPARCSTATION 5 SPARCSTATION 20M

Dhrystone Execl File Copy

SPARCSTATION 5 SPARCSTATION 20

to workstations based on DEC's Alpha, Mips's RS-4400, and HP's PA-RISC chips.

The SparcStation 5 did better than you would expect f rom the SPEC numbers For the MicroSpare II processor. The SpareStation 5 came out only 15 percent slower than the SparcStation 20 on the BYTE Unix benchmarks, in spite of the fact that

the SPF.Cint for the MicroSparc II is about 25 percent slower than that for the SuperSparc. The SparcStation 5 even pulled ahead in the Dhrystone portion of the test.

Sparc-Stations have a huge following of people who not only own the computers but know them inside and out. If you're

not among them, the Solaris operating system that runs on the Sun computers is complex, with a steep learning curve. It has many intricacies that aren't standard Unix.

I was stumped, for example, when I tried to hook up an external Sun CD-ROM drive. The driver file for the CDROM drive didn't exist. After much head-scratching and searching with help commands, I discovered that I had to shut down the computer and, while outside the operating system, do a BOOT - R command. The system then rebooted, found the attached CD-ROM drive, and created the files necessary to access it. It's easy once you know how, but it's not nearly as convenient as on some other workstations I've used, where you plug in a SCSI device and turn on the computer, and it automatically mounts.

There are also two significantly different versions of Solaris, 1.x and 2.x. Solaris

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1

Reviews 1

SparcStation Overhaul

1.1.1 is the most current of the former version and still ships with many Sun systems along with the new version. 2.3. There are good reasons for this. One is the 5000 or so applications written for the old Solaris that don't work with the new one. Another is familiarity. If you know the old Solaris, configuring the new one is painful because the operating-system data structures are different. The new kernel is also bigger than the old one. But 2.3 is a strong

server operating system, supports multiprocessor machines, and can now claim 25(H) applications, including all the biggies.

OpenWindows. the Solaris windowing system, is poorly linked to the rest of the system. With both SGI and HP workstations, you conveniently boot up right into the windowing system. With Solaris, you must boot up and log in through a fullscreen text mode and then run OpenWindows on top of the text-mode session.

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much like the DOS/Windows combination. Worse, when leaving OpenWindows. you aren't warned if you have unsaved changes in some document—a fault common to other Unix systems.

Solaris's strong points are stability and a large applications base. Compared to its competition, however, Solaris has a long way to go as far as ease of use and integrating its windowing environment arc concerned.

Solaris 2.4 should be out about the time you read this. According to Sun. 2.4 will provide easy-to-use graphical administration tools as well as a common environment for the 80x86-based Solaris and the Solaris that runs on the SparcStations, but it will provide little else in the way of significant features.

Still King?

Sun is still the king of Unix workstations. Although SparcStations don't have the processor speed of their competitors, don't count them out yet. Sun has made considerable advances in multiprocessor and threading technologies that will be the cornerstone of the distributed systems of the future—although the company is still proving their usefulness for today's applications. If Sun has fallen behind in speed, faster SPARC processors are right around the corner.

The SuperSparc II processor is sampling now and should ship early next year. Sun expects the 100-MHz SuperSparc II to be 85 percent faster than a 50-MHz SuperSparc. although it still won't be the fastest processor around. However, Sun's UltraSparc may be. This is a full-blown. 64-bit chip that should be more than three times faster than the 50-MHz SuperSparc. It should be available in quantity by the second quarter of 1995.

Considering its price, the SparcStation 5 is a good, fast machine and deserves consideration even for high-end use. The SparcStation 20 series prov ides more speed and expandability, but it's less competitive when you look at just price and performance. If you forgo Solaris 1.x applications, then running multiple processors under Solaris 2.3 can more than make up for the performance shortcomings of the SparcStation 20's CPU. How much more depends on your own particular mix of applic; '

Eric Garland (Hancock. Mli lias been using and programming computers for 12 years. He is currently enthralled by Unix. You can reach him on the Internet or BIX at editors® bix.com.

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Software

Power of Cooperation

Linux, a truly robust Unix clone, has evolved out < the Internet and it's freely available

J. BRUCE DAWSON

Linux is not just another implementation of Unix. It's a complete rewrite, with an interesting history and some attractive features, not the least of which is its price tag: It has none. Linux is free—at least free from the more traditional license restrictions that come with commercial Unix. You can get it off the Internet from a number of sites for just the cost of the file transfers, or even on CD-ROM for a nominal price. And it comes with the source code.

In spite of its freely available nature, Linux is not public domain. Some of the code is bound by the Free Software Foundation's General Public License: You can copy and redistribute the associated software so long as the sources are readily and freely available. Other parts of the code have copyrights from external (e.g., BSD), but all these permit free redistribution.

Family Tree

Unlike commercial versions of Unix, Linux was developed by a large number of unrelated individuals located all over the world (most of them are on the Internet). Contributors include the originator, Linus Torvalds (who lives in Finland) and the University of California at Berkeley (the originators of BSD Unix). The contributors all have differing interests, but they share a common goal: to create a freely available operating system and software that will serve the needs of power users.

A Unix look-alike, Minix, was Linux's physical ancestor, with Unix an obvious spiritual ancestor. But don't fall into the trap of viewing Linux as commercial software. Linux was developed in a somewhat anarchistic fashion by individuals working together to create a Unix that was free of the usual Unix licensing hassles; but the developers also wanted to do it '"right," rather than just for profit. Not all of the work was a coordinated effort, and as a result there are several different Linux sources available, some better than others. The decision as to which Linux bina

When I logged in, most of the Unix commands I'm familiar with were available, and the X Window System came right up. X had been configured to use fvwm as the window manager. This wasn't one I was familiar with, but it looked very much like Motifs mwm. I could get around without learning too many new interface elements.

ties (and sources) to use is not an easy one.

When I first heard about Linux. I was skeptical. Unix is just too complex a system, I thought, for a few people to put together and give away. Unix vendors want us to believe that it took thousands of labor years to put together their systems. Linux seemed like a fantasy that couldn't possibly be a serious solution.

I simplified the processes of installing and configuring Linux by reviewing it on a system built and configured by Fintronic, a small company that specializes in assembling PC clones for Linux. The company claimed to have taken the best of the different implementations of Linux to build its systems.

ipatcd a lot of tinkering on my part just to get the system up and running, but everything worked surprisingly well right out of the box. Of course, things were not as well integrated as they would be in a commercial Unix. For instance, the documentation didn't always match what was installed on the system.

One of the problems Fintronic has had to deal with is a result of Linux's rapid flux: There have been new releases every few weeks, and tracking compatibility of the various component versions is timeconsuming and tedious at best. A full Linux implementation is actually composed of software from many different development sites. There isn't a single point of distribution. Just tracking the source sites and juggling the file transfers can be a hassle. Fintronic must spend an enormous amount of time compiling and configuring each system with all its peripherals.

Fintronic had configured the system with a sound board, speakers, a CD-ROM drive, a 530-MB drive, a 4-ram DAT (digital audiotape) drive, 16 MB of RAM, a nice tactile-response keyboard, and a 17inch ViewSonic display. Knowing of some problems with serial ports. I had ordered an

SEPTEMBER 1994 BYTE 167

Reviews

Power of Cooperation

upgrade to include the I6550A UARTs (universal asynchronous receiver/transmitters), and the system came with those already installed. The CPU was a 66-MHz 486 with 256 KB of cache memory. When I powered it on, the system asked if I wanted DOS or Linux. After about 10 seconds.

within the Berkeley directory scheme, whereas Linux has a slightly different directory layout. Fortunately, I had enough Unix experience to guess where the files should be.

My first real problem was essentially that there is no real documentation other

FINTRONIC LINUX FEATURES

Here are some of the other features that Fintronic configures in its Linux systems:

• DOS emulation. Note that this is still considered to be under test and not production quality, but it worked well enough for me (even though it doesn't run Windows).

• DOS file-system access. When Linux is running, users can access any DOS file systems that might be present on the system (e.g., hard drives and floppy drives).

• Interviews—a library of X Window System

•Dial-up IP and SLIP.

it defaulted to Linux. The operating system came up in under 2 minutes ( not including the operating-system prompt/time-out)— one of the faster Unix boots I've seen.

I logged in. made sure that most of the Unix commands I'm familiar with were available, and started the X Window System (using startx). There were no unhappy surprises—X came right up. X had been configured to use I vwm as the window manager. This wasn't a window manager I was familiar with, but it looked very much like Motifs mwm. 1 could get around without learning too many new interface elements. I started an xterm window (which was nearl> instantaneous) and modified the window manager's initialization and configuration file for my account. I restarted the X server from the pop-up menu. No crashes. It was time to connect the machine to the network.

On the Network

In the process of learning about f vwm, I discovered that most of the ma n pages were included with the system. Unfortunately, not all man entries were accurate as to where files lived and which other software components were on the system. For example, the networking ma n pages assumed that many of the networking files lived

188 BYTK SEPTEMBER 1994

than the man pages and a small looseleaf binder Fintronic sent that contains some minimally out-of-date system administration information. The Linux administrator is expected to get dexumentation from conversations in the Usenet newsgroup comp.os.linux.

Again. Fintronic had done all the hard work of configuring the network card and establishing basic network operations. All I had to do was set up the IP addresses and host names. After configuring NFS (Network File System), I was able to mount remote disks on j the Linux system and NFS-mount Linux disks on other systems. FTP worked without a hitch.

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did Telnet. Even the PC-NFS server would start up and run. I could rsh to other systems, as well as r 1 og I n.

It appeared that the network was operational. Weil, not quite: I didn't get the name server properly configured, and 1 could not rsh or r log in into the Linux system until I had both the full qualified name (including the domain of the host) and the host name for each remote system in /etc/hosts, equi v—a detail that would not be obvious to a neophyte Unix

administrator, especially without documentation.

Linux isn't a bare-bones Unix clone. There is plenty of meat. In the process of getting all the facilities of Linux configured, I discovered that it has TCPD configured into its i netd. conf file. This is a nice feature that allows you to control incoming TCP access to your host. It was comforting to know that it was there.

Most of the features that I found on my Fintronic system (see the text box "Fintronic Linux Features") are widely available, but they're not necessarily all available from the same source. I ran BYTE's Unix Benchmarks on the Fintronic Linux system. The system (a 66-MHz 486 with 16 MB of RAM and a 530-MB hard drive) performed exceptionally well. There was some degradation on disk-access speed and pipe-based context switching when the system was normally loaded with more than a single user on it, but the unencumbered system performance was equivalent to that of a far more expensive RISC workstation.

Sold on System

On kx)king back at the start of this project, I find that I am now wearing the proverbial egg on my face. I'm not just favorably impressed w ith Fintronic's Linux system; I pulled out my credit card and ordered a Fintronic system for my personal use.

Some warnings, though: Unless you know a lot of Unix (and perhaps even have been following the Linux newsgroup discussions on the Internet's Usenet), you will need more documentation than is available, even if you obtain your Linux from a company such as Fintronic. As the "copy-left" rules state, the source code is readily available, here and there if not on your system. But if you need basic documentation, the source code isn't likely to help you much.

Linux has become what the Internet community wanted: a robust, freely available environment that has all the features of many commercial versions, but with the openness and cooperative spirit of the ear

ly days of Unix. It's anarchy at its best

J. Bruce Dawso gin Software, U

the Internet at j

iiMilnml working fur 17/-hexter. NH). He has been ix, VMS, and DOS appliir.v. He can be reached on

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Software

Low-Cost Simulation

Using a circuit simulator to test your designs can save both time and money

DANY DION

Sometimes a simulation can be better than the real thing. I design and build electronic control systems for a variety of automation tasks, and there are times when 1 would like to try out a circuit before building it. Electronics Workbench is a simulator that runs under DOS or Windows or on the Macintosh and provides breadboard and test facilities for analog and digital circuitry. I looked at the Windows version of Electronics Workbench 3.0.

Workbench is a medium- to low-end product, intended for electronics students and designers. The package includes both analog and digital schematic capture programs, with simulation and testing tools for each.

Workbci

like some high-end sin tors that cost $2000 or more (e.g., Spectrum Software's Micro-CAP or Oread's Verification and Simulation Tools) in that the digital and analog portions are entirely separate functions. To get true mixed-mode simulation, you'd have to use a very expensive package like MicroSim's Design Center for Windows (about S8000 to $16,000).

The results of applying the Bode plotter to the output of a standard RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) equalization filter/preamplifier

The primary interface to Workbench is a palette (or bin) of electronic parts (either analog or digital, depending on which simulator you load) and a selection of test equipment. To construct a circuit, you drag parts out of the bin (see the screen) and place them in the work area. Each part has one or more live connection points. Dragging a line between any two points makes a wired connection: the wires themselves are auto-routing. Double-clicking on a part in your design brings up a dialog box that lets you change the part's parameters (e.g., resistance and capacitance). Once you have connected all the components and attached the signal generators, multimeters, and oscilloscope, you click on the on/off switch to start the simulation.

Considering Workbench's reasonable

pressed by how well it worked. My analog and digital control systems regularly include signal amplifiers, filters, bridge amplifiers with feedback and current limiting, steppermotor controls, and sundry logic decoders. I entered some of my working designs into Workbench to see how well the simulation compared to the real thing. The fact that the analog and digital simulations are separate was a big problem, however; many real-world designs freely mix analog and digital circuitry.

Workbench's transistors won't properly bias because the simulator uses only ideal values. Real transistors don't work exactly like their descriptions in a textbook. I managed to get my working circuit to run on the simulator by changing some resistor values and removing some filter capacitors.

The function generator can produce sine, triangular, or square waves at any frequency from 1 Hz to 999 MHz. w ith a duty cycle of from 1 percent to 99 percent. The analog simulator's oscilloscope is a dual

with a time base of 0.10 0.50 seconds per division. The Bode plotter produces a graph of a circuit's frequency response. When connected to a circuit, the plotter generates a range of frequency over a spectrum selected from 1.0 MHz to 10.0 GHz. The result is a screen plot that shows how your circuit performs over the entire frequency-range sweep.

Workbench's op amps (operational amplifiers) may not work the way you expect, because the simulation drives them with standard voltage values (15 V DC) instead of the voltage sources you have elsewhere in your circuit. Op amps behave differently depending on their power-supply voltage.

Workbench transistors don't have limitations on voltage or current. In Workbench, you can use a small signal transistor, like a 2N2222, as a power transistor and sink 10 amperes at 120 V DC without causing an error. In real life, you'd get a rather spectacular puff of smoke. The frequency generator provides your choice of square, sine, or triangular wave output, but at only one frequency. Finally, some of the parameters use different measurements. AC voltage sources have peak values.

SEPTEMBER 1994 BYTE 171

Reviews

Low-Cost Simulation

while other components, like fuses and light bulbs, use rms (root mean square) values. You have to be careful to match these different voltage measurements.

The analog simulator comes with a library of 37 basic components, including

connectors, voltage sources, current sources, ground, and other components. Designing circuits with the analog simulator can be difficult if you don't have enough working know ledge of real-world components. You have to hand-check every component for proper rating before building a real circuit from the design.

Digital Simulation

The parts bin in the digital simulator is filled with common logic design elements: logic gates, flip-flops, a half adder, and a seven-segment display. As with the analog simulator, you can select a region of a circuit and save it in your bin as a subcircuit.

The tools in the digital simulator are different from the analog simulator's. Since the digital simulator has no provision for analog circuitry, an oscilloscope or Bode plotter would make no sense; instead, you get a word generator, a logic analyzer, a voltmeter, and a logic converter.

The word generator stores a sequence of sixteen 8-bit words that can play back automatically (cycle) or one at a time (step), or play through once and stop (burst). Workbench's logic analyzer has eight input channels and can be triggered by an external signal, by the input channels themselves, or by a user-selected pattern.

I never did figure out what the voltmeter was good for. Since all circuits in the digital simulator are driven by 5 V and run at logic 0 and 1 levels (0 and 5 V), the

voltmeter displays no more information than the simple LED probes that you can have any number of in your design.

The logic converter is far and away the most interesting part of the simulator. It can look at your circuit and tell you the

truth table, convert a truth table to a Boolean expression, take a logic equation and simplify it, or build a circuit from a truth table or a Boolean expression. The logic simplification algorithm is the QuineMcKluskey method, instead of the more familiar Karnaugh mapping.

The Quine-McKluskey method begins by sorting the terms of a truth table according to the number of true conditions they contain. These terms are compared to find those that differ by only one variable, and that v ariable is eliminated. The process is repeated until no further elimination is possible. The grouped terms that remain are considered prime implicants. The final step is the elimination of redundant expressions. Since this

method works with the 1

binary representation of expressions, the Boolean expression is automatic.

The logic converter would be most use ful for situations where you want to replace a portion of your design with a PAL (programmable array logic chip). Once you test the circuit, you use the logic converter to convert the finished circuit to a truth table for the PAL programmer. You'll have to live within the limitations of the package, though, and restrict your PAL designs to eight inputs.

Alas, with its shortcomings, the digital simulator is as restrictive as the logic converter is enabling: Logic gates in the simulator arc perfect and respond instantaneously. Without propagation delays such as you'd find in real silicon, high-speed circuits won't respond correctly and feedback loops are impossible. For instance, one popular way to create an inexpensive clock is to tie a number of logic inverters to themselves in a loop, with resistors and capacitors to control the speed. Without the analog/digital mix, you can't add the resistors or capacitors, and the simulator reports that the feedback loop is stuck in a

Pass the Breadboard

Perhaps the biggest shortcoming of the combined package—one that might stop me from trying to do real design work with either simulator—is that Workbench has no import or export capability. If you complete a design and want to produce a printed circuit board, you can't simply capture the final schematic and transfer it to a printed circuit board layout package. Anyone using a schematic capture program or simulator like Workbench is likely to be using printed circuit board layout software to produce boards.

It's a sure bet that Intel won't be using this software for designing the successor to the Pentium. I might be able to use it for designing simple circuits, but most of my work requires combining analog and digital circuitry.

I can easily see Workbench as a product for hobbyists or electronics students. Perhaps even small companies that can't afford more expensive, professional-caliber tools like Oread's Verification and Simulation Tools or Spectrum's Micro-CAP would find it useful. While the manual and the included samples don't attempt to explain electronic theory in depth, they provide enough information to get anyone new to electronic simulation started. ■

Dany Dion is the owner of Promecan-Agma in Greenfield Park. Quebec. Canada. He has been de\iunini: quality-control systems tor more than 10 years and has been programming on microcomputers since 1978. He can be reached on CompuServe at 75240.524 or on the Internet or BIX at JJtniitf hix.com.

IN THE WORKS

Good products just keep getting better. By the time you read this article, Interactive Image Technologies expects to have put the finishing touches on a new version of Workbench (available in October). According to the company, this new version will address many of the concerns our reviewer had with version 3.0:

• Analog and digital simulators will be com- • There will be multiple input gates and a largbined in one package, enabling mixed-mode er array of standard parts, such as countsimulation, ers, RAM, ROM, 555 timers, SCRs (silicon

ill have propagation

controlled rectifiers), and triacs.

delays and other more realistic properties. • Op amps will have power-supply pins. • There will be a choice between TTL (transis- • Clock generators will support multiple fretor-transistor logic) and CMOS parts. quencies.

No price had been set when we went to press, but Interactive Image expects the price to be a bit higher than for version 3.0.

for Windows or the Mac Interactive Image Technologies, Ltd. 700 King St. W. Suite 815 Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 2Y6 (800) 263-5552 (416) 361-0333 fax: (416) 368-5799 Circle 1076 on Inquiry Card.

172 BYTE SEPTEMBER 1994

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Today's mainstream CD-ROM drives offer faster

performance at the most economical prices ever. We'll tell you which one is right for you.

CHANDRIKA MYSORE

CD-ROM drives used to be a fancy option for your desktop system. Today, they're essential for loading new application software, viewing presentations, or accessing commercial and private sources of data. Recognizing this trend, many system vendors offer CD-ROM drives in "multimedia" bundles. As we went to press, Gateway 2000 announced that all its systems would include a CDROM drive standard. But you don't have to buy a new system to take advantage of CD-ROMs: This lab report evaluates two dozen fast and easy-to-install external drives that can serve you well whether you use a PC or a Mac. We tested 20 SCSI-based, desktop drives and ranked the best for general-purpose, low-cost, and text-intensive applications. All but one of the drives was double-speed, with throughput scores of 300 to 350 KBps. The remaining drive was NEC's quadruple-speed MultiSpin 4X Pro, which was the most expensive drive we tested ($995) but also the fastest for throughput: 590.3 KBps. We also ranked four portable drives that connect via a SCSI and/or a parallel-port interface.

How to use this guide

Turn to page 179 for details on the double-speed drives that showed the best performance, features, ease of use, and

price for Best Overall, Low Cost, and Text applications. The text box on page 182 ranks four portable drives.

performance. This s represents how fast the drive can read data spread across the CD.

Better ratings

drivers, and support for a greatei XA (Extended Architecture).

176 BYTK/NSTI. l.AB REPORT SKR'hMBER 1994

Choosing a CD-ROM Drive

LiffiH

Drive speed, the rate at which a drive can transfer data, is determined by a number of factors, including spindle rate and how effectively the drive uses its buffer. Double-speed drives are good choices for most general-purpose applications, and excellent models exist that range from about $300 to $500. Quadruple-speed drives offer faster throughput but sell for $1000 or more.

FRONT PANEL

At a minimum, this should

include a "CD busy" signal, a

o. □

e. Drives with

SCSI CONNECTION For best performance, choose a i parallel-port interfaces posted sh are generally unacceptable for displaying full-motion video. They are solid choices for portable applications that don't require video, however. If the drive comes with a standard SCSI co

caddies, although

supports MPC Level 2, and supports CD-ROM XA (for details, see the glossary on page 182).

to that ad

es offer only a proprietary SI

BEST OVERALL

Plextor DM-5028 DoubleSpeed Plus

price and performance, this $409 drive was the secondfastest double-speed drive in our sequentialthroughput tests, and its

CPUut among the n

st efficier

BEST LOW COST Mirror CD ROM Drive

Sold primarily in the Mac market, this $259 drive can be a bargain for PC users, too, when it is matched with the right inexpensive SCSI adapter. No matter which platform, you'll see solid performance from this Toshiba-mechanism drive.

BEST TEXT

CD Technology Porta-Orfve T3401

This 3-pound drive achieved the highest overall performance score in our combined text, sequential throughput, and randomDrive can run off of an external power supply, and the company supplies

operating systems.

While this report focuses on external drives, you can gauge performance of drives offered by system vendors by looking at the "Roll Call" on page 186, which lists the basic drive mechanism used in each product.

Double-speed drives have claimed their place in the mainstream market because of price and performance that's fast enough for them to display full-motion video in some resolutions without dropping any frames. Lessexpensive single-speed drives of the recent past offered only 150-KBps throughput with mixed reviews for video performance.

To rank drive performance, we used custom bench

marks to measure sequential throughput, random-access time, and CPU utilization of each drive. We also ran application tests, including a 912-frame video sequence to gauge if individual frames were dropped. Keyword and Boolean text searches helped us determine which drives were best for searching large text databases.

Although NEC's quadruple-speed drive was the only one available for our test cycle, you can expect several other vendors to offer these faster drives by the time you read this. Note that IBM also sells CD-ROM drives, but it didn't participate in this report because it expected to introduce a new model late this summer.

SEPTEMBER 1994 BYTK/NSTL LAB REPORT 177

THE BEST DOUBLE-SPEED

CD-ROM DRIVES

rather than dis

Do You Need Quad Speed?

NEC's MultiSpin 4X Pro performed without Haws. This high-performance drive achieved 59().3-KBps throughput, or two times the rate of double-speed

products. In addition, it

designed housing with a rotating dust door and a clear control panel with an easy-tounderstand LCD. However, the price, with adapter, is $1120, or almost 2V! times the price of our Best Overall winner. For most mainstream applications, quadruple speed is too expensive to justify, but if you need the fastest performance—and price isn't an issue—consider this drive.

Today's double-speed drives demonstrate tinction. The 23 double-speed drives we tested represent only eight different drive mechanisms. Toshiba's mechanism is the dominant one in this sample: 11 of the drives used either Toshiba's T3401 or T4101 model. Accordingly, performance varied only slightly across the entire sample (by approximately 10 percent), and the scores for the drives using the Toshiba mechanisms were almost identical. The T3401-based models produced sequential throughput of about 331 KBps, while the T4101-based models posted throughput of about 301 KBps.

Nevertheless, the exceptions to the Toshiba-mechanism rule often performed well. Our Best Overall drive, Plextor's DM-5028, uses a Plextor mechanism, and its throughput score was the fastest of the drives we ranked in that category.

The standard buffer size for double-speed drives is 256 KB, although we did see a handful with 128 KB or even 64 KB (including the Plextor). The buffer is especially important during times when the drive is waiting for the system to display an image on the screen: In such cases, the drive can read ahead and fill the buffer with data. However, the relatively small si/e of CD-ROM drive buffers (even when they're the larger 256-KB buffers) don't necessarily bring faster performance.

Firmware plays a prime role in how efficiently the drive uses its buffer. The system CPU stops every time it issues a read-ahead command to the CDROM drive. Too many such commands translates into noticeably slow system performance. CD-ROM vendors use two approaches for buffering. In circular buffer read-ahead, the drive continuously reads with just one interrupt from the main processor. This keeps the buffer full and improves throughput. Another approach is to copy the drive's table of contents or root-directory information into the buffer memory, which can reduce random

The interface adapter and the device driver also play an important role in drive performance, especially in CPU utilization. Several drive vendors, including Philips LMS. Reveal. Hitachi, and Plextor offer a standard bundle of an 8-bit SCSI adapter. Such adapters arc handy if your system lacks SCSI and you are not planning to run multimedia applications. If you are buying a CD-ROM drive for video-intensive applications, consider a higher-performing 16-bit ISA or even an EISA SCSI adapter.

Some drives, such as Hitachi's CDR1900SPC, come with a proprietary SCSI adapter, which provides a performance edge over drives that use a standard SCSI adapter. However, proprietary adapters can't support SCSI peripherals, such as a hard drive.

Test results for CPU utilization can be especially important for finding drives that won't drop video frames when playing video off a CD. All the SCSI-based drives achieve performance within the standard MPC Level 2 specification, which is 40 percent for 150-KBps transfers and 60 percent for 300-KBps rates. None of the SCSI drives we tested dropped frames when they ran our test video file at a resolution of 320 by 240 pixels. By contrast, none of the three parallel-port drives we tested met the MPC Level 2 specification for CPU uti

MULTISESSION QUESTIONS

All the CD-ROM drive vendors that participated in this report say I that their drives can read multisession CDs; however, when we ' tried to read a multisession CD, none of the drives succeeded. The process of recording data and an associated table of contents is called a session. Whether if s a commercial CD-ROM title or your company's data that you've recorded onto CD-ROM, information is placed sequentially on the CD in spiral tracks. At the end of the recording process, a table of contents, listing the files and directory locations, is added to the CD.

To read mufbsessions, drives need some read electronics and a device driver that can identify more than one table of contents on the CD. Our problems centered around not having the latter component. Although each drive was capable of multisession reads, none was shipped with the proper driver.

JVC Information Products recently released a driver that can read OrangeBook multisessions on the CD. The price is $200 for a 10-driver distribution pack; the company includes the drivers with its CD-recorder products. When we loaded this driver, the CD-ROM drives worked as advertised. In addition, Adaptec's EZSCSI adapter comes with a device driver to read Photo CD multisession CDs.

178 BYTE/NSTL LAB REPORT SEPTEMBER 1994

lization, and each dropped 80 percent or more of the frames (see "CD-ROM for the Road" on page 182).

This generation of doublespeed drives is also similar in their ease of use. Installation was never more difficult than connecting the proper cables to the SCSI port and loading a device driver. Front-panel controls were also easy to use for all these drives. Each product came with an eject button, an emergency manual-eject hole, an audio jack, and volume control on the front panel. Nevertheless, we did have a few favorite interface implcmentations that offered more than the standard items. If the drive had indicator lights or an LCD, it helped us tell when the CD was loaded in the drive. But some drives, such as CD's T3401, Legacy's CD-ROM 2x, MacProducts USA's Magic CD Pro, Mirror's CD ROM, PLI's CD ROM MS, and Reveal's The Entertainer, had no indicator light to tell you if a CD was loaded or if the power was on. In these cases, we had to press the eject button on the drive to see if the CD was inserted. A note about NEC's triplespeed drive: | The first NEC 3XMultiSpin I drive we tested produced oughput

BYTE BEST

CD-ROM DRIVES

For the best in price and performance

" Plextor DM-5028 DoubleSpeed Plus

This double

BEST OVERALL

>rmance. The $409 base drive ($469 with adapter) id our sequential-throughput tests second fastest of all le-speed drives we tested. Its CPU utilization was among ;t and most efficient we tested, making this drive a good choice whether you need to search databases or run video. The DM-5028 achieves this performance with a small 64 KB buffer. Its text-search times were

the fastest, although it:

!T Plextor DM-5028 DoubleSpeed Plus HMP Toshiba America TXM-3401E WK-UP Legacy CD-ROM 2x KR-UP Mirror CD ROM Drive

st among the Best Overall

SEQUENTIAL RANDOM

IIP DEC RF

I4-DA

■UNKER-tlP Peripheral PLI CD-ROM MS MM MacProducts USA MM FWB hammerCD

$743 331. CD Pro $459

$749 331.

AAA AAAA 256 Toshiba aaaa AAA 256 Toshiba

E»d low cost and fast speed?

I Mirror CD ROM Drive

At $259. this drive known primarily in the Mac market easily met the under-$500 requirement for this category. It makes only minor compromises in speed compared to the Best Overall winner. If you're a PC user, you'll need to spend approximately $93 more for an ISA-based SCSI adapter and cable. For this still-economical price, you'll see solid performance from this Toshiba-mechanism drive: Its speed scores Dp of the more expensive Best Overall leaders.

SEQUENTIAL RANDOM

THROUGHPUT ACCESS CPU UTILIZATION (%) FEATURES EASE Of

PRICE1 (KBPS) (SECONDS) 150 KBPS 300 KBPS SCORE USE

BEST Mirror CD ROM Drive $259 331.2 0.26 15.22 29.45 AAA AAA

■URNER-UP MacProducts USA Magic CD Pro $459 331.4 0.26 19.12 36.92 AAA AAA

MM CD Technology CD Porta-Drive T3401 $500 331.3 0.26 15.76

MM Plextor DM-5028 DoubleSpeed Plus $409 336.2 0.34 14.22

AAA AA 256

VENDOR (YEARS)

Toshiba 1 Toshiba I Toshiba 1

AAA 64 Plextor

Meed to find data quickly?

CD Technology CD Porta-Drive T3401

achieved the highest o itial throughput, and ra the T3401 can run off proprietary SCSI cc

other SCSI peripherals.

drive couldn't complete our tests. Neither we nor NEC technicians could resolve the problem during our test cycle.

BEST

PRICE1 (KBPS) CD Technology Porta-Drive T3401 $500 3

KEY

Excellent aaaa

Good AA

Legacy CD-ROM 2x $575 331.3

im-UP MacProducts USA Magic CD Pro $459 331.4

MM DEC RRD44-DA $549 331.9

BMe-UP Toshiba America TXM-3401E $545 331.1

SUHHER UP Plextor DoubleSpeed Plus $409 336.2

15.76 30.55

15.27 30.19

19.12 36.92

18.40 35.58

15.34 29.02

14.22 29.40

AAA AA 256 Toshiba

aaaa AAA 256 Toshiba

AAA AAA 256 Toshiba

AAAA AAA 256 Toshiba

AAA AAAA256 Toshiba

AAA AAA 64 Plextor

TL LAB REPORT 179

HowWe Tested

We rated the drives for speed, features, and ease of use. Our custom performance suite consisted of five components: sequential throughput, random access, CPU utilization, text searching, and video playback.

Our low-level CD-ROM tests were a portion of NSTL's InterMark performance benchmarks. In each test, drives were instructed to read data from inner, middle, and outer tracks of the CD. We accessed data from these three areas because CDs store information sequentially on a single track that's spiralled across the CD. Drives spin the CD faster when reading data from an inner track compared to outer tracks, and a drive's performance can vary depending on the location of the data on the CD.

The throughput tests measure the amount of data a drive reads into memory in a second. Data was read sequentially in a series of 16-KB blocks. In the random-access tests, drives read a single 16 KB block then skipped over a third of the CD to read a second 16-KB block. The CPU utilization tests measure the percentage of CPU resources used to sequentially read 16-KB blocks at a rate of 150 and300KBps.

The text-search tests consisted of a single, keyword search and a Boolean search using Gofer, an information exchange protocol developed by the University of Minnesota. The text test data was "Project Gutenberg," electronic text of important English language documents published by Walnut Creek CDROM (Walnut Creek, CA). In the first text test, we browsed a 5-MB file for a keyword. The second test used a Boolean search phrase to locate two words.

In addition, we assessed each drive's ability to play video sequences using Microsoft's VidTest CD-ROM video tests. The drives ran an 8-bit. 912-frame file in resolutions of 320 by 240 pixels.

EASE OF USE

w considered the quality of documentation, how easy it is to install the drive's hardware and software components, and rated each drive's front-panel indicators.

The features that we considered most important were the length of the war

180 BYTE/NSTL LAB REPORT SI I'M MIU k I

leeward slopes experience barriers can also slow the p

thereby protecting regions to the leeward. Local relief | differences In slope or exposure affect the receipt of in and wind conditions. Dairy dfT ate local mountain and valley w

Influence temperature and humidity In their vicinity owCng to the LAKE EFFECT. 7

IcUMATE CHANGE

ranty, range of device drivers, MPC Level 2 certification, and support for SCSI-2 and fast SCSI. We also looked for the modes supported, such as CDAudio, CD-ROM XA (Extended Architecture), CD-R (CD Recordable). CD-I (CD Interactive), and ISO-9660.

We ran the tests on a Compaq Deskpro 66M (66-MHz 486DX2) with a 500MB hard drive and MS-DOS 6.2 and Windows 3.1. We disabled Smartdrive, and no swapdrive was used under Windows. We connected each drive to the test system using an Adaptec AHA2740/42 SCSI (EISA) adapter and Adaptec EZ-SCSI 2.04. Three drivesHitachi's CDR-1900SPC. MacProducts USA's Magic CD Pro, and Reveal's The Entertainer—use a proprietary SCSI connection; we used that for testing. Test

tiles resided on the test computer's hard drive. Parallel-port drives ran from an AST PowerExec 4/25SL notebook with an enhanced parallel port, 8 MB of RAM. and a 200-MB hard drive.

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Fast Access to Multiple CDs

up to 18 CDs.

For fast access to data stored on numerous CDs, consider one of the changers now available that can hold up to 18 CDROMs. Three new changers are built using mechanisms from Pioneer New Media Technology. The Magic CD 6 Quadraspin is available from MacProducts USA. It sells for $ 1099 and can hold six CDs. It and Pioneer's $1845 DRM-1804X are quadruple-speed drives, although the Pioneer can handle 18 , CDs. Pioneer's DRM-602X uses a slower, double-speed mechanism, and it's able to handle 6 CDs.

Device drivers identify multiple CDs in the CD changer through different drive letters. When you access a CD, the drive mechanism moves up or down to align itself with the desired CD, draws the CD into place, and locks it for reading. The amount of time

changing CDs varies depending on the CD location in the CD changer. We measured the time to change from CD 1 to CD 6 and then displayed the directory on that CD (see the chart below). The quadruple-speed Pioneer completed this task fastest (just over 8 seconds), while the doublespeed Pioneer and quadruple-speed Magic CD required 9.46 and 9.26 seconds, respectively.

Time to Change (seconds)

MacProducts Magic 6 Quadraspin

EDSI

I From CDs 1 to 18

CD-ROM FOR THE ROAD

We tested three double-speed and one triple-speed drive for portable applications. Two used a parallel-port interface—Disctec's RoadRunner Express and Micro Solutions' Backpack. Liberty's 115 Series CDN-P and CD Technology's Porta-Drive T4100 support SCSI and parallel-port interfaces.

The heaviest of these drives, the Backpack and the Liberty 115, weigh

CD-ROM XA (Extended Architecture)

XA-compatible drives offer multisession playback and synchronization of various

MFC Level 2 The Multimedia Marketing Council's standard for minimum multimedia

Multisession recording Recording data in more than one session, with a table of

Single-session recording Recording an entire set of data on a CD at one time. No

the desktop drives we tested (although weights for the latter went up to 14 pounds for CMS Enhancements' Platinum II). But the parallel-port interface combined with relatively light weight recommends these drives for mobility.

The SCSI-based Porta-Drive T4100 was a wisp at only 1 pound.

Compared to the drives that supported EPP (enhanced parallel port) (all but

the Backpack), the Clockwise (from top left): CD's Porta-Drive T4K c~c. . , „ ' . Disctec's RoadRunner Express, Micro Solutions'

SCSI-based Porta- and Uberty,s U5 ^ CDN.p

Drive T4100 provides marginally slower throughput and random-access speed. It shines, however, in CPU utilization by running within the MPC Level 2 specification at both 150 and 300 KBps. None of the parallel

port drives met the specification. (Note: The Liberty drive, which supports both EPP and SCSI, was tested using only the EPP interface.) This is ' borne out in our video tests: The Porta-Drive T4100 didn't drop any video frames in our test, while the three remaining portables dropped three quarters of the frames. If you travel to show presentations that include full-motion

MODEL

PRICE

CD Technology Porta-Drive T4100; $400

Disctec RoadRunner Express CD-2x $499

Liberty Systems 115 Series CDN-P] $649

Micro Solutions Backpack $499

THROUGHPUT CPU UTILIZATION (%) FRAMES FEATURES EASE OF SIZE DRIVE WEIGHT SUPPORT

(KBPS) ISO KBPS 300 KBPS (8-BIT FILE) SCORE USE (KB) VENBOR (LBS) EPP

300.9 1SM3 4979 Oof 912 7.9 8.3 64 Toshiba 1 ✓

301.6 58.79 73.83 774 of 912 5.8 6.4 32 Mitsumi 3.5 ✓

311.0 45.83 94.34 854ol912 8.2 8.3 256 Toshiba 4 ✓

112.3 99.22 9922 897of912 5.6 6.1 32 Mitsumi 4

182 BVTK/NST1. I.All RKPOKT SI I'IIMHI U l'»4

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transfer rate coupled with the 195 msec access time brings you the smoothest video motion, the sharpest images, the fastest data retrieval. Four times faster than a standard drive, 33% faster than a triple-speed drive, it's the fastest PC/AT* CD-ROM available. Only from TEAC, the world leader in data storage products.

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SuperQuad4X is plug-and-play compatible with Sound Blaster type AT interface sound cards and comes complete with easy-to-install software, cables and manual. It's also CD-ROM XA ready, MPC2 compliant and Kodak Multi-Session Photo CD compatible.

Why settle for a halfspeed drive?

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il other trademarks are property of their

For product and purchase information, call

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TEAC

HONORABLE MENTIONS

For SCSI information numbers at a glance,

CMS Enhancements' Platinum II CD-ROM drive offers a unique front panel that displays the termination status and ID number (along with the power and "drive busy" indicators). The drive also comes with brackets for stacking multiple drives and a pedestal that positions the drive vertically.

Kudos to the few CD-ROM drive vendors, such

as CMS Enhancements, Hitachi, Todd Enterprises, and Chinon America, whose drives include a modest, but "Disc Loaded" indicator on the dust door.

NEC Technologies' MultiSpin 4X Pro provides

front-panel buttons that let you easily select fastforward, fast-reverse, stop, and eject. Unique among the products we tested is this drive's audio-control buttons for audio-only CDs. Also handy is the amount of status information the MultiSpin provides. An LCD indicates CD loaded, CD busy, and the speed at which the drive is spinning.

Dubious Achievements

The DEC RRD43-FB and Toshiba TXM-4101L drives have power buttons next to the caddy insert

window, where most drives have an eject button (the eject buttons on the RRD43-FB and TXM-T4101L are below the dust door and don't have contrasting colors with the case). We found the proximity of the power d eject buttons to be frustratingr) close together. Most CD-ROM drives' power ics arc in the back or on the side, away from the front panel.

I Is it On Or Off? The Legacy CD-ROM 2\ drive's power-switch indicators

erse the "0" and "1" on the top cover of the drive compared to what's ' indicated on the switch itself.

184 BYTE/NSTL LAB REPORT SKITKMBER l'»4

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1 ROLL

GALL

OF

CD-ROM

DR

ES

VENDOR

MODEL

DRIVE SPEED

PRICE

ADAPTER PRICE

DRIVE VENDOR

SEQUENTIAL THROUGHPUT ("BPS)

RANDOM

ACCESS (SECONDS)

CPU UTILIZATION (» 150 KBPS 300 KBPS

CD Technology, Inc.

CD Porta-Drive T3401

®

15.76

30.55

®

7.85

41.88

Platinum CD-ROM

®

7.31

41.69

Platinum II CD-ROM

®

7.29

41.69

RRD43-FB

®

19.93

50.43

RRD44-DA

®

18.40

35.58

®

15.22

29.04

CDR-1900SPC

®

18.03

34.71

CDR-1950S

®

8.87

42.54

®

15.27

30.19

MacProducts USA

Magic CD Pro

®

19.12

36 92

Mirror CD ROM Drive

®

15.22

29.45

0

8.67

17.57

PLI CD-ROM MS

®

0.27

15.91

31.82

CM206/10

®

Bundled

Philips LMS

21.38

48.85

DoubleSpeed Plus

®

14.22

29.40

®

Todd Enterprises, Inc.

TCDR2XMS

®

$670

$75

Hitachi

301,40

0.34

Toshiba America Info. Systems

TXM-3401E

®

$545

$155

Toshiba

331.10

0.29

15.34

29.02

Toshiba America Info. Systems

TXM-4101L

®

$360

$155

Toshiba

301.50

0.52

19.75

50.08

CD Technology, Inc.

CD Porta-Drive T4100'

®

19.13

49.79

Disctec

RoadRunner Express CD-2x

®

$499

N/A

301.60

58.79

73.83

Liberty Systems, Inc.1

115 Series CDN-P

$699

N/A 1

NEC

311.00

0.33

45.83

94.34

Micro Solutions, Inc.

Backpack•

®

$499

Mitsumi

112.30

0.39

99.22

99.22

■iilalaliiiafil

VIDEO

SKIPPED FRAMES

TEXT SEARCH (SECONDS)

FEATDRES

EASE OF

BUFFER

DEVICE DRIVERS

8-BIT FILE

ONE WOR

BOOLEAN

SCORE

USE

WINDOWS 3.1

WINDOWS NT OS/2

MACINTOSH

Oof 912

15.23

15.08

AAA

256

✓

SCSI-2

Oof 912

16.63

16.89

AAA

▲ AAA

320

✓

✓

✓

SCSI-2

Oof 912

16.37

16.74

AAA

AAAA

256

✓

✓

✓

SCSI-2

Oof 912

16.77

16.71

AAA

AAAA

256

✓

✓

✓

SCSI-2

Oof 912

16.70

16.73

AAAA

AAA

64

✓

✓

✓

Novell NetWare 3.x and higher

SCSI-2

Oof 912

16.24

15.29

AAAA

AAA

256

✓

✓

Novell NetWare 3.x and higher

SCSI-2

0 0(912

15.76

15.33

AA

AAAA

256

✓

SCSI-2

Oof 912

16.86

16.76

AAA

AAA

128

✓

✓

Proprietary SCSI

Oof 912

16.76

16.75

AAA

AAA

256

✓

SCSI-2, optional EPP

Oof 912

15.20

15.42

AAAA

AAA

256

✓

✓ ✓

Novell

NetWare 4.0

SCSI-2

Oof 912

15.35

15.37

AAA

AAA

256

✓

✓ ✓

✓

Novell NetWare 3.11 and higher

SCSI-2, optional EPP

Oof 912

15.55

16.59

AAA

AAA

256

✓ ✓

✓

SCSI-2

Oof 912

8.69

9.52

AAA

AAA

256

✓ ✓

✓

SCSI-2, optional parallel port

Oof 912

16.55

16.70

AAA

AAA

256

✓

✓ ✓

✓

SCSI-2

Oof 912

16.84

16.85

AAA

64

✓

✓ ✓

Proprietary SCSI

Oof 912

15.09

15.06

AAA

64

✓

✓ ✓

✓

Novell NetWare 3.2 and higher

SCSI-2, optional EPP

Oof 912

16.76

16.76

AA

AA

64

✓

Proprietary SCSI

Oof 912

16.03

16.81

AAA

AAA

256

✓ ✓

✓

SCSI-2, optional IDE

Oof 912

15.31

15.23

AAA

AAAA

256

✓

✓ ✓

✓

SCSI-2

Oof 912

19.38

19.51

AAA

AAA

64

✓

✓ ✓

✓

SCSI-2

Oof 912

AAA

AAA

64

✓

SCSI-2

26.79

36.08

A

AA

32

✓

EPP

854 of 912

24.94

32 19

AAA

AAA

256

✓

✓ ✓

✓

SCSI-2

897 of 912

39.53

44.62

A

AAA

32

✓

✓

EPP

Excellent AAAA Good AAA Fair AA Poor A ✓ = yes. ■ Test via standard parallel; ■ SCSI-2 drives support SCSI-1 drives; EPP

SEPTEMBER 1994 BYTE/NSTI. LAB REPORT AST

ROLL C A L

SUPPORT

MODES SUPPORTI

VENDOR

MODEL

SCSI

ADDRESSING

FAST

SCSI

TERMINATION

SCSI ID SELECTOR

CD

AUD

10 CD-ROM (A

CD-I

CD Technology, Inc.

CD Porta-Drive T3401

8

External

Push button

□

✓

✓

Chinon America, Inc.

CDX-535

16

External

DIP switch

□

✓

CMS Enhancements

Platinum CD-ROM

32

✓

External

□

✓

✓

CMS Enhancements

Platinum II CD-ROM

32

✓

External

Push button

□

✓

✓

Digital Equipment Corp.

RRD43-FB

8

External

Jumpers

o

✓

✓

✓

Digital Equipment Corp.

RRD44-DA

8

External

Push button

□

✓

✓

✓

FWB, Inc.

hammerCD

8

External

Push button

□

✓

✓

Hitachi Home Electronics

CDR-1900SPC

N/A

N/A

□

✓

✓

✓

Hitachi Home Electronics

CDR-1950S

8- and 16-bit

Internal

DIP switch

□

✓

✓

✓

Legacy Storage Systems. Inc.

Legacy CD-ROM 2x

8

External

Push button

□

✓

✓

✓

MacProducts USA

Magic CD Pro

8

✓

External

Push button

□

✓

✓

✓

Mirror Technologies

Mirror CD ROM Drive

✓

External

Push button

□

✓

✓

✓

NEC Technologies, Inc.

MultiSpin 4X Pro

16

✓

Internal

□

✓

✓

PLI CD-ROM MS

Rotary switch

□

✓

✓

✓

Philips Laser Magnetic Storage

CM206/10

N/A

o

✓

✓

^Plextor

DM-5028

DoubleSpeed Plus

8

✓

Rotary switch

□

✓

✓

Reveal Computer Products

The Entertainer

N/A

N/A

IS

✓

✓

Todd Enterprises, Inc.

TCDR2XMS

8

DIP switch

n

✓

✓

Toshiba America Info. Systems

TXM-3401E

8

External

Push button

□

✓

✓

✓

Toshiba America Info. Systems

TXM-4101L

8

External

Push button

□

✓

✓

✓

CD Technology, Inc.

CD Porta-Drive T4100

8

External

Push button

o

✓

✓

Express CD-2x

o

115 Series CDN-P

Internal

□

✓

✓

✓

Micro Solutions, Inc.

Backpack

External

Software selectable

m

✓

✓

^ . BYTE Best

N/A • not applicable.

✓ = yes

Caddy □

Trayffl

NSTL LAB REPORT

fESTED

READ READ AUDIO CD SINGLE-SESSION MULTISESSION ISO 9660 DIMENSIONS (INCHES) FCC WARRANTY

MULTISESSION AS DIGITAL PHOTO CD PHOTO CD

DEPTH WIDTH HEIGHT CLASS (YEARS)

TOLL-FREE PHONE NO.

✓ 9.0 5.0 2.0 B 1

✓ 9.88 6.0 2.25 B 1

✓ 10.50 9.75 2.25 B 1

✓ 11.0 10.0 3.25 B 1

✓ 10.40 8.0 2.10 B 3

✓ 8.75 9.40 2.75 B 3

✓ 9.75 9 50 2.25 A and B 2

✓ 13.50 7.10 2.0 B 2

✓ 13.50 7.10 2.0 B 2

✓ 13.25 6.0 2.25 B

✓ 11.0 9.75 2.25 B

✓ 8.0 9.0 2.40 B

✓ 8.19 5.75 1.63 B

✓ 10.43 7.76 2.20 B

✓ 7.71 1.62 5.74 B

✓ 13.75 6.0 2.13 B

✓ 9.80 8.70 2.70 B

✓ 10.13 8.0 2.13 B

10.25 6.50 2.40

✓ 9.0 6.75 1 78 B

10.50 6.0

(408) 752-8500 (310) 533-0274 (714)222-6000

(714) 222-6000

H-0222 1106

(800) 237-2707

(800) 237-2707

(800) 722-9332 (415) 474-8055 (310) 537-8383 (310) 537-8383 (508) 435-4700 (512) 476-5295 (612) 830-1549 (708) 860-9500 (510) 657-2211 (719) 531-0168 (408) 980-1838 (818)704-6300 (718) 343-1040 (714) 457-0777 (714) 457-0777

(408) 752-8500

(407) 671-5500

(408) 983-1127 (815) 756-3411

(800) 369-0422 (800) 369-0422 (800) 966-6442 (800) 622-8721 (800) 654-5294 (800) 632-4636 (800) 288-8754 (800) 593-4081 (800) 886-3935 (800) 669-3559 (800) 445-8633 None

(800)553-0337 1126

(800)890-7227 1128

BYTE/NSTL LAB REPORT

5

a:J=M.I:l.HJU

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CPUs

Core Technologies

Silicon for 3-D

The 300SX Pipeline

The Glint chip brings inexpensive 3-D graphics processing to PCs

PETER WAYNER

The arrival of low-cost, high-power video chips capable of rendering complex 3-D scenes will, in the next three years, transform the average desktop PC into a sophisticated graphics workstation. The flat, 2-D components of today's user interfaces and applications will be replaced by fully functional 3-D objects that can move and rotate in any direction. Games, slide presentations, virtual reality—even spreadsheets—will never be the same.

One of the first inexpensive 3-D chips available to v ideo board manufacturers is the Glint 300SX from 3Dlabs (San Jose, CA). The chip performs all the standard operations of the current GUI accelerator video boards and renders up to 3(M),0(X) Gouraud-shaded polygons per second. Such a level of performance isn't possible from today's CPUs alone. You can thus think of the 3(X)SX as a specialized extension of your CPU dedicated to 3-D tasks.

3Dlabs estimates it will sell its chip at $150 apiece in suitable quantities. When the 300SX is bundled with relatively more expensive memory, you'll be able to add sophisticated 3-D graphics capabilities to a PC for well under $1000.

Inside Glint

At the highest level, the architecture of the 300SX is not much different from that of today's GUI accelerators. When the main processor needs to draw a triangle, for instance, it sends a list with the color and the three vertices of the triangle across the PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus to the 300SX. The compactness of this simple message allows the main processor to go on to other work while the 300SX interprets the message and changes the correct pixels on the screen.

The 300SX, like GUI accelerators, relies on an efficient memory interface to a frame buffer that contains the values of each pixel on the screen. The chip uses the interface to stream large sections of the screen image through its pipeline. The faster this is done, the more respon- *' *• !"•"*'the pipe

' Each pixel thus genera

me a screen IS. wrHten to the frame bu

But the similarities stop at this level, scene to the screen.

Most GUI accelerators can draw only lines and rectangles as well as copy parts of a screen from one section of the memory to another. This is good enough for 2-D work, but not for 3-D applications. The 300SX. however, can do more. In addition to 2-D manipulations, it can draw properly shaded polygons in a 3-D environment. It achieves 3-D realism by making sure that only the closest polygon to the screen remains visible to the user. The rest disappear. The chip can also add special effects, such as fog.

The Local Buffer

The 300SX has access to two different buffers for constructing an image. The main buffer holds a description of the color of each pixel on the screen. It can contain up to 32 bits per pixel: 8 bits each for red, green, and blue, and 8 bits for an alpha-blending constant used for transparency. This buffer is usually stored in fast VRAM, which contains two ports so that the image can be sent to the monitor at the same time the 3(X)SX is changing it.

The other buffer, called the local buffer, contains up to 48 bits of additional information for each pixel. Up

j- ' Texture J

J

I?

j- Stencil "j- Depth ~~|- ||

s, the rasteruer creates a list of pixel r. Using the information in the frame

Core Technologies

CPUs

to 32 bits of this buffer is used as a z-buffer, which contains the depth of the last pixel drawn at a particular location. When each primitive is drawn by breaking it into pixels, the depth (or ;-coordinate) is compared with the depth of the pixel that is already drawn in the frame buffer. If this new pixel is closer to the viewer, then it is drawn into the frame buffer. If it is farther away and effectively eclipsed by the previously drawn object primitive, then the new pixel is ignored.

The rest of the bits of the local buffer can be used to block out parts of a screen through stenciling masks. A common use of this technique is to draw cutout letters and render a scene that is visible only through these cutouts. In this case, the description of the letters is placed in the local buffer, and this controls the appearance of the scene. When the 300SX attempts to render a pixel, it checks with these bits to see if the pixel will be visible.

The Graphics Pipeline

The features of the 300SX are implemented by functional units arranged in a long pipeline through the chip. These units operate relatively asynchronously and are linked by buffered channels that route the information from one unit to another. The various sli ps in the pipeline are shown in the figure "The 300SX Pipeline."

At the beginning of the pipeline is a rasterizer, which takes the description of the graphics primitive (e.g., the three corners of a triangle) and converts it into a list of pixels. The 3(X)SX will also antialias a primitive by computing the partial area covering a pixel, breaking the pixel up into either a 4- by 4- or an 8- by 8subpixel grid. The chip uses this fractional information to better determine how much color to apply at the boundaries of the prim itives. In effect, it blurs the edges slightly to reduce their jaggedness and to smooth animation.

Each pixel then travels to each functional unit along the pipeline. The first unit performs two functions: the scissors test, which checks to see if the pixel fits within the absolute boundaries of the frame buffer, and the stipple test, which checks to see if the pixel lies on predefined dashed lines or meshes. Next in line, the Color DDA unit computes the correct color of the pixel based on the colors at the corners of the polygon. The 3(K)SX uses the Gouraud-shading model to average the color based on the position of the pixel in the polygon. This ensures that two adjacent polygons meet smoothly.

After color shading comes texture mapping. The hardware in this unit draws a texture onto the polygon by determining which spot in the texture pattern is to be drawn at each particular pixel. Texture maps are often digitized photographs that, when mapped onto a 3-D surface, lend a great deal of realism to rendered scenes. A complete 3-D model of every pebble, bump, and rough spot in a tree, for example, is just too complicated to be rendered by today's technology. Instead, a rough polygonal approximation is used, and the texture is projected onto it. The 300SX computes the correct texture color by interpolating among eight different versions. A later version of the chip, the 3(K)TX. should provide true perspective correction for tilted planes.

At this point in the pipeline, the 3(X)SX uses the information from the local buffer to remove hidden pixels. If the z-buffer shows that a pixel would be covered by a previously drawn pixel, then the covered pixel disappears from the pipeline. Similarly, pixels that may be blocked by a stencil or a window mask are also removed.

After the local buffer is accessed, the pixels are ready to be drawn into the frame buffer. There are three steps that control how a pixel is added to the frame buffer. The alpha value (i.e.. the

192 HYTK SEPTEMBER 1994

last 8 bits of the 32 bits assigned to each pixel) determines the transparency of the pixel and is used to blend the new pixel into the previously existing pixel in the frame buffer. The 300SX can also dither the pixel by finding two or more colors that approximate the desired color if it is not available in the current palette. Finally, the basic logical operations of OR, AND. and XOR are used to control the drawing of new pixels into the frame buffer.

Division of Labor

The 300SX does many things for the rendering of polygons, but it is important to recognize what it does not do. Although it draws shaded polygons and uses a z-buffer to determine which parts of the polygons are visible, this is only half of a 3-D graphics system. The chip does not actually compute the locations of a polygon's comers or do any of the lighting model calculations necessary to convert an image into the list of shaded polygons.

In graphics parlance, the 300SX provides the back end—the rendering half- of a 3-D graphics pipeline, leaving the host CPU to perform geometry calculations. This is the same tack taken by Hewlett-Packard in its 3-D graphics systems.

The 30()SX does not perform geometry calculations for a number of reasons. First are the practical ones. Although a graphics pipeline that does both geometry calculations and rendering is usually faster than one that performs only rendering, it is also much more expensive to implement. Besides, most of the computations necessary to rotate, scale, and project objects are easily accomplished by standard CPUs. The calculations normally involve heavy floating-point arithmetic, which is best provided by a general-purpose CPU. The high-speed frame-buffer juggling that the 3(X)SX performs is not necessary at this level. A final practical advantage of letting the host CPU perform geometry calculations is that it allows 3-D performance to scale along with the performance of the CPU.

The 3(X)SX also leaves geometry to software to avoid political problems. While most 3-D companies agree on the basic steps needed to draw 3-D objects on a screen, they do not agree on the format or on many of the geometric models used to represent 3-D objects. OpenGL is a popular standard developed by Silicon Graphics and adopted by companies including IBM. DKC. Intergraph, and Novell. Microsoft, in fact, has made OpenGL the standard 3-D graphics API for Windows NT and other versions of Windows. Sun Microsystems and others, however, have other ideas about graphics APIs.

By leaving the geometry calculations to software, the 300SX avoids all API wars. Any graphics API can use the rendering capabilities of a 300SX on the back end by first using its own software-based geometric engine to convert the scene into a list of shaded polygons and lines and then passing this list to the 3(X)SX. Such a system also lets the geometry engine evolve in the event that more complicated lighting models or other improvements are developed.

By providing both 2-D and 3-D acceleration, the 300SX is positioned to work with today's GUIs as well as tomorrow's virtual reality-based interfaces. As chips like the 300SX become more common in v ideo display adapters, software vendors will become bolder in incorporating 3-D capability into their products. The time is not too distant when 3-D graphics will be as common as GUI accelerators. ■

Peter Wayner is a BYTE consulting editor based in Baltimore, Maryland. He can he contacted on the Internet at pcw@access.digex.com or on BIX as "pwayner. *

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Card 72

I..1.111..,11...I.nil..hull..1.1.,LI.,11.1..1.1

Operating Systems

Core Technologies

The Fix Is In for Chicago

Microsoft has added many robust features to the successor to Windows 3.x

JON UDELL

Chicago's new shell will likely capture the lion's share of attention when the product finally ships. But ultimately the shell is just one—admittedly crucial— Win32 application. If you'll be deciding whether, or how rapidly, to upgrade hundreds or thousands of Windows 3.1 seats to Chicago, you can treat the shell as an a la carte item. Users who find its features easily discoverable can jump right in; users who don't can be weaned gradually from the tried-and-true Program Manager, which, like any Win 16 application, should run just fine on Chicago.

Decision makers won't justify the inevitable pain of the most radical Windows upgrade ever solely on the basis of a better shell. They'll need convincing evidence that Chicago will be a stable, compatible, multitasking, manageable, networkable successor to Windows 3.x. To address these concerns. Microsoft has built a lot of new plumbing into Chicago. Here are some of the highlights.

the VM (virtual machine) that runs the DOS system code. Corruption of that VM's memory in Windows 3.x was a disaster for Windows itself and for all other DOS VMs. In Chicago, Win 16 and Win32 applications are no longer vulnerable if—as is recommended—you don't use any real-mode drivers. While DOS boxes are still vulnerable, you can opt, at some cost in performance, to guard the memory they share using read-only page protection. For a valid write, the system temporarily switches the protection of the destination page to read-write.

What about VxDs (virtual device drivers)? These scary denizens of ring 0, which is the highest privilege level on an 80x86 CPU, play an even bigger role in Chicago. They handle caching, installable file systems, networking, i, and much more. Like NetWare NLMs

The key point is that Chicago, like NT. separates Win32 applications (and some supporting subsystems) into private address spaces. What Win32 applications'.' That's a fair question, given that even Microsoft has yet to step up to the plate with Win32 (or even Win32s) versions of Word and Excel. But Chicago will be able to run on many more machines than Windows NT can, so it's reasonable to expect to see a significant move to Win32 during 1995.

Chicago systems running Win32 applications should prove much more stable than Chicago or Windows 3.x systems running mostly DOS and Win 16 applications. Initially, however. Chicago will have to support lots of DOS and Win 16 applications. These should run more stably, too, for several reasons. Chicago tracks resources such as memory, file handles, and GDI (Graphical Device Interface) objects on a per-thread basis and runs each DOS and Win 16 application on its own thread. This arrangement means Chicago can reclaim these resources when a legacy application goes belly-up. If a DOS application crashes, reclamation occurs right away. If a Win 16 application crashes, cleanup is deferred until all running Win 16 applications quit: Windows 3.x lacks memory protection, and some Win 16 applications grab resources owned by others, so aggressive resource recovery won't work.

There's also nice improvement for plain DOS multitasking. As with Windows 3.x. multiple DOS boxes share

Windows 3.x Problem

Chicago Solution

• separate the Win32 address spaces

• clean up after failed applications

• w rite-protect memory in DOS VMs

• validate VxD parameters

• schedule Win32 apps preemptively

Worts poorly with NetWare

Works poorly on WANs

• fully describe system in registry

• RPC-enable registry viewer/editor

• export registry data with SNMP or DTi

• include 32-bft NetWare redirector

• use IPX/SPX as default transport

• support UNC for NetWare

(NetWare loadable modules), but unlike Win32 applications and system services, VxDs have full run of the machine and can get into trouble.

Microsoft's answer is that the debug version of the Chicago kernel will validate parameters passed to VxDs and so help developers spot trouble before VxDs reach the field. That's a start, but it won't flush out all the nasty interactions that can crop up in the field. Moreover, as developers rewrite their VxDs to make them pageable and dynamically loadable and unloadable. they're going to discover and want to use other new tricks VxDs can do in Chicago—such as calling Win32 safely in a special context known as appy time, or manipulating the scheduler.

To ensure that all the new VxDs that are bound to appear behave in an orderly way, Microsoft could offer to certify them, as does Novell with its NLMs. A complementary

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Core Technologies

Operating Systems

approach would be to give developers a flexible, comprehensive, safe framework for writing VxDs. This approach would also help make Chicago and NT drivers source code compatible—something that Microsoft promised but won't in all cases be able to deliver.

Microsoft says that Chicago will run any application or device driver that DOS or Windows 3.x can run. That's possible because Chicago includes the same components that DOS and Windows 3.x use to run those applications and drivers. It's a hybrid of 16- and 32-bit technologies, and some major pieces—notably printing and display—remain firmly rooted in the 16-bit world, a fact that raises legitimate concerns among critics.

But it's worth noting that, despite their mixed lineage, these Chicago subsystems in some ways surpass what the purely 32-bit NT offers today. In the new printing model, a stream of GDI commands spools to an enhanced metafile and then plays back through GDI on a background thread. This scheme ensures rapid return of control to the user. For developers, it will automate the most popular reason for using threads: to implement background printing.

The display subsystem features a DIB (device-independent bit map) engine that, when pointed at screen memory, can serve as a flat-frame-buffer display driver. Because the display drivers that ship with Chicago will use the DIB engine as a generic core, they should be relatively small and straightforward to implement, like NT's network card and storage nunidm ers. As a result, driver developers can hook just the calls their hardware will accelerate. To create the fiction of a Hut frame buffer when the graphics hardware is actually bank-switched, as are most SVGAclass cards, Chicago supplies a mapper to which DIB-enginebased display minidrivers can mate their bank-switching code. That the DIB engine is a l6-/32-bit hybrid, rather than the pure 32bit entity the GDI team would have preferred to create, underscores Chicago's commitment to 16-bit compatibility. Given that constraint, the advances in printing and display arc promising.

The most troubling aspect of Chicago's 16-bil compatibility is the Winl6Lock, a semaphore that serializes access to the 16-bit code that Chicago inherits from Windows 3.x. Both Win 16 and Win32 applications must acquire the semaphore to access the windows and GDI resources it guards, so both arc vulnerable to delay should a Win 16 application fail to yield. Win32 threads, since (lies "re preemptively multitasked. hold the semaphore only briefly, so they shouldn't block other threads for more than a millisecond or so. But won't Win32 applications monopolize the semaphore during lengthy print jobs? Microsoft claims not, because the print spooler that feeds the enhanced metafile to GDI for rendering is a 32-bit. preemptively multitasked entity that grabs and frees the lock on a per-GDI-call basis.

Armchair operating-swem designers may love to debate Chicago's multitasking design, but users just want results. One of the most wanted results is the ability, lacking in Windows 3.x, to handle demanding background communications. The migration of network and disk drivers to protected mode will help alleviate Windows 3.x's problems with high interrupt latency. Microsoft says, as will a concerted effort to identify and tune the parts of the system that were disabling interrupts for excessively long periods.

Chicago's manageability flows from its deep and comprehensive support for Plug and Play. At boot time, Chicago et

A»4 BYTE SEPTEMBER 1994

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Core Technologies

Operating Systems

A Message to Our Subscribers

From time to time we make the BYTE subscriber list available to other companies whose products or services would be of interest to our readers. We take great care to screen these companies, choosing only those who are reputable. Furthermore, subscriber names are made available for direct mail purposes only; telemarketing calls are strictly prohibited.

Many BYTE subscribers appreciate this carefully managed program, and look forward to receiving information of interest to them via the mail. While we believe this information is of benefit to our subscribers, we firmly respect the wishes of any subscriber who does not want to receive promotional literature. Should you wish to restrict the use of your name, please send your request (including your magazine mailing label, name, address, and subscription account number) to:

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all buses and devices on the system and records these in the system registry, so it knows a lot about the hardware it's running on, and that lays a good foundation for system management. The RPC-enabled (remote procedure call) registry editor will enable remote monitoring (and in some cases reconfiguration) of Chicago systems. The registry data will also be exportable to other management tools using SNMP. DMI (Desktop Management Interface), and potentially other protocols.

What's lacking, unfortunately, is an equivalent way to manage software. Chicago's performance-monitoring tools and procedures aren't yet on a par with their NT counterparts, and they may still not be when the system ships. The event-logging APIs that NT applications and drivers can use to record status and error information in the registry don't exist at all in Chicago. That Chicago sacrifices Win32 features such as Unicode, asynchronous I/O. and 32-bit GDI coordinates is troubling, but the loss of event logging is really tragic. Managing software is ultimately an even bigger problem than managing hardware. A golden opportunity to lay a foundation for software management is slipping through Microsoft's fingers.

Networking

Windows 3.x's poor network citizenship, particularly on NetWare LANs, has been an endless annoyance. Chicago will bring major improvements in this area, starting with a bundled NetWare redirector that integrates seamlessly with native Windows file- and print-sharing services. The separate NetWare dialog boxes of Windows for Workgroups 3.11 are no more, and UNC (Universal Naming Convention) works the same way for Windows and NetWare resources. New smarts in the redirector should end the maddening Windows 3.x propensity to hang upon losing contact with a NetWare server, Microsoft promises.

A further sign of Windows/NetWare detente is the fact that Chicago's default network protocol will be Novell's IPX/SPX. Chicago's internal peer server can also piggyback on the security services of both NTAS (NT Advanced Server) and NetWare servers. Thanks to pass-through authentication, you can share your C drive with user-level security, rather than the less-discriminating share-level security available in Windows for Workgroups Sill. This nifty innovation leverages the user databases maintained by NTAS and NetWare.

Chicago also offers a systemwide log-in manager, called master key. It can transmit a single set of credentials, which may be validated locally by Chicago or remotely by NTAS or NetWare, to many password-protected services. The mail client will be the first to exploit the master-key API, but other applications can, too.

Although Chicago defaults to IPX/SPX, it will include the new TCP/IP features that are now (in June) available in beta form for Windows for Workgroups 3.11 and NT Daytona. Specifically, Chicago is a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) client and a WINS (Windows Internet Naming Service) client. DHCP, which governs automatic, on-the-fly allocation of IP addresses, radically simplifies address management in large TCP/IP networks. WINS, which maps between network names and IP addresses, likewise simplifies the administrative effort required to support browsing for named resources on routed networks. The current plan is to offer DCHP and WINS servers only on NT. I hope these servers will show up on Chicago as well. ■

Programming

Core Technologies

Object-Oriented COBOL

The great-granddaddy off procedural languages may soon be stepping out in its new object-oriented shoes

RICK GREHAN

COBOL may be, depending on your opinion of it, the Frankenstein or the Lazarus of computer languages. Either by its own inertia or by virtue of its structure, it is unkillable. Opinions aside, it is mere fact that there is a great deal of COBOL code out there being executed. Estimates run to billions of lines of code, representing untold programmer-years (possibly programmerdecades or even programmer-centuries) of work.

On the one hand, there's the force created by that mass of working code. It works, so common sense suggests that you leave it be. On the other hand, new technologies in hardware and software appear daily. Entrepreneurial sense suggests that an enormous benefit would be derived from adapting those existing programs to the new technologies. Such is the dilemma facing COBOL programmers as they survey the object-oriented landscape.

Cautious Steps

COBOL programmers face maintainability with more seriousness than other programmers. Viewing the learning cliff climbed by C programmers as they assault the C++ summit, COBOL programmers might reasonably argue that the C++ world spends all too much time looking forward and not enough looking back. Their complaint is not that C++ compilers are unable to support C code, but that no easy path is provided to turn a C program into a C++ program.

Because COBOL programs are running critical applications such as payroll and general ledger postings, they represent corporate activities that cannot die. lest they take the corporation with them. Hence, the community of COBOL programmers is willing to enter the objectoriented world only in a series of small, well-orchestrated steps.

Dan Clarke. Object Oriented Product Manager of Micro Focus, indicates that what the COBOL community wants is twofold. It wants some reassurance that there will be extensions to COBOL that will allow it to participate in the object-oriented game. Simultaneously, it wants lots of reassurance that existing code won't get broken in the move.

ANSI is putting together a specification for OO (object-oriented) COBOL. Currently, only draft documents exist,

and the shape of OO COBOL is necessarily in flux as meetings of the Object Oriented COBOL Task Group (X3J4.1, in ANSI-speak) continue.

Presently, the draft documents provide good descriptions of what OO COBOL class and method definitions will look like. There appears to be indecision as to whether OO COBOL will support single or multiple inheritance, but all the fundamental object pieces are there: classes, messages, encapsulation, and polymorphism. I was surprised at how robust the draft specification appeared, given that COBOL lacks some basic facilities you need to build object orientation.

Take, for example, the entire notion of object references. COBOL doesn't have pointers. Remember, this is a language whose developers were more interested in modeling the goings-on of financial calculation and bookkeeping than in developing clever abstractions of CPU addressing modes. Implementing objects, however, demands some form of handle data construct—that is, a small, single data item that references a larger data structure, usually built as a pointer to a pointer. No such notion exists in current COBOL; it will have to be infused into the language (via the USAGE clause, a modifier placed on a data description entry).

This is just the tip of the iceberg, however. How, while remaining as true as possible to the spirit of the COBOL syntax, could you outfit the language w nh object-oriented notions such as inheritance, methods, and instance data?

A Glimpse

A sample of what object-oriented COBOL code might look like appears in the listing. The listing is based on object-oriented extensions to COBOL that are now available from Micro Focus and are based on a draft put together by ANSI's Object Oriented COBOL Task Group (X3J4.1). You can get still more information from Ray Obin's book Object Orientation: An Introduction for COBOL Programmers, available from Micro Focus Publishing: it includes a good description of Micro Focus's ob

I cannot overemphasize this caveat: The code shown is based on draft proposals. Examine it with the understanding that there may be differences between what you read here and what will survive to the finalized specification (not due out until at least 1997). Nor do I intend to imply an endorsement of Micro Focus: I am using its extensions as a basis only, because they provide a snapshot of the current OO COBOL specification.

In any case, the listing shows an oversimplified definition of a savings account class, such as might appear in a banking application. The CLASS ID phrase in the identification division not only names the class being defined but also indicates its superclass, if any. via the optional INHERITS phrase. In the listing, class savings-account is

SEPTEMBER 1994 BYTE 197

Core Technologies

Programming

Simple 00 COBOL listing for a s a v i n g s - a c c o u n t class. IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.

CLASS-ID. savings-account INHERITS FROM account. ENVIRONMENT DIVISION. OBJECT SECTION. CLASS-CONTROL

account. IDENTIFICATION DIVISION. CLASS-OBJECT.

DATA DIVISION.

WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.

01 total-number-of-accounts PIC 9999.

01 savings-account-details. 05 interest-rate PIC 99V9. 05 minimum-balance PIC 9(6)V99.

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION. METHOD-ID. reset-minimum-balance. DATA DIVISION. LINKAGE SECTION.

01 new-minimum-balance PIC 9(6)V99. PROCEDURE DIVISION USING new-minimum-balance. P0001.

MOVE new-minimum-balance PIC 9(6)V99. EXIT METHOD. END METHOD reset-minimum-balance. END CLASS-OBJECT.

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION. OBJECT.

DATA DIVISION.

WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.

01 interest USAGE OBJECT REFERENCE. IDENTIFICATION DIVISION. METHOD-ID. printStatement. DATA DIVISION. WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.

01 displaylnterest PIC -(9)9.99. PROCEDURE DIVISION. P0002.

DISPLAY "Savings Account". INVOKE SUPER "printStatement". INVOKE interest "getValue" RETURNING templntei MOVE templnterest TO display Interest. DISPLAY "Interest paid:" display Interest. EXIT METHOD. END METHOD printStatement. END OBJECT

END CLASS savings-account.

a subclass of class account. The CLASS CONTROL paragraph, which follows, includes information that tells the compiler where it can locate implementation definitions of the account class. (Different OO COBOLs will use varying techniques to connect a class name to its implementation; in this case. I'm presuming that the compiler recognizes that there is only one account class, defined elsewhere in the source code.)

Notice that CLASS- CONTROL falls within the OBJECT SECTION, where class objects arc defined. Don't confuse class objects with objects created by the class; only one class object exists per class. Data carried by the class object is global data—analogous to static data defined within C++ classes—accessible by all objects created by the class. In the listing, all savings accounts will have the same interest rate and minimum balance, so these data fields reside in the class object.

Similarly, methods defined for a class object manipulate only the class object's data. Again, the listing shows a reset-mi ni mum - balance method that allows the program to set the mini mum ba 1 ance field. Class objects also carry methods for creating and destroying instance objects, although none is show n in the listing.

198 BYTE

' In this case, the compiler would create default methods for creating or destroying an object.

The definition of objects created by the class follows in the OBJECT paragraph. Data items in the WORK ING- STORAGE SECTION arc instance variables. In this case, the instance variable is a reference (a handle, if you will) to another object, an i n terest object. Note that data items that you would expect to find in all types of accounts— holder's name, address, social security number, and so on—will be defined in the parent object, account.

You can see some of the other elements of OO COBOL if you examine the printStatement method. First, you can create temporary variables (di spl aylnterest in the example) that have lifetime and scope only within the method. Next, you can see that messages are sent to objects using the INVOKE verb. In the example, the savingsaccount object sends a pri ntStatement message to its superclass and then sends a get.Va 1 ue message to the i n terest object. Finally, the invocation of the getVal ue method demonstrates how methods can return values. (The example doesn't show how values are passed into methods. You do this with the USING phrase, which you insert in the INVOKE command line prior to the RETURNING phrase. Ingoing arguments are listed after the US! NG gerund.)

Yet Unseen

There are more aspects of OO COBOL that I haven't covered here; they are nonetheless important. One is the notion of interfaces, a kind of inheritance mechanism that allows an object to present one set of methods to the outside world at one time and a separate set at another time. Interface definitions will also allow OO COBOL (with the help of translators) to provide a mechanism to produce an IDL (interface definition language) file. This is a neciSt. essary step for allowing COBOL objects to make themselves available to the outside world via, say, an object request broker as defined by CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture).

At Boston's Computer Museum, upstairs in the People and Computers area, you'll find a bizarre exhibit that consists of a gray tombstone, the top of which has been sculpted to look like a sheep. Engraved on the tombstone is "COBOL"; it is dated 1961. According to museum employees, the exhibit was donated by someone who was working on the early specifications of COBOL and was convinced that the thenarguing members of the specifications committee (probably the CODASYL—Conference on Data Systems Languages—group) would never come to an agreement. Perhaps the donor thought the tombstone a joke: maybe he legitimately believed that COBOL would die early.

In fact, however, COBOL is no joke, and it's not dying. And if OO COBOL catches on. the language could be more alive than ever. ■

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks to Tim McCormley of AccuCobol and Dan Clarke of Micro Focus for their input.

Rick Grehmi i.v technical director o,(the BYTE Lab. Before coming to BYTE, he worked as a programmer. He ha\ a U.S. in physics and applied mathematics and an M.S. in mathematics/computer science. He can he reached on the Internet or BIX at rick_g@bix.com.

Thanks to new ObjectView Desktop, the folks at Powersoft will be getting a lot of mail.

The evidence is in, and PowerBuilder Desktop is out. The response to new ObjectView• Desktop has been astounding, and its reputation continues to grow. Every day, more and more desktop developers are choosing ObjectView Desktop from KnowledgeWare to build robust client/server applications.

And why? For starters, ObjectView Desktop is easier to learn and use. While some programmers struggle with PowerBuilder and its proprietary language for months (not all successfully), you can put ObjectView Desktop to work immediately. And when you do, you'll discover that it packs more power than PowerBuilder Desktop. Not only will you develop robust applications faster, you'll build faster applications, too up to 40 times faster than those built with PowerBuilder, according to independent benchmarks.

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"KnowledgeWare has thrown down the gauntlet not only to Powersoft but also to the dbase vendors." Don DePalma. Forrester Research, "Low-End ClientTServerTools May Fuel Price War," Cnmputenmrid April 11,1994.

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m versions." Performance levels n

Networks

Core Technologies

Optimizing Notes Replication

Proper scheduling makes

a world of difference

Lotus promises that Notes will change the way companies do business, and judging by the product's explosive market growth, that promise is being taken very seriously indeed. But while Notes users enjoy increasingly pleasant user interfaces and sophisticated applications, network managers are discovering—the hard way— that running Notes efficiently is not always a simple task. In this discussion. I'll focus on an often-underrated cause of suboptimal performance: ineffective replication scheduling.

As a pioneer in distributed database technology, Notes may be the first and most visible product to suffer from large-scale scheduling woes. But with the advent of Novell's NetWare Directory Service and replication services for database servers from Oracle and Sybase, the issue of replication scheduling is moving to the forefront. Buyers and vendors alike should raise their level of awareness about this potentially critical issue.

From Concept to Reality

Today's global organizations need to provide their geographically distributed workgroups with the ability to access and manipulate shared information. But because of technical limitations and telecommunications costs, reliance on remote access to centrally located data is often not feasible.

Lotus Notes provides a conceptually simple and elegant solution to this problem: Identical copies of the shared Notes databases are distributed so that users do the bulk of their work on their local copies. What makes this solution work is the concept of replication, a process in which a pair of servers (or

and a workstation) communicate to synchronize their respective copies of shared databases.

The concept is a simple one, but the road to effective implementation can be rocky. Notes is not immune to the usual WAN (wide-area network) ailments: international incompatibility of modems, unanticipated network congestion, and insufficient bandwidth. Fortunately, network managers know how to deal with these problems. But they've yet to acquire much experience with another problem that's critical to the health of a Notes network—replication scheduling.

Data propagation between servers is governed primarily by a fixed, network-wide replication schedule. That schedule, and the logical topology it implies, dictates how updates flow through the system. Organizations often underestimate the impact that the topology and replication schedule can have on the performance of Notes as an enterprise-wide application.

A well-planned flow, tailored to your specific infrastructure and usage patterns, avoids uneven server workloads and excessive network congestion. Topology and a replication schedule can be decisive factors in determining whether your Notes network can propagate shared information quickly enough to support the business processes that you want to automate. What follows is a scenario involving two organizations and their respective approaches to their replication problems.

Tales from the Trenches

Organization 1 is a round-the-clock operation. Its 75 offices, which are scattered around the world, are interconnected by the company's private network. Each office runs a Notes server. Rapid distribution of new information has always been crucial to many of the organization's business processes. continued

The Impact of Topology and Scheduling—A Simple Example

between 2 and 3 hours, and the

an average propagation time of 4 hours. But a square topology (right) is the optimal solution for four servers: The best case is between 1 and 2 hours, and the worst case

Core Technologies

Networks

Organization 2 is a conglomerate of 15 loosely affiliated franchises located throughout Europe and the U.S. The franchises communicate over modems and rely on large volumes of shared (and frequently updated) information. Over time, several hundred Notes databases have evolved in this organization. Many of these databases are distributed to most or all of the servers, and some contain very large, frequently updated documents.

Organization 1 wanted

with replications being initiated by servers in five different time zones according to calling schedules that were not centrally coordinated—partly because Notes provides no tools for managing cross-time-zone scheduling—there were many scheduling conflicts: again, this resulted in lost or delayed replications.

Clearly. Organization 1 needed to cut back on the number of replications being made and lake some of the load off the main ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ hub. A comprehens'

replication scheme that would ' propagate any update as soon as possible. Since replication between two servers transfers only those changes that have occurred since the two servers last replicated, and since communications costs on the private network were not an issue, organization officials figured they could replicate as frequently as they wished. They decided to use a huband-spoke topology. A central hub would initiate replications with all other servers every 45

Tips for Effective Scheduling

1 Know the duration of your replications to help avoid 0\ erl

tight scheduling. Don't make unfounded assumptions concerning how long replications should take.

~y Don't waste resources by replicating unnecessarily. For

instance, if you're a 9-to-5 operation, there's probably no point in having your New York server replicate with your Zuric server after lunch time (EST), since nobody in Zurich will generate or need information until the following morning.

3 Seek to introduce parallelism that is. concurrent

replications—into your scheme. Hub-and-spoke topology is simple, but it's also the least efficient method, since the hub can replicate with only one spoke at a time. The model of regional hubs that was implemented by Organization 2 shows one way of introducing concurrency. While the main hub is replicating w ith one regional hub, other regional hubs can simultaneously replicate with their spokes. To really appreciate the impact of topology and scheduling on turnaround time, see the figure.

Organization 2 set up continental hubs, each one replicat- ing with all the servers in its continent; the two continental hubs also replicated with each other. Replication scheduling was done more or less on an ad hoc basis, with no real mast The organization ended up with between the hubs and some spokes, and two or three daily replications between the hubs and some other spokes. It was decided that the member of a pair of replicating servers to initiate the replication would be the one located in the office responsible for the phone bills.

e daily replication scheduled

There was one basic problem with Organization I\s reasoning: the overhead involved in Notes replication. Replications—even empty replications that pull no data—are far from free. Both servers must expend a significant amount of time and resources just to identify whether any updates need to be pulled from the other server. It can easily take 30 seconds (and sometimes much longer) just to determine that nothing needs to be done, a burden when this process must occur more than 100 times per hour.

As a result, the hub was frequently failing to complete a calling cycle before it had to start a new round all over again, and some unfortunate spokes were consistently dropping off the end of the list and not getting replications. Moreover, all that replication activity put a significant strain on the hub and caused serious congestion.

Organization 2's replications were far from empty. Because of the large volume of data, the slow lines, and the replication overhead involved, a typical replication would last anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour, and sometimes longer. Insufficient awareness of the duration of replications throughout the system had caused many replications to be scheduled too close together: consequently, they were often lost or significantly delayed. Moreover.

202 BYTE SEPTEMBER IW

server and per-database analysis of replication showed that the highly active databases were not replicating to all the servers. The frequency of replications w as therefore cut back wherever possible, and another hub was brought in to share the effort with the original hub.

Organization 2 needed a new, centrally planned schedule. A comprehensive analysis of the duration of replications with the various spokes helped indicate how large a window needed to be reserved for each replication to avoid conflicts. It also showed that the European hub could not efficiently handle replication with all its spokes, so regional hubs were introduced to help distribute updates more effi^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^m ciently. The system was carefully mapped out. and. taking into consideration such issues as time-zone differences and usage patterns, a new. more efficient, and more reliable schedule was designed.

From Reliable Replication to Optimized Propagation

Successful tuning of a broken replication system is worth a pat on the back. But ensuring that updates get where they're needed is not enough. Updates must also arrive when they're needed. Again, the right topology and replication schedule are the key factors.

It's important to realize that design and maintenance of your replication scheme is neither a side issue nor a one-time thing. It is no less important than server administration, network management, and applications development.

While you may need to seek outside help, especially for major overhauls, you should aspire to breed (or acquire) in-house expertise so that you can stay on top of your evolving Notes network. In addition, users of Notes and other distributed-data products have a right to expect much more powerful tools for analyzing and modeling data flows than are now available.

If your Notes network seems to be dragging its feet, it may be wearing the wrong topology/scheduling shoes. Custom-fit it with as good a pair as you can, and your organization and its Notes network just might start dancing to a smoother tune. ■

Duvii! Yavin holds a Ph.D. in inathemc and i omhinulorics. formerly a reseat ot Mathematics in Bonn. Germany, he MA) and has worked as a consultant to on issues of topology and replication Internet as david@math.mit.edu or oi

There Are Two Times When Modem Reliability Is Critical.

When You'r In The Off ic

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Don't Blink

■ entafluge is back. This is the big Pentium system I wrote about in June. It features a DEC 3107 1.05-GB 9-millisecond SCSI hard drive, a Maxoptix T3-1300 optical drive, a Micronics Computers 60-MHz M5Pi motherboard, a Plextor Double Speed Plus CD-ROM drive, and a Distributed Processing Technology SmartCache III SCSI caching hard drive controller. It's all wonderfully fast. That's putting it mildly. This system is awesome, and you must understand I don't usually say things like that. This column is going to be full of superlatives. First, though, the problems.

Setting up Pentafluge was sheer frustration. If you're contemplating an act of penance, try SCSI. It took me two days; reading this may save you part of that.

Most of the problems were my fault in the sense that they were avoidable if I'd been more clever and had studied the situation better. However, I didn't want to spend my time studying badly written manuals. It was easier to just start in. Besides, systems work better after I've screamed at them.

My previous work left Pentafluge unable to SCSI systems are prone to termination probfind the optical drive and afflicted by mysterious lems, and the cable used for internal SCSI is glitches in the sound quality. I've since solved subject to the problems of any ribbon cable, both problems. namely, that the connectors may not have been

The sound-quality glitches go away if you crimped on properly and aren't making full condon't use Berkeley screen savers in Windows; if tact. We've had this difficulty since CP/M days you must use them, set them up for internal Contact enhancer liberally applied to the cable speaker sound. When Berkeley screen savers try to employ high-quality wave-table sounds, they grab Windows resources and never quite let go of all of them. Over time, this degrades the sound in all your applications. At least one Berkeley technician claimed this was really a problem in the Creative Labs Sound Blaster drivers. I don't believe that, however, because I can get the problem when I'm running Logitech's SoundMan and ATI Technologies' sound-card system.

Pentafluge's early problems had more than one cause. There was shipment damage to the power supply and motherboard. It wasn't quite enough damage to have caused the problems, but we also had a bad SCSI cable, and apparently one of the devices wasn't properly terminated.

A wrestling match with a new Pentium machine and graphics card produces a winner: the fastest system yet at Chaos Manor

ts seems to help. I've written about Stabilant 22—expensive but effective—before. This is another use for it.

Wide ribbon cables can cause other problems. Big Cheetah (my 33-MHz 486DX72 machine) recently developed screen flashes and other video glitches. When I opened him up, I found that the hard drive cable was blocking airflow to the video board. All my custom systems use PC Power & Cooling power supplies (see my June column), which have strong fans, but no fan can blow air through a cable. When you install SCSI devices, pay attention to cable routing.

One problem with setting up SCSI systems is that it something won't work, you don't know if it's the cable, or the termination, or the SCSI device itself. Fortunately, there's a remedy.

Granite Digital makes a series of products. Active Diagnostic Terminators and Gold Diagnostic Cables, that let you diagnose cable problems.

For instance, you can connect one of your devices to the host computer using your own cable, terminate that device with one of their SCSIVue Terminators, and the blinking lights will soon tell you where the problem is. It's all explained quite clearly in the Granite Digital documents. If you're going to spend any time connecting external SCSI devices, you need these products. Granite Digital makes them in a variety of configurations for both Macs and PCompatibles. ' Recommended.

Granite Digital's terminators and diagnostic cables didn't help with my problem, since all my SCSI devices are internal. We replaced our > SCSI flat cable with one known to be reliable and checked the termination resistors to be sure the hardware was reliable.

That didn't end my problems. The next difficulty was that CorelSCSI couldn't

find the Maxoptix T3-1300 optical drive. This was odd, because that much of the system worked before I went off on a trip. The error messages indicated that the drive wasn't ready, but I had an optical cartridge in the drive. Not formatted. I thought, but the CorelSCSI formatting tools couldn't even find the drive! It reported the hard drive, the caching hard drive controller, and the CD-ROM drive, but nary a sign of the optical drive.

The next few hours are too painful to relate in detail. First, we didn't have all of DOS on the machine, so when I tried to edit the CONFIG.SYS file, EDIT would not work because QBASIC.EXE wasn't installed. LapLink took care of that, and I sent over Norton Commander for good measure. Commander is a great way to view and edit configuration files.

Once I had an editor, I tried literally everything I could think of. but nothing 1 did changed the situation. Finally, after hours of futile effort, I looked at the optical cartridge in the Maxoptix drive. It was a Pioneer cartridge.

We had originally planned to put a Pioneer internal optical drive in this system, and I had got a couple of Pioneer cartridges

ready for that. Moreover, we have long had a Pioneer read/write optical drive as an external device on Little Cat C, the ancient Cheetah 386/25 that runs the Pioneer DRM-604X Minichanger CD-ROM drive and other network assets.

The problem is. Pioneer optical cartridges are compatible with nothing else. The Maxoptix drive uses standard optical cartridges, available from 3M and other sources as well as Maxoptix, but Pioneer drives read only Pioneer cartridges—which means nothing else can read the Pioneer format. I should have known that, and perhaps I did.

What caused me hours of rage and grief, though, were those error messages. If I'd used an unformatted Maxoptix cartridge, I'd have gotten a proper error message. Likewise, if there were no cartridge in the drive at all, the system would have reported it correctly; but the Pioneer cartridge fits right into the Maxoptix drive, and when that happens, the machine gets terribly confused.

My troubles still weren't over when I got the proper cartridge in the system. CorelSCSI, it turns out, has both DOS and Windows capabilities. I installed the DOS version of CorelSCSI before I installed Windows on Pcntafluge, on the theory that you get it working with DOS before trying Windows. It wasn't a lot of trouble to do the Windows installation, but you can't interrupt the installation without starting over from scratch; there's no way to install without expanding and copying a zillion files from floppy to hard disk.

We now had both the CD-ROM and Maxoptix drives available to Windows; but there was only 400 KB of main memory left in the system. If you run mostly Windows applications this is no problem, but I've got a bunch of DOS applications that I need; and OS/2 solves that problem nicely. You can have all the memory you want in every DOS window, and even have different CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files for each of your DOS applications.

Alas, I'm not sure all this fast new hardware is OS/2-compatible; and if DOS and Windows setups are purgatory, OS/2 installations can be death and damnation. I wasn't ready to face that with deadlines coming. That doesn't mean I'm ready to abandon OS/2, which just keeps getting better; but one thing at a time.

The next step was to exit Windows and run QF.MM 7.03's Optimize. If Optimize can't pack DOS and all your TSR programs into high memory, it offers to try Quarterdeck's Stealth technology. We had

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206 BYTE SEPTEMBER 1994

Circle 112 on Inquiry Card.

Stealth working on Pentafluge the last time it was set up, but that was with QEMM 6. This time. QEMM reported it couldn't use Stealth because it couldn't find the INT 13 handler. I don't know what that means, but I told it to go ahead without Stealth.

It did, the computer booted up, I did some tests, and all was well. I had 570KB DOS windows, not really big enough, but it would have to do. I went to bed. Next morning I wanted to button up the system, so I turned it off. When I turned it back on. it wouldn't boot. It would get to the part where it was supposed to load MSCDEX and hang up.

I booted up with my panic floppy disk. Clearly, we were having some kind of memory problem. I looked into CONFIG.SYS and found we were loading 40 buffers. Surely that was wretched excess for a system with 4 MB of hardware diskcache memory? I cut that to 20 buffers and attempted to reboot. The machine hung.

Once again I'll pass over an hour of futile efforts. What finally gave me a clue was to boot while holding down the Alt key. That keeps QEMM from loading, and of course nothing will load high if you do that; but the system did boot. I then went through CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT and removed all traces of previous attempts to load anything high.

I found that something had truncated the command string in AUTOEXEC.BAT that loads MSCDEX. In particular, the/E switch (for extended-memory use) was missing; and you can't load that high without the IE switch. I don't know what truncated that statement, but logic says it had to be QEMM's Optimize, because the IE switch was in earlier saved versions of AUTOEXEC.BAT. In any event. I restored that switch, stripped high loading off everything, and ran Optimize again.

Ron Sartore designed the Cheetah

system and knows as much about systems architecture as anyone I know. He's currently working on PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus products. Ron thinks that SCSI ought to be carried out to the Mindanao Deep and thrown overboard. The La Jolla Trench wouldn't be deep enough.

There were times the past couple of days when I shared that opinion. SCSI can be complicated. On the other hand, it doesn't have to be. Apple proves that. Moreover, it will work with the PCI bus; it must, because Apple is moving to PCI in a big way, and they're sure not about to abandon SCSI. As I said last month after the SCSI Summit, fast SCSI is probably the wave of the future.

In my case, SCSI was frustrating as all get-out to get working properly, but I did manage to do it; and I now have a superfast system, with 615 KB of memory in DOS, 597 KB in DOS windows, and 597 KB with Norton Commander as a shell. That's plenty good enough. The Maxoptix T3-1300 optical drive works something wonderful, both locally and across the network. The DEC 3107 hard drive is the fastest one I have ever seen, and the Plextor Double Speed Plus CD-ROM drive goes like lightning. SCSI is hard to get go

ing, but it sure works when it's going. I've always had fast disk operations at Chaos Manor, and I've never had anything like this. DPT, DEC, Maxoptix, Plextor, and Micronics make one heck of a Pentium system.

When Pentafluge came back from San Diego, where Larry Aldridge swapped out its motherboard, i't had a #9GXE64 PCI local-bus video board from Number Nine Computer. I couldn't find the Number Nine distribution floppy disks, but I have the Windows drivers on another machine.

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so I didn't worry about it. I ran the board in standard VGA resolution of 640 by 480 pixels until I had Windows for Workgroups set up and Pentafluge connected into the network. I then brought over the Number Nine subdirectory from another machine.

Unfortunately, that did no good. You can't install the drivers without an installation program, and the installation program didn't copy into the Number Nine subdirectory when we did the original installation. There was no way I was going to test that #9GXE64 board.

The good news was that we'd just received ATI Technologies' Graphics Pro Turbo Mach 64. Despite the rather silly name—Mach numbers aren't very meaningful when describing video, which, after all, goes at the speed of light, and 1 don't think my computer has any turbines—it promised to be a very fast board indeed.

Installation of the Graphics Pro Turbo Mach 64 was extremely simple. Plug it in, turn on the machine, and run the installation program from floppy disks.

The ATI installation program told me that the board will operate at a resolution of 1280 by 1024 pixels and 16.7 million

colors with the NEC MultiSync 5FGp monitor. I'm used to 1024 by 768 pixels and have found it good enough, so I began with that. At that resolution and 32,000 colors, I got an awesome 128.8 Win Tachometer reading at 32-bit pixels: at 16.7 million colors and 24 bits per pixel displayed, the reading was 227. This board is fast. Note, too, that we've now got enough colors to do some serious picture editing—and enough speed for serious video editing.

At a resolution of 1280 by 1024 pixels, we get Win Tachometer readings ranging from 132 to 246, depending on resolutions and color depths. I fear we've run past the capability of the Win Tachometer benchmark to discriminate. Once you get past 120, you're not likely to notice performance differences unless you're doing really big CAD displays. When we switched to dithered text, we got a Win Tachometer reading of 162, and the text is beautiful. The Wind Surfer Video for Windows sample AVI (Audio Video Interleave) floats through the air with the greatest of ease, and even full screen, while it's pretty grainy, the action is smooth.

It wasn't long ago that we thought get

ting the Win Tachometer reading up from 12 to 16 was a significant improvement. We also thought ATI's dithered Crystal Fonts were beautiful, but too slow to be used in daily work. Now we have an-order-of-magnitude better speed, even with beautiful fonts. The hardware performance increases aren't just more of the same; they give you capabilities you never had before. This machine is wonderful.

The 16.7-million color mark (24

bits per pixel, aka "24-bit color") is important, too. That's as many colors as the best PC scanners will recognize; the number is also close to the maximum the human eye can discriminate. For picture touch-up, say with the high-end Micrografx Picture Publisher, this is pretty much the standard. You can now buy a card, a monitor, and a computer capable of all the colors and resolution you need—and all for less than a king's ransom. In fact, you can buy such a setup for less than the maintenance on a professional photoretouch station of five years ago. That's real progress for you.

And remember; these new cards are still faster, courtesy of PCI and a galloping

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technology, than "mere" 1024- by 768pixel. 256-color jobs of two years ago.

So: what does a fire-breathing system like this cost if you put it together yourself? Micronics Computers' 60-MHz M5Pi motherboard, $1099. An Intel Pentium, $800, and that's coming down not long after you read this. Sixteen MB of memory, $800. The DEC 3107 hard drive, $1(XX). PC Power & Cooling's tower case, Turbo-Cool 300 tower-model power supply, Pentacool fan, and 110 Alert Plus alarm. $542. Plextor Double Speed Plus

CD-ROM drive, $549. DPT SmartCache III, base $245, as configured here, add $555 for the caching module and $495 for 4 MB of memory. Northgate OmniKey Plus keyboard, about $100. The ATI Technologies Graphics Pro Turbo Mach 64 graphics card with 4 MB of memory, S699. The NEC MultiSync 5FGp monitor, $1175. That's $8059 for a system with serious photo- and video-editing capability.

Adding a sound system is easy:

Creative Labs' Sound Blaster 16 SCSI-2

with the Wave jl [CI}

Blaster works just =^~\ fine. We already

have a SCSI con- 7 /Vf

troller, so you can ! M

go for a sound card [/" If

only. You can pay y+*<, as much as you like

for speakers. We have the Creative Labs Multimedia Kit with Labtec speakers, and it's about $450. Finally, the Maxoptic T31300 optical drive is $3495, but you've now got the capability for storing all the edited photos and video images you want to play with. Alas, 16 MB isn't quite enough memory for editing at really high resolutions; you should go to at least 24 MB, so add another $400 to the system

The key software is Windows and CorelSCSI to get the system running and Micrografx Picture Publisher. You'll also need some CD-ROMs of pictures to play with.We're still just under $12,500 for a system with truly awesome capabilities.

Awesome is not too strong a word.

Alex is in the other room running the Corel Professional Photos sampler CD-ROM. I keep hearing "Wow!" and similar expressions; and when I go in to look, I see why. The color displays on the NEC MultiSync 5FGp monitor set to a resolution of 1280 by 1024 pixels and 16.7 million colors with the Graphics Pro Turbo Mach 64 are as good as your standard drug store color enlargements, as good as the scanner that read them in. and they're digital, so they degrade in decades—and you can make perfect copies before they do. Wow!

Just after I wrote all that, the Number Nine software arrived, so I had to try it. Number Nine's setup runs only under Windows, meaning you have to use the Windows setup utility to change Windows over to plain-vanilla VGA before you can install the #9GXE64 board properly. Once that's done, everything goes smoothly.

The #9GXE64 board costs about $100 less than the ATI board. It's not as fast, but fast is a relative term at speeds like this. If you read in a big picture at high resolutions, the Number Nine board takes noticeably longer, but noticeable is a matter of a second or so. When using Corel Professional Photos as a screen saver (and it's so beautiful you'll probably want to do that), the picture changes take considerably less than a second with either board.

This #9GXE64 has only 2 MB of memory, so it won't do 1280 by 1024 pixels in millions of colors. That difference is quite noticeable. Having said that, I have to add that if we had started with the Number

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Ever feel that you must be missing something when you watch the jerky visuals in a tiny window ac panied by a tinny soundtrack on your "multimedia" PC ?

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See what you've been missing ? Games, multimedia applications, music videos and even movies, the way they should be--in Real Motion.

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210 BVTE SEPTEMBER 1994

Circle 185 on Inquiry Card.

liMlMJIH

Nine board, I'd have been so impressed I might not have gotten around to the ATI board this month. The images are very good, and the board is very fast. But the ATI board is clearly more so, and I must confess I went back to it after giving the #9GXE64 a fair trial.

If you want to save money—especially if you don't have a monitor that can take real advantage of the ATI board's colors and resolution—I recommend Number Nine's #9GXE64 as a lot more than good enough.

I also have Diamond's latest video board. Diamond has sworn never to be beaten in benchmark performance, so I'm prepared for anything. Next month, we'll do a comparison; but the ATI board is fast enough for just about anything you'd want to do, it sure is easy to install, and the color reproduction is awesome. Highly recommended.

We were in a hurry to look at video— this column is being done at breakneck speed because I'm past deadlines. Also, my son Phillip's ship leaves for deployment to Africa tomorrow morning, meaning we have to be in San Diego by dinnertime tonight. Thus, we grabbed the first

image-editing software we saw in the pile. This proved to be Image Wizard from Image Ware Software.

Image Wizard is a moderately priced program for doing photo editing, and it does the job quite well. It doesn't have the resolution and features of Picture Publisher, and it seems to have some problems at very high resolutions—those may be due to our having only 16MB of memory in Pentafluge—but it's quite easy to install and use.

If you're going to spend 12 grand on hardware, you'll probably want Picture Publisher, but if the notion is to get a good enough image-editing system and every dollar counts, Image Wizard is a very good way to go. It has features like independent object editing, various-size brushes, and sprays and fills, and the neat part is you can just install it and start using it. All told, a good package indeed.

A number of readers have, with

various degrees of politeness, pointed out that the last time I talked about sound, I said something fairly dumb: I implied that adding Creative Lab's Wave Blaster to my system improved the quality of Mr.

Spock's speech. Of course, that's wrong.

A few years ago, AdLib came out with inexpensive sound cards, and thus set a kind of de facto standard for low-end DOS sound; and most games still run under DOS rather than Windows. The AdLib cards used FM synthesis. This isn't a bad technology, and you can get surprisingly good quality with it. A number of games and other programs were written to use FM synthesis, and to this day, any decent sound card is AdLib-compatible. Of course. Creative Labs' Sound Blaster series sold so well that most competitors now claim to be Sound Blaster-compatible.

Most sound cards now, though, are actually at least two cards in one, and some like Logitech's SoundMan have what amounts to four cards aboard. A few cards are deliberately not game-compatible, because businesses told the designers they didn't want a game port and had no need for AdLib sound compatibility. These haven't sold very well.

Now comes the tricky part.

Say you want to create and play complex sounds on your PC. One way is simply to record an event and play it. The resulting file will have complete information.

continued

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23.2 BYTE SEPTI MBI K l'J'M

Circle 187 on Inquiry Card.(Resellers:188).

a single all-encompassing environment, business has needed one forum that mirrors all these changes. A summit for network and computing professionals. That's NetWorld+Interop 94.

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multimedia and client-server. Freo Tours of the largest network proving ground on earth: InteropNet." Frse Network design assistance at our Configuration Clinic" Free Access to the global Internet at our Application Cluster Systems. Free Access to global E-Mail at WordPerfect's Messaging Center, "roe Problem solving via TSAnet right on the exhibition floor. Fr*e Access to the Reseller Integration Lab sponsored by Tech Data. Frea Instruction on LAN/WAN networking fundamentals. Free Training at the NPA Labs, formerly CNEPA Labs. Free Entry to Start-Up City'to see the newest, emerging companies. Free Entry to all informal, evening Birds-Of-A-Feather sessions. Tree Entry to all Product Presentation Theatres."

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These are called wave files, and most of us have some that include the Star Trek characters saying things like "Most illogical" and "His brain is gone!" or excerpts from Beavis and Butt-Head. (My computer, I confess, now enters Windows with an announcer saying to stay tuned while Beavis and Butt-Head burn things and blow up stuff.) Since these are complete information files, the only sounds you'll hear from them arc those already recorded.

There's another way to create sound. To make things simple, let's take a bugle call. I could get a bugler to play "Mess Call," record that, and include it on my system. Suppose, though, I wanted all the standard bugle calls, including the old combat commands like Squads Left or Right by Fours; complete information files are large, and I'd soon have my hard disk full of them. Suppose, instead, I take a sample of a bugle and record that; when I want to play a bugle call, I feed in the essential information about pitch and duration of notes, and let the computer synthesize the actual sound. This is called wave-table synthesis—you have a table of the "sound waves" from a number of instruments—and the important fact is that

the computer synthesizes the sound from incomplete information.

A wave-table card—such as the Wave Blaster that piggybacks onto Creative Labs' Sound Blaster 16 card—contains, among other things, a set of "instruments": wave-table samples of things as diverse as bugles, guitars, and pianos. These are called patches, and those who are very much concerned about sounds evaluate the good and bad points of various patch sets. If you want to know more about that, I strongly recommend you get the latest copy of Rich Heimlich's Patch Set Review, which is available free from most BBSes where people talk about sound.

Note that in theory we could take samples of Mr. Spock talking, make him into an "instrument," and write software that would have him say almost anything we like. In practice, though, when you hear Mr. Spock on your computer, you are listening to a digitized recording of him actually saying that.

As a result of my earlier confusion, I have been required to learn more about the sound situation than I intended to.

For example: if I want the best synthesized sound quality, clearly the larger my

sample table, the better job the computer will be able to do with the synthesis. Wave Blaster, like many wave-table cards, has 4 MB of ROM that contains the general MIDI-sound patch set. This includes a few sound effects and about 128 instruments, including the piano, trumpet, bass fiddle, violin, sitar, ocarina, koto, and agogo, and I don't know what those last two are either. The point is that all those must fit into 4 MB.

Suppose 1 want my system to play a Beethoven symphony. Even with a gigabyte hard drive, I won't want a complete recording of, say, the Eroica, so I'll want to have the system synthesize it. I'll have no need for an ocarina or a koto; I'd be better off if my patch set included better, meaning larger, samples of violins and trumpets. Maybe, instead of the standard instrument set in ROM, I'd be better off having RAM on my wave-table card and letting the computer load those with better samples of the instruments I need.

Then, too, if I want to blend a number of instruments into my sound, I'm likely to be compute-bound; perhaps I ought to have a processor on the sound card.

Things definitely get complex, and as

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Circle 170 on Inquiry Card.(Resellers: 171).

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Circle 121 on Inquiry Card.

the hardware gets better, it's all changing like dreams. My advice is that for the moment, you get a cheap decent system. The Sound Blaster 16 or any card that will accept a Wave Blaster or other wave-table card is good enough, or if you need a CDROM drive, get one of Creative Labs' multimedia upgrade kits with a CD-ROM drive, speakers, and so forth (see my April column). Logitech makes good systems at reasonable prices. The important thing here is to get as good a price as you can. You want a good price because truly

awesome sound systems are coming. Think about that in conjunction with the image-processing capabilities high-end machines are capable of. You'll soon have a Moviola machine on your desktop, and you'll want really good sound.

For now, stay with good enough, and if you want to spend money on sound, buy good speakers. You can use them with the really great sound cards that are coming.

It's not generally known, but a

small outfit called ESC has been publish

Plasmon Announces Up to 270gb of Low-cost, High-Performance Optical Storagei

Plasmon deskside multifunction optical disk jukeboxes are specifically designed to provide the speed, performance, reliability and flexibility you need for today's data- and imageintensive networks.

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Designed for continuous network usage, the highperformance jukeboxes feature a new, technically advanced robotic mechanism with fewer moving parts to ensure longterm reliability.

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33(1)40 21 25 71

Circle 303 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 304).

ing an index to BYTE for years. It's called Bindex and covers the years 1990-1994. People often ask me when we did some article or another, and I never remember. It's a bit awkward to search through Bindex one year at a time—that' how it comes—but it sure easier than looking through the magazine; themselves.

If you're doing

documentation and you want to include pictures of key tops, you need RRKeyFonts. There are PC and Mac versions. You get both TrueType and PostScript Type 1 in each version. The fonts are attractive, very complete, and easy to use. Mouse buttons, function keys, arrow keys, cursor shapes, you name it, it's in there.

Anyone who ever used Windows Paintbrush to capture a screen picture of a key top and was dissatisfied with the printed result will want a copy. It also comes in German for the PC. Not everyone needs this, but if you do need RRKey Fonts, you need it bad. Recommended.

It's not tOO early to think about your taxes. Longtime readers will know I used to use MacInTax to do mine. For the past couple of years, I have used TurboTax for Windows from Intuit. I've learned to trust it: if it says there's a missing entry on a form, it's worth finding out what that entry is. The worksheet system on Schedule C businesses keeps track of those complexities. Mrs. Pournelle and I have "his, hers, and ours" businesses, and each gets a separate report. It handles Schedule K partnerships and Schedule E expenses.

Many of my friends have accountants, but I've found that by the time I have explained everything to an accountant, I could have done it using TurboTax. I'll remind you again next January.

I don't often need a rhyming dictionary, but now that I have one, I may make use of it. I used to like writing doggerel and once tried my hand at a classical ballad. In those days rhymes came easily, but as I get older, I have to think harder. It seems to be true that when you get to be my age the bin is full. For every new thing you learn, something you used to know drops out the other ear.

Fortunately, A Zillion Kajillion Rhymes takes care of the rhyming department. There are Windows and Mac versions, and

NETW#RLD+INTER©F94

24-28 OCTOBRE 1994 • CNIT * CENTRE DE COMMUNICATION ET D'ECHANGES • PARIS LA DEFENSE, FRANCE

THE EUROPEAN NETWORKING SUMMIT

NetWorlcT+Interop* 94 Paris, the industry's premier interoperability Conference and Exhibition, represents a unique gathering of key exhibitors demonstrating technologies in a real networking environment. At NetWorld'+Interop* 94 Paris you will meet leading-edge Network Computing vendors and experience the interoperability of their products and technologies. You will gain the information necessary to plan, design and build state-of-the-art networks.

NetWorld'"+Interop* 94 Paris will provide you with the information to meet the technology challenges of the 1990's.

Ziff-Davis Exposition & Conference

. „ 14, PLACE MARIE JEANNE BASSOT

NETW RLD+INTER P94 92593 levallois-perretcedex

For registration/information

Please contact: Patricia FRECHOU Phone: +33-146.39.56.33 Fax: +33-146.39.56.99

THE EVENT YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO MISS

it's the easiest thing in the world to use.

Years ago when I was a kid. I saw a comic strip in which one of the characters claimed to be the only person in the world who knew a rhyme for the word silver. He could still be: at least this dictionary doesn't know one. He also said he could rhyme orange; the dictionary offers a dozen of those, including derange. I'll become deranged if I don't stop playing with this thing.

The company calls itself Eccentric Software. Its motto is "Software you never knew you needed," which is probably true enough for most of you, but if you do need it, this one works.

Fields of Glory remains interesting. Master of Orion (known affectionately as MOO) consumes all the time available and then some. If you're a MOO fan, you'll also want Master of Orion, The Official Strategy Guide, from Prima Publishing (P.O. Box 1260BK, Rocklin. CA 95677). If you don't have it, you're playing at a disadvantage.

I have a CD-ROM version of Betrayal at Krondor. If you have a CD-ROM system, this is the right way to play what is still the best fantasy role-playing game I've ever seen. One thing about Krondor: although the game tells you it's urgent to get to Krondor in Chapter One, it isn't. Take your time, develop your characters, and get the best weapons that you can find.

The book of the month is by Myron Magnet: The Dream and the Nightmare: Tliv Sixties' Legacy to the Underclass (Morrow. 1993). It's a frightening analysis of why the good intentions of the war on poverty went wrong and the consequent moral challenge to the U.S. Highly recommended.

It's neither a game nor a book, but 3-D Body Adventure from Knowledge Adventure will probably teach your kids— and you—more about anatomy and physiology than you'd learn from both. Cruise around in your skull, see a body build up from a skeleton out, get inside your heart and see the valves working, all in 3-D if you like. This thing is amazing. Knowl

edge Adventure manages to combine both "content" and "technology," and I haven't seen anything they've done that isn't worth your attention.

As usual, there's more to write about than I have space for. For next month, we intend to try some high-resolution printing with Fargo's dye-sublimation printer, now that we have the image resolution. I have to make a speech this week, so I'll be trying out the new PowerPoint. Phillip is taking a wonderful new Zenith laptop on the ship; reports on that over the next year or so.

And I love that Pentafluge. ■

Jerry Pourneltc holds a docttoalt in psychology and is a science fiction writer who also earns a comfortable living writing about computers present and future. Jerry welcomes readers' comments and opinions. Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Jerry Pournelle. c/o BYTE. One Phoenix Mill Lane, Peterborough. NH 034SS. Please put your address on the letter as well as on the envelope. Due to the high volume of letters, Jerry cannot guarantee a personal reply. You can also contact him on the Internet or BIX atjerrypt&bix.com.

Iflfflfiifliii

If you're going to spend any time mucking about connecting external SCSI devices, you need Granite Digital's series of Active Diagnostic Terminators ($59), Gold Diagnostic Cables ($39 to $129). and SCSIVue Terminators ($59). Contact Granite Digital. Union City, CA, (510) 471-6442; fax (510) 4716267. Circle 1146

Betrayal at Krondor ($69.95) is still the best fantasy role-playing

Slerra-On-Une, Oakhurst, CA. (800) 757-7707 or (206) 6499800: fax (206) 562-4223. Circle 1147.

Blndex (index for 1990-1994. $49.95) makes it easier to find articles written in BYTE than looking through the magazines themselves. Contact ESC, Madison. Wl. (608) 238-3970; fax (608) 238-4102, Circle 1148.

The DEC 3107 hard drive ($1000) is the fastest one I have ever seen. Contact Digital Equipment Corp.. OEM Storage Group. Shrewsbury. MA, (508) 841-6439; fax (508) 841-5078. Circle 1149.

Fields of Glory ($59.95) is

interesting. Contact Spectrum Holobyte. Alameda. CA. (800) 695-4263 or (510) 5221164; fax (510) 522 3587. Circle 1150.

The Graphics Pro Turbo Mach 64

(2 MB, $449; 4 MB. $699) is fast enough for just about anything

install, and the color reprod is awesome. Contact ATI

t, and the neat part is you

it. Contact In San Diego, CA, (800) 842-4199 or (619) 673-8600; fax (619) 6731770. Circle 1152.

The Maxoptlx T3-1300 optical drive (internal, $3495; external, $3995) works something wonderful both locally and across the network. Contact Maxoptlx Corp.. San Jose. CA. (800) 8483092 or (408) 954-9700; fax (408) 954-9711. Circle 1153.

Pentafluge includes the 60-MHz M5PI motherboard with a 256-KB cache ($1099). Contact Micronics Computers, Inc.. Fremont. CA, (510) 651-2300; fax (510) 6515612. Circle 1154.

Its images are very good, and the #9GXE64 PCI local-bus video board (with 2 MB of DRAM. $349)

Computer Corp., Lexington, MA. (800) 438-6463 or (617) 6740009; fax (617) 674-2919. Circle 1155.

The Plextor Double Speed Plus

CD-ROM drive ($549) goes like lightning. Contact Plextor. Santa Clara, CA. (800) 8863935 or (408) 980-1838; fax (408) 9861010. Circle 1156.

you want to include a picture of key tops, you need RRKeyFonts ($49). Contact RoadRunner Computing. Baton Rouge. LA. (504) 928-0780; fax (504) 9280802. Circle 1157.

Creative Labs' multimedia sound cards tested on Pentafluge include the Sound Blaster 16 SCSI-2 ($279.95) and the Wave Blaster

($249.95). We have the Creative

speakers (Discovery CD16 t, $449.95; nt CD16 Multimedia

Kit. $599.95; Digital Edge 3x Multimedia Kit, $999). Contact Creative Labs. Milpitas. CA. (800) 998-5227 or (408) 428-6600; fax (408) 428-6611. Circle 1158.

It's neither a game nor a book. 3-D Body Adventure (on floppy disk, $49.95; on CD-ROM. $69.95) will probably

anatomy and physiology than you'd learn from both. Contact Knowledge Adventure, Inc.. La

Crescenta, CA, (800) 542-4240 or (818) 542-4200; fax (818) 5424475. Circle 1159.

Many of my frier

Tucson, AZ. (800) 964-1040 or (602) 295-3110; fax (602) 2953095. Circle 1160.

I don't often need a rhyming dictionary, but now that I have A Zillion Kajlllion Rhymes ($39.95), I may make use of it. Contact Eccentric Software. Seattle. WA, (800) 436-6758 or (206) 6282687; fax (206) 628 2681. Circle 1161.

I I n ' ' i i i Q i i s r c: o \ r l r Ci s I

Experts Brtve theBipgfvws

Analysis of IntelliQuest's Computer Industry Media Study reveals that Technology Experts are more likely to be involved in purchases off computer products than less technically oriented business inffluencere.

And BYTE Has the Highest Concentration of Technology Experts Among Leading Computer Publications

Readers Who Are Advanced/Expert Users

111 '111

drive the IT buy.

Because the Experts Decide.

For more information on the IntelliOuest Computer Industry Media Study, call 603 -924-2618 or contact your local BYTE sales representative

Source: IntelliQuest CIMS. 1994

What's New

Hardware

Portable IOBase-T Connection

Farallon Computing's EtherWave PCMCIA Adapter connects PC notebook computers directly to IOBase-T Ethernet networks. The adapter enables multiple computers to share one network outlet. This lets network administrators provide portable users with full 10-Mbps access to network printers and servers without requiring a dedicated hub-port connection. Able to fit into any Type II or Type III PCMCIA slot, the $299 EtherWave supports PCMCIA Card and Socket Services to enable hot-swapping of different PCMCIA products. Contact: Farallon Computing, Alameda, CA, (510) 814-5000.

HIGH-CAPACITY NETWARE STORAGE t

Available in EISA and Micro Channel configurations, the MonStor rack-mount storage system ($8640) supports scalable singleserver capacities of 9 to 252 GB. From Storage Dimensions (Milpitas, CA). MonStor integrates up to four 9-GB SCSI-2 drive modules on the same SCSI bus; you can connect seven drive modules per host adapter and up to four host adapters per server. The system has a burst data transfer rate of 10 MBps and sustained rates of up to 8.1 MBps. MonStor ships with the LANStor Plus software driver. Phone: (408) 954-0710.

Circle 1321 on Inquiry Card.

OFF-LINE NETWORK SENTRY

A hardware-based LAN management and security device currently available for NetWare 3.x and 4.x, Network Sentry ($3000) from Cyberlock Data Intelligence (Philadelphia, PA) connects to the server but operates off-line. When you install Network Sentry, the device creates a unique identifier for each executable file on the server and then checks the identifier each time a file is executed. Phone: (215) 893-8833.

STACKABLE HUBS

Designed for departmental IOBase-T networks, the KleverHub Stack K1016($895) and K1032 ($1685) stackable hubs feature 16 and 32

UTP ports8 respectively. The hubs support

scalable port loads ranging from 16 to 132 ports. You can stack up to four of the Klever (Sunnyvale, CA) hubs in any combination or cascade them. A user-configurable port enables you to add an additional l()Base-T, 10Base-5, or I DBase-FL connection. Phone: (800) 745-4660 or (408) 735-7723.

PEDAL YOUR WAY TO PRODUCTIVITY

Consisting of three electronic foot switches, the Step On It Keyboard Control Pedals ($69.95) can be customprogrammed to assign oi reassign any three keyboard keys to foot operation. From Bilbo Innovations (Madison. WI), the device comes with menudriven software and i miniature external con troller that plugs in be tween your keyboard anc your PC.

Phone: (800) 203-0092 or (608) 233-6121.

NOTEBOOK DATA ACQUISITION

The DAQ-19 data acquisition board (from $299) features 19bit A/D capability on eight differential ended or 16 single-ended channels, a 12-bit D/A port, an 8-bit digital I/O port, and source code for a Windows data acquisition program. Designed for use with notebooks, the parallel-port board is from ST Scientific (Chanhassen, MN). Phone: (612) 361-6082.

Circle 132S on Inquiry Card.

GIVE VOICE COMMANDS IN WINDOWS

The Timeworks Say It V-Command Voice Recognition System ($299) combines a sound card with voice-print capabilities to let you record messages under Windows. You use the system

from Timeworks International (Northbrook, IL) by speaking naturally to vour computer while using the Windows V-Command library; digitized compression uses only 4 KB for each second of speech. Timeworks Say It recognizes and executes commands regardless of variations in voice tone and emphasis. Phone: (800) 323-7744 or (708)559-1300.

TRAVELERS'STORAGE ▼

A portable storage system that plugs into the parallel printer port

of your PC, the Data Traveler DT2(X)EX (from $585) has a capacity of 127 or 209 MB. The Kingston Technology (Fountain Valley, CA) unit has a parallelto-IDE adapter, transfer rates of up to 1.2 MBps, a pass-through printer connection, an AC adapter, and a 3-hour battery. A QuickSwap feature enables disks to self-configure when they arc inserted into the receiving frame. Phone: (714) 435-2600.

Circle 1326 on Inquiry Card.

EXPAND CAPACITY QUICKLY

The SSI-5200 ($4995) 3M-inch SCSI-2 drive has a formatted capacity of 5.2 GB, an average access speed of 9.2 ms, and a media-to-buffer data transfer rate of 12.17 MBps. The drive, which has a magneto-resistive head, is from Storage Solutions (Stamford, CT).

Phone: (203) 325-0035.

Circle 1327 on Inquiry Card.

A NOTEBOOK WITH CHOICES ►

The WinBook XP notebook computer ($1999) in corporates the SL-enhanced 486DX4 75-MHz processor and a dual

From WinBook Computer (Columbus, OH), the notebook comes with 4 MB of RAM (expandable to 32 M B), a removable 120- M B hard drive, and your choice of a Lexmark or Logitech pointing device. Optional 3.3-V L2 cache is also available. Phone: (800)468-2162 or (614) 481-8041.

Circle 1328 on Inquiry Card.

ERGONOMIC MONITOR

Compatible with Apple and Sun SPARC systems, MAG InnoVision's (Santa Ana, CA) MXPI7F monitor ($1299) has a flat-square CRT with an Invar shadow mask and an antiglare treatment. Its ultrahigh resolution goes up to 1600 by 1280 pixels noninterlaced with refresh rates of up to 120 Hz and a dot pitch of 0.26 mm. Advanced Display Calibration via an RS-232 control port lets you use all the controls with a click of your mouse and locks out other users so that they can't disturb your settings. Phone: (800) 827-3998 or (714) 751-2008.

ROBOTS FOR UNIX

Driverless tape auto-loaders for Unix platforms, the Encore Plus Robotic Tape Handling systems (from $5995) have built-in robotic-control intelligence. The systems work with all Unix systems that have a SCSI bus, and they support all standard Unix tape utilities. From Andataco (San Diego, CA), the auto-loaders have backup and archive

storage capacities ranging from 50 to 100 GB. Phone: (800) 334-9191 or (619)453-9191.

CREATE A SCSI DAISY CHAIN

The ParaSCSI Plus ultrahigh-speed parallel-to-SCSl adapter ($216) supports up to seven daisy-chained SCSI or SCSI-2 devices. Compatible with any standard port or FPP (enhanced parallel port), the adapter has a pass-through to permit concurrent printing. From Linksys (Irvine, CA), the ParaSCSI Plus transfers data at 500 KBps; for EPP-compliant PCs, the data transmission rate increases to up to 1 MBps.

Phone: (800) 546-5797 or (714) 261-1288.

Circle 1330 on Inquiry Card.

P0WERB00K BATTERY ASSIST

A battery-charge extender for all 100-series Apple PowerBooks. the PowerAssist ($69) from Newer Technology (Wichita, KS) charges batteries in sleep mode

and extends battery life by up to four times when plugged into an active PowerBook. The VA- by 2'At- by %-inch unit weighs less than 3 ounces and has a power output of 7.5 V at 1.1 amps. Phone: (800) 678-3726 or (316) 685-4904.

Circle 1332 on Inquiry Card.

DATA ACQUISITION AND CONTROL

A data acquisition and control module with a serial-port interface, tbe JSLI1A84 ($259) from Jasco Research (Sidney. British Columbia. Canada) has 11 analog input channels with programmable XI or X10 gain on four channels. The serial-port connection is switch-selectable at rates ranging from 300 bps to 38.4 Kbps, and the module has a sampling rate of up to 180 Hz for one channel and 16 Hz for all 1 1 channels at 9600 bps. Phone: (604) 656-0656.

Circle 1334 on Inquiry Card.

SEND YOUR NOTES THROUGH THE AIR

More than a pocket-size text pager, AirNote ($349) has

dress, so you can receive Internet messages while you're away from the office. From Notable Technologies (Oakland, CA), AirNote also lets you receive Email, computer-typed messages, and phone messages. You can specify the maximum number of characters you want forwarded to the pager, and you can have AirNote Internet messages sent to your primary Internet E-mail address.

Phone: (800) 732-99(X)or (510) 208-4400.

Circle 133S on Inquiry Card.

FAX MODEM WITH VOICEVIEW SUPPORT

An internal multifunction fax board, the Connection Pro ($249) has built-in support for the Radish VoiceView protocol. From Digicom Systems (Milpitas, CA), the Connection Pro supports the Windows sound system and OLE, has full-duplex V.32terbo 19.2-Kbps data transfer, and can send and receive Group 3 taxes at speeds of up to 14.4 Kbps.

Phone: (800) 833-89(X) or (408) 262-1277.

Multimedia-Ready Macs

With a built-in CD-ROM drive, a 66-/33MHz 68LC040 processor, video- and TVexpansion options, and support for 16bit stereo playback, Apple's 630 series of Macs (from $1199) are targeted toward users looking for a powerful entrylevel multimedia system. The Mac LC 630, Perform a 630 (shown in the photo), and Quadra 630 all come with 68030 LC P0S, communications, and video-in slots. An optional video-in card lets you view and cut and paste composite and S-video; another card accepts NTSC, PAL, and SECAM TV signals, letting you view them. An optional video-out solution allows you to "print" video to VCR tape. The communications slot accepts lOBase-T, 10Base-2, and AAUI Ethernet cards and a 14.4-Kbps fax/data modem.

Contact: Apple Computer, Cupertino. CA, (800) 767-2775 or (408) 996-1010.

Circle 1319 on Inquiry Card.

SEPTEMBER IW4 BYTE 221

What's New

I Hardware

A Small UPS with a Large Attitude

Incorporating DeHec's large-system-engineering expertise, the PowerRite Plus UPSes protect standalone PCs as well as network nodes against power blackouts, surges, spikes, and power-line noise. An Advanced Battery Management feature in the units extends battery life, speeds recharge time, and provides advance notification of battery-service requirements. The UPSes are available with 250-, 400-, and 600-VA power ratings; the 400- and 600-VA models include a test switch and softwareinterface capabilities for operating systems such as NetWare, Windows, DOS, Unix, and OS/2. Prices start at $139.

Contact: Dellec Electronics, San Diego. CA, (800) 854-2658 or (619) 291-4211.

Circle 1320 on Inquiry Card.

SCSI ADAPTER

A bus-mastered SCSI-2 host adapter for VL-Bus systems, the BT-445C ($279) from BusLogic (Santa Clara, CA) has an onboard AutoSCSI Utility and dual-floppy support. The menudriven AutoSCSI Utility resides in the adapter's BIOS and lets you configure the host adapter, a SCSI device, and BIOS-related parameters.

Phone: (408) 492-9090.

REMOTE WINDOWS CONTROL t

A hand-held programmable remote eontrol, the PowerControl ($195) allows you to control your Windows presentations from up to 30 feet away from your computer. You can assign a

sequence of keystrokes or a mouse command to any of the buttons on the unit and activate complex software functions by pushing a button. The SoftMagic (Waltham, MA) infrared device supports packages such as PowerPoint, Harvard Graphics, and Freelance Graphics. Phone:(617)899-9966.

Circle 1 MO on Inquiry Card.

PROTECTION FROM STATIC

A small accessory that installs on your computer, UltraStat ($59.95) continually drains harmful static from your system and from you, according to its manufacturer, UltraStat (Colorado City, CO). The company says that UltraStat reduces the 10,000 to 20,000 V of static electricity typically emitted by a computer screen to less than 50 V. Phone: (800) 460-7828 or (719)676-4010.

INTEGRATE MULTIPROTOCOL WORKGROUPS

The GatorRoute iR router ($2495) provides simultaneous routing of IPX, TCP/IP, AppleTalk, and DECnct protocols. The four-port module includes two Ethernet ports and expansion slots for either two serial ports

or one serial and one L<xalTalk port. From Cayman Systems (Woburn, MA), the router's built-in Hash memory lets you easily upgrade your network software.

Phone: (800) 473-4776 or (617)932-1100.

Circle 1339 on Inquiry Card.

A KEYBOARD WITH A TWIST ▲

The Select-Ease Keyboard ($179) from Lexmark International (Lexington, KY) splits into left and right halves, each with an inverted-7'cursor-key arrangement. You can change the position of either side of the fullfunction QWERTY keyboard by swiveling or symmetrically tilting the sides or by completely separating them. Phone: (800) 438-2468 or (606) 232-2000.

Circle 1341. on Inquiry Card.

FLAT-SQUARE AND 15 INCHES

The Diamond Pro 15FS monitor ($535) from Mitsubishi (Cypress. CA) automatically readjusts im

age centering, size, and geometry when you select nonstandard resolutions. On-screen displays let you adjust display-setup parameters through an ieon-based, onscreen control panel. The 0.28mm dot-pitch monitor has preset color-temperature modes, as well as a user-definable setting, and a microprocessor-based 31.5- to 64-kH/ auto-scan range, PC- and Mac-compatible, the Diamond Pro has a maximum resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels with a refresh rate of 76 Hz. Phone: (800) 843-2515 or (714) 220-2500.

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The 2000DS monitor ($439) from Optiquest (Walnut, CA) includes the company's OptiGreen Software, which powers down the monitor to a maximum energy-consumption level of less than 3 W when it is not in use. The digitally controlled monitor adheres to MPR-I1 low-radiation standards. It senses the local AC power supply automatically and adjusts to between 90 and 264 V AC at 50 or 60 Hz with a maximum consumption of 100 W. Maximum resolution is 1024 by 768 pixels noninterlaced with a 76-Hz refresh rate and a 0.28-mm dot pitch. Phone: (909) 468-3750.

GAIN NETWORK PRIVACY

The Oncore Ethernet Private Line Card ($1995) is a daughtercard from Chipcom (Southborough, MA) that plugs into the company's Oncore Switching Hubs. The PLC's continuous auto-learning capability discovers all attached network users and then filters out any information they arc not supposed to receive. Users can move from network to network and from hub to hub without losing communi

Phone: (508) 460-8900.

222 BYTE SEPTEMBER 1994

What's New

I Software

ProtoGen-t- NT, a fully integrated visual development workbench that streamlines the development of C and C++ applications for Windows and NT, supports Intel, Dec Alpha, and Mips processors. ProtoGen+ NTs object-oriented programming capabilities let you view and select, point and click, or drag and drop tool palettes and icons to reach menus, screens, and dialog boxes. A live, interactive test mode lets you test your application before you generate any code or compile the application. MDI support and Visual Coders for multimedia, MAPI, and OLE 2.0 are other prime features. ProtoGen+ NT is priced at $495. Contact: ProtoView Development, Dayton, NJ, (800) 231-8588 or (908) 329-8588.

Circle 1271 on Inquiry Card.

OBJECT-ORIENTED IMAGING

A suite of object-oriented imaging development tools for Visual Basic and Visual C++. KIPP (Kofax Image Processing Platform) ImageControls (from $995) makes use of drag and drop to reduce the time needed to create production-level applications. From Kofax Image Products (Irvine, CA), the KIPP ImageControls package lets you add comprehensive imaging capabilities to new and established line-of-business applications even if you have no experience in document-image processing. Phone:(714)727-1733.

Circle 1275 on Inquiry Card.

PROCESS-IMPROVEMENT PACKAGE

Windows-based process-analysis and improvement software,

Optima (single license, $1500) incorporates process-mapping, modeling, simulation, and reporting capabilities. From AdvanEdge Technologies (Tualatin, OR), Optima allows you to create a model of any process and run what-il simulations. Phone: (503) 692-8162.

Circle 1278 on Inquiry Curd.

DO SOME REAL-TIME THINKING

Designed for thinking in real time on the computer. Inspiration for Windows ($ 129) is a visual tool for planning and developing ideas. The Rapid Fire feature lets you quickly type related ideas into one symbol; the software then creates linked multiple symbols. The Point & Type feature pops a symbol around a random idea you have typed to hold it until you are

ready to work with it. An outline view provides organization and writing capabilities. The visual tool is from Inspiration Software (Portland, OR). Phone: (503) 245-9011.

Circle 1276 on Inquiry Card.

PUBLISHING-PRODUCTIVITY PROGRAM

A program for creating greeting cards, banners, calendars, signs, and stationery, PrintMaster Gold CD Bonus Pack ($79.95) provides verbal assistance via an audio interface. The MicroLogic Software (Emeryville, CA) CDROM can print PCX, TIFF, GIF, CGM, WNF, and BMP graphics in 24-bit color. Phone: (800) 888-9078 or (510) 652-5464.

Circle 1279 on Inquiry Card.

A WORKSHOP FOR MULTIMEDIA

The Multimedia Workshop ($79.95) from Davidson & Associates (Torrance, CA) contains writing and video workshops to let you create multimedia presentations and published documents. The program's four multimedia libraries encompass photos, QuickTime movie clips, clip art, and sound effects and music.

Phone: (310) 793-0600.

Circle 1282 on Inquiry Card.

UPS-MONITORING SOFTWARE ▼

PowerEdge NetServer($ 199) from CompuSci (St. Louis, MO)monitors any UPS and, in an orderly way. shuts down yourcomputer's operating system before the UPS battery reserve is exhausted

tiple systems to be supported by a single UPS without the need for additional hardware. A status screen monitors UPS data, such as battery time remaining, battery voltage, charge status, and line voltage.

Phone: (314) 343-5022.

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FINANCIAL TOOLS

The Mathematica Finance Pack ($395) helps finance professionals to analyze numerical and statistical data, optimize mathematical models, display data graphically in 2-D and 3-D, and create animations. From Wolfram Research (Champaign, IL), the Finance Pack is designed to solve problems in areas such as interest rates, bonds, cash flow, options, and finance-calendar functions. It's available for the Mac, Windows, and the X Window System.

Phone: (800) 441 -6284 or (217)398-0700.

Circle 1280 on Inquiry Card.

EXPENSE REPORTS CUSTOMIZED

The Expense It for Windows program ($129.99) manages expense accounts for business travelers by providing customizable expense reports, rapid-receipt entry, foreign-currency conversion, and complete management and reconciliation of expense accounts. From On the Go Software (San Diego, CA), the program can consolidate the reports to include only the days that you

224 BYTE SEPTEMBER 1994

Carrying On the Generic CADD Tradition

A $495 professional-level 2-0 design and drafting program, Visual CADD works in Windows, so you can customize it through a macro language or any standard Windows programming language, such as Visual Basic or C++. Visual CADD's intuitive interface is based on design tools located in familiar, convenient locations; two-letter commands; and large drawing areas that are not obstructed by dialog boxes. Able to read and write Generic CADD GCD and AutoCAD DWG files, Visual CADD imports and exports data via DXF to share files with other CAD, CAM, and CAE software. The software features tracking and OLE 2.0 technology. Contact: Numera Software. Seattle. WA. (800) 956-2233 or (206) 622-2233.

INTEGRATE ON THE NEWTON

Developed for the Newton, TapWorks ($119) integrates text processing, spreadsheets, drawings, and graphs into a single application. The Avail Technology (Sunnyvale, CA) software improves the effectiveness of any document that you want to fax, print, beam, or mail from your Newton and provides WYSIWYG formatting. Phone: (408) 730-6855.

Circle 1283 on Inquiry Card.

MULTISERVER AUDITING

A Windows-based multiserver auditing tool for NetWare, AuditWare ($595 per server) provides a look and feel similar to that of the NW ADMIN NetWare 4 tool. From Preferred Systems (West Haven, CT), the versionindependent tool has cross-server query ability for NetWare 2.1, 2.2, 3.x, and 4.x. The ver- _____ sion-aware viewer allows the simultaneous auditing of multiple servers, n gardless of the version I NetWare each is runnin Phone: (800) 222-7638 or (203) 937-3000.

Circle 1285

(from $295) lets you print more than 13 different types of bar code symbologies and subsets. Available in a networked version, On-Tap/DOS lets you print the codes from within your applications. Integrated Software Design (Mansfield, MA) produces the software. Phone: (508) 339-4928.

Circle 1298 on Inquiry Card.

INVESTMENT TRACKER t

Fundwatch Plus for Windows ($39) from Hamilton Software (Rnglew(K)d, CO) has a spreadsheet-like tracking system that lets you maintain price data for investments at weekly or longer intervals. The software automatically incorporates dividend and distribution information. Flexible tracking and analysis methods let you directly compare a

variety of investments and market indexes and identify the best times to buy and sell. Phone: (800) 733-9607 or (303) 795-5572.

Circle 1292 on Inquiry Card.

EDITING UTILITY

A Windows utility that lets you cut any screen and deposit data in a customized file for reassembly, SupcrCut ($79.95) is designed for the creation of multimedia and desktop publishing presentations. From Pacific Micro (Mountain View, CA), SuperCut also has features for general editing functions for applications such as word processors and graphics programs. Phone: (4)5)948-6200.

Circle 1287 on Inquiry Card.

POWERBUILDER QA

M -» Is

EASY BAR CODE PRINTING

A collection of bar code soft fonts, On-Tap/DOS I

utomatcd softwarequality system for conducting comprehensive QA and testing of applications developed using Powersoft's PowerBuilder. PowerRunner ($2850) employs Powersoft's standard PowerBuilder API. Prom Mercury Interactive (Santa Clara, CA), PowerRunner enables test reusability. Phone: (408) 987-0100.

Circle 1289 on Inquiry Card.

=5 3.5, F.xcalibur Technologies (San Diego, CA), is easier to integrate with third-party software, has a new API, and provides additional structured RDBMS indexing support. From $12,000.

Phone: (6)9) 625-7900.

Circle 1303 on Inquiry Card.

FilePower MiiltiFiler/Finder 4.0,

Optika (Colorado Springs, CO), adds OCR for automatic indexing: lull text-retrieval and keyword-searching capabilities; multiple annotation features; internationalization; Oracle SQL database support; and multiple-page display. From $450.

Phone: (719) 548-9800.

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College, PA), includes ni

graph-cditcapabil

j- 1

I . I exploratory

"™ data-analysis and statistical capabilities; and adds 3-D graphics, fully implemented DDE, and a session window that you can edit to generate reports from within the statistical package. $895.

Phone: (814) 238-3280.

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Trinzie (Palo Alio. CA), improves development productivity on GUI workstations and integration in client/server environments. $9000 for the Windows and OS/2 Presentation Manager version. Phone: (415) 328-9595.

Circle 1308 on Inquiry Card.

SQL Windows 5.0, Gupta (Menlo Park, CA). adds QuickObjects, workgroup integration, and the SQL Windows Compiler. $3395. Phone: (415) 321-9500.

Circle 1307 on Inquiry Card.

SEPTEMBER 1994 BYTE 228

What's New

I Software

A Graphical Voice System for Visual Basic

A voice and telephony integration package for Visual Basic, VBVoice is a complete graphical voice-application design tool. VBVoice creates a graphical environment in which you can design, develop, and test interactive voice systems within Visual Basic. The VBVoice/Tapi extension to the system allows you to recompile all existing VBVoice applications to use any telephony interface card that has a Tapi-compliant driver. For demanding applications, you can write code to respond to Tapi events to customize the controls, or you can create your own objects with the User control shell. Pricing for VBVoice/Tapi starts at $395; a fax option is $295. Contact: Pronexus, Carp. Ontario, Canada, (613) 839-003.1

Circle 1273 on Inquiry Card.

ALPHA DEBUGGER

TotalView (single-user license, $975), a source-level debugger from BBN Systems and Technologies (Cambridge, MA), is available for DEC'S Alpha AXP RISC workstation running the OSF/1 operating system. With TotalView, you can simultaneously view and debug all aspects of your applications, as well as debug applications that run on multiple workstations. Phone:(617)873-2634.

DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT AID

With View Pro (from $395), you can simultaneously view, annotate, and mark up documents regardless of their original size and file format; document notes are automatically updated, and all comments and changes are linked. From The van der Roest Group (Santa Ana, CA), View Pro's vector support includes AutoCAD, CADkey, andCADAM. Its raster support includes TIFF, CALS, and PCX.

Phone: (714) 542-2201.

Circle 1301 on Inquiry Card.

MANAGE THE ISSUES

Issue- and problem-tracking soft ware for Windows, Issue Man

ager ($49.95) provides a way for you to track issues, note their progress, and record when an issue is closed. From Winnovation (Ft. Collins, CO), Issue Manager tracks problems such as software bugs, maintenance requests, and quality-control support. Phone: (303) 226-8682.

Circle 1293 on Inquiry Card.

DEVELOP CLIENT/SERVER APPLICATIONS

ObjectPro ($2995 per seat), an object-oriented development tool, is designed for programmers building client/server applications that have business objects programmed into them. All application components are stored as objects, so developers can take advantage of the benefits of inheritance and specialization throughout their applications. The Trinzic (Palo Alto, CA) software's interface lets you access and update a wide variety of databases. Phone: (415) 328-9595.

Circle 1299 on Inquiry Card.

SOURCE CODE COLLECTION

A compilation of Mac source code and utilities on CD-ROM, Apprentice ($35) has working examples of applications, control

panels, extensions, utilities, and more. Apprentice is from CeIcstin (Port Townsend, WA). Phone: (206) 385-3767.

Circle 1290 on Inquiry Card.

WINDOWS NT MAKES THE UNIX CONNECTION

The eXceed/NT 32-bit X Window System server software package ($545) for Alpha- and Mipsbased PCs enables you to use Windows NT to connect to and display network-based Unix/X and/or VMS applications simultaneously in windows on your desktop. The software is from Hummingbird Communications (Palo Alto, CA). Phone:(415)617-4560.

Circle 1291 on Inquiry Card.

DIAGRAM YOUR DATABASE

A reverse-engineering and documentation application for Oracle 6 and 7 databases, Database Illustratoi (trom $100) uses table, column, and constraint information stored in the data dictionary to produce an entity-relationship diagram with automatic entity layout and relationship routing. The application is from Ray Ontko & Co. (Richmond, IN). Phone:(317)935-4283.

Circle 1296 on Inquiry Card.

IDL 3.6 for Windows NT and Power Macintosh, Research Systems (Boulder, CO), improves its user interface, enhances its numerical analysis and data handling, and adds new plotting techniques. $1500.

Phone: (303) 786-9900.

Circle 1310 on Inquiry Card.

Multimedia ToolBook 3.0,

Asymetrix (Bellevue. WA), adds over 200 enhancements, including increased productivity, improved applications performance and text capabilities, better user interfaces and database support for applications, and comprehensive multimedia features. $895. Phone:(206)462-0501.

Circle 1311 on Inquiry Card.

group scheduling; interoffice E-mail; built-in PaperClip document imaging to let you link any type of document to a specific account; access to corporate databases; and linkups to employees in the field. From $295. Phone: (617) 275-2140.

Circle 1306 on Inquiry Card.

askSam for Windows 2.0,

askSam Systems (Perry, FL), adds a spelling checker, multiple fonts in the report writer, searching over multiple files, hypertext links, superscripts anil subscripts, additional import filters, and an optional OCR module to scan text directly into an askSam database. $149.95; OCR module, $99.95.

Phone:(904)584-6590.

Circle 1317 on Inquiry Card.

226 BYTE SEPTEMBER W4

Explore the Internet!

Five Hour Free Trial!

Dial By Modem 1-800-365-4636, Press return until you get a prompt At Username, enter JOINDELPHI. At Password, Enter BTE949

:urrent Internet Users: See what DELPHI can offer you! Stock quotes. Grolier's Encyclopedia, i. and hundreds of other services are just a few keystrokes away. Telnet to delphi.com and enter tl and password above for a free trial.

Circle 88 on Inquiry Card.

DELPHI is the only major online service to offer you full access to the Internet. And now you can explore this incredible resource with no risk. You get 5 hours of evening/weekend access to try it out for free!

Use DELPHI'S Internet mail gateway to exchange messages with over 20 million people at universities, companies, and other online services such as CompuServe and MCI Mail. Download programs and files using FTP or connect in real-time to other networks using Telnet. You can also meet people on the Internet. Internet Relay Chat lets you "talk" with people all over the world and Usenet News is the world's largest bulletin board with over 4500 topics!

To help you find the information you want, you'll have access to powerful search utilities such as "Gopher," "Hytelnet" and "WAIS." If you aren't familiar with these terms, don't worry; DELPHI has hundreds of expert online assistants and a large collection of help files, books, programs, and other resources to help get you started.

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What's New

Software

1

H J §

i- *'*

Add Geographic Analysis to Your Spreadsheets

A joint effort from Wessex and Environmental Systems Research Institute, First St. mapping software includes the core data from the U.S. Census Bureau, ArcView 2 software, and a set of 22 CDs with geographic and demographic data. ArcView provides GIS technology; desktop mapping; multimedia; and data-analysis tools, such as DBMSes, business graphics, and spreadsheets. First St. retails for $1995. Contact: Wessex, Winnetka, IL (800) 892-6906 or (708)501-3662.

Clrclo 1274 on Inquiry Card.

away from the network. The software creates and maintains an electronic briefcase on your local hard drive; the briefcase emulates your network and allows you to access the files as if they were on the network, with identical drives and directory paths. Takelt automatically synchronizes your files when you return them to the network. Phone:(801)374-1623.

Circle 1294 on Inquiry Card.

BATCH TILES

With Batch It ($199) from Gryphon Software (San Diego, CA), you can color-correct an on-screen digitized video clip by dragging the entire movie onto a color-correction tile instead of correcting it frame by frame. Once the movie is on the tile, the batching process begins. For two tasks, you connect the appropri

TWO BEATS BEYOND A PIM

Using a concept called the Conducting Platform, Superconductor ($99) allows you to organize your computers and information around the people (or companies or subjects) you ordinarily interact with rather than around your applications. You work from a central screen and six dependent screens to create a record for each person; then you organize all of a certain person's infortunium -including documents— directly under that person's record. Superconductor is from Four Corners Development (Sherman Oaks, CA). Phone: (310) 780-3835.

Circle 1295 on Inquiry Card.

REMOTE ACCESS GOES LOCAL

Takelt ($ 139.95) from G'Vosay (Provo, UT) provides access to your network files when you're

ate two tiles via a connector. The Mac software ships with 30 tiles. Phone: (619) 536-8815.

Circle 1297 on Inquiry Card.

NETWORK MANAGEMENT

FreedomView NMS ($395) uses SNMP to manage Ethernet networks running under Windows. The software can diagram network topology, depicting different device types with built-in or user-defined icons, and it can automatically detect devices and create a network map, selecting icon types based on device queries. From Compex (Anaheim, CA), FreedomView NMS can poll devices at user-defined intervals and create event filters that trigger custom functions. Phone:(714)630-7302.

Circle 1286 on Inquiry Card.

ENTRY-LEVEL SPICE

A 32-bit analog and mixed-signal circuit-simulation system that employs Win32s extensions, ICAP4/Lite ($595) is based on ICAP/4Windows. From Intusoft (San Pedro, CA), ICAP4/Lite allows unlimited-size circuits; performs AC, DC, transient, and temperature analyses; and includes an integrated schematic entry program that produces a complete SPICE netlist. Phone: (310) 833-0710.

Circle 1300 on Inquiry Card.

20 VOLUMES ON A DISC

A single-disk CD-ROM (from $1300) provides the full 20 volumes of the McGraw-Hill Multimedia Encyclopedia of Science & Technology as well as the complete fifth edition of the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms. From McGraw-Hill (New York, NY), the Windows-based CD-ROM uses Online Computer Systems' Opti-Ware search-and-retrieval technology.

Phone: (212) 337-5961.

Circle 1302 on Inquiry Card.

Software Update

Sculpt 4.0, Byte by Byte (Austin, TX), features a new user interface; free-form modeling tools, such as b-spline, Bezier spline, and NURBS; and native support for Power Macs. From $1995. Phone: (512) 795-0150.

Circle 1315 on Inquiry Card.

Collage 2.0, Specular International (Amherst. MA), supports the Power Mac and CMYK image files, is PowerPC-native, and has increased image sizes and an improved user interface. $395. Phone: (413) 253-3100.

Circle 1309 on Inquiry Card.

Air Series 2.75, Spry (Seattle, WA), enhances installation. Telnet, mail, and news and adds PPP Windows Dialer and Mosaic. From $149. Phone: (800) 777-9638 or (206) 447-0300.

Circle 1312 on Inquiry Card.

OPNrOffice 7.3, OPN Systems (Fort Wayne, IN), includes a GUI thai supports X Window System terminals and PCs running an X terminal-emulation package;adds a document-tracking system; and comes with PC Companion, OPN:Style, and OPN:World gateways. From $125 per

Phone: (800)676-1177 or (219)455-2758.

Circle 1313 on Inquiry Card.

Catalog On Disk for Windows

230, Curtis Software (Torrance, CA), adds support for CD-ROM and the ability to distribute catalogs over dialup services. From $1795. Phone:(310)320-2451.

Circle 1314 on Inquiry Card.

URGENT—YOUR INPUT NEEDED

The BYTE State of the Art section is devoted to delivering in-depth information about specific topics in computing on a monthlv basis. Early next year, the State of the Art section will cover the technologies and strategies involved mSSSySS^

bZZZltTSZSZSZ 13 ^ tUH6 ^ y°Ur PeedS' We reqU6St th3t y°U " °Ut ,he f0ll0win9 questionnaire and fax it rnTriZ p , < " ^ T*! and mterestS' and he|P us focus our covera9e <* Digital Video to best address your

concerns. Please take a few minutes to fill out this form and fax it back to us y

Of course, questionnaires such as this are necessarily limiting. If you'd like to see other areas covered or if you want to tell us your ideas about v.deo on the desktop, please contact one of the SOTA section editors at the following E mail addresses

Thank you.

Bob Ryan, b.ryan@bix.com Russ Kay, russellk@bix.com Scott Wallace, swallace@bix.com

Digital Video

Please rate your interest in the following technologies and applications.

Not at all interested

Extremely interested

i ] Videoconferencing

□ Video production for broadcasting

□ Industrial video production

□ Training videos

□ Electronic publishing

□ Whiteboard applications

□ 3-D data visualization

Other - please specify

Compression Schemes and Codecs

CH Captain Crunch Q MPEG 1 D MPEG 2 n JPEG

Cinepak D MotiVE

□ Fractal compression Huffman coding

Other - please specify

Standards

□ Indeo

□ MWave

CJ Windows DSP Manager

U vcos

□ QuickTime D H.261

□ Px64

□ Other - please specify_

Transmission Technologies

CH Switched LANs

Q Full-duplex Ethernet

D FDDI/CDDI

□ Fast Ethernet

□ ISDN/Switched-56 ~1 ATM

O Other - please specify

Comments:

ABOUT YOU (OPTIONAL)

Name

Title

Company Phone

FAX the completed form (without a cover sheet, please!) to (603) 924-7620. If you don't have access to a fax, you can photocopy the form and mail it to:

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SEPTEMBEH I9*t BYTE 229

The Solution To Your Application Requirements

Quatech, Inc. manufactures a variety of communication, data acquisition, PCMCIA, and control products for the IBM PC/XT, PC/AT, PS/2, notebook and compatible systems. We are committed to providing our customers with quality products, exceptional service and support, and competitive prices.

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(I QUATECH

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800-465-0164), Denmark/Jes Rasmussen Aps. 45 4281 6838, England/Diamond Point lntemat.onal 44-6M-722-390 FinlamtfLab H.-Tech, OY 358 0 682 1255, France/Elexo 33-1-69302880, Germany/Jupiter Electronic Systems GMBH 49 61 8175041, Hong^"^"<>T^W LW" 852 581 Computaccount 91 11 224 5159, Israel/RCM Ltd. 972-3-6487885, Italy/N.C.S. Computer Italia 39 331 7700 6, Korea/Sam Boo Systems 82-2-135-280. Netherlands/ACAL Auriema 31-40-502602, Singapore/Bliss Services Pte Ltd. 65-338-1300, Saudi Arabia/Integrated Computer Operators 966 3 895 ?827Sou*, AMctfEag e Technology 27 21 234943 Spain/Santa Barbara SA 34 3 418 81 16, Sweden/Systec 46 13 1101 40, Switzerland/Technosoftware 41 64 519M0 IBM PC/XT PC/AT and PS/2 are registered trademarks of the IBM Corporation. All other trademarks are of their respect.ve companies.

Circle 133 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 134).

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C, C++ and BASIC programmers now you get much more than xBase compatible DBMS power.

m housands of programmers have •already discovered how to get dBASE, FoxPro and Clipper compatibility with their favorite language and hardware platforms. For example, one customer has C programs running on PC and Sun workstations sharing data with concurrently running FoxPro for Windows applications. You see, CodeBase technology is simply the best way to add multi-user xBase compatible DBMS power to C, C++, Basic or Pascal.

You still gain speed & small size

CodeBase users really appreciate our small executable size. Unlike SQL engines which are a Meg or so in size, CodeBase 5.1 EXE's can be as small as 45K! You'll also like the speed-with our Intelligent Queries you get the execution speed of C plus stunning query performance from our smart use of available index information.

Now formatted data entry in Windows is as easy as point & click!

Experienced Windows programmers know formatted data entry is difficult

set of data-aware custom controls. No> drop them into your Windows applicati your favorite visual interface bulkier

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NEW-Data-aware controls

Our new custom controls are data-aware, so now you can easily build a scrolling list box that's tied to a data file, or look up matching combo box entries-even as the user types.

Introducing CodeReporter 2.0

And get multi-platform portability.

Once your reports are designed under Windows, you can generate corresponding source code. Use this source code to launch reports under DOS, Macintosh, Windows, NT, OS/2 or UNIX.

Now you can automatically translate Clipper, dBASE, and FoxPro code into C++. Turbo-charge critical xBase applications, port to new operating systems, and gain the flexibility of C++. CodeTranslator keeps your variable names and uses the CodeBase++ library-making the translated code easier for you to read and maintain.

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The Databrick

The newest addition to Datalux's family of space-saving computer products! This ^^^H 1 4kg unit measures only 26x 12x 5cm (10"x5"x2"), yet is powerful — 486SX to 486 DX2/66 with local bus video. Intended for situations where space saving is most important, it provides a rugged, portable, flexible PC solution, bridging the gap between a laptop and a desktop PC. Databrick drives both VGA Datalux LCD and Touch LCD monitors, making it ideal for institutional, presentation, vehicle, machine control and POS systems. It can be configured as a diskless unit (booting from flash memory or from a network) or a stand-alone system with hard disk, powerful enough for today's CAD or desktop publishing programs. Hinged lid is removable.

Orders and Information: 1 800-DATALUX 24-hour faxed data sheets: 703 662-1675

LCD Monitors

Datalux stand-alone monitors are available in both 1.8 kg. desk/wall (which folds for portability) and 2.7 kg mobile/ industrial. 64-grey shade, mono or 256 ' color DUAL SCAN versions. Both 9.4" diagonal 640 x480 VGA and be fitted with optional touch screen with integrated touch controller. The mobile/industrial unit (pictured with swivel mount) is in a rugged aluminum housing with sealed front bezel and controls. All models plug directly into the Databrick or are supplied with a 16-bit ISA bus controller

g mobile/ >no or 256 are _^^Rt

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Desk/Wall Package

The Databrick combined with our LCD monitor is an ideal solution when you need a complete, compact PC and screen in a single unit. Any combination of options may be ordered. When folded or mounted on a wall, this 4 kg unit measures only 29x24x 11 cm (4.5x9.5x11") and is rugged enough to survive as a touch system in harsh environments such as kitchens or factories.

American Made Space-Saving Computer Products

DATALUX Corporation 155 Aviation Drive Winchester, VA 22602 Phone (703] 662-1500 Fax (703) 662-1682

Euro House

Curtis Road. 11 Old Water Yard Dorking. Surrey. UKRH4IEJ Phone 306-876718 Fax 306-876742

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With Backpack's unique printer port connection, family support has never been easier.

Adding additional storage to your IE compatible, laptop or notebook has nevei been easier. The backpack" family of no-slot drives plugs directly into your parallel jj printer port to provide you with additional storage instantly. Using them one at a time, or daisy chaining up to four together, there are no interface cards to install so you don't have to open the cabinet of youi computer. And because your printer attaches

directly to the backpack drive, you don't have to disrupt your print operations. With the backpack family of diskette, hard, tape or CD-ROM drives, you can easily transport your information wherever you go—just plug backpack into the parallel printer port of any IBM compatible or portable. And, of course, all backpack drives work with Windows™ With backpack, there's no hassle. Just sit back and enjoy the new member of the family.

Just plug and play. It's the no-hassle approach storage.

MicraSolutians

132 W. Lincoln H\

Circle 203 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 204).

$3740

8mb 250mb Ram HD

TEN YEARS of

ULTIMATE customer support yields the ultimate answer to customer needs.

The A Pentium Notebook

For some of our loyal customers, our new Pentium Notebook simply represents one more piece of excellence, one more solid industry-shaking design from a company they can count on for true support: SUPPORT that has kept them eagerly anticipating each new breakthrough product, year after year; SUPPORT that makes it safe to depend on innovative products that others don't know how to support (or even provide) yet.

For some of you, this one powerful new product will be your first introduction to our family. We'd like to take this opportunity to pledge the same excellent, personal support to you that we've offered each of our valued customers for the past decade. It's no secret that, when you purchase a notebook computer on the cutting edge of technology, you enter into a relationship with the vendor. We'd like it to be a rewarding relationship for you. A relationship that, like your new notebook, will simply and completely outperform all other options.

With the Micro International Pentium Notebook, you can grasp a piece of the future today. Plus, our 486DX2-66 and DX4-100 notebooks are still at the top of their class, providing outstanding power and performance at even more affordable prices.

So when you need the best, give us a call. We have it in stock and ready for you to enjoy.

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otebook computers and compatible

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The low cost, plug-in hardware diagnostics card for IBM & compatible PC/AT systems, allows technicians, system manufacturers, integrators and end-users to quickly isolate problems with 286. 386 & 486 systems that fail during Power-up, even on systems that appear completely dead. Easy to install & use, QuickPost PC Plus plugs into any open 8 or 16 bit AT slot: when the system is powered-up, QuickPost PC Plus instantly begins monitoring the Power On Self Test (POST) codes output by the system BIOS. The easy-to-read numeric display codes identify the hart circuits that need replacing. It's that simple. The whole process takes only a couple of minutes!

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Keyboards & Keypad

78271 32-key keypad $59.95

67432 101-key enhanced 44.95

17128 101-key enhanced iF,i|N;i.. 69.95

Computer Power Supplies

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• 8088/80286/80386 and W *^ /I compatible 'Built-intan — H

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67467 200 Watt 18088/80286) 79.95

19545 200 Wall 89.95

19529 200 Watt mini 89.95

65728 300 Watt 139.95

Graphics/Memory Cards

• 8088/80286/80386 and compatible

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67459 VGA Card $59.95

104660 Super VGA Card 99.95

91230 Monochrome Graphcb 39.95

101688 VESA Graphics Acci'l--.' 149 95

112141 ::•,<•;•• ,:rv 3an;: 129 95

Parallel Printer

Cables and Adapter wBr

28695 PPC Adapter $5.95

28716 PPC6 6' sf.nqi': cat ■■• 4 95

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28741 PPR6 6'- right angle cable 6.95

9-Pin Serial Cable ^ DB25 Pin Extension Cable

39538 25M10M Male lo male 1.95

Floppy Disk Drives

• 8088/80286/80386 and

74392 FD505 3 5 525' $149.95

74384 FD235J 2.88MB 3.5' 129.95

40774 356KU 1.44MB 3.5' 79.95

17099 FD55B 360KB 5.25' 99.95

17101 FD55G 12MB 5.25- 99.95

79396 S0540 360KB b 25 59 95

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19895 8088 Multi I/O w/ floppy cntr $69.95

19908 :.V3VW - 59 95

19596 8088 Floppy controller 29.95

19617 i o. Disk Two-drive controller..34.95

19668 Floppy Disk Four-drive controiler_44.95

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67053 Serial Card 16550 UART 39.95

104678 Serial Card - 4 serial port UNIX....79.95

104199 I/O Card 4 Serial. 3 parallel 69.95

105611 I/O Card 44.95

105072 VESA IDE Super I/O Card 79.95

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93294 CP30254 250MB 319.95

93307 CP30544 545MB 529.95

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10233 AOP20 16-bit hard

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27078 3 5 digit multimeter $59.:

27086 3 5 digit multimf

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27140 4 5 digit multimeter with

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27158 S '

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Featuring these two too-rated, award-winning diagnostic tools

Fully o/s independent diagnostic software...

MICRO-SCOPE Universal Computer Diagnostics was developed to satisfy the expanding need for accurate system diagnosis in the rapidly growing desktop computer market. Patterned after super-mini and mainframe diagnostic routines, MICRO-SCOPE runs independently of any standard operating system, and is therefore at home on any machine in the Intel world. Speed, ease-of-use, and razor sharp accuracy are a few of the advantages that arise from this system independence, together with an impressive list of functions including the ability to perform low level formatting on every drive currently manufactured, including all IDE drives.

• LOW-LEVEL FORMAT - Performs Low-level format on all drive types including IDE drives. This function cannot hurt IDE drives. • USE CONTROLLER BIOS - Program will access BIOS format built into anv hard disk controller—even Controllers yet to be invented. • O/S INDEPENDENT - Does not rely on O/S for diagnostics. Talks to PC on hardware level. All tests are full function regardless of O/S (i.e. Novell, UNIX, OS/2). • TRUE HARDWARE DIAGNOSTICS - Accurate testing of CPU, IRQ's, DMA's, memory, hard drives, floppy

drives, video cards, etc. • BATCH CONTROL - All tests, even destructive, mav be selected for testing. • ERROR LOGGING - Automatically inputs errors during testing to an error log. • AUTOMAPPING — Automatically bad sector maps errors found on hard disks. • IRQ DISPLAY - Show bits enabled in IRQ chip for finding cards that are software driven. (Network, Tape Backup, etc.) • IRQ CHECK Talks directly to hardware and shows I/O address and IRQ of devices that respond. • MEMORY EXAMINE — Displays any physical bit of memory under 1 Meg. Very useful for determining memory conflicts. Very useful for determining available memory space. • SECTOR EDITOR — Allows the editing of anv sector of floppy or hard disk media (even track 0). • AND MUCH MORE...YVe don't have enough space here for everything this soft

The only Power-on Self-Test card you need to debug any "dead" PC...

Winners of these awards:

"You name it, this tests it. If you maintain PC's, you'll love it."

—Jerry Pournelle, BYTE Magazine, May 94

Service Nkws

by the card." —Scott Mueller from his globally recognized book, 'Upgrading & Repairing PCs, Second Edition'

• Includes pads for voltmeter to attach for actual voltage testing under load. • 4 LEDs monitor +5vdc -Svdc +12vdc -12vdc. • Monitors Hi & l/> clock and OSC cycles to distinguish between clock chip or crystal failure. • Monitors I/O Write and I/O Read to distinguish between write and read errors. • Monitors memory write/ read to distinguish between address line failures and memory chip failures. • Monitors ALE for proper CPU/DMA operation. • Monitors Reset to determine if reset is occurring during POST, indicating short. • Monitors progress of POS T without POST codes. • Reads POST codes from anv IBM or compatible that emits POST codes. ISA/EISA/MCA. • Compatible with Micro Channel computers. • Dip switch allows easy selection of I/O ports to read. • Includes tristate LOGIC PROBE to determine actual chip failures. • Manual includes chip layouts and detailed POST procedures for all major BIOS's. • AND MUCH MORE...

Also ask about our other Universal Products— Micro-Scope CLIENT:

iOdem required;

% accurate

wphis is the only i ard that will function in every 1 system on the market. The documentation is Micro-Scope CENSUS:

only covers the expected POST Codes for different BIOS versions, but also includes a detailed reference to the bus signals monitored

call Now lor special Pricing: 1-800-864-8008 or Fax (818) 507-0397

1100 East Broadway, Suite 301, Glendale, California • Phone 818/547-0125 • Fax 818/547-0397 Inteinational Orders please call: MIC RO 2OO0 Australia: 61-42-574144 • MICRO 2000 Europe (IK): 44-462-483-483

compactly houses, monitors, computer peripherals, hard and floppy drives, display cards, cooling fans and power supply. Don't pay for any of the extras you don't need; mix and match components and make your computer | system purchase more cost-effective!

The greatest concept in flexibility:

recortec UniMod™

■= universal modular system

Recortec's new Universal Modular system (UniMod™) offers you a versatile selection of modular components such as computers, monitors, and keyboard /video switches... in a variety of chassis options so you can design a customized system which best suits your particular application.

Warranty. All Recortec rack mount products are backed with a one-year warranty. Free Catalog. For a free copy of Recortec products catalog, call us today at:

800-729-7654 RECORTEC, I IMC.

17 "Ultra VGA Monitor

Recortec's exciting new 17" Ultra VGA color rack mount monitor model

RMM-237 is a multi - frequency, multi-scanning monitor containing a microprocessor-based digital control system, with 1280x102-1 maximum noninterlaced resolution and |: a 0.26 dot pitch, INVAR i mask tube. Ruggedly built and encased, it is the 1 perfect choice for your mt rack mount applications.

1290 LAWRENCE STATION ROAD • SUNNYVALE, CA 94089 • TEL: (408) 734-1290 • FAX: (408) 734-2140

Circle 206 on Inquiry Card.

Circle 208 on Inquiry Card.

Printer Port Connections Are The New Tools Of The Trade.

Mnee you discover jusl how easy it is to SLJy '"Stall a backpack CD-ROM drive to your ^^^^ computer, you'll never be inconvenienced by conventional installation methods again. Just plug backpack into your computer and you're ready to go. No interface cards, hardware conflicts or expansion slots required. Because of its unique printer port interface, backpack fits all IBM PC compatibles and portables regardless of CPU speed. In addition, a builtin audio circuit with both headphone and line output jacks allows for connection of sound cards or Hi-Fi. You can run thousands of your favorite multimedia

programs and view Kodak™ Photo CDs too, with CD-ROM backpack. Compact and versatile, you can expect backpack to go wherever you go, bringing with you the wealth of information CD-ROM storage makes possible. Printer pass-through is included. Tape drive, hard drive and diskette backpack drives are also available. Call today for ordering information and a dealer nearest you.

backpack

MicraSalutions

132 W. Lincoln Hwy. DeKalb, Illinois 60115 Telephone 81x756.3411 Fax 815.756.2928 _~ Call Toll Free 800.29o. 1214 B

Circle 199 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 200).

IBM THINKPAD 750C MM STOCK

THINKPAD 750/750C 4MB RAM 1707340MB

.its

Desktop (NEW PCI SYSTEMS)

6484DX4/100 270MB/364MB/527MB

6484 DX2/66 270MB/364MB/527MB

6484 DX4/33 270MB/364MB/527MB

(Above systems are available with VLB SLOTS)

6384-189 P60/D 16/424MB

6384-199 P60/D 165/274MB

NEW IBM EISA PC SERVERS

PC SERVER DX2/66 8/728MB

PC SERVER P5/60 MODEL 1

PC SERVER P5/6016/1GB

ALL PS/2 COMPUTERS & PS/2 SERVER ate also

BRAND NAMES

LOW PRICES

LEADER SINCE 1983

We export with International Warranty

IBM PS/VALUEPOINT

486SX/25 (DESKTOP)

4MB RAM, 120MB, 1.44MB floppy drive, DOS. WINDOWS. Mouse

$999

IBM PS/VALUEPOINT

4860X/33 (DESKTOP)

4MB RAM. 212MB HD.

m slaert,

Netserver LE D)

56 8/1GB

P DeskJet 310. .

PRINTERS

300 I HP120OC 1380/call HP12O0C.'ps DESKJET 520/560 ... 272/544 ScanJet llp/llc HP 4SIMX/4SI 415*2850 HP 4L/4ML

NOTEBOOK

Toshiba

T1910/1910CT 486SX/4/120MB

T1960CT 486DX2/40 4/200MB/340MB

T340O/34O0C 4/120MB

T470074700C DX2/50 4/200/340MB

T48O0Series 75MHz Systems (with audio) TEXAS INTRUMENTS

T400OE DX2/50 4/200MB (active color)

T4O0OE 486/75 MHz 4/340MB /455MB

I NEC TECHNOLOGIES

Versa 4860X2/40 4/20O/340MB (color & mom

Versa 486OX2/50 4/20O/34OMB (color & mora

comma

LTE Lite 4/40C MHz series

LTE Lite 4/50C MHz series

LTE Lite 4/40CX 4 4/50CX MHz series

LTE Lite 4/75 MHz with 510MB disk

(All New LTE Lite Models have pcmcia slots)

. : . 4 •J0MB740MB

Prolinea 4/50 4/240MB

Prolinea 4/66 4/240MB

Prolinea Mini Tower Series

n \ Kl-mX-s,i <70MB .'340MB

kOSVMOMB. ■ Prolinea DX2/50 4/340MB. 525MB Prolinea DX2/66 4/3 """"

□eskpro XL Series (NEW RELEASE) (integrate* SCSI & PCI ♦ network card * a

DeskproX. 4/50M8/270MB

DeskproX.4,'66M 8/535MB

Deskpro XL 5/60M & 5/66 8/525MB

NEW COST EFFECTIVE SERVERS

Prosignia VS DXi'66 Model 1

Prosignia VS DX2'66 SCSI 535MB/1GB Powertul Servers Proliant 1000 d»2/66& 5/60 mode II Proliant 2000 dx2/66& 5/60 model t Proliant 200074000 5/60 model 1 Prosignia DX2/66 4 5/50 Model 1

HEWLETT PACKARD

VECTRA VL2 4S6/33e

4MB RAM.170MB HD,

WE

STOCK

ADAPTEC BOCA

CALCOMP CITIZEN

INTEL CREATIVE LABS

EPSOM HAYES

MAYNARD I KINGSTON I HOUSTON I EXABYTE I PINNACLE ACER MOUNTAIN LOGITECH INSTRUMENT KODAK FUJITSU ALR

MultiMedia

COMPLETE PACKAGE

CREATIVE LAB 3X KIT 689

Jio Multimedia System 665

Fusion Double CD 16 int 285

, VISION PRO 5000 659 SOUND CARDS

Sound Blaster 16/16MCD 125/150

nd Blaster 16 SCSI/SCSI ASP 180/229

Audio spectrum call

CD-ROM DRIVES

Sony 33A

Sony CDll 535/561

NEC 3XI (INT/EXT) 449/499

NEC 4XPR0 CALL

GRAPHICS CARD & CONTROLLER DIAMOND VIPER 2MB PCI/VLB. 350/330

STEALTH 32 2MB VLB/PCI 225/225

ATI TURBO 2MB ISA/VLB . ATI TURBO 4MB ISA/VLB . ORCHID KELVIN (64-bit) 21 ORCHID 1280 2MB VLB .. ADAPTEC 2940 PCI SCSI K ADAPTEC 2842 VLB KIT . ADAPTEC 2742 EISA KIT.

NOVELL SPECIALS

289/299

420/420

NEC 3v/4FGe 480/630

NEC5Fe/5GP 999/1099

NEC 6FGP/3PG 1999

IBM SLC2/50MHZ + math-co.... 186 IBM SLC2/66MHz + math-co.... 250 IBM BLC3/75MHZ + math-co.... 380

AMD 486DLC-40MHZ 199

CYRIX 486SLC/33 99

Intel satisfax 400 299

Intel 14.4 pcmcia 240

U.S. Robotics 14.4 lax S/R 129

Best Data 14.4 Fax 115

24/9600 FAX MODEM 55

Notebook Upgrades

130MB hard disk special

213MB hard disk special

340MB hard disk special

540MB hard disk special

NETWARE 3.12

5 USER special

10 USER special

Conner 210/340 .. Conner 540MB/1GB .

Maxtor 540MB/1GB ....

QUANTUM 1GB

MICROPOLIS

•CALL FORAL

APPLE

QUADRA 600/605 SERIES . MAC POWERBOOK SERIES . POWER PC6100/6OMHZ ... POWER PC7100/66Mhz. . .. POWER PC 8100/80MHZ ...

PRINTERS

EPSON LO870/1170

EPSON LO57O/1070

OKI ML320/321

OKI ML590/591

OL410e/410

810/830

«ON BJ 10SX/BJ-200e

CANON BJC600

'anasomc 4430/4410

'anasonic 1624/2624

>anasonic 2023/2124

Please call lor updated prices.

231/355 315/440 440/585

Tape Back-Up Drives

Colorado Jumbo 120/250 (int) . 110/179 Colorado Trakker 120/250 (ext) 220/354 Syquest 88MB inf ext . 480/560

Computerlane,

c„p™—s Outside Califor^aM W526^«2 S

Hours: Monday - Friday 9 - 6, Saturday 10 - 5

Circle 191 on Inquiry Card.

The Simple Connection Behi Computers ani Backpack Tape Dr

It's fast. It's small. It's reliable. It's incredibly compatible.

Backpack is the best selling parallel port tape drive on the market. We'd like to tell you why. With Backpack, tape backup is quick and simple. Just plug it into your printer port and it's ready to use. No hardware conflicts, no slots required. One model fits all IBM PCs, compatibles and portables, regardless of CPU speed. Backpack can store up to 250MB on a tape using data compression, is completely QIC80 compatible, and reads QIC40 tapes. With its compact size

and I Mbps transfer rate, Backpack is the smallest and fastest parallel port tape drive you can buy. Micro Solutions is dedicated to the perfection of backup technology.

CD-ROM, hard drive, and diskette Backpack drives are also available. Call today for ordering information and a dealer nearest you. Telephone 815.756.3411 FAX 815.756.2928

Vest Lincoln Highway DeKalb, IL 60115

Call toll free: 800-295-1214

Circle 20S on Inquiry Card.

Fast Portable Tape Backup for DOS, Windows, and OS/2

Valitek PST tape drives connect in seconds to the parallel, serial, or SCSI port of any IBM compatible PC or Macintosh.

► Mi drives come with parallel, serial, and SCSI interfaces.

► Capacities from 500MB to 5GB.

► Software available for DOS, Windows, and OS/2.

>• Compatible with Novell Networks.

► Autoswitching 110V/220V power supply.

► Up to 12Mb/min. on standard parallel ports.

When you can't afford to lose a single bit of data, can you afford anything less than a VALITEK?

100 University Drive Call: 800-VALITEK FAX: 413-549-2900 Amherst, MA 01002 or: 413-549-2700 BBS: 413-549-7560

VALITEK

We've Made It

Pei*

ectly Clear.

most advanced, innovative and best sounding digital audio adapters come from Antex. That's why they're preferred by OEMs and integrators worldwide for broadcast, recording and multimedia applications. JaBjaT The Antex product line capabilities include: !2© • Multiple compresskxiforrt^-ISO^IPEG. Dolby AC-2.CDI, i* CD-ROM XA, MS ADPCM, IMA

• AES/EBU/ S/PDIF digital I/O J& • Balanced/unbalanced analog I/O

• Programmable floating point DSP • Onboard EEPROM for software security • 16-bit stereo. 64x oversampling Sigma Delta • High-level DOS/Windows/hfT drivers Dual-device and multiple adapters 32-voice wavetable synthesis

digital

AUDIO

The difference is clear.

800/338-4231 ■ 310/532-3092 ■ FAX 310/532-8509 16100 South Figueroo Street ■ Gardena, California USA 90248

Circle 212 on Inquiry Card (RESELLER:213).

Special Prices ft Byte Buyers! Good Through 10/31/94

Modular Circuit Technology's motherboard features a 32-bit VESA Local Bus for quick data transfer! The VL Bus enables your CPU to share information with 2 other interfaces at speeds up to 33MHz. The 32-bit cache architecture allows more data per cycle. The VESA Local Bus gives you the added advantage of economical upgrades—standard 8 and 16-bit ISA cards plug right into the motherboard.

33MHz Intel 80486DX or 66MHz Intel

80486DX2 CPU

Uses 256K x 9.

(0K installed)

ZIFCPU socket

expansion slots

MS-DOS & Windows 3.1 compatible

x 9 80ns SIMMs

3i upgrades, eight 16-bit

DESQview 386. N NetWare & OS/2 compatible

CT-H486VL-33 33MHz 486DX CPU

66MHz 4860X2 CPU

HI CUSTOMERS ONLY!

SPECIALS FO

This card is ideal for J diagnosing system st-up problems ause it does not I require any software to operate.

• 286/386/486 PC compatible card

• Displays powerself-test codes

I • Works when software won't boot computer eludes AMI Diagnostics

al 5-1/4", two ex

This case features 5 external rive slots. Holds 2 floppy, ne tape, one CD ROM and PCMCIA interface adaptor. • Drive slots for three i 3-V2' and two intern; For mini-size motherboards with up to 8 slots 6-1/2'H x 17-V4"W x 16-y4"D desktop case Front panel access to power-on, turbo and reset

CASE-45 $59 95

This 17" monitor combines 0.26mm dot pitch for reduced flicker and crisp, vivid colors.

1280x 104 re

0.26mm dot pitch

Non-interlaced and

interlaced modes

110/220 VAC. 50/60 Hi

OverDrive

M Processors

Dynamic RAM

B0X0X200P66

Plugs into 33MHz 486SX 486DX OverDrive socket

DUE TO CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS CALL FOR CURRENT ORAM PRICES!

B0XDX20DPR-66

Replaces 33MHz 486SX o

Part I Size Speed 1MX9-80X3 1Mx 9 80ns

Tw Price SIMM 49.95

B0XDX20OP-50

Plugs into 25MHz 486SX 486DX OverDrive socket

486DX CPU Mfc^Jrf S2B9 95 ^vBm/

r Tnr^^f

1MX9-60X3 1Mx9 60ns 4MX9-80X9 4M x 9 80ns 4MX9-60X9 4M I 9 60ns

SIMM 54.95 SIMM 169.95

B0XDX20DPR 50

Replaces 25MHz 486SX o B0XSX200P50

Replaces existing 25MHz with 50MHz 486SX2

$289.95 486DX CPU . ,

86sf49 95 iiry.

16MX9-7BX9 16Mx9 70ns 1MX36-70 1Mx36 70ns 2MX36-70 2Mx36 70ns 4MX36-70 4Mx36 70ns

SIMM 779.00 SIMM 199.95 SIMM 379.95 SIMM 749.00

JDR Price Guarantee

If you purchased any item from JDR Microdevices in the last 30 days and we've lowered our price, call us with the details and we'll promptly refund the difference

MC I Network Cards

I" Philips CD-ROM drive provides access to a wealth of and reference material! 286/386/486 compatible

it 286/386/486 PC '^~~-^fA/V/U., npatible card • _xQQQS54l

is IRQ 3, 4, 5 or 6 & I/O port ^ 5llU

300x, 31 Ox, 330x 150Kb/sec. CM 205

r340x ^V/£/<aT ; 375ms average access time $99.98

| MNP5 data compression

" "error control for | faster transmission & reduced connect time.

• 14.400/12.000/9600/4800 ■ /2400 baud modem an

• 8-bit 8088 or 286/386/486 PC compatible card - - $94.95 I

Put a 5-V4" and 3 | floppy in one slot! • Supports 1 2Mb/360Kb 5-V4"&1.44Mb/720Kb 3-1/2' diskettes

Conner IDE Hard Drives

Designed primarily for laptop and desktop computer systems, Conner ha

low power consumption, high-reliability and a low-cost interface. Based on 3-1/2" IDE 1 technology, these drives are designed to withstand intense amounts of shock. Each features a look-ahead read buffer, automatic head retraction and high-performance actuated heads. New power saving commands support "Green PC" applica'

FREE JDR CATALOGS!

PC PRODUCTS AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS

SalP3 8fln-lrtft-linnn Toll-Free Fax Ordering Local/International n.

To 800-538-5005 408-494-1400 24 Hours A Day j

APP30

INTERNATIONAL, INC.

2032 Bering Dr, San Jose, CA95131

Tel.: (408) 452-9200 Fax: (408) 452-9210

RacIcmouni System

- 286, 386, 486 ISA / EISA / VESA

RAcklWOUNT MONilOHS

-10", 14" and 20"

RAckMOUNT ENCLOSURES

- Up to 20 Slots & 500W PS RAckiwouNt KEyboAid

- Full travel Drawer Mounted 101 KB RAckiwouNi HARd DrIve EncIosure

- Up to 4 Full Height w/ 600W PS hdusiRiAl Dssk'Top / Tower EncIosures

- Up to 20 Slots REduNdANT Power Supply

286, 586, 486 ISA / EISA / VL Bus CPU CarcIs

Passive EUckplANES - 3 Slots to 20 S

APPRO introduces the most advanced 32 bit single board computer (SBC) designed for the 16 bit and 32 hit VESA Local Bus. It offers a true 32 bit computing environment and on-hoard CPU upgrade from 386DX to 486DX2.

Power Printing -150,000 cps

Plug the Buff Port™ into your PC and print to any parallel printer or device. Transfer data from your PC as fast as the printer can accept it, up to 150,000 cps. (A standard PC parallel port is typically limited to about 10,000 cps.) Use the BuffPort & with the HWP for a 150,000 cps printer sharing system! ^

If you have an older printer that does not have an high-speed interface, then connect a CPR buffer to the end of your printer cable and send from the BuffPort at 100,000 cps. The CPR also works as a printer buffer with a standard PC parallel port, but would be limited to the PC port's speed.

BUfFALO is a rwjsered tademart: ot Ueto. *c BuflPorl is a »a*mart ol Bulfab.lnt

SIMMs:

U36&32 2x36&32 4x36 4x8, 1x3 PCMCIA

BUFFALOf

2805 19th St. SE, Salem, OR 97302-1520 FAX: (503) 585-4505

Printer Sharing:

SL 6ser.&4par. SLP 2ser.&8par. HWP 5 parallel ports HXM 2ser.&2par. HXS 4 serial ports ASB 5 parallel ports

(800)345-2356

Circle 189 on Inquiry Card.

Add-In Boards

Bar Coding • Communications/Networking

fEPPl

•Connect external SCSI device to printer port on P.C. desktops or notebooks 1/35.00

8 BIT/16 BIT liUUBfilD 16 BIT SCSI adapter.

TO A DfiCf 1J * internal 50-pin & floppy ribbon cable.

laA-aLal Adapters adds a BIOS and support tor up to two 3.5 and/or 5.25llopp)drives. $132.00

Disk MEM 16 BIT SCSI V_ CD- adapter, internal 50-pin ribbor f ROM table, adds a BIOS allowing l from a SCSI

- Tape 'he P.C. to be

$97.00

> DAT

j ( IMDIWKIII1 16 BIT SCSI

> Optical adapler jnler]na| 50_pjn nbbon

>Scanner cable

H 3E

8 BIT SCSI adapter, adds a BIOS allowing the P.C. to boot from a SCSI Mfg. In The disk drive $61.00

8 BIT SCSI »150-pin ribbon $56.00

::W5 I >!J Caiul R..ad • ^ •<rb,. I inj.i. California WoS7

i (800) 345-SCSI

Circle 279 on Inquiry Card.

• 16550s Standard

' FREE Technical Support ' MasterCard, VISA, & COD accepted

* 30 Day Money viae'* Guarantee ' Part #3000 Price: $69.001

\5EdLEVEL

P00048U

linkyidex!!

If you need a quality bt reader small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Videx has a bar code reader for you.

The Time Wand I offers credit-card si/cd portability, ideal in time and document tracking applications, 'lite rugged DuraWandcan take the punishment typically found in

delivery and Mvurily applications The TimeWand II offers the durability and computing power necessary in applications ranging f rom hospital patient care to warehouse inventory.

Call today to receive a free information kit on Videx portable bar code readers.

1105 N.E. Circle Blvd., Corvallis, OR 97330 ,_ 503-758-0521 • Fax 503-752-5285 l|

Circle 249 on Inquiry Card.

Communicating with a Higher Intelligence

GMM Sync™

Zilog™85C30,85230 Based Async, SDLC, HDLC, Bisync Built In Null Modem Option Perfect for PC to Mainframe Apps

Call or Fax Us OEM and Dealer Inquiries Welcome

(714)752-9447 Fax (714)752-7335 G111fil~ GMM Research Corporation

^•■■■■■i l!MW2Sk> l-iukS.iiith. I nitl . Irvim-t "

Circle 230 on Inquiry Card.

8-64 Serial Ports in a PC

BBS550

•Spurts. 16550 HARTS 1 Digi, (.alarticunim compatible ' Works with all popular BBS Software

•8 ports, 32K-512K FIFO

• Windows. DOS. UNIX, XENIX, FOSSIL drivers included.

• RS-232,422,485 interfaces

• 24 Mil/ Processor

. -m- r mm Contact vour local computer

T t K dealer or call: 800-282-4835

IS-.9521 I>hone:(601)467-8(

BYTE

Breaks the 4-Color Price Barrier with the Hardware/Software Showcase

See how affordable it is to advertise to BYTE's 500,000 computer professionals in this section!

(6C

Call for more advertising information: 03) 924-2695 or (603) 924-2598

Communications/Networking

Voice

Boards from 'New Voice. Now the others are obsolete.

(Scary, isn't it?)

Computer Telephony Integrati (CTI) is one of the fastest growing markets. Pick the voice board with performance that screams. Our sophisti cated 2, 4, or 8 port models provide the best building blocks for success, applications such as:

• Int'l Callback/Debit Card • Telemarketing

• Interactive Voice Response • Audiotex

• Voice Mail/Messaging • Talking Yellow Pages

• Automated Attendant • Tl Interface Support

• Fax Back/On-Demand

• Tele conferencing 8500 ?ike< Suite #m Vienna, VA.22182-2409

Tel (703) 448-0570 Fax (703) 448-1078

Voice

Circle 273 on Inquiry Card.

CONTROL

ALL YOUR PC SERVERS

FROM ONE KEYBOARD, MONITOR AND MOUSE

~ with MasterConsole®

• S.i\c Sp.uv, ("in Ci.sis \ CcnmiliAControl With 100% Reliability

• 'Plug and Play" Any Mix of ATs

& PS/2s; Supports PS/2 & Serial Mouse & All Video

• Desktop or 19" Rackmount Models for 2.4.8.16 PC s. Expand lo 64

• Keyboard & Mouse Emulators for Error Free PC Operation and Autohout

• AUTOSCAN™ to Monitor All PCs

• Remote Access up to 150 Feet

• Thousands in Use Worldw ide GSA Schedule for US Fed. Govt.

"No other solution stacks up."

RARITAN COMPUTER. INC. 10-1 lien

CALL TODAY! nn, (908) 874-4072 X 71 HOI

Court, Belle Mead. NJ 08502 Fax (908) 874-5274

- • yi»»rW.\. l..t.T»|. *M4 \tlanl

Japan "prosidc Coip!. Tel: 811-3-3254^311 Fax:

i. Booth #678

n - "m™l44 2*»5 ERS INQUIRIES WEL

OME - CONTACT RCI (908) 874-4072

Circle 266 on In

258 BYTE SEPTEMBER 199

juiry Card (RESELLERS: 267)

Communications/Networking • Computer Systems

LET YOUR COMPUTER DO THE TALKING!

Integrated Voice/Fax Mail

program control intt performance softw are. K AT/.W6/4H6 based. Menu driven. Easy- to use. Full support for Rhetorex. New Voice. Dialogic, Hkom, Pika,

TSSffS^SSSS $595

Fax-on-Demand lines: 818-368-4566 or 818-368-8848

SigmaTech Software

Tei7(818) 368-6132 Fax: (818) 368-7859 10801 Bismarck

'Hex lie's !>< .ll.

I Automated Attendant

I Unlimited Audiotex

I Voice Mail

I Talking Yellow pages

I Telemarketing

I Fax Mail

I Fax-on-Demand

I Fax Broadcasting

I Date/Party lines

I Int'l CaU Back

Circle 258 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 259).

TARGET VdLIA PAEY!

Bag Your

Voice Processing

Objective

♦ MICE HAIL

♦ flUTD-TMUBFEH

♦ FflX-DU-DEHflUO

Complete your mission for as little as $295.

CflU.1-800-685-4884

Circle 248 on Inquiry Card.

PC

Systems in ROM

$129 U

Use'C KS-2: XT equivalent card with NEC V40.256k RAM $149(q1)

code Options; PCMCIA. 1M Ram/Rom/Sram, 3sri„ par, modem, A/D.

Run with KS-7: AT equivalerl card with NEC V53, 512k RAM $289(ql)

DOS Options: 7M Ram/Rom/Sram. 5srl., par. clock, VGA/LCD

Burn in KS-31: Piggyback card with modem, A/D. keyboard, floppy,

ROM IDE, EEPROM. Complete development systems start at $879 (with tools to place DOS applicaitons in ROM).

Boulder Colorado 80301-284;

nA, | Tel: 303-444-7737 IsMLL Fax: 303-786-9983

Circle 236 on Inquiry Card.

TFT Active Matrix Color LCD Portable Case

CREATE YOUR OWN PORTABLE PC!

• 640x480 Resolution with 512 colors

• Super VGA adapter

• Simultaneous display on ext. CRT

• Fit any motherboard (up to Pentium)

• 6 Expansion slots & 4 drive bays

• UL certified 200W Power supply Also available in TFT Color Projection Panel, expandable LAPTOP with one 16-bit ISA expansion slot for any PC card. PC Portable Manufacturer, Inc 1431 Potrero Ave. Unit E, So. El Monte, CA 91733 Tel: 818-444-6849 or 8144 - Fax: 818-444-1027 or 6488

Circle 280 on Inquiry Card.

Data Acquisition • Diagnostic Equipment • Disk & Optical Drives

Rackmount Solutions

RACKMOUNT CO

RACKMOUNT PLATFORMS - Oty 1 Pricing

RMS486DX-33 S1136 RMS386SX-33 $665 RACKMOUNT CHASSIS -15 Models up to 20 Board Slots SLOT CPU BOARDS - EISA/ISA 486.486SX. 386. 386SX RACKMOUNT MONITORS - Super VGA & Monochrome RACKMOUNT KEYBOARDS - High Quality Cherry KB HACKMOUNT SWITCH - Video/KB up to 12 CPUs RACKMOUNT CABINET - Modular trom 2f to 96" high

mutY

TECHNOlOOr IMC.

2468 Armstrong Street, Livermore CA 94550 (510)447-2030 FAX: (510) 447-4559

Circle 253 on Inquiry Card.

DVIAI'Kt) IMOKM s| K'\ It i.S. a McGraw-Hill Company, the world's leading source of objective and value added information on computer and communications products, is seeking a Senior Analyst in its Information Services Division. Specific responsibilities include:

• Tracking, researching and analyving data networking hardware/software products and market trends

• Analyzing vendor strategies, imlusir) trends and marketplace competitors

• Conducting user and vendor interviews

• Developing positive working relationships with key vendors and industry contacts

• Making presentations at technology conferences and industry events

• Writing concise, factual reports. I lie ideal candidate will possess:

• At least 3-S years experience in researching, analyzing, and producing technical reports and articles (or equivalent experiencel

• Strong knowledge ol wide area data network products broadband communications and network management systems

• Practical experience in custom consulting assignments (Big 6 experience a plus)

• Proven communication and platform skills

• Keen knowledge of multiple product lines and complex information techniques (e.g. Client Server)

• Bachelor's Degree preferred in Computer Science or Commmnnicaiions llalapro oilers ;l competitive salary, a full range of comprehensiv e benefits including a malclii d UUk saving plan .md an opportunitv to work with an industry leader. Interested candidates should send resumes complete with salary requirements to:

ATTN: Paula Lazarich ()(K) Delran Pkwy., Delran NJ 08075 (Conveniently located IS miles south of Philadelphia)

Circle 239 on inquiry Card.

PC-based Solutions for Industrial Automation

486/386/2 RAM/ROM Disks industrial I/O Cards RS-2327422/485 1-800-800-6889

1-408-245-6678 in CA Fax: 408-245

Advantech

24-BIT A/D

CONVERTER

$495

Money back guarantee

800-321-5355

Lawson Labs, Inc.

74 4th Ave. NW 406 257-5355 or FAX 257-5572

KalispeU, MT59901

We manufacture a broad line of data acquisition products.

Programmable data rate, gain and filtration ' Optically isolated RS232 serial interface 20 digital I/O lines AC or battery powered With PC/XT/AT software

Circle 238 on Inquiry Card.

The Intelligent Solution For Data Acquisition

Circle 240 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 241).

"Take A Byte of Our Menu"

Featuring: Mass Storage & Networking Solutions

CompuSharp

CompuSharp Integrated Services, Inc.

"Connecting Customers to Technology"

4230 LBJ Frwy. Ste 360 • Dallas, TX 75244 • (800) 934-4364 • Fax: (214) 934-0944

Circle 221 on Inquiry Card. Circle 275 on Inquiry Card.

Disk & Optical Drives

Graphics Tablets/Mice/Pen Input • Keyboards

PARALLEL TO SCSI CONNECTIONS!

▲ 100% Printer Passthrough * Only 7.2 Ounces a Only $189.00 a Compatible with all Parallel Ports * EPP Version Available The high-performance MiniSCSI Plus provides a simple and inexpensive way to connect SCSI devices to the parallel port of your desktop or notebook. For most notebook users, it's the only way to use SCSI devices. Nearly twice as fast as the original MiniSCSI, this MiniSCSI Plus lets you run up to 7 SCSI devices from almost any parallel port. Plus, an integrated cable makes it a snap to share SCSI devices with desktops and other notebooks. For more information,

see your dealer or call 1-800-934-2766 < dddpteC

(I -408-957-7150 for information by fax), no now mo«e noamim ™a» <va

Circle 252 on Inquiry Card.

Universal Keypad for

Portable Computers

Boost data entry speed, accuracy and convenience with Genovation's Micropad,™ the innovative numeric keypad for portable computers.

Is the unhandy numeric section of your portable computer's keyboard dragging you down?....Give your productivity a boost by using our Micropad. The ergonomically designed Micropad is ideal for spreadsheet and accounting applications that require fast and accurate entry of numeric data.

The Micropad attaches to the parallel port of any MS-DOS computer while providing a clean pass through connection to the printer. Power usage is negligible. Lightweight and compact, the Micropad is fully compatible with and programmable under both DOS and Windows. It is also available with i fit keyboard and serial ports.

17741 Mitchell. North Irvine, C A 92714 USA TEL (714) 833-3355 FAX (714) 833-0322 (800)822-4333

genoVation?

Circle 228 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 229).

Keyboards • Miscellaneous Hardware

Laptops & Notebooks • Multimedia/CD-ROM

CUSTOMIZE YOUR KEYBOARD

• Custom Key Imprinting - all brands!

• Custom Colored keys for IBM*. DEC* Wyse", Key Tronic* Cherry*, and mor

• Custom and stock keytop label kits for software support St languages.

• Full color keyboard templates made to your exact specifications.

• Word Perfect Keyboards.

• Cyrillic, Arabic, Hebrew, etc. Keyboards

CUSTOM HOTLINE 800 937-1337

from the leader in Keytop innovations'" Dept. BYTE, 260 Ju

r/---^ /-~~\r-^^ Cottonwood, AZ 86326

.'■ foXTl 602 634-7515

CORPORATION FAX 602 634-4620

m U CORF

REMOVABLE STORAGE MODULES

FEA i URES & OPTIONS

> Supports most 3.5' hard drives

> IDE, or SCSI interfaces >■ Hot removability

> Key lock ON/OFF security

> Fan cooling option

> Built-in SCSI ID selector

> Ruggedized aluminum or

» Power/Drive activity

LEDs » Patent protected

RUGGED RACKMOUNT KEYBOARDS

19-rackmount keyboards *■ 1U or 1.75" space >• 25 models

* Full travel and membrane >. types

IBM PC WAT, PS2 >. compatible

US and Intl. versions

> Spring-lock front panel

> Serial output 16mm, 2

Call JNL at 1-800-283-5123

JNL Computer

—JNL

Products Inc.

659 Glass Ln Modesto. CA 95356 Tech Support: 209-575-4662 Fax: 209-575-4682

COMPUTER PRODUCTS INC

Circle 268 on Inquiry

Card (RESELLERS: 269).

Next Step In User

STEP ON IT!

KEYBOARD CONTROL PEDALS

Toke ttie strain off your Limited Time hands. Unique foot pedals Introductory Offer: mimic CONTROL AIT 3 Pedals for SHIfT oi other keystrokes $69.95 of your choice! Regularly S89.99

For flight simulators For injured and disabled DOS/Windows

To Order Call 1-800-203-0092

Notebook Expansion

The Easy Way

LapStation Expansion Systems and CableMate Port Replicators let you . attach any desktop peripheral or PC enhancement card to your notebook in one easy step. Models with one to seven slots and bays support most popular notebooks.

||^-Corporatio

the Portable Peripherals People 1214 Wilmington Avenue / Salt Lake City, Utah 84106 01) 466-9797 FAX (801) 485-6204 Toll Free (800) 866-9797

Circle 224 on Inquiry Card.

Let your "true colors shine through" when you advertise your computer products in BYTE's

HARDWARE/SOFTWARE SHOWCASE

our newest, affordable, 4-color advertising section!

Call for more details: (603) 924-2695 or (603) 924-2598

Circle 277 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 278).

VIDEO FRAME GRABBER / ACCELERATED SVGA DISPLAY HIGH PERFORMANCE, SINGLE SLOT, PCI / VL BUS

IMASCAN /Chroma

NTSC. PAL. 3ECAM, Y/C (S-VI0E0I RS-170MONO (640X480) IMASCAN/Mono-D

RS-170MONOI5 MHz - 20 MHz) 8 .'16 BIT (40MHzl DIGITAL INPUT IMASCAN/RGB

16124 BIT RGB (5 MHz-15 MHz) IMASCAN PRODUCTS INCLUDE:

m, IMAGRAPH

II Elizabeth Drive 1 Chelmsford. MA 01824 USA Tel: (508) 256-4624 Fax: (508)250-9155

Fast & Friendly

The handheld programmer/emulator for demanding engineers.

Tape Drives • Business

S4 programs EPROMs, EEPROMs. FLASH, PICs, 8751 micros. It emulates HANI and

us: 407-649-3335 int L: (+44 J 300 320719

US F.«: 407-649-3310 Fa,: |-44| 300 321012

TjArAmAn he

Circle 226 on Inquiry Card.

1 800 668-2707 Voice: 519 850-0637 Fax: 514 660-1602 FromDWCtlPLC...

Our Hottest New Product!.

Smart Input. Output Devices for the PC

§1

_D_AV

mi

(519)8500637 FAX(5W)660 1602

VISON ■ WORTH

• Attaches to the PC's parallel printer port

• Controls up to 14 IEEE instruments

• Transfers data at up to 170 Kbytes/sec

• Includes DOS or Windows software drivers

• Graphics & analysis software available

• Allows parallel d IEEE devices to b connected simultaneously

ir fax for

Cleveland, Ohio 44146

Circle 235 on Inquiry Card.

LOW COST MINIATURE

Save time. Save money.

3480 & 9-Track Optical CD ROM Maker

Windows NT, OS2, Novell Software

• 3480 from $5995

• CD ROM Maker $3795

• Optical Storage from $995

• 9-Track $995 Complete CALL 1-800-938-TAPE

Get The Very Best For Less

Laguna Data Systems

7340 Smoke Ranch Road, Suite C, Las Vegas, 4-2648 • Fax: (702) 254

Circle 237 on Inquiry Card.

[JURLSTRR^

9-TRACK #£1 3480/3490

Data Interchange for DOS, NOVELL, UNIX, WINDOWS AND OS/2

...The Tape Experts

• Top Quality

• High Performance

• Proven Reliability

• Easy to Use

• Best Price

• Total Support

• Factory Direct

• Made in the U.S.A.

6709 Independence Ave. Canoga Park, CA 91303

FAX (818) 592-0116 Tel (818) 592-0061

Tel (800! 468-0680

Circle 244 on Inquiry Card.

as low as s24.95 call: 1-800-239-4087 ^^^ 1-800-774-1118

(PLEASE FAX COPY OF VOIDED CHECK ) VQUICKEN -J MICROSOFT MONEY MC & VISA

^/SIMPLY MONEY J MANY MORE ACCEPTED

Designer

Circle 251 on Inquiry Card

Circle 274 on Inquiry Card.

CAD/CAM • Communications/Networking • Graphics

Database • Graphics

The first printed circuitboard program for the IBM PC, and still the first choice for designers of 2-sided PCBs, occasional users, and educators. The program's features include unmatched ease of use. continual design-rule checking, automatic pad shaving, trace filleting, soldermasks, and silkscreen. smARTWORK with autorouting is $895

1....I IB Win'sk Corporation (S495 without) and has a lYIXThK 1B01 South Street 30-day money-back guar

IN 47904 antee. Call (800) 742-6809

smARTWORK" PCB Software

(800) 742-6809

Circle 250 on Inquiry Card.

BW-MultiConnect for Windows NT

Turns Windows NT into a NetWare8 server for DOS & Windows clients.

For FREE 30-day evaluation call 1-800-463-6637.

Lets Connect! v

Beame

>\J & Whiteside

Software

Circle 254 on Inquiry Card.

New.'/ Version 7.01

(Available for DOS. OS/2. Windows and Windows NT

• High-resolution vector graphics

• Log plots to any base

• 3-D surfaces shaded to level

- Printer output MM only by

|*K of

™ £ is required to program in GUI environments. 3 (jjj J Scientific Endeavors Corporation <^££?to

™ V 508 N. Kentucky St., Kingston. TN 37763 ReSomble tcense term ' (800)998-1571 FAX: (615) 376-1571 amnvuUale.

Factory Data Collection

The TransTerm 5 is a work station data entry/display terminal for on-line shop floor data collection into PC/AT/PS-2 systems. The unit is one of a family of such terminals which feature LC displays for operator prompting and data entry via sealed touch keys or an optional barcode scanner or badge reader (Code39,UPC+). A multi-terminal network controller (up to 250 stations) and a dBASE IV compatible software package are also available. System costs start below $300 per station. Options include display backlighting, barcode scanning, counter inputs, control output.

computerwise:

302 N. Winchester • Olathe, KS 66062 913-829-0600 • 800-255-3739 • FAX 913-829-0810

Circle 225 on Inquiry Card.

GSS*GKS

Graphical Kernel System for MS Windows

GSS'GKS, a C and Fortran function library based on the ISO/ANSI GKS-standard, enables you to develop portable graphics applications including user interaction, coordinate transformation and object segmentation. GSS'GKS, which is well established as a DOS version, is now available for MS Windows. Take your existing GKS code, recompile and link it with the GSS'GKS libraries and get a real MS Windows application with access -z=~:f_ _ g

to the Windows print manager. ■——A— When developing a new

application you experience a t t v

powerful graphics functionality that can easily be integrated into the windowing environment. You may even add Windows elements such as menus or pushbuttons. Supported compilers are: MS C and Fortran, MS Visual C, Borland C, Watcom C and Fortran. In addition GSS'GKS libraries are available for Windows NT, OS/2, SCO UNIX, Interactive UNIX, Solaris and Onsite UNIX SVR 4.2, thus offering portable graphics functionality on

all platforms.

I EMATEK GmbH

SubbelratherStraBe17 D-50823 Cologne, Germany

a rv/i r\ n3 r\/7 Phone:+49-221-512074

3 M /A I r S k\ Fax: +49-221-529666

□ U U£/—<A U L=3 UW Email: gsscgi@ematek.

Circle 245 on Inquiry Card.

Data Acquisition • Software Duplication

Mathematical/Statistical • Utilities • Windows

To solve tough

analysis problems,

Numerical Analysis Software

Free HiQ numerical analysis and data visualization demonstration software for Macintosh. The demonstration package includes the HiQ demo program and an 84-page step-by-step demonstration manual that gives the user a comprehensive look at HiQ. Example problems include: signal processing, ordinary differential equations, linear algebra, numerical integration, and 3D visualization.

National Instruments

6504 Bridge Point Parkway, Austin, TX 78730 (512) 794-0100 (800) 43.3-3488 (U.S. and Canada) Fax (512) 794-8411

Circle 242 on Inquiry Card.

RAPID REPRODUCTION

Simple Fast Smart Reliable Duplicators

AX 1000 MANUAL AX-2X AUTOLOADER

FORMAT. COPIES.VERIHES, 180 3.5 H.DVhr.

-COPIES AM. MFM FORMATS RELIABLE IF AC DRIVES AVCi. 100.000 COPII S,I)RI\ F .25"+ 3.5" DUPLICATION YEAR WARRANTY

FORM MS (OPII s.VERIFIES

180 3.5 H.DVhr.

COPIES M 1 Ml M FORM \|s FULL BIT BY BIT VERB K M ION Mill SI Mil I WINDOW MARGIN BATCH PROCESSING 6 MONTH WARRANTY

lOAimc

CORPORATION

4 9 9 5 TIMBERLEA BLVD., UNIT 9 M1SSISSAUGA, ONT. L4W 2S2 TEL: (905) 602 9270 FAX: (905) 602 9279

PCTfiX

Typesetting Software

J-ocx-tY h\\fzr^vr°

This complete typesetting system makes your books, manuals, articles, & math formulas look their best!

Circle 243 on Inquiry Card.

HEALTH CARE

FOR YOUR

HARD DRIVE

THE FIX

THE FIX REBITLDS:

THE F.A.T.TABLE! THE BOOT SECTOR THE PARTITION TABLE

"The single most powerful data recovery tool known to mankind"... THE FIX!!

No longer will "Failure Reading Drive C:" or "Non System Disk Error" cause havoc. GET THE FIX!

Rebuild the Drive.. Get the DataIt's that Simple!

RECOVER II I V I l )\ l V • CALL NOW

| COD | 1-800-737-8763 TTsT £

Circle 281 on Inquiry Card.

Kun

DOS/Vand Windows-J

JWK

$250°° KUREO TECHNOLOGY LTD.

— ^ V mi-MM) Oilmure Hai. Burnahv. IU V5G 4KX Canada

Call for details »* Tel: (604) 433-7715 Fax (604) 433-3393

Circle 282 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 283).

Ho

UniTvD*3

Type foreign languages in your favorite Windows applications as easily as you type English!

Arabic, Biblical, Chinese, European, Greek, Hebreie, Indian, IPA, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Russian, Sanskrit, S.E. Asian, Tibetan, Urdu, & more - scalable fonts for all the world's languages. Call the WinLanguage'" experts!

-bout o»»< * \

From $99.95. Use with DTP, word processing, database, presentation graphics, e-mail and fax. Even complex languages are easy to type because of automatic contextual characters, ligatures and diacritic positioning.

Here's our guarantee: If you are not V

comfortably using the foreign language of your 7^ choice in your Window* software within 30 days, return the product for a full refund.

Gamma Productions, Inc.

12625 High Bluff Drive #218, San Diego, CA 92130 Sales: 800-97-GAMMA (800-974-2662) Tel: 619-794-6399 Fax: 619-794-7294

For a Free Demo, Call

1-800-969-7720

Circle 256 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 257).

TCP/IP & SNMP

Add Networking Protocols to your system designs with:

FUSION Developer's Kit

• FUSION TCP/IP protocol suite

FUSION SNMP agent MIB 2 + Version 2(Available Soon) ■ Flexible architecture -C source code

• Used in thousands of process control, embedded systems, and end-user designs

• Easy porting with consulting and training available

• Complete porting services available from our engineering staff

Circle 227 on Inquiry Card. clrcle 255 on Sjjj^gJ

Something Missing?

1991 1992 1993 1994

Special Issues l'.S. Ik-liven S.UH) Foreign $4.00

1990-9I-92-9.4-9I 1 S Mm \ .,r,in. sMHi i:.ui;ul.i X Mexico $6 SO

All issues prior lo 1990 1 S. Delivery $.100 Foreign $4.00

All checks must be In DA funds and drawn on a U.S. bank.

The above prices include postage in the US.

Please indicate which issues you would like by checking(V) the boxes. Send requests with payment to:

BYTK Back Issues. One Phoenix Mill Lane. Pelerborough. N.I I. (H458 ®»3) 924-9281

□ Check enclosed Charge: DV1SA □ MasterCard Card#

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December Special

FAp. Date

Signature

Address

State Zip

All orders must be prepaid. Hose allow four weeks deliver).

SEPTEMBER 1994 BVXK

26S

THE BUYER'S MART

A DIRECTORY OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

THE BUYER'S MART is a unique classified section or- phone and fax number. 2"x2V ad has more space for RATES (Jan. 1994)

ganized by product category to help readers locate sup- descriptive text (850 characters is the maximum recom- i«MM J.« tm«

pliers. Each ad has Inquiry numbers to aid readers re- mended). ,„ w

questing information from advertisers. DEADLINE: Ad copy is due approximately 2 months <ad* $696 ^ $585 $557

AD FORMAT: Each ad will be designed and typeset by prior to issue date. For example: November issue 2 ads/issue - - 557 529

BYTE Do NOT send logos or camera-ready artwork, closes on September 8. Send your copy and payment 3 ads/issue - - 529 501

Advertisers should furnish typewritten copy. 2»x17,5» to: THE BUYER'S MART, BYTE Magazine. 1 Phoenix rm

ads can include headline (23 characters maximum), de- Mill Lane, Peterborough, NH 03458^ For more mfor- , afj $1,392 S1.336 $ , 70 $ .114

scriptive text (300 characters is the maximum mation call: Margot Swanson at 603-924-2656. 2adsAssue - - .114 ,058

recommended) plus company name, address, tele- FAX: 603-924-2683.

220 VOLT PRODUCT

PC POWER ABROAD

Hewlett-Packard Authorized Dealer for 220V Printers, Computers & Plotters

)C 20005 USA, Fax (202) 783-6914

RADIOACTIVE?

Plot it on PC (tPaimtops) win RM-60 RAO. If

♦ ALARM U

as EYE OPENING) Plol background, plane ride TV, fc PC MAG i BYTE rev. Visa/MC/EURO. 45 day $ back 800-729-5397 or Tel/Fax: (302) 655-3800 Aware Electronics Corp.

O.Box 4299. Wilmington. DE 19607 -VJtSI 49.50 -V.V |

Bar Code Readers

For PC, XT, AT, PS/2, Macintosh and Serial Terminals

Wand, CCD. Slot Badge. Magstripe or L

Two Scanners per Reader ■ 100+Configurable Options • 2 Year Warranty. 30 Day S Back Guarar

er Scanner

Complete

Worthington Data Solutions

3004 Mission Street Santa Cruz. CA 95060 408-458-9938

800-345-4220

Portable Bar Code Reader

>• Use as a PORTABLE, WEDGE, or SERIAL

> 2x16 Supertwist LCD Display

> 54 Key Keyboard with Separate Numeric Keys >• Real-time Clock Supports Date & Time Stamps

> Reads all Popular Bar Codes (16 types)

>• Wand, CCD, User, or Serial Input Devices

> Built-in Program Generator

> Create Your Own Custom Programs

>• Up to 250 Look-Up Files In Memory >• Built-in Calculator

>■ Supports HAYES Compatible Modems

> 64K Memory with Data Compression

> 30-day $$ Back Guarantee - 1 Year Warranty

> Complete Unit with WAND Scanner - $795

AMERICAN MICROSYSTEMS

2190 Regal Parkway, Euless, TX 76040 (800) 648-4452 (817)571-9015 FAX (817)685

KEYBOARD, VIDEO, MOUSE, AUDIO

Extend signals from PC with EXTENDER

COMPANION/PC EXPANDER

Switch signals among PC- —- '

CYBEX CORPORATION

VGA Splitters

Portable Reader

juage. This unit is EASY!

>0 Supertwist LCD Display, 31

JO Day Money Back Guarantee

Worthington Data Solutions

' 55 ™e.«T»»64an 3800-345-4220

BAR CODE READERS

For PC, XT, AT, PS/2, & Serial

>■ Emulates Keyboard: Works With Ar

>■ Accepts Wand, Slot/Badge. CCD, Laser. Magnetic Stripe Reader, & RS232 Serial Input

> Reads All Popular Bar Codes (16 types)

»• Reads HIGH, MEDIUM. & LOW density codes

> Auto-Discriminates Between Bar Code Types

> Over 140 User Configurable Options *■ Daisy Chain Up to 96 Readers

>• Supports NOVELL Networks

>• Supports US & INTERNATIONAL Keyboards

> Direct From Manufacturer

> 30-day SS Back Guarantee, 1 Year Warranty >■ Complete Unit with LASER Scanner - $1095

> Complete Unit with WAND Scanner - $395

AMERICAN MICROSYSTEMS

2190 Regal Parkway, Euless, TX 76040 (800)648-4452 (817)571-9015 FAX (817) 685-6232

Labeling Software

3, UPC/EAN, Code 39. F

PCX graphics - S279. Other

Worthington Data Solutions

(408) 458-9938 800-345-4220

Cordless RF Bar Code Wand

A cordless RF bar Code wand with a range of 100 feet. Plug-N-Play. No software needed. Attaches as 2nd keyboard. For IBM and Macntosh or any senal device. Real-time remote data collection for $695.0ptional pocket beeper for long range -S395. It's an exclusive from the PC bar coding leader

Worthington Data Solutions

(408)458-9938 (800) 345-4220

SCANNER SALE

BARCODE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEMS (BlSj

USm8O0)?19-5178CAN

266 BYTE SEPTEMBER I <)«J4

Bar Code Printing Software LabelWorks for Windows

>■ Prints all Popular Bar Code Types (19 Types) >■ Desktop Publishing Features: WYSIWYG, Scalable Fonts, Rulers, Guides, Lines, Shapes, Page Zooms (25%-40O%), Templates >■ Rotates Text, Bar Codes, and Graphics >• Supports Windows Compatible Fonts

Label Formats or Design Your Own >■ Rich Text Support: Mix Styles, Types, & Sizes

>• Supports Virtually all Windows Compatible

Printers (PostScript, Laser, & Dot Matrix) ► 30-day Money-Back Guarantee. S29S •' • CALL FOR FREE DEMO SOFTWARE • ' ■

AMERICAN MICROSYSTEMS

2190 Regal Parkway. Euless, TX 76040 (800) 648-4452 ( 817)571-9015 FAX (817) 685-6232

DOS & WINDOWS BAR CODING

Bar code readers designed for fast, reliable, costeffective data-entry. They work just like a second

Seagull Scientific Systems, Inc.

206-451-8966 FAX 2:

DATA INPUT DEVICES

TPS Electronics

CONTOURING MOTION CONTROL

FROM A PRINTER PORT! NEW VERSION 3 visa/mc

Ability Systems

CADKEY 7 mechanic! CAD »<lware c

Computer-Aided Products, Ir

BAR CODE EXPERT

IBS-Intelligent Barcode systems, Inc.

Keyboard wedoes

800-666-4BAR

GenlE from CASEwise

NEED A ONE STOP SOURCE FOR YOUR BAR CODE SOLUTIONS?

NO PROBLEM! WE OFFER Qualify • Performance • Value

INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES & SYSTEMS

WWnm USA188)a^Ml? 804-"? 0357 '"an

BARCODING WITH WINDOWS

HUH! Window Bar"*

• Software that's easy to learn & install

• Ideal for compliance labeling

• Rated as the "TOP RECOMMENDATION" by

< Interactive anri automatic printing tools via \ > Full design capabilities; full Windows set-up • Variable graphics (WYSIWYG) No risk. 30-day money-back guarantee!

CALL NOW FOR A FREE DEMO DISK

Mayer Automation Group

Circuit Design Software for Windows

Easy-to-use schematic entry. PCB design, and Complete" PCB*package w?th schematics!

CAM ffle^utputs aneS an<J UP '° '6 'ayerS' S649 Mental Automation, Inc. 5415 136th Place SE. Bellevue. WA 98006 (206) 641 -2141 Fax (206) 649-0767

CircuitMaker® 2.Q

High-Performance Schematic Capture, Digital and Analog Circuit Simulation

Microcode Engineering. ;s

* TOSHIBA * PLEXTOR * NEC *

* SOUND BLASTER * * MEDIA VISION * ADAPTEC *

Computers at Large

CD ROM TOWERS & JUKEBOX SERVERS FOR ALL OPERATING SYSTEMS! No Device Drivers/MSCDEX needed. Complete Kit Networks CD Roms, unlimited user license, 7 Slot tower/4 drives, 1 Yr. Warranty

"NONE BETTER AT ANY PRICE!" CALL "JES "AT:1-(800) 482-1866

Inquiry 667.

Media Conversion Corp.

Inquiry 657.

Inquiry 662.

Inquiry 668.

SI PTF.MBER 1994 BYTE 267

THE BUYER'S MART

CD-ROM Networking for Pcer to-Pccr Networks

( I adducing OPTI-NET^£*r» ^

ONIJNF. COMPITF.K SYSTEMS. INC

Data Recovery Labs

DOS - MAC - NOVELL - UNIX

'Professional solutions by programming engineers' 1-(416)-510-6990 1-(800)-563-1167 Inquiry 673.

AMERICAN INST, for COMPUTER SCIENCES

2101-BY Magnolia Ave South, Ste. 200, Bimingham, AL 35205 800-767-2427 205-323-6191

New and Updated CDROM Titles

" " '3 Windows CDROM. Trtsnds of Windows pfflrms..$29.95

imes CDROM, Games lor DOS/Windows $39.95

md Astronomy Thsnds NASA images/data $39.95

Group Library, C source code Dec 93 $49.95

Simtel MSOOS CDROM. DOS Shareware/Freeware $29.95

QRZ Ham Radio CDROM, FCC Callsign Db & Shrwar $29 95

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Inquiry 670.

COMPUTER BOOK STORE

Orders only 800-880-6818

Ontrack

DATA RECOVERY

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WHEN I.T.

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nquiry 675.

Graphics Unlimited Inc.

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INSURES YOUR COMPUTER

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CONVERSION SERVICES

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COBOL STRUCTURE CHARTS

structure charts D|rRECTLTframeyourSsTrurc1

CyberMetrics

S. Manne Dr., Tempe, AZ 85283 (602)838-3310

Cross Assemblers ^ A/0 Simulators y^0^ Disassemblers Ci^yC<s,0'

PseudoCorp *

FULL SERVICE DISKETTE & CD REPLICATION

100°, virus checked Sec

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1000 SYNCOM DRIVE. MITCHELL. SD 57301

1-800-843-9862

FLOW CHARTING 3

PATTON & PATT0N

Inquiry 672.

268 BYTE SEPTEMBER 1994

Inquiry 677.

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WINDOWS FLOWCHARTER S129

rffiov in la a nmfossional drawing tool for 'justln size: diaaonal lines

111

■

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Little Big LAN

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CRYPKEY SOFTWARE LICENSING SYSTEM

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HEWLETT-PACKARD

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YOUR SALES MESSAGE

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FIGHT PIRACY!

* The New EVERLOCK ★ SOFTWARE COPY PROTECTION

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Az-Tech Software, Inc.

Call IDT a 201 East r-rankLn. Ricnmond. MO 64085 FREE (818) 776-2700

Demo (800) 227-0644 fax (816)776-8398

Inquiry 691.

LABELS • ^ LABELS • LABELS

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112 Turnpike Road, Weslboro. MA 01581

ORSYS - $299

OPERATIONS RESEARCH SYSTEM

Linear programs up to 3000 by 15000 Mixed-integer and discrete linear programs

DATA ENTRY SOFTWARE

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VTEX Scientific Desktop Publishing

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Inquiry 698.

"Just like being at the Bench."

• New lsSpice4; Interactive Circuit Simulator

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LEAD Technologies, Inc.

Sirlin's CAD ++ ENGINE™

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SCIENTIST is a progi data, «nyWnq from y i implicit equations, interpolating

MicroMath Scientific Software

PO Box 21550, Sail Lake City, UT 84121

800-775-6745 RockWare 222,Eas,s.re«.s.. 595

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MicroTc:X

Includes LaTEX 2e

• Exclusive Integrated Qulck-Previewer

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SAUNA: 3D THERMAL ANALYSIS

Tatum Labs, Inc.

FAX 313-663-3640

Inquiry 700.

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PEN PLOTTER EMULATOR

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VOICE/FAX PROCESSING

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Inquiry Numbers 60-246

I66 167 16

200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 20

M 221 222 223 224 225 22

230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 238 240 241 242 24

Inquiry Numbers 434-620

434 435 436 437 * 451 452 453 454 «

Inquiry Numbers 247-433

247 248 249 250 251 252 253 2!

September 1994 191 96 991 Valid until November 30. 1994

>5 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263

» WO OS m 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 27B 279 280

11 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297

)6 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314

15 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 !2 333 334 335 336 337 336 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 19 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 356 359 360 361 362 363 364 365

16 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 13 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399

" 1 415 416

Inquiry Numbers 621-«07

621 622 623 624 625 626 627 638 639 640 641 642 643 644

Inquiry Numbers 995-1159

5 426 427 428 429 45

9 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637

6 647 646 649 650 651 652 653 654

3 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671

0 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688

II 10O2 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 6 1017 1018 1019 1020 1021 1022 1023 1024 11 1032 1033 1034 1035 1036 1037 1038 1039

ulry Numbers 1325-1489

i 1326 1327 1328 1329 1330 1331 1332 1333 13

i 1356 1357 1358 1359 1360 1361 1362 1363 13

I 1386 1387 1388 1389 1390 1391 1392 1393 13

B 1140 1141 1142 1143 ft

1350 1351 1352 1353 1 354 1365 1366 1367 1368 1369 1380 1381 1382 1383 1384

9 1420 14

■ 1453 1454 1455 1456 1457 1458 >7 1468 1469 1470 1471 1472 1473 14 12 1483 1484 1485 1486 1487 1488 141

Product Category Diagnostic Equipment

Information Disks & Optical Drives

Ode the numbers below to

7 Multimedia/CD-ROM V

9 Programmable Hardware 21 Ente

ScannersAXWDigitizers 22 Grap

Tape Drives 23 Uacii

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VXE 273

YOUR DIRECT LINK

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HARDWARE

1 ACCESSORIES/ SUPPLIES

2 ADD-IN BOARDS

DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING TECH

6 DATA ACQUISITION

SL., S=r,tor,es 2 15 MEMORY/CHIPS/

,33-134 QUATECH INC «» UPGRADES

- 7 DISK & OPTICAL DRIVES £ " 3?

S 16 MISCELLANEOUS "! HARDWARE

3 BAR CODING

4 COMMUNICATIONS/ NETWORKING

8 DISKETTES/

DUPLICATORS

10 GRAPHICS TABLETS/ MICE/PEN INPUT

11 KEYBOARDS

17 MODEMS/

MULTIPLEXORS

501 -502 BOCA RESEARCH INC (INT!)

18 MONITORS & TERMINALS

S COMPUTER SYSTEMS

12 LAN HARDWARE

^ 19 MULTIMEDIA/CD-ROM

DELL COMPUTER CORP I DELL COMPUTER CORP I

DELL COMPUTER CORP (N A

545 MANCHESTER EQUIPMENT CC

PACIFIC COAST MICRO

5IJC0I', GHSPI-ICS

13 LAPTOPS & NOTEBOOKS

14 MAILORDER

155 ZEOS INTERNATIONAL

SILICON GRAPHICS

20 PRINTERS/PLOTTERS

545 MANCHESTEmEQUIPMENTCO 24I

21 PROGRAMMABLE HARDWARE

DAVISON-WORTH CORP

274 BYTK SBFTEMBER I9SM

YOUR DIRECT LINK

PRODUCT CATEGORY INDEX

For FREE product information from individual advertisers, circle the corresponding inquiry numbers on Your Direct Link Card!

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Category No.

Page No.

oryNo.

No Page No.

Category No.

Inquiry No Page No.

22 SCANNERS/OCR/ DIGITIZERS

KNOWLEDGEWARE INC MICROSOFT CORP

41

SECURITY

ALADDIN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS 46

551-552 RECOGNn-AWrL)

30

EDUCATIONAL

„,

CHERRY MIKROSCHALTER GMBH 40IS 14-15 ELIASHIM MICROCOMPUTERS 160

23 TAPE DRIVES

MCGRAW HILL NRI IN A)

RAINiBOWTT^CENONOGCESBH ""^

72-73 COLORADO MEMORY SYSTEMS 91-92 EXABYTE CORPORATION (N.A.)

203-204 MICRO SOLUTIONS COMP PROO

31

ENGINEERING/ SCIENTIFIC

199-200 MICRO SOLUTIONS COMP PROO 201-202 MICRO SOLUTIONS COMP PROO

i

INTERGRAPH

43

SOFTWARE DUPLICATION

244 OUALSTAR CORP

PERSONAL TEX

m

222-223

24 UPS/POWER

MAMA /TAAEMT

AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION

ss

33

ir™

GRAPHICS

45

UNIX

FRAME TECHNOLOGY (N.A.) 81 GREENVIEW DATA 49

523-524 MINUTEMAN

J

46

unisaIes 40,5 20

UTILITIES

53 SECURITY

SOFTWARE PUBLISHING SOFTWARE PUBLISHING

ALADDIN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS '«

s

35

haaii Aonro MAIL UKUbn

CONNER (N.A.| 121

Ol/r f rr/tfiC

PROGRAMMER'S PARADISE

MICRO 2000 248 MICRODATA 245 PKWARE INC 155

25 BUSINESS

166 CARDIFF SOFTWARE 291-294 GLOBALINK INC

z

m

36

HA A TUChA A Tf O A 1 /

lYIA TnkzmA TIC A L/ STATISTICAL

PERSONAL TEX SYSTATINC

2*4

in

47

WINDOWS

COPIA INTERNATIONAL LTD 194 F1NSON 145 GAMMA PRODUCTIONS 265 INTERGRAPH (N.A) 75

MICROCAL SOFTWARE, INC 265

26 CAD/CAM

37

MISCELLANEOUS

PACIFIC SOFTWORKS 265

65-65 AMERICAN SMALL BUSINESS COMP

m

SOFTWARE

ON TIME MARKETING

108-107 INTERGRAPH |N A.)

27 COMMUNICATIONS/ NETWORKING

254 BEAME & WHITESIDE SOFTWARE 162 BEAME « WHITESIOE S/W (N A 1

504-605 COMPEX INC

263

38 39

ON LINE SERVICES

DELPHI INTERNET SERVICES

OPERATING SYSTEMS

QNX SOFTWARE SYSTEMS LTD

48 WORD PROCESSING/DTP

293-294 GLOfiAUNK INC ' ' 211

GENERAL

535 LANSOURCE

264-285 OCEAN ISLE SOFTWARE

180-181 ROBERTSON-CARUSO & ASSOCIATES 183-184 SMITH MICRO SYSTEMS 6 SOFTWARE

40

PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/TOOLS

BORLAND INTERNATIONAL COPIA INTERNATIONAL LTD

49

BOOKS/PUBLICATIONS

555-556 SOLID COMPUTER GMBH (Wn.) 528 WALKER, RICHER S OUINN (INTLI

GREENVIEW DATA

IBM SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS KNOWLEDGEWARE INC

51

MISCELLANEOUS

28 DATA ACQUISITION

ON TIME MARKETING PHAR LAP SOFTWARE INC

242 NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS

POWERSOFT CORP (MX) PROGRAMMER'S PARADISE

29 DATABASE

SEOUITER SOFTWARE INC aOOBMXOOHF INFO

BYTE REPRWTS flNTLI 213 NETWORLD + INTEROP 94 '""J"

225 COMPUTERWISE

WATCOM EC*. DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM

NETWORLD » INTEROP 94 (N A ) 213

EDITORIAL INDEX

For more information on a ny or the compa nies covered in articles, columns, or news stories in this issue, circle the appropriate inquiry number on Your Direct Link Card. Each page number refers to the first page of the article or section in which the company name appears. IS pages appear only in the International edition.

A

Adobe Systems 30 1278 AdvanEdge Technologies 224

1319 Apple Computer 38,41,78, 125,221

1470 Aquarius Consutents 40IS-20 1317 askSam Systems 226 1311 Asymetrix 226 AT&T 103,125,278

AT&T Paradyne 59 1151 ATI Technologies 205 1455 ATMA Rendering Systems 40IS-13 1083 Avalan Technology 137

1324 Bibo Innovations 220

BIS Strategic Decisions 25,40

1432 Boeder 40IS-3

1337 BusLoglc 222

1315 Byte by Byte 228

1438 Byte Computer 40IS-8

c

Cabletron Systems 113

978 Cascade Communications 103,113

1339 Cayman Systems 222

1105, CD Technology

Compaq Computer 78,191

! Compex 228

CompUSA 78

1 CompuSci 224

Corel 30

) Creative Labs 205

1 Curtis Software 228 ! Cyberbtock Data Intelligence 220

D

4, Datapath 40IS-15.40IS-22 I

3 Datascan Technology 40IS-13

2 Davidson & Associates 224 9, DEC 38,67, 78, 176,191, 205 0,1149

D Detec Electronics 222 Desktop Management Task 78

1126

Digicom Systems

Digital Interactive Solutions 4

E

1161 Eccentric Software 205

1148 ECS 205

1426 Ek>nex 40IS-3

1422 Enta Technologies 40IS-4

1020 Equsys 40IS-22

EWB and Associates 34

1303 Excalibur 225

981 Fore Systems 103,113

1463 Fosgail Systems 40IS-15 1295 Four Corners Development 228

1111 FWB 176

G

Qalacticomm 32

Galorath Associates 34

Gartner Group 78

Gateway 2000 40,78

1146 Granite Digital 205

1297 Gryphon Software 228

1307 Gupta 225

1294 G'Vosay 228

1292 Hamiton Software 2;

Hewlett-Packard 47,78, 113,1! 1112, Hitachi Home Electronics r

1064 IBM 14,38,41,78,113,151,278 1152 Image Ware Software 205 1443 IMC 40IS-8 Infonetics Research 26 1480 Innelec 40IS-18 1276 Inspiration Software 224 1298 Integrated Software Design 225 Intel 14,41,67,78,113 1076 interactive Image Technologies 171 Intergraph 191 ' IMeta Systems 38

1460 MedCalc Software 1289 Mercury Interactive 1456 Metz Software) Pacific

1160 Intuit 1300 Intusoft

K

Kabana 1326 Kingston Technology

1127 Lberty Systems

983 LightSlream

1330 Linksys

1469 Loan System

1457 Logic Programming

40IS-15 1 022 F

1296 RayOntko 1310 Research Systems 1121 Reveal Computer Products

Microchip Technology 67 B Microcom 137 0 Micrograf International 40IS-3

Micrografx 30 9 Micrologic 224

4 Micronics 205

5 Mlcropolis 151 5 Microsoft 14,24,41,78,

157,191, 193,278 8 Micro Solutions 176 3 Mkroware Systems 40IS-16

[ NEC Technologies NetEdge Systems

! Network Computing Devices

> Network Designers Network Specialists Networth

Newbridge Net rka ! Newer Technology

le Technology

1157 RoadRunner Computing

1087 Seagate Technology 1147 Sierra-On-Line

Silicon Graphics

SoltArc

1340 SoftMagK

1481 Software Toolworks

1476 Somerset Systems

1150 Spectrum Holobyte

1309 Specular International

1312 Spry

1321 Storage Dimensions

1327 Storage Solutions

987 SlrataCom 1325 ST Scientific 1077 Sun Microsystems

SunConnect

1306 SuperOltice

1091 Symantec

988 SynOptics

SystemSoft

T

1429 Tachyon 1283 Tap Works

3Com

3Dlabs

1333 Timewortcs International 1122 Todd Enterprises 1123, Toshba America 1124 Information Systems 989 TranSwitch 1299, Tnnzic 1308

1080 Triton

1082 Ocean Isle Software 137

Ohio Scienahc 67

1281 OntheGoS oftware 224

1313 OPN Systems 228

1304 Opuka 225

1471 Oxford Electronic 40IS-16 Publishing

P

1287 Pacific Micro 225

1118 Peripheral Land 176

1119 Philbs Laser Magnetic Storage 176 Phoenix Technologies 76

1021 Pieter SchoKz 40IS-22

1120, Plextor 176,205 1156

1285 Preferred Systems 225

1465 Prisna Office 40IS-24

1273 Pronexus 225

1271 ProtoView 224

1449 Ranger Computers

1423 Ultra Electronics Ocean 40IS-6 1338 UBaStat 222

1301 vanderRoest Group 1451 vision Numeric

w

' 328 . Computer

990 Xyplex

z

276 BYTE SEPTEMBER 1994

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If you can hack it

Commentary

Jon Udell

Why IBM Should License Win32

Win32 is growing like a weed, sprouting new extensions

as Microsoft takes Windows places it has never gone be-fore

The millions that IBM sank into OS/2 bought a pearl of great value. Big Blue now owns an operating system that uniquely combines five key virtues: OS/2 is small, fast, modem, 80x86-tuned, and mature. Do you doubt the strategic value of such a thing? Microsoft doesn't. RISC machines running portable operating systems may be the future, but you can't wish away millions of 80x86 PCs.

Hence Chicago, which Microsoft claims will be small (4 MB), fast (Win

to build applications using thread synchronization, preemptive multitasking, and sparse virtual memory. Some of us would be using OS/2 to run those applications natively on mid- to high-end 80x86 PCs. Others would be using NT to run them on high-end RISC or 80x86 systems. Windows-on-DOS, minus some advanced APIs, could continue to serve the low-end 80x86 population.

In the real world, of course, the great divorce of 1991 did occur. Microsoft went on to build Chicago. IBM stuck with PM,

Is Chicago the ultimate OS/2 killer?

dows 3.1 or higher), modern (equipped with threads and preemptive multitasking), and 80x86-tuned. The ultimate OS/2 killer? Maybe not. What Chicago won't be, at least in 1995, is mature. Major parts of Chicago—including its file-system manager, memory manager, and scheduler—are, although inspired by Windows NT, otherwise brand new.

The comparable pieces of OS/2 have been solidly in place for years. While I believe that Chicago will eventually prove

failed to deliver credible Windows-toPM conversion tools, and then embarked on a strategy to host Windows itself, rather than Windows applications, on OS/2. This bold hack has served more people far better than most outside IBM thought it could. It will grow bolder yet if, as promised, OS/2 gains mastery of the Windows VxD (virtual device driver) and, through it, Win32s.

But patching Windows in memory, as OS/2 for Windows does, won't take IBM

ing SOM (System Object Model), Visual Age will help build distributed systems made of reusable components. This class of tool could level the playing field as the first mainframe era and the twentieth century draw to a simultaneous close.

IBM doesn't need to fight in the PIM (personal information manager) and spreadsheet skirmishes. It needs to define a new era, the one in which PCs control the back room as well as the desktop. This is the company whose systems run banks and airlines. Its mission, often poorly articulated, is to move those systems onto modern hardware and software platforms and, while doing so, to improve and extend them. To play its intended role in that mission, OS/2 needs tools like SOM and Visual Age. But neither tool would be likely to flourish if it did not also support the volume platform, Windows.

The same holds true for OS/2 itself, and that's why cross-platform tools, while necessary, are not sufficient. IBM should bite the bullet and license Win32. Sure, that will cost something, but if Microsoft offers IBM terms less favorable than those offered to Insignia, the FTC and

itself a great foundation for Win32

applications, i think os/2 could be IBM should ditch Presentation Manager.

one, too. There's room in the world

far in the era of Chicago. Neither will a PowerPC-based Workplace operating system running an OS/2 personality that has few mainstream applications.

To survive as an operating-systi dor, IBM will need a credible Win32 strategy, both for OS/2 and Workplace. What to do? It has just two choices— convert Windows applications and components or assimilate them. Both strategies merit a second look.

Conversion tools like Microsoft's Windows Libraries for OS/2 and Micrografx's Mirrors and Oasis never amounted to much, but cross-platform toolkits for C, C++, and Smalltalk have come on like gangbusters in recent years. IBM's Visual Age, which is a Smalltalk-based de

velopment tool for OS/2 and (soon) Win- Jon udeU is a ByjE senior technical editor at dows, exemplifies this new breed of large. You can contact him on the Internet or product. Thanks to IBM's groundbreak- BIXatjudell@bix.com.

for both—and more as well. If Win32 dominates, as I think it will, more niches for compatible substrates will exist than any single company can occupy.

Sadly, OS/2 has a tragic flaw. It wears the "wrong" API. Presentation Manager, available since 1988, has been dead in the water since Windows 3.0 took off in 1990. That's a hard truth, especially since PM's imaging model was unsurpassed in the Windows realm until NT appeared, and it's a truth that continues to cloud OS/2's future.

I think IBM should swallow its pride, ditch PM, and license the Win32 API. OS/2 guru Michael Kogan, on the other hand, thinks Microsoft should swallow its pride and simply use the OS/2 kernel. Either way, we would not now be waiting for Microsoft to reinvent OS/2. Most Windows programmers would know how

Justice Department might reopen their inquiries.

Win32 is growing like a weed, sprouting new extensions as Microsoft takes Windows places it's never gone before. Consider telephony. IBM's CallPath blazed the trail that TAPI (the Intel/ Microsoft telephony API) and TSAPI (the AT&T/Novell telephony services API) follow. But today, IBM doesn't get to define these or other vital infrastructures. It should, given its experience with big, complex systems. And it could, with a Win32-equipped OS/2. An IBM/Microsoft detente seems farfetched, but so did the PowerPC alliance. I say go for it, IBM. ■

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