- Email: [email protected]
WAN networking software
Voice mail server linked to PABXs Philips Business Systems have introduced a voice mail server for integrating with their Sopho S and EBX 8000 PABXs. The server offers storage and distribution facilities for incoming internal and external phone calls. Applications include the use of the voice mail server to distribute verbal messages. The mail box, unlike a telephone answering machine, is always available for use by callers. When the caller is transferred to a voice mail server mailbox, an electronic voice welcomes him, gives the name of the mailbox owner and asks whether the caller wishes to leave a message. The caller can then control the system with the keypad of his own telephone. Facilities include review, cancel, rerecord and deposit.
The electronic voice facility also allows the called person to leave messages to provide information as to his or her status (out-of-office; in meeting; on holiday; when returning). The sender's message can be of any length, and will be stored with the date and time added automatically. Messages can be specified as 'priority' to ensure it is the first one heard by the recipient. To access his mailbox, the recipient enters, via his telephone, his personal pass code, which ensures security. Only the user can enter or change the password. After retrieval, messages can be deleted, retained or retransmitted to a collague with an additional comment if necessary.
Recipients are guaranteed access to all messages in their mailbox once entry to the server is obtained. Access can be via the public telephone network if recipients are away from the office. Alternatively, they can, in similar circumstances, be alerted to a message waiting by a paging device linked to the PABX. There are two versions of the voice mail server. The smaller version offers a capacity of 300 mailboxes and 6 h of storage. The larger model offers up to 1200 mailboxes and 4 2 h of storage. Systems can be networked to increase the overall capacity and to allow voice messaging to operate economically between corporate sites. The larger systems may be 'twinned' to provide capacity up to 84 h. (Philips Business Systems Ltd., Elektra House, Bergholt Road, Colchester, Essex C04 5BE, UK. Tek
(0206) 575115, Telex: 98673)
[]
W A N networking software A software environment has been launched which can be networked to link up to 250 separate systems with a total of 8000 workstations. Called Maestro-net, the facility tightly couples the systems into a transparent wide or local network. This allows users, typically programmers and analysts to access project documents and other information held on multiple Maestro systems in the same or different locations. Remote editing, display, searching and copying are available together with document shipment between systems. Through Maestro-net, documents no longer have to reside on the system being worked on; they can be held anywhere on the network. The networked systems appear to the user as one common system working from one common machine. Systems can be locally connected at one site or, where software development is split over several locations, remotely connected. All members of a large distributed software project can, therefore, access all documents to which they have access rights. A workstation may simultaneously access and modify
vol 10 no 1 february 1987
documents in a dozen different locations, provided the users meet the strict access control rights implemented in the security system. Connections between the systems can be a variety of communications services using a special-purpose protocol to ensure optimum performance and security. Multiple pathways using two or more of the services can be established to provide altemative routing to overcome line malfunction and traffic congestion. The networking facility is provided by a Philips' P7240 communications controller added to the P7000 minicomputer on which Maestro runs. Each controller can drive up to four links. Chained networks can be configured so that each controller passes data onto another machine without the information passing through the central processor. This means separate links between each Maestro system are unnecessary, thereby considerably reducing communications costs. (Philips Business Systems Ltd., Elektra House, Bergholt Road, Colchester, Essex C04
5BE, UK. Tel: (0206) 575115, Telex: 98673) []
X.25 link for I BM PCs An X.25 communications link for IBM PCs and compatible microcomputers has been announced. The Persyst, PC/X.25 hardware/software solution, from the Persyst Division of Emulex, implements the X.25 Recommendations to provide a simple applications interface between a PC program and an X.25 Public Data Network. For error-free file transfer, it may also link two PCs without an intervening PDN. The system utilises a Persyst DCP88 coprocessor communications controller board to offload the X.25 protocol implementation and handle high-level commands from the PC program. Thus, without using the PC's own resources, the Persyst PC/X.25 calls the network, establishes a link, transfers data and clears the call. A Hayes compatible auto-dial interface is also included. (Emulex Persyst Ltd., 6 The Western Centre, Western Road,
Bracknell, Berks RG12 1RW, UK. Tel: (0344) 484234, Telex: 849781 EMULEX G) []
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The electronic voice facility also allows the called person to leave messages to provide information as to his or her status (out-of-office; in meeting; on holiday; when returning). The sender's message can be of any length, and will be stored with the date and time added automatically. Messages can be specified as 'priority' to ensure it is the first one heard by the recipient. To access his mailbox, the recipient enters, via his telephone, his personal pass code, which ensures security. Only the user can enter or change the password. After retrieval, messages can be deleted, retained or retransmitted to a collague with an additional comment if necessary.
Recipients are guaranteed access to all messages in their mailbox once entry to the server is obtained. Access can be via the public telephone network if recipients are away from the office. Alternatively, they can, in similar circumstances, be alerted to a message waiting by a paging device linked to the PABX. There are two versions of the voice mail server. The smaller version offers a capacity of 300 mailboxes and 6 h of storage. The larger model offers up to 1200 mailboxes and 4 2 h of storage. Systems can be networked to increase the overall capacity and to allow voice messaging to operate economically between corporate sites. The larger systems may be 'twinned' to provide capacity up to 84 h. (Philips Business Systems Ltd., Elektra House, Bergholt Road, Colchester, Essex C04 5BE, UK. Tek
(0206) 575115, Telex: 98673)
[]
W A N networking software A software environment has been launched which can be networked to link up to 250 separate systems with a total of 8000 workstations. Called Maestro-net, the facility tightly couples the systems into a transparent wide or local network. This allows users, typically programmers and analysts to access project documents and other information held on multiple Maestro systems in the same or different locations. Remote editing, display, searching and copying are available together with document shipment between systems. Through Maestro-net, documents no longer have to reside on the system being worked on; they can be held anywhere on the network. The networked systems appear to the user as one common system working from one common machine. Systems can be locally connected at one site or, where software development is split over several locations, remotely connected. All members of a large distributed software project can, therefore, access all documents to which they have access rights. A workstation may simultaneously access and modify
vol 10 no 1 february 1987
documents in a dozen different locations, provided the users meet the strict access control rights implemented in the security system. Connections between the systems can be a variety of communications services using a special-purpose protocol to ensure optimum performance and security. Multiple pathways using two or more of the services can be established to provide altemative routing to overcome line malfunction and traffic congestion. The networking facility is provided by a Philips' P7240 communications controller added to the P7000 minicomputer on which Maestro runs. Each controller can drive up to four links. Chained networks can be configured so that each controller passes data onto another machine without the information passing through the central processor. This means separate links between each Maestro system are unnecessary, thereby considerably reducing communications costs. (Philips Business Systems Ltd., Elektra House, Bergholt Road, Colchester, Essex C04
5BE, UK. Tel: (0206) 575115, Telex: 98673) []
X.25 link for I BM PCs An X.25 communications link for IBM PCs and compatible microcomputers has been announced. The Persyst, PC/X.25 hardware/software solution, from the Persyst Division of Emulex, implements the X.25 Recommendations to provide a simple applications interface between a PC program and an X.25 Public Data Network. For error-free file transfer, it may also link two PCs without an intervening PDN. The system utilises a Persyst DCP88 coprocessor communications controller board to offload the X.25 protocol implementation and handle high-level commands from the PC program. Thus, without using the PC's own resources, the Persyst PC/X.25 calls the network, establishes a link, transfers data and clears the call. A Hayes compatible auto-dial interface is also included. (Emulex Persyst Ltd., 6 The Western Centre, Western Road,
Bracknell, Berks RG12 1RW, UK. Tel: (0344) 484234, Telex: 849781 EMULEX G) []
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