New Products

Fastlane Unveils Xni Network Analyzer for SunOS/Solaris

Fastlane Software Systems, Inc. has announced the release of its Xni network analysis, security, and accounting package on the SunOS and Solaris 2.x platforms. Xni is a comprehensive, software-only solution that monitors network traffic in real-time. Xni provides a graphical view of network usage and traffic flow without the need for SNMP/ARMON tools or dedicated hardware.

First released in an IRIX version for SGI environments, Xni installs on any client workstation. Xni records network traffic information on a continuous basis. Administrators can easily identify high-bandwidth users, pinpoint causes of network slowdowns, spot network intruders, and collect data needed for chargebacks. A compact data format supports 24x7 reporting. Xni provides a conversation-based technology that records each protocol interaction between computers. Each record contains a number of fields characterizing the conversation, rather than recording details of packets exchanged. According to Fastlane, typical corporate networks using Xni can record eight months of 24-hour-a-day data on a 2Gb drive.

Xni uses DNS/Yellow Pages to monitor DNS/BIND entries for all hosts and reports on devices without DNS entries or which result in timeouts. Applications can be tracked individually or as groups. Monitoring and alarms can be as fine grained as a second. Graphs, charts, and lists are used to represent the network status. Real-time data can be viewed locally or from a remote machine running an X Window Server. A Java interface is currently under development. Xni operates passively, enhancing its utility for capturing evidence of malicious attacks. Xni's ability to gather data on network activity (such as Web usage, email, and file transfers) can support network accounting based on data assembled into reports.

Xni is available for SunOS and Solaris 2.x as well as IRIX 2.0. Versions for HP-UX 9.x/10.x, Linux 2.x, AIX, OSF/1, and FreeBSD are under development. System requirements include 64Mb Ram and 10Mb disk space. Xni functions passively (unless configured to resolve domain names), creating minimal demands on the system or network. Xni works with a variety of IP interfaces, including 10/100baseT, FDDI, and FORE ATM cards. For more information, contact Fastlane Software Systems, Inc., 1028 West Maude, Suite 401, Sunnyvale, CA. 94086; (408) 733-1483; Fax: (408) 733-1481; WWW: http://www.inetd.com.

SuSE Announces Corporate Support and Training Program for Linux

SuSE, Inc. has announced the SuSE Linux Corporate Support Program, scheduled to begin in North America in early 1999. SuSE has offered support and service contracts in Europe since 1995, and is bringing its corporate support program to North America. SuSE will offer a two-tiered support program: SuSE Linux Premium Support, SuSE's in-house corporate tech support program; and SuSE Linux Partner Support through third-party organizations. SuSE is working with a number of Linux support organizations, including LinuxCare, based in San Francisco, California.

SuSE will also offer corporate training programs on Linux through Muster Learning Architects (MLA) in Berkeley, California. MLA is headed by John Muster, the author of UNIX Made Easy, who has taught UNIX courses since 1980.

For more information, contact SuSE Inc., 458 Santa Clara Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610; (888) 875-4689; Internet: info@suse.com; WWW: http://www.suse.com.

Trend Micro Announces Approach to Java and ActiveX Security

Trend Micro, Inc. has announced a product addressing security concerns such as malicious Java applets, JavaScript, and ActiveX objects. According to the company, the product stops such risks at the Internet Gateway, while solving management and administration issues associated with such security. Trend Micro's InterScan AppletTrap allows network administrators to centrally manage Java, ActiveX, and JavaScript code security from a Web proxy server with policy-based software. AppletTrap provides real-time behavior analysis of Java applets and includes updating, which recognizes new threats and automatically adds them to a "block" list of undersirable applets.

Trend Micro's approach allows AppletTrap to be installed at the Web proxy server level, but for analysis of applets to occur at the desktop, minimizing server performance degradation. While a Java applet is at the server, AppletTrap attaches code to each applet that instructs the client computer of behavior restrictions for the applet. The applets are "wrapped" to prevent malicious code from doing damage. If malicious behavior is attempted, the "wrapped" applet is shut down, protecting the desktop. No software is installed on the desktop. All policy instructions are managed from the sever.

The product provides localized installation and administration while distributing the processing demands to provide real-time behavior analysis with minimal performance cost for the server.

AppletTrap provides three levels of security: Certificate Validation, filtering applets and objects by identifying the sender as a trusted partner or by the certifying organization, such as VeriSign; Known Malicious Code Filter, similar to traditional virus checking methods, with regular updates for its malicious code list from Trend Micro's Web site; and Unknown Applet Filter, constraining applet behavior based on pre-written or custom policies. The Unknown Applet Filter shuts down an applet breaking the policy and adds patterns identifying the applet to the list of blocked applets. AppletTrap can be configured to forward information about policy-breaking applets to Trend Micro for analysis and possible inclusion in the known malicious applets list.

InterScan AppletTrap pricing starts at $600 for a 25-user license. Version 1.0 of AppletTrap is designed for Windows NT 4.0 and requires a Java-enabled browser. For more information, contact Trend Micro, Inc., 10101 N. DeAnza Blvd. Suite 400, Cupertino, CA 95014; (408) 257-1500 or (800) 228-5651, Fax: (408) 257-2003; WWW: http://www.antivirus.com.

Progressive Systems Announces Phoenix Adaptive Firewall for Linux

Progressive Systems, Inc. has announced the Phoenix Adaptive Firewall software for the Linux Operating System. The Phoenix Adaptive Firewall provides a granular level of security, protecting networks by performing an inspection of incoming packets and distributing them according to administrator-determined rules. Inbound data with unacceptable contents is not transmitted on to the protected network. This provides a fine-grained security, compared to the majority of firewalls. Users can control access to their networks to a very precise degree. The technology also includes anti-attach features, disabling network probing attacks used by crackers.

The Phoenix Adaptive Firewall also provides Secure Remote Administration via a Java GUI. This interface provides strong authentication and encryption to the firewall server from a Web browser.

The Phoenix Adaptive Firewall is available for Linux, SCO Open Server, and as a network appliance. Pricing is $2995 and $3495, for the software or the appliance, respectively, for unlimited users. For more information, contact Progressive Systems, Inc., 2000 West Henderson Rd. Suite 400, Columbus, OH 43220; (800)558-7827; Internet: info@progressive-systems.com; WWW: http://www.progressive-systems.com.

J. River Releases ICE.PPN for Windows to UNIX Portable Private Networking

J. River, Inc. has released ICE.PPN for use by desktop users on a LAN, remote offices, or "road warriors" who need secure access to UNIX corporate servers. Unlike a VPN, ICE.PPN can secure data inside the LAN and from end to end (from the client to the individual server, not just to the firewall). It can secure the connection regardless of whether a firewall is in place.

ICE.PPN uses SSL with DSS certificates to authenticate the server, Diffie-Helman key exchange to prevent "man-in-the-middle" attacks, and 3DES (with DES optional) to encrypt the data. telnet and ftp sessions (including logins and passwrds) are fully encrypted so that they cannot be viewed through use of a sniffer. Initially, ICE.PPN will support Solaris, Linux, AIX, SCO UNIX, and UnixWare servers; and Windows 95, Windows98, and Windows NT clients. Support for additional UNIX servers and Windows NT servers is planned.

A full-featured 30-day trialware version of ICE.PPN can be downloaded from J. River's Web site. Suggested list price for a server license with five clients is $480. Reseller pricing is available. For more information, contact J. River, Inc., 125 North First Street, Minneapolis, MN; (612) 677-8200; Internet: info@jriver.com; WWW: http://www.jriver.com.

Lares Technology Announces iNETanywhere Bridge

Lares Technology, Inc. has announced the iNETanywhere Bridge. This plug-in interface enables remote iButtons, or other 1-Wire data collectors, to communicate with a network computer via a standard TCP/IP Ethernet network. Applications include network-based temperature monitoring, access control, time, attendance, guard tour, and facility maintenance.

iNETanywhere makes adding devices to a network comparable to adding an answering machine to a phone. There are two cables, a power cord, and a phone plug. Some low-power devices don't require a separate power cord. The bridge is small, 3 x 3 x 1, but packs a micro-controller, 32Kb code and data space, two iButton 1-wire interfaces, an RS232 serial interface, and an 10BaseT Ethernet interface.

An example of application devices is the iNETmonitor temperature system. A temperature probe and client-server application software provide temperature monitoring, logging, notification, and alarms. The probes connect to the bridge via twisted-pair wire and RJ-11 jacks. The software is Java-based and can run under UNIX (Linux or Sun Solaris), MacOS, or Windows 98/NT.

For more information, contact Lares Technology; 1505 E. Houston Street, San Antonio, Texas 78202; (210) 354-4658; Fax:(210) 354-4075; Internet: info@lares.com; WWW: http://www.lares.com.

Raritan Announces Cat5 Reach - Extending Computer Access

Raritan Computer, Inc. has announced its Cat5 Reach - a transmitter and receiver pair that provides long-distance keyboard, monitor, and mouse access to standalone Suns, Macs, or PCs or to multiple computers using Raritan's KVM switch products. With Cat5 Reach, keyboard, video, and mouse (KVM) signals are transmitted over a single, standard Cat5 UTP cable up to distances of 650 feet. Computers can be accessed via the standard Cat5 cabling over longer distances, rather than requiring proprietary or coaxial cabling.

In addition to the remote access to single or multiple computers, Cat5 Reach provides ports of local connection so the same input devices and monitor can be used for both local and remote machines. Cat5 Reach supports all Raritan's KVM switches, including the new Master Console II and MX - a matrix KVM switch that enables up to four simultaneous users to control up to 256 computers (Sun, Dec Alpha, RS/6000, HP9000, Silicon Graphics, Mac, or PC), each from a single keyboard, monitor, and mouse.

Raritan's plans called for Cat5 Reach to begin shipping in December 1998, with a suggested retail price of $545. Cat5 Reach will support high-resolution video and is recommended for use at 1280x1024 resolution to distances up to 325 feet and at 1024x768 resolution up to 650 feet. It can work with any UTP Category 5 cable, but Raritan cautions its customers that cable quality can vary.

For more information, contact Raritan Computer, Inc., (800) 724-8090; Fax: (732) 764-8887; Internet: sales@raritan.com; WWW: http://www.raritan.com.

Microstate Announces Open-Source Web Application Server

Microstate Corporation has announced that its thin-client, cross-platform Web application server based on Java technology is now available as open-source software. The source code is freely accessible over the Internet (http://microstate.com/tech.html). Microstate's server technology is named Hamilton and provides an integrated infrastructure supporting thin-client applications. Developers and users need only internet connectivity and a Web browser to access applications developed on Hamilton.

Hamilton serves as a Web application server for rapid application development of thin-client, Web-based business applications. Hamilton was designed to permit easy maintenance of application content by knowledge workers. Hamilton is an application server and development environment suited to developing online services, which pool data from diverse heterogeneous information sources, including databases and wire feeds.

For more information, contact Microstate Corporation, 11166 Main Street, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia 22030-5017; (800) 684-5197; (703) 591-1790; Internet: info@microstate.com; WWW: http://microstate.com.

Enlighten Releases EnlightenDSM 2.7

Enlighten Software Solutions, Inc. has released EnlightenDSM version 2.7, its distributed systems manager for UNIX and NT. EnlightenDSM 2.7 runs multiple instances of the GUI on a single host. The management user interface can be served to many end users from one central server. The GUI can be set to view back on their desktop display. System administrators, managing a variety of complex situations requiring more than one GUI, can use EnlightenDSM's GUI feature to represent different logical or physical views of their environment simultaneously on the same desktop.

Other features of EnlightenDSM 2.7 include: user action auditing within the EnlightenDSM toolbar, "Total Value" sub-process monitoring, and password management across multiple machines with a single command. EnlightenDSM 2.7 also supports the Solaris 2.6 operating system including the Solaris print management system and architecture. For pricing and other information about EnlightenDSM 2.7, contact Enlighten Software Solutions, Inc., 999 Baker Way, Fifth Floor, San Mateo, CA 94404; (650) 578-0700; Fax: (650) 578-0118; Internet: info@sftw.com; WWW: http://www.EnlightenDSM.com

Empress Ships Empress RDBMS V8.10

Empress Software, Inc. has begun shipping the Empress RDBMS V8.10 for Windows NT 4.0 Server and Windows NT 4.0 workstation. The Empress RDBMS, operating on Windows NT, provides two-way communication between Windows and UNIX-based environments via Empress' ODBC Interface. Empress RDBMS V8.10 manages text and multimedia data. Empress' embedded system application includes image and voice management, telecommunications, medical systems, and network management.

A variety of third-party software packages can also be used to access Empress' databases on machines running Windows NT or UNIX. Among these tools are MS Access, MS Excel, MS Query, MS Work, ColdFusion, Lotus 123, Lotus Approach, PowerBuilder, Rogue Wave, S-Designor, Visual Basic, and Visual C++. Also to facilitate working in heterogeneous computing environments, Empress handles different data types between Windows NT machines and UNIX machines. The Empress RDBMS converts machine-specific data types into generic data types that are readable by Windows NT and UNIX.

For pricing and other information about Empress RDBMS V8.10, contact Empress Software, Inc. 6401 Golden Triangle Dr., Greenbelt, MD 20770, (301) 220-1919; Fax: (301) 220-1997; Internet: info@empress.com; WWW: www.empress.com.

JSB Ships MultiView 2000 4.0

JSB Corporation has begun shipping its MultiView 2000 version 4.0 terminal emulation suite for Windows 95/98 and NT platforms. MultiView 2000 4.0 gives UNIX-based character terminals a graphical "face-lift" with Windows look-and-feel on the fly, integration into corporate Intranets, and requires no re-programming.

MultiView gives users the ability to access legacy UNIX applications via the Web or desktop PCs without redevelopment. MultiView 200 includes a set of tools that provide users with a fully mouse-driven GUI and control for UNIX applications, letting them behave with a Windows look-and-feel. Other MultiView 2000 4.0 features include: integrated multimedia support giving UNIX applications image, sound and speech capabilities; page dependent toolbars and pop-up menus, text substitution and Windows message boxes; and central administration enabling zero admin toolsets for software installation, maintenance, and upgrades.

Pricing for MultiView 2000 4.0 starts at $199 for a single user license. A free 30-day demo copy of MultiView 2000 is available for download at www.jsb.com or www.terminalemulation.com. For more information, contact JSB Corporation, 108 Whispering Pines Drive, Suite 115, Scotts Valley, CA 95066; (831) 438-8300; Fax: (831) 438-8360; Internet: info@jsbus.com; WWW: http://www.jsbus.com

Exabyte Announces DLTtape Autoloader

Exabyte Corp. has announced its Exabyte 17D DLTtape Autoloader. The 17D is an alternative to standalone DLT tape drives and is designed to deliver reliable, scalable, and economical storage solutions to distributed network environments such as small offices, remote installation, separate LANs or workgroups, and single-server applications.

The Exabyte 17D Autoloader accommodates a DLT4000 or DLT7000 tape drive and seven Exabyte DLTtape data cartridges. The compressed capacity of the 17D is 490 Gb with data throughput of 36 Gb per hour. According to the company, the 17D is extremely reliable with a MCBF specification of greater than 250,000. Available in desktop or rackmount configuration, the 17D also includes: Wide SCSI (single-ended and differential, and 4000 narrow converted within the unit), sequential and/or random access, LCD, and a 3-year ADEX warranty.

Prices for the Exabyte 17D DLTtape Autoloader start at $6,570 for the DLT4000 model and $11,713 for the DLT7000 model. For more information, contact Exabyte Corporation, 1685 36th Street, Boulder, CO 80301; (800) 392-2983 or (303) 442-4333; Fax: (303) 417-7170; WWW: http://www.exabyte.com.

UniTree Releases UCFM 2.0

UniTree Software, Inc. has released UniTree Central File Manager (UCFM) 2.0. UCFM migrates data between disk storage, high-speed tape or optical devices, and libraries. According to the company, UCFM is unique in that it provides a non-kernel-based solution for multiple platforms including HP SGI, Sum, and Digital. UCFM 2.0 uses RPC 9 (remote procedure calls for interprocess communications) and Posix threads (for multi-threading of processes) interfaces. The UCFM supports NFSV3, disk and optical devices greater than 2 GB, and advanced device usage configuration.

For pricing and other information about UniTree Central File Manager 2.0, contact UniTree Software, Inc, 4 Crow Canyon Ct., Suite 110, San Ramon, CA 94583; (303) 840-2548; WWW: http://www.unitree.com.

Tower Releases TowerJ 3.0 For Beta Testing

Tower Technology Corp. has released its TowerJ 3.0 Java Deployment Platform to selected beta test sites. TowerJ 3.0 is based on Tower's TRIPLE CROWN technology (native compilation technology). TowerJ 3.0 includes Tower's DynaFlex runtime virtual machine, which is embedded in an applications native executable for updating of the application via Java bytecode or natively compile DLLs or shared libraries. TowerJ 3.0 also adds a partitioning option to the system optimizing native compiler letting developers create optimized native DLLs from Java bytecode classes.

TowerJ supports HP-UX, Compaq's Digital UNIX, Solaris, Windows NT AIX, IRIX, and Linux. Tower plans to make TowerJ 3.0 available during 1Q99. Companies interested in participating in the TowerJ 3.0 beta program should contact Tower directly. Pricing for TowerJ 3.0 has not yet been set. For more information, contact Tower Technology Corporation, Austin, TX, (512) 452-9455; WWW: http://www.twr.com.

ATL Upgrades WebAdmin

ATL Products has upgraded WebAdmin, its tool for remote library administration using a Java-enable browser. WebAdmin 2.0 provides system administrators access to their tape libraries from within an Intranet, or anywhere on the WWW, for such facilities as library setup, monitoring, event logging, and event notification. Features of WebAdmin 2.0 include: Predictive Failure Analysis using event triggers, support for non-ATL libraries, and an SNMP library monitoring module called LibraryAgent 2.0. WebAdmin 2.0 also supports the following Java-based browsers: HotJava 1.1.4, Netscape Navigator 4.06, and Internet Explorer 4.01.

WebAdmin 2.0 is designed to "co-exist" with backup and data management software and includes a server component and a client component that support Sun Solaris 2.5 and above library server hosts, and Sun Solaris 2.5 and above, Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 clients. WebAdmin 2.0 is included in ATL's PowerStor L500, P1000 Series, 520 Series, 7100 Series, and 2640 Series libraries. A free WebAdmin 2.0 demo copy is available. For pricing and other information, contact ATL Products, Irvine, CA; (949) 477-7800; WWW: www.atlp.com.

Ericom Releases PowerTerm Pro

Ericom Software has released PowerTerm Pro, the first terminal emulation product that is fully compatible with the Windows 2000 and Office 2000 graphical user interface. Although the PowerTerm line of products already enables PC users to connect to applications running on a variety of hosts, PowerTerm also offers support for HP and Tandem terminal emulation types.

PowerTerm Pro enables PC users to connect to applications running on a variety of IBM AS/400, IBM Mainframe, Digital, UNIX and other mainframe hosts. PowerTerm Pro features customizable toolbars and a new graphical user interface for added ease of use, regardless of emulation type. Other features are customizable function keys, a powerful script language, hotspots, multi-sheet copy/paste/print, editor and debugger, multiple concurrent sessions, and ftp client.

For more information, contact Ericom Software, WWW: http://www.ericom.com.