The Windows NT Services for UNIX Add-On Pack provides customers with access to core
interoperability components in a single, integrated, fully supported package. Customers
will benefit from lower deployment costs, improved supportability of mixed environments,
and the most complete integration with current and future Windows NT-based technologies
and initiatives.
Microsoft has teamed up with key technology players
including Intergraph Corp. and Mortice Kern Systems (MKS) Inc. to help build the
Windows NT Services for UNIX Add-On Pack and to provide a total interoperability
solution that third parties can build upon.
Intergraph, a leading vendor of Windows NT- and UNIX-based interoperability solutions,
provided Network File System (NFS) client/server software for Services for UNIX.
With NFS, users of Windows NT Workstation and Windows NT Server will be able to
access files on UNIX systems, and UNIX workstation users will be able to access
resources on Windows NT Workstation and Windows NT Server.
"As an early adopter, Intergraph has been evangelizing the adoption of Windows
NT in the technical marketplace for the past seven years," said Jim Meadlock,
chairman and CEO, Intergraph. "Contributing our resource-sharing technology
to the Microsoft Services for UNIX Add-On Pack was a natural next step for Intergraph
that further accelerates the adoption as a whole. In addition to continuing to provide
enterprise engineering and technical solutions based on Windows NT, Intergraph complements
and extends the Microsoft Services for UNIX offering with resource-sharing solutions
such as DiskAccess for clients for Windows 95 and Windows 98, AccessNFS Gateway,
a Windows NT Server-based solution, and access to Intergraph's extensive migration
expertise."
"With MKS Toolkit, we have been providing UNIX interoperability solutions for
more than 14 years and now we are pleased to work with Microsoft to deliver our
combined solution to mutual customers," said Randall Howard, MKS chairman and
CEO. "As well, we have created the MKS Toolkit Update Edition to augment Windows
NT Services for UNIX Add-On Pack, providing the full commands and utilities of MKS
Toolkit to customers requiring additional UNIX command support and interoperability
tools."
Based on Customer Demand
The Windows NT Services for UNIX Add-On Pack delivers the most
frequently requested features and benefits, including resource sharing, remote administration,
password synchronization and common scripting across platforms:
Resource sharing. Users of Windows NT Workstation 4.0 will be able to access files
on UNIX systems, and UNIX workstation users will be able to access resources on
Windows NT Server. To provide resource-sharing capabilities, Microsoft is licensing
Network File System client/server software from Intergraph. Intergraph is a leading
vendor of Windows NT and UNIX interoperability solutions.
Remote administration. Remote administration through Telnet client and server will
give users the ability to remotely log into and execute commands on Windows NT-
or UNIX-based systems.
Password synchronization. One-way password synchronization will allow customers
to maintain a common password between their Windows NT- and
UNIX-based machines. Password changes made on Windows NT Workstation or Windows
NT Server will automatically synchronize on UNIX systems. This reduces the burden
of maintaining separate passwords for multiple systems.
Common scripting across platforms. Windows NT Services for UNIX will also allow
users to use common UNIX commands and utilities in a Windows NT environment. As
part of these scripting capabilities, Microsoft has licensed from MKS more than
25 UNIX scripting commands and its leading KornShell, which gives users the ability
to automate common processes and administrative tasks across both Windows NT and
UNIX platforms. MKS is a leading provider of Windows NT scripting and migration
tools and software configuration management (SCM) products.
Delivering on a Single Desktop With "No Compromises"
With this release, Microsoft is delivering on its commitment
to a "no-compromise" workstation. For a technical workstation user or
administrator, a single installation of Windows NT Workstation 4.0 provides a superior
alternative to today's common scenario of a Microsoft Windows operating system-based
PC for productivity tasks sitting side by side with a second UNIX workstation used
only for specific technical tasks.
In addition to the Services for UNIX Add-On Pack, Microsoft has launched a new Web
site specifically built for customers that are working on integrating Windows NT
Workstation into their UNIX environments (http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation/compare/
singleDesktop/default.asp). Through this Web site, customers can learn about
recent developments that enable them to deploy a single desktop running Windows
NT Workstation 4.0 as a strong alternative to UNIX-based solutions.
Windows NT Services for UNIX illustrates Microsoft's broad commitment to enterprise
interoperability, which also includes products or services for Apple Macintosh,
Novell NetWare, mainframes and IBM OS/400. Microsoft supports common industry standards
such as TCP/IP, LDAP and Kerberos.
Pricing and Availability
Windows NT Services for UNIX will have an estimated retail
price of $149 and will also be available through the Microsoft Select and Open Licensing
programs. The Windows NT Services for UNIX Add-On Pack is expected to be widely
available in four to six weeks.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and
services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making
it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal
computing every day.
Microsoft, Windows NT and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks
of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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