IBM Offers New Freedom for Customers With Windows NT and Mobile Clients
AUSTIN, TX (March 17, 1997) - IBM today announced two beta programs that will further establish OS/2 Warp Server as an ideal server operating system platform for businesses in network computing environments.
Building off of IBM's recent Windows 95 and NT client enhancements for OS/2 Warp Server, the Primary Logon Client for Windows NT, which is now in beta, gives customers with Windows NT clients the option of using OS/2 Warp Server as their server operating system platform. With this enhancement, validating the user's ID and password on the OS/2 Warp Server eliminates the need for a Windows NT server for these functions. This results in easier administration of, and increased security for, Windows NT clients on an OS/2 Warp Server network.
The Enhanced Remote Access Server for OS/2 Warp Server, which is also in beta, allows all point-to-point protocol (PPP) clients, including Windows NT, Windows 95, IBM 8235 and Shiva users, to remotely access an OS/2 Warp Server as if they were locally attached. This enhancement offers OS/2 Warp Server users the market's widest variety of remote client access support and offers new levels of performance and security and reduced cost of ownership, adding further value to the industry's most feature-complete server operating system solution.
"These enhancements for OS/2 Warp Server deliver two key capabilities our customers have been looking for," said Steven King, product manager for OS/2 Warp Server, IBM Personal Software Products Division. "First, the highest level of remote access support for clients in the industry, and second, customers now have a choice of server operating system platforms. OS/2 Warp Server is now the best option for customers who are running Windows 95 and NT clients, as well as many others."
OS/2 Warp Server in a Network Computing Environment
These enhancements help propel customers into the world of network computing and further establish OS/2* Warp Server as the premier server operating system solution for Internet and intranet environments. OS/2 Warp Server already provides a high level of concurrent user connections, with the addition of the Enhanced Remote Access Server for OS/2 Warp Server, more popular industry clients are able to establish dial-in connections; making it easy for users to gain access to a Web server. OS/2 Warp Server customers may also download a copy of IBM's base Internet Connection Server 4.2 for OS/2 Warp Server to get the newest version with a higher level of functionality, performance and ease of installation.
Whether accessing the network locally or remotely, OS/2 Warp Server delivers industry leading support for the widest set of client platforms. With the Primary Logon Client for Windows NT, Windows NT users now have full access to the rich features of OS/2 Warp Server.
Some key functions gained with this feature include:
Primary authentication provider support allows Windows NT users to choose which server will authenticate their logon and allows Windows NT clients to have a single centralized location for their user information.
Centralized account definition and administration support gives system administrators the capability to define and administer all users from an OS/2 Warp Server domain. This same user account can be used for OS/2, DOS, Windows 3.x, Windows 95 and Windows NT clients.
Roaming user support allows users to access their personalized desktop at Windows NT workstations utilizing system policies to control access.
Network provider support ensures Windows NT client access to the resources in a heterogeneous server network.
The Enhanced Remote Access Server for OS/2 Warp Server allows more types of clients to remotely access an OS/2 Warp Server from anywhere. Thus, customers or employees traveling on the road with a laptop computer or working from a home PC have the same access to network resources and files as if they were locally attached to the server.
"With this announcement, IBM sends a clear message that it is enhancing OS/2 Warp Server as a foundation for intranet/Internet network computing solutions," said Tim Sloane, director of Internet research, at the Aberdeen Group. "By extending OS/2 Warp Server's support for native Windows 95 and NT clients, along with new remote access function, IBM is increasing OS/2 Warp Server's appeal as an open network computing server."
Availability
Limited beta programs for both enhancements have recently begun. IBM's Enhanced Remote Access Server for OS/2 Warp Server and Primary Logon Client for Windows NT are planned for general availability in the second quarter of 1997.
About OS/2 Warp Server
OS/2 Warp Server, released at the end of February 1996, is IBM's business-server solution for customers ranging from small businesses to large enterprises. It is the most feature complete server operating system solution in the market, offering a foundation for application serving and file and print sharing, plus a wealth of integrated features including systems management, backup and recovery, remote access, enhanced TCP/IP support, advanced print function, LAN Internet access and a downloadable Web Server at no charge.