by IBM Brings Enterprise and Web File Sharing to Linux
____________________________________________________
December 1, 1998
Transarc announces AFS for popular Linux operating system; New
platform support accompanies new version of AFS
Pittsburgh, PA, December 1, 1998 - Today, IBM's Transarc
subsidiary unveiled its first Enterprise File Systems products
for Linux. AFS Server and AS Client are now available for users
to add Linux into their enterprise environments, enabling
interoperability between and amongst servers and clients for
Linux; Microsoft Windows 95, 98 and NT; and other Unix operating
systems. IBM's Transarc is also announcing a new version of AFS,
AFS3.5, which provides complete support for Windows NT as well
as enhanced performance, caching and scalability for global
information sharing.
IBM's Enterprise File Systems, which include AFS* and DFS**,
allow companies to share, find and manage files of information,
such as Web pages, engineering designs, application software
binaries and word processing documents. IBM's Enterprise File
Systems have been an integral component of some of the world's
most highly visited Web sites, including the 1998 Nagano Olympic
Web site, 1998 Superbowl Web site and the 1998 Wimbledon tennis
tournament Web site.
AFS Server 3.5 and AFS Client 3.5 on the Linux operating system
provide a cost-effective, reliable and scalable file sharing
option for UNIX users. AFS3.5 includes performance enhancements
in the file server and the backup system, as well as scalability
enhancements such as the ability to operate AFS clients and
servers with multiple network interfaces. In addition, they
contain enhanced caching functionality which speeds up file look
ups, improving performance and reducing bottlenecks.
"Many of our customers have been asking for an AFS product on
Linux. AFS is an extremely elegant and useful file sharing
and file management system that fits in very well with the
Linux philosophy," said Chris Maher, vice president, Enterprise
File Systems, Transarc Corporation. "This AFS release is also
exciting because we have achieved as much as five times the data
throughout our file servers. We have also extended our Windows
platform coverage and added powerful administrative tools."
"AFS allows CERN and collaborating High Energy Physics institutes
world-wide to share analysis software and research data samples
regardless of location or operating system," says Rainer
Toebbicke, section leader for Distributed File Services at
the European Laboratory for Partciple Physics, CERN. "AFS is
considered a vital part of our computing infrastructure. Its
availability for Linux will enable us to seamlessly integrate
Linux into our heterogeneous environment."
Enterprise File Systems enhance users' ability to integrate
Windows NT-based servers and clients with UNIX servers and
clients in a secure, easy-access way to create global shared
information systems amongst geographically dispersed computer
users. In today's global collaborative computing environment,
Enterprise File Systems create a productive work space in which
users can share information and applications across heterogeneous
platforms and multiple locations.
Pricing and Availability
AFS Server for Linux and AFS Client for Linux will be available
in February 1999 directly from the IBM Software sales
organization. Pricing for AFS Server for Linux begins at $1,995.
Access to the AFS Client for Linux begins at $99 per user with
volume discounts available. For Web-enabled environments, pricing
for unlimited users is $6,495.
The new version of AFS, version 3.5, will be available on Red Hat
Linux, AIX, Solaris, HP-UX, IRIX, Digital UNIX, Windows NT and
gateway support for Windows 95 and Windows 98.
IBM and Transarc's Enterprise File Systems
IBM's Enterprise File Systems are developed and marketed by
IBM and Transarc. Transarc is a recognized leader in file
systems technology as the original developer of AFS and DFS.
With IBM's Enterprise File Systems offerings, users are able
to take collections of dissimilar server and client machines
and join them into a global, shared information system. AFS
and DFS provide networks with high availability of infomation,
robust performance, and powerful security technology. Transarc
is committed to continuing its leadership in the development of
large scale file systems infrastructure and powerful desktop
clients in order to give users easier and faster access to
information within the distributed global enterprise.
About IBM Software
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with
80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM
Software offers the widest range of applications, middleware
and operating systems for all types of computing platforms,
allowing customers to take full advantage of the new era
of e-business. The fastest way to get more information
about IBM software is through the IBM Software home page at
http://www.software.ibm.com.
*Indicates a trademark or registered trademark of Transarc
Corporation **DFS is a registered trademark of Transarc
Corporation
All other products and services are the properties of the companies
mentioned.