IBM PC Server Solutions for Today's Network Computing Environments

By Susan Davi

'As network computing technology emerges at an ever increasing rate, new standards and options become available, and users face difficult choices in integrating complete client/server solutions to run their businesses. Customers and resellers are demanding total packages--complete solutions to simplify installation and reduce overall service and support costs. IBM's complete PC Server solutions meet this challenge.'

For network computing solutions to be successful in today's dynamic technology environment, they must be: IBM currently offers five PC Server solutions centered around network computing. These packages are client/server-based and address the growing areas of the Internet, small business, and clustering:
 * Easily available--Solutions that are packaged with all the hardware and software components needed to install a complete, ready-to-use solution
 * Easily installed--Tested and approved components with software installation assistance (at a minimum, instructional road maps)
 * Cost effective--A solution where the total package is priced lower than the individual components
 * PC Server Internet Series
 * PC Server Small Business Solution
 * PC Server High Availability Solution
 * Lotus Notes bundle
 * ServerGuide

Server Internet Series
The World-Wide Web brings network-centric computing to businesses and home consumers throughout the world. Users are flocking to the Internet in growing numbers, encouraged by the World-Wide Web's ease-of-use and ready access to all kinds of information. Because of this increased use, the number of Internet servers continues to grow.

Corporate and consumer users are demanding a Web presence from the companies with which they do business. Whether shopping for vehicles, evaluating insurers, or just browsing at their favorite snack-food's Web site, today's--and more importantly, tomorrow's--users will turn to the Web to reach companies they find interesting.

At the same time, corporations are finding that using Web browsers and servers within their organizations provide a simple and friendly way to share information such as text and graphics among "intranet" users on multiple platforms.

IBM's PC Server Internet Series provides small- to medium-sized businesses an easy, affordable, and secure Internet presence without needing to acquire, install, and integrate individual components. These bundles provide an entry-level Internet server solution with the potential for considerable growth and expansion. Each package comes with a PC Server 320, Web server software for the OS/2, SunSoft Solaris, or Windows NT platform, plus end-user documentation and integrator documentation--a ready-to-build solution for quick installation (see Figure 1). All you need to add is your favorite connection to the Internet. Figure 1

IBM has tested and supports each component and will serve as a single point of contact for service.

After an easy installation, you can quickly and efficiently create a World-Wide Web server as a base for customized solutions--one that fully supports key Internet and World-Wide Web standards such as hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), hypertext markup language (HTML), Java, and secure sockets layer (SSL). Additionally, you can use the SunSoft solution to create a domain name server (DNS).

The Web presence you create with the PC Server Internet Series will be able to handle queries from Internet users anywhere in the world via industry-standard browsers such as IBM's OS/2 WebExplorer and Netscape's Navigator. The OS/2 package also allows HTML browser access to CICS and DB2 applications.

The flexible and powerful IBM PC Server 320 (8640-ODV) has an array of installation and support utilities, making it one of the industry's smartest server choices. Its components include: The IBM PC Server 320 also comes with an easy installation option and access to IBM's HelpCenter, simplifying your implementation tasks and responsibilities. You'll receive 90 days of enhanced support for servers and some third-party elements, plus a three-year, on-site limited warranty on IBM's hardware components.
 * 133 MHz Pentium Processor and ZIF socket for symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) upgrade
 * 16 KB L1 cache
 * 256 KB write-back L2 cache (upgradable to 512 KB)
 * 16 MB 70 ns parity memory (expandable to 256 MB)
 * Error-correcting code (ECC-on-SIMM) memory options available
 * Peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus support
 * Extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus support
 * Eight slots (two PCI, five EISA, and one combination)
 * Nine bays (six half high and three slim line)
 * PCI fast/wide SCSI controller
 * 2.25 GB 7200 rpm fast/wide SCSI hard disk drive
 * Quad speed CD-ROM drive

PC Server Small Business Solution
Technology is critical to help small businesses meet their internal needs as well as those of their customers. PC networks are emerging as one of the primary tools for increased productivity in small businesses. As network functions increase and costs continue to decrease, more small businesses are "getting connected." They do, however, face the challenge of selecting hardware and software solutions that are simple to use and maintain, support their current business requirements, and provide growth capability.

The small business client/server environment will often consist of one PC as a centralized server, with other PCs as clients, linked through a network operating system such as Novell's NetWare and Artisoft's Lantastic. These networks are primarily used for sharing resources such as printers, storage devices, and files.

For years, large organizations have taken advantage of networks to share resources, which increases productivity and makes critical information readily available to those who need it. Now, small businesses can benefit from a networked computer environment which enables several end users to work simultaneously on the same data and still maintain data integrity.

IBM has teamed with Novell and Cheyenne to create two solutions that are just right for the small business market: the PC Server 310 (for five to 15 users) and the PC Server 320 (for businesses and departments with 15 to 100 users). Both solutions feature an easy-to-use, CD-ROM-based installation which consolidates all server network operating system software and desktop productivity applications. In addition, each package provides:
 * Affordability--Less expense than separately purchasing each component
 * Name brand hardware and software--IBM hardware with Novell and Cheyenne software
 * Technical support--Industry-leading, 90-day Server Startup support
 * Five languages--English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish

PC Server 310
This package combines selected PC Server 310 Models (8639-0ZT and -0DT) with a Novell network operating system and supporting network software and includes:

Hardware:

 * Pentium 100 or 133 MHz microprocessor
 * 256 KB L2 adaptive write-back cache
 * PCI SCSI-2 fast controller card
 * Quad-speed CD-ROM drive
 * 1.44 MB diskette drive
 * 1.08 GB (5400 rpm) SCSI fast hard drive
 * Ethernet LAN card
 * ServerGuide

Software:
There is an optional 6- to 15-user Additive License for NetWare, GroupWise, and FaxServe.
 * Customization/installation utility diskette
 * Quick and easy installation instructions
 * CD-ROM library of network software (by language)
 * Novell NetWare 4.1
 * Novell GroupWise (e-mail, scheduling, and messaging)
 * Cheyenne FaxServe (server controlled fax service)
 * PerfectOffice suite of desktop productivity tools (WordPerfect, QuattroPro, 		 		Presentations, Envoy, InfoCentral, and GroupWise client)
 * TME 10 NetFinity (systems management software)

PC Server 320
This solution provides the logical step for small and general businesses supporting from 15 to 99 users. It has all the functionality plus the same ease of use and installation as the PC Server 310 solution, but contains a richer set of functions, including:

Hardware:

 * Pentium 66 or 133 MHz microprocessor
 * 256 KB L2 adaptive write-back cache
 * 32 MB EOS memory, upgradable to 256 MB
 * Optional PCI and EISA slots
 * PCI SCSI-2 fast controller card
 * Quad-speed CD-ROM drive
 * 1.44 MB diskette drive
 * 2.25 GB hard drive

Software:
Note: Exact specifications of the IBM PC Server 320 Small Business Solution may have changed since publication; please see IBM PC Server web site.
 * GroupWise to support both local and remote e-mail
 * NetWare Connect Server for remote network access
 * NetWare Connect Services Client for complete Internet access with Netscape Navigator
 * Cheyenne's ARCServe tape backup software
 * Cheyenne's InocuLAN Server anti-virus software
 * Lotus SmartSuite (Freelance, Word Pro, 1-2-3, Approach, Organizer)

PC Server High Availability Solution for OS/2 Warp, Windows NT, and Novell NetWare
As companies rely more and more on PC servers for mission-critical applications, they want servers that are scalable (i.e., capable of handling increasing workloads) and can guarantee high availability (a minimum of downtime). Clustering very often can provide these functions.

The term clustering can describe different types of server arrangements. A cluster may be defined as a two server setup where one server provides backup for a primary server. Servers also can be clustered to share workload by sharing system resources such as memory, storage, I/O devices, and communication adapters, allowing the workload to be balanced between the servers. As more servers are added to the cluster, the clustered systems can handle more capacity, growing incrementally.

During the next few years, IBM is delivering clustering technology in three distinct phases:
 * Phase I provides "clustering for high availability"--clustering two or more servers to work together to provide a system in which a secondary or backup server takes over the processing for a primary server that fails (failover). This type of clustering eliminates loss of end-user productivity caused by server downtime.
 * Phase II focuses on "scalable clusters" and includes technologies such as high-speed I/O interconnects for fast, flexible access to storage devices. It also includes software for cluster management and workload distribution among multiple nodes in a cluster. These scalable clusters let you run programs with larger databases on PC Servers and provide an easier incremental growth path.
 * Phase III focuses on "high-performance clusters" and includes improvements in both interconnect and management technologies such as high-speed transports and seamless cluster management. Through these hardware and software improvements, you will be able to migrate LAN-based clusters to the world of parallel processing.

IBM's PC Server High Availability Solution for OS/2 Warp Server, Windows NT, and Novell NetWare addresses Phase I clustering. The solution consists of Vinca Corporation's StandbyServer 32 software, IBM's PCI 100/10 Ethernet adapters, and connecting cable. With this solution you can achieve maximum availability for your business-critical applications and data quickly, easily, and cost-effectively.

This solution lets you implement an online standby server that takes over--without rebooting--if your primary server experiences a hardware or software failure. In virtually all circumstances, you will experience only a momentary delay. What's more, in most cases, you can maintain your network connections without having to log on again. This means you can achieve a high level of fault tolerance for networks with more flexibility than other solutions on the market today.

IBM's PC Server High Availability Solution provides real-time, transaction-based data mirroring via a dedicated link between the primary server and the standby server (see Figure 2). Since the mirrored data travels over a dedicated Ethernet connection, the system adds no traffic load to your network. If the primary server fails, the IBM PC Server High Availability Solution will automatically switch to the standby server without any manual intervention.

You can set switchover parameters to meet the needs of your organization and select which mission-critical applications and databases will be mirrored on the system. Users experience only a momentary delay during the switchover. Because the data is written simultaneously to both machines, any information saved to disk prior to a failure is immediately available--including data in open files. Typically, users will lose only a few minutes of work, if any.

With this solution, your primary server and your standby server do not have to be identical. Many companies extend the life of older equipment by using it as a standby server. You only need to have sufficiently configured storage and compute power on the standby server to handle your data mirroring and performance requirements. The IBM PC Server High Availability Solution runs on all PC Server 320, 520, and 720 models. And with support for three major operating systems (OS/2 Warp Server, Windows NT, and Novell NetWare), you can standardize on the IBM PC Server High Availability Solution as your maximum availability solution, even in multi-platform environments.

You can set up your standby server to act only as a passive backup machine that monitors your primary server and receives data continuously, but performs no other functions on your network. Or you can implement your solution with a utility server running functions such as printer, database, or communications services while in the standby mode. In the event of a failure, the standby server automatically takes over the functions of the primary server in addition to its utility services. This option allows you to implement network services load balancing and maximum availability on the same secondary server.

A comprehensive LAN management system that lets LAN or systems administrators know exactly what's happening on each server, both primary and backup, as well as on all attached PCs is essential to integrating failover solutions. The IBM PC Server High Availability Solution works with TME 10 NetFinity management software to let you know immediately when you have a primary server failure. Alerts can be sent to a local or remote client workstation--even over an Internet connection--as well as to a digital pager. In addition, administrators of clustered systems can monitor the status of each server, perform workload balancing, and fine-tune performance.

Network Computing with PC Server and Lotus Notes
Businesses involved in network computing use connected LANs and WANs anchored by powerful and reliable servers that distribute information to the people who need it. Most enterprises will eventually base their operations upon network computing. To take advantage of this exciting technology, you need more than advanced hardware, you need a total solution--Lotus Notes on IBM PC Servers. A copy of Lotus Notes is included at no additional charge with every IBM PC Server.

By combining client/server messaging and global access and distribution on the World-Wide Web, Lotus Notes provides an ideal communications infrastructure. Users can communicate with colleagues, collaborate in teams, and coordinate strategic business processes within and beyond their organizational boundaries to achieve dramatically improved business results. With Notes, organizations can integrate, analyze, and apply information--whether it comes from e-mail, a relational database, a desktop application, or on the Web--to become more efficient, effective, and competitive.

Lotus Notes 4.1 provides built-in Internet integration. End users can browse the Web and seamlessly incorporate HTML documents into Notes documents using the InterNotes Web Navigator. And InterNotes Web Publisher enables businesses to create, manage, and administer their intranets and public Web sites by using application development facilities to easily build and host Internet home pages and applications.

The new Domino server technology transforms Lotus Notes into an Internet application server, allowing any Web client to securely participate in Notes applications. By bridging the open networking environment of Internet standards and protocols with Notes' powerful application development facilities, Domino lets you rapidly develop a broad range of business applications for the Internet as well as intranets.

Domino works with existing Notes 4.x Servers, including Notes 4.1. The Notes 4.1 Server includes capabilities and services which, when combined with the Domino technology, transform the Notes server running on IBM PC Servers into an integrated Internet application server. The Notes server reduces the cost of managing a Web site with a high volume of pages; gives developers a full breadth of application development facilities to create high value Web applications; and acts as a reliable infrastructure for corporate intranets by seamlessly integrating with other information system resources. Notes also extends mature functionality to standard Web browsers through its robust application services, broadening the reach of IBM PC Servers to more users within and beyond the enterprise.

Together IBM PC Servers and Lotus Notes provide a powerful combination of hardware and software--a single solution for messaging and groupware--that integrates easily with the Internet. This combination provides outstanding scalability in number of users supported, integrating multiple platforms, applications supported, and much more, all built on proven IBM and Lotus technology.

The PC Server 720, tested using the recently introduced Lotus NotesBench benchmarking tool (which provides a methodology and tools for measuring Notes Server performance) demonstrated the ability to support 1,500 active mail users on a 4-way SMP system running Notes 4.1 for Windows NT and configured with two Intel Pentium 133 MHz processors, two Intel Pentium 166 MHz processors, 640 MB memory, and 10 GB disk storage.

This test demonstrates the capability of the PC Server 720 to support heterogeneous processor speeds and achieve optimal performance while protecting your investment. NotesBench testing is ongoing with additional workloads, server hardware platforms, and hardware/software optimization.

ServerGuide 3.0
How long did it take you to set up your last server? First you tried installing the operating system; then you determined what level of hardware you had so you could find the correct device drivers, BIOS levels, and patches; and finally you were able to install the network software and more device drivers. Not a simple task!

IBM's ServerGuide provides you with hassle-free setup by taking the guesswork out of installing a server. Advanced hardware detection determines what disk controllers and network cards you have and installs the operating system with all the necessary drivers. Not only does ServerGuide save you time and money during setup, it also helps reduce the cost of system ownership by giving you consistent installations across all your network servers.

Everything you need for getting started with your server is accessible in one package: a CD-ROM library with your choice of operating systems, network software, network management software, plus a complete set of online documentation for assistance and reference.

Activities for which you might use ServerGuide include: Currently the IBM ServerGuide CD-ROM library includes the following operating systems and application software.
 * Install operating systems from the CD-ROM library
 * Install operating system software that you already own
 * Use utility programs directly from the CDs
 * Build diskettes with the latest device drivers, BIOS, or service fixes for your hardware or operating systems
 * Use the latest set of online documentation, which includes the latest revision of Server Integration Guides to assist you with tuning tips, problem solving, or configuration questions
 * Install TME 10 NetFinity to manage your server and clients
 * OS/2 Warp with WIN-OS/2 and the following programs:
 * CompuServe Information Manager for OS/2
 * IBM Works and Personal Information Manager
 * FaxWorks for OS/2
 * Hyper ACCESS Lite for OS/2
 * IBM Internet Connection for OS/2
 * IBM Multimedia Viewer
 * Video In for OS/2
 * IBM Person to Person for OS/2
 * System Information Tool
 * OS/2 2.11 SMP (1 to 2 CPUs and 1 to 7 CPUs)
 * LAN Server 4.0 Entry and Advanced
 * TME 10 NetFinity 4.0 Manager for OS/2, Windows 95, Windows 3.1, and Windows NT
 * TME 10 NetFinity 4.0 Services for OS/2, Windows 95, Windows 3.1, Windows NT, and NetWare
 * Novell NetWare 3.12, 4.1, and 4.1 SMP
 * Windows NT Server 3.51
 * SCO OpenServer Enterprise 3.0 and SCO Multi-Processing Support
 * Utilities that simplify SCO OpenServer 5.0 installation
 * APC Powerchute Plus

This list is continually growing to provide the latest operating systems and applications which can enhance your server environment. For instance, the next release of ServerGuide will contain Lotus Notes Server, unencrypted--no activation key required--to give you one of the hottest applications for groupware and the Internet. We are also working to include the latest releases of OS/2, NetWare, and Windows NT, in addition to improving the ServerGuide's design so it will be easier to use and provide user requested functions.

In this vein, the next version of ServerGuide will be a complete product rewrite focused on usability features and simplifying your server setup. The areas on which we are concentrating include: These enhancements will ensure that your server installations are trouble-free and provide you with more consistency across your network to help reduce the total cost of ownership of your IBM PC Servers. Combined with the robust server management you get with TME 10 NetFinity, you will have everything you need to keep your IBM PC Servers up, running, and under control in today's network-centric environments.
 * Guided hardware installation automatically detects the hardware setup in your server, then takes you step by step through the installation process to ensure that the hardware installation is completed quickly, accurately, and without guesswork. The new process will give you complete control over installation.
 * New flexible software setup lets you install all network operating products by either using a ServerGuide Activation Key or installing a previously-purchased license (e.g., shrink-wrap, site license, etc.).
 * New faster, easier to use diskette factory with a graphical front end, organized into categories to make it easy to locate the latest device driver or utility. The diskettes will also be built much faster.
 * ServerGuide Application Installer, a CD-ROM used after the NOS is installed, will provide you with applications to enhance your server with more complete solutions.

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