White Paper

Table of Contents:

• The Challenge of Information Technology
• The Solaris Server Suite
  
• Solaris Server Suite: A Foundation for Enterprise Computing
  
• Solaris Base Server
  
• Solaris Application Server
  
• Solaris PC Administration Server
  
• Growth of the Internet
  
• Solaris Internet Server
  
• Enterprise Computing with the Solaris Server Suite: A Case Study
  
• QBC Products: An Overview
  
• QBC's Business Issues
  
• How the Solaris Server Suite Helped QBC Products
  
• QBC Maintains its Competitive Edge with Solaris
  
• Conclusion
  
• For More Information
  

The Challenge of Information Technology

"The accelerating rate of change has thrust modern businesses into a world of chaos."

Tom Peters, Thriving on Chaos

The usage of computers in businesses is as varied as it is complex. How one company manages information can bear little resemblance to others, even in the same industry. Despite the differences in the way enterprises use computing, some common problems arise. For example, sharing information between differing sets of systems, users, applications, and networks is more complex than it should be.

Not necessarily by deliberate design, companies today often have widely disparate computing resources, from legacy systems consisting of centralized mainframes and minicomputers, to widely distributed and often isolated PC LANs. While all of these systems contribute to the organization's information processing, they rarely do so in concert with one another. Legacy data access is frequently limited, or just as commonly, the information is out-of-date. And once accessed by PCs, this valuable and sensitive information is no longer easily controlled by traditional MIS processes. In effect, the data processing resources of a typical company today are information islands (see Figure 1).

Figure 1 The enterprise computing resources of businesses today are islands of information systems

Important trends in recent years have advanced computing toward providing seamless information access, which have also created barriers. Low-cost PC LANs have improved resource sharing and made information processing available to more and more users. Powerful personal productivity applications have placed processing capabilities in the hands of virtually everyone. But management of these systems has frequently grown beyond effective control, and integration of legacy data in a timely fashion has been limited or non- existent.

The choice of many operating systems only complicates matters because the process selection doesn't always consider the need to connect to other systems, share data, or minimize systems administration.

In recent years, thousands of organizations of all sizes have adopted the UNIX operating system. Businesses ranging from retail sales and distribution to government, from universities to manufacturing, and from medical to financial services - have found UNIX to provide the flexibility and scalability they require to solve their mission-critical problems.

Its success measured in millions of installed systems, UNIX is the de facto standard for heterogenous distributed computing. The International Data Corporation (IDC) stated that in 1995, over 1.37 million UNIX systems shipped worldwide, resulting in an installed base of over 13 million - more than 600% growth in just five years (see Figure 2).

Figure 2 UNIX is the standard operating system for mission-critical applications

No other implementation of UNIX available today addresses the needs of enterprise computing as well as Solaris. With more than a decade of field proven usage, Solaris is a secure, responsive, and open systems-based distributed computing environment for every manner of technical and commercial user.

Solaris provides the means to bridge legacy systems and their PC-LAN counterparts better than any other operating system today. With dozens of connectivity solutions available, Solaris provides faster, more transparent

• Configured as a WWW Server, Solaris connects to the Internet more simply. When running on a high performance SPARC or Intel server all the performance benefits of Solaris are carried forward to the Web. By layering different SunSoft internet products onto Solaris a httpd-based web server is quickly and easily created.

• Configured as an Intranet Server, by combining Solaris configurations as suggested above on a one or many servers, MIS organizations can use the Internet technologies combined with their existing environment to deploy a family of Intranet server solutions.

The reality of computing today is that this is a multiplatform world. Solaris goes further than any other operating environment in providing connectivity, distributing applications and data, and supporting standards. Solaris itself is also a multiplatform operating system supporting a broad range of processor architectures including SPARC and Intel.

The Solaris Server Suite

The Solaris Server Suite is a flexible and user-definable usage of the Solaris Application Server, together with additional, optional software packages designed to meet the key requirements of MIS managers and PC LAN administrators wishing to provide better integration of their information systems with their overall computing enterprise and the Internet. Four key areas are particularly well addressed: providing application server capabilities to PC LANs (e.g., Novell NetWare, etc.) in a non-invasive fashion; supporting PC LANs with high-performance file, print, and systems management services; delivering cost-effective Internet access, publishing, and Web services; and providing a software foundation for full Internet Commerce. Table 1 illustrates the various components and options of the Solaris Server Suite.

The Solaris Server Product Family

Solaris is the leading implementation of operating system technology for a wide range of users spanning from the desktop to the enterprise. With its respected heritage of over two decades of development and refinement, Solaris is designed from the ground up to support enterprise network computing. Solaris is based on major industry standards and combines high-performance third-generation multitasking, multithreading, and multiuser capabilities.

The Solaris Application Server adds additional features beyond the base operating system and is used as the software foundation for three of the four solutions that comprise the Solaris Server Suite. Specifically, the Solaris Application Server includes:

• Solaris operating environment

• Support for up to four processors in a multiprocessor configuration

• Common Desktop Environment (CDE) provides an easy to use graphical user interface across heterogenous platforms

• Wabi enables popular Microsoft Windows-based applications to run on the Solaris desktop in a native Microsoft Windows environment

• Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) is an interface that enables database applications to be integrated with multiple databases from a variety of vendors across the enterprise

• IPX/SPX enables Solaris applications to seamlessly integrate with Novell Netware clients running Microsoft Windows

• System Software Answerbook delivers on-line hypertext documentation for Solaris

• Solstice Admin Suite offers a system administrator with an array of administration, configuration, and security options

• Sun StorEdge Enterprise Backup Software providing high-performance network backup and recovery services for 22 different types of client

• Solstice DiskSuite providing on-line mirroring of partitions and disks

Muliprocessing Support

Many operating systems available for Intel processor-based systems do not scale support all the processors that are available in a system's chassis, or just as importantly, multi-threading in all the critical areas of functionality. In particular, Novell NetWare lacks critical multi-processor support past two processors and doesn't take advantage of today's high-performance PC superserver systems. In addition, Microsoft's Windows NT does not scale linearly past three processors. The Solaris Application Server on the other hand, provides optimized scalable support for all processors that can be supported in a server chassis, thereby effectively utilizing all of the server's performance capability. Many high-performance commercial database management applications, including ORACLE, Sybase, CA-Ingres, Informix, and others use Solaris' multithreading capabilities to provide the highest possible database processing and response.

Systems Administration and Security Tools

Systems administration tools are critical to the efficient management of a distributed computing environment. Solaris provides powerful tools for the systems administrator to automate routine tasks and ensure maximum security to the networks and its systems. Among the key features Solaris provides to the systems administrator are:

• Common control point access

To allow the systems administrator to perform management of any system from any other system on the network.

• Network Information System Plus (NIS+)

NIS+ gracefully scales to support from small to very large network environments. NIS+ includes very fast updating of server and client information, supports multiple boot hosts, and provides enterprise wide naming services.

• JumpStart Installation

Reduces the time required to configure new systems.

• Database Manager and Host Manager

Provides automated administration of common systems management tasks including setup of accounts, printers, and mail services. Allows the systems administrator to bypass installation screens and expedite the addition of new machines to the network.

• AdminTool

Uses Secure RPC to control access to the Database Manager and Host Manager.

• Shadow Password File

Improves security through password aging and login controls.

• Automated Security Enhancement Tool

Secures system file settings, including permission levels, ownership and file protection.

System Software Answerbook

The System Software Answerbook is a complete on-line system and software document mechanism providing comprehensive access to thousands of pages of Solaris manuals. The Answerbook is based on a high-performance hypertext-based search engine that permits the user to easily navigate and find the information they seek. Answerbook allows searching and browsing of all on-line documentation, including that available with SunSolve, a customer support product available for contract support customers.

The System Software Answerbook is a valuable aid to the user and systems administrator alike. It eliminates the need to peruse written documentation, and its search engine can rapidly locate (and mark with `bookmarks') the information desired.

Sun StorEdge Enterprise Backup Software

Sun StorEdge Enterprise Backup Software allows a Solaris server to provide high-performance backup and recovery services to a wide array of systems on the network, ranging from desktop PCs and UNIX workstations to multi-gigabyte UNIX and NetWare platforms.

Sun StorEdge Enterprise Backup Software provides a heterogenous platform for consistent data management across the entire network. It supports a large number of leading storage devices, including tape drives, optical disks, autochangers, and jukeboxes. By utilizing the same consistent tape format across all platforms and allows seamless tape interchange and flexible media management.

Sun StorEdge Enterprise Backup Software also provides comprehensive disaster recovery capabilities. Automatic on-line backup preserves file consistency while users continue to work, and automatic verification of backups assures archival reliability. It even maintains an on-line index of backup operations for restoring a precise version of files or directories.

Additional Sun StorEdge Enterprise Backup Software products are available to enhance the performance and to extend its capacity. The Concurrent Devices Support Module enables multiple backup devices or jukeboxes to operate concurrently, and the Jukebox Software Module enables unattended backup and recover to a wide range of backup jukebox devices. Optional client support is also available. A broad number of client systems can be transparently supported, including those running other operating systems like IBM AIX and OS/2, HP-UX, DEC ULTRIX, Silicon Graphics IRIX, MIPS RISC/OS, Sony NEWS, MS-DOS, MS-Windows, UnixWare, SCO UNIX, Novell NetWare, and SunOS.

Solstice DiskSuite

Solstice DiskSuite provides enhanced disk mirroring and logical partition management. Systems administrators can use Solstice DiskSuite to improve file and data availability and to simplify systems management. With Solstice DiskSuite, automated duplication of written data is achieved by the mirroring of partitions or disks, making data access transparent, even when a disk or controller fails. It provides options for two-way and three-way mirroring for maximum data availability. Even root and swap partitions can be mirrored thereby enabling the system to continue operation even if the system boot disk fails.

Solstice DiskSuite includes a unique hot spare feature that provides the reliability of three-way mirroring without the full cost of three-way disk storage. It also provides data striping of disks, interleaving files across multiple disks to allow concurrent access and increased throughput. Most importantly, Solstice DiskSuite reduces the amount of administration work needed to increased filesystem size. With Solstice DiskSuite, the systems administrator can create a partition and extend the file system without taking the system off- line.

Solaris also provides journalled filesystem support to improve overall system availability. Journalled filesystem capability allows changes to files to be independently tracked and recorded, thus enabling the filesystem to easily be rolled back to a previous state. Journalled filesystems also minimize downtime by significantly reducing file system check and reboot time.

Solaris Server Suite: A Foundation for Enterprise Computing

The Solaris Server Suite provides the industry's best means to bring disparate computing resources together in a coherent and powerful fashion. The Solaris Server Suite can bridge legacy systems represented by mainframe and minicomputers, with PC LANs and UNIX networks. It offers a sloution for character-based applications, point-of-sale, and replicated sites. It can also provide high-performance file, print, and systems management services to TCP/IP networks and simultaneously integrates their file systems with any other NFS-supported enterprise computing resources. And it can provide high-performance Internet access to users regardless of their location on the network (See Figure 1).

Figure 1 The Solaris Server Suite is the Solaris Application Server with optional software for connectivity, PC network administration, and Internet access packaged into solutions under a single part number and single price for each server listed above. There are additional SunSoft and third party products that will extend the Solaris Server Suite product family.

Figure 2 illustrates how Solaris and its various suite configurations can provide better enterprise integration and information flow. Legacy systems, such as mainframes and minicomputers can be connected to Solaris-based servers which act as both gateways and as platforms for off-loading processing. As a PC management platform, Solaris can integrate independent PCs, provide efficient systems management, and connect them to the rest of the enterprise.

As an application server, Solaris can support today's leading distributed applications (such as relational databases), supporting MS-Windows client applications and the high-performance processing of synchronized or replicated data from other sites. As an Internet server, Solaris can connect the network and its users to the global internet network, providing electronic mail, research resources, and a wide array of other facilities.

Figure 2 The Solaris Server Suite integrates the enterprise into a coherent whole

Solaris Base Server

Solaris Base Server is an economical, multiuser, character-based solution for point-of-sale and replicated sites. It provides basic file-and-print services for a wide range of environments.

By removing the GUI front-end and substituting an intuitive character-based front-end, SunSoft has reduced the footprint of the system, which reduces the amount of intrusion by the system in multiuser applications. Therefore it installs in less time and runs using less hardware, increasing performance.

In addition, the Solaris Base Server includes a virtual console feature, and is IBCS2 compatible. As a result, the product runs not only on existing hardware configurations, but also many SCO UNIX and Interactive UNIX applications completly unchanged, in a way that is transparent to the user.

The Solaris Base Server is intended for two key application areas:

• Small to medium-sized businesses that need smooth flow of information between applications such as office automation, database, and accounting solutions.

• Branch, point-of-sale, retail automation, and replicated sites with existing resources that need to be integrated. For example, in applications such as gas pumps or cash registers where the Solaris product is actually invisible to the customer but there is a front-end device such as an alphanumeric keypad serving as the interface, the Solaris Base Server can be used to integrate front-end and back-end processing.

Key Benefits

The Solaris Base Server allows users to leverage familiar SCO and Interactive UNIX applications in a wide variety of computing configurations. Workgroups that require access to a common application or database gain added power, performance, and networking. In addition, the Solaris Base Server provides scalability to grow modularly, and is available at a low price point. Specifically, the product allows organizations to:

• Run familiar applications and protect investments. Solaris Base Server provides an easy migration path from legacy systems. Because it is compatible with SCO and Interactive UNIX applications, it allows users to continue using familiar programs, protecting investments in software and training. In addition to thousands of available Solaris applications, users gain access to roughly 500 manufacturing, management, accounting, groupware, and other programs that have been written to capitalize on 32-bit operating system performance.

• Minimize system and support costs. Solaris Base Server has minimal memory and disk requirements. In addition to its small footprint, it features scalable network management capabilities for local or remote control. This enables LANs to be managed remotely, without the need for on-site technical support.

• Simplify administration. The character-based user interface of Solaris Base Server simplifies system administration. Pull-down menus and context- sensitive help make it intuitive to use, and character-based tools for installation and administration can be easily accessed from a remote Solaris system.

Solaris Application Server

In many companies today, a large fraction of the overall compute resources are represented by PC LANs. These LANs may be running NetWare, LAN Manager, Banyan Vines, or other network operating systems. As increasingly powerful Intel hardware has come available, network operating systems have failed to keep pace with either evolving hardware or user requirements for greater services and more sophisticated applications.

According to the International Data Corporation (see Figure 3), average PC LAN server use today is dominated by basic file services. Over the course of the next few years however, IDC and other market research organizations predict that these same PC LANs will shift their focus toward providing increasingly broader services, particularly support of multiuser applications.

Figure 3 Worldwide LAN server shipments: application servers will dominate in the future

Enterprise Applications and Data through RDBMSs

Multiuser applications, in contrast to personal productivity packages or other products that simply use the application concurrently and not its data, are defined as products which provide inherent multiuser capabilities. Most multiuser applications likely to be of interest to PC LAN users in the future will be based on industry standard high-performance relational database management systems such as ORACLE, Sybase, Informix, and CA-Ingres.

In many cases, applications based upon these databases will be developed internally by organizations in order to meet their specific requirements for customized processing of their enterprise data. For example, warehousing operations in a large company might distribute data processing from its legacy systems to PC LAN users, based upon custom application development of a relational database which provides information to PC users via an MS-Windows user interface.

The critical element for users of such applications in the future will be, as always, system response. Given the limited functionality of PC LAN operating systems and their ability to support capabilities such as multiprocessing and multithreading, these users will be confronted with limited choices. Powerful relational databases able to tie into corporate legacy systems, as well as deliver the performance and scalability necessary for growing numbers of users require a distributed computing environment capable of growth, interconnectivity with other systems, non-invasive co-existence with popular LAN operating systems, and ease of administration.

Solaris Application Server was designed to provide these users with the flexibility they require without compromising their need for access to enterprise information resources. As an application server, Solaris is coupled with services to provide integrated, high-performance support for NetWare SPX/IPX protocols(delivered in the Solaris Application Server), or both SPX/IPX protocols and file and print services(delivered through the unbundled Solstice NW Server option), respectively. In one of these configurations, a Solaris application server may operate as a platform for a high-performance database management system such as the ORACLE Workgroup Server.

ORACLE Workgroup Server, representative of the most advanced capabilities available in client-server oriented database environments, allows PC users direct access to a remote database from their familiar MS-Windows desktop.

In addition, replication services available with ORACLE Workgroup Server allow multiple sites to work with the same data, without the barriers of costly connections to the mainframe or unacceptable response.

A Solaris-based server works together with the legacy computing resources of a company, to solve two critical problems: broad access to enterprise information, and reduction of mainframe load.

Because many PC LAN users are based upon Novell NetWare, the Solaris Application Server can be configured to work in conjunction with an organization's existing NetWare servers. Optional NetWare protocols and file/print services allow the Solaris server to share data, provide file and print resources, and deliver enterprise-wide systems management - as well as manage the efficient execution of client-server applications.

SPX/IPX Protocol Services are delivered as a standard part of the Solaris Application Server. They give users the power and flexibility to access resources on native NetWare servers and give Solaris desktop and NetWare desktop users the ability to easily share information stored on existing desktop servers.

Solstice NW Server

Solstice NW Server lets existing MS-DOS, MS-Windows, and IBM OS/2 NetWare clients transparently access files on the Solaris Application Server system. It extends NetWare integration beyond the Solaris system to the broader computing enterprise encompassing minicomputer, mainframe, and even supercomputer systems.

Solstice NW Server software fully uses UNIX as the enterprise advanced LAN server operating system, allowing it to operate with other UNIX processes like databases, communication gateways, and network file systems.

The Solstice NW Server product includes a fully NetWare compatible server. This NetWare-compatible product uses the same UNIX record locking, file locking, and security functions enabling users to share files between NetWare and UNIX applications. Solstice NW Server conforms to open systems standards and industry-standard network communication protocols, including TCP/IP, OSI, IPX, and NFS.

When used in conjunction with SunSoft's PC-NFS distributed network file system, Solstice NW Server delivers the industry's only PC-LAN gateway to NFS files. This enables NetWare users to gain transparent access to applications and files residing on any connected NFS network. Solstice NW Server provides NetWare users with enterprise-wide access to both file services (applications and data) and printing resources.

Solaris PC Administration Server

In many organizations, PCs are independent platforms. While they may also connect to a PC LAN, the bulk of their files and applications are local. For systems managers responsible for overall administration of groups of PCs, the inherent effort involved in maintaining and troubleshooting problems on these systems can be complex and labor intensive.

The Solaris PC Administration Server is configured as a PC network administration server, and can provide the infrastructure and the tools to substantially reduce the systems management effort. Additionally, it can integrate the PC LAN far more effectively into the overall computing enterprise via NFS file system support - allowing the Solaris server to mount remote file systems from virtually any UNIX server or proprietary legacy system.

Solaris PC Administration Server provides high-performance file and print services to isolated PCs and existing PC LANs. Even when those systems employ protocols such as NetWare, Solaris can connect to these systems in a non-invasive fashion, and provide broad systems management capabilities to better control and maintain them.

Delivered as standard components of the Solaris PC Administration Server, is Solstice PC-Admin, Solstice PC Software Director, and Solstice PC-NFS pro. Additional software options are available including Solstice Site Manager and Solstice Enterprise Manager to provide advanced enterprise-level systems management capabilities.

Solstice PC-Admin

Solstice PC-Admin provides systems administrators with network and systems management tools in a familiar MS-Windows interface. While systems management may be performed from any MS-Windows desktop on the LAN, the server portion of Solstice PC-Admin executes on a high-performance Intel- based server running Solaris. All of the security and administration benefits of the server are available to the administrator, without the requirement to specifically know UNIX. Among the key benefits of Solstice PC-Admin are:

• Lower cost of PC environment ownership

Solstice PC-Admin helps MIS managers integrate PCs into one universal, standards-based network, while controlling and managing the PC environment efficiently, thereby increasing productivity while lowering the cost of PC ownership.

• Centralized PC client administration

Solstice PC-Admin tools can be run from any MS-Windows desktop in the network, centralizing the administration of client PCs. The ability to integrate PCs into centralized network management schemes permits applications to collect information that can aid in asset management.

• Data sharing

By using TCP/IP connectivity and NFS to integrate into the enterprise backbone, access to corporate resources and shared enterprise-wide information on heterogeneous servers is possible. PCs are now peers on the WAN, with resources appearing as if they were local.

• Rightsizing capability

Solstice PC-Admin provides a network for cross-platform client-server applications. By making PCs part of the client-server rightsizing solution, users can work from a familiar PC desktop environment, yet access the power of a UNIX application server.

Solstice PC-NFS pro

PC-NFS integrates MS-DOS and MS-Windows PCs into UNIX-based multi- vendor networks. It enables the sharing of information and resources with users on workstations, minicomputers, and mainframes using familiar MS- DOS or MS-Windows interfaces. In effect, PC-NFS turns PCs into full participants in local and wide-area networks, thus facilitating company-wide, global resource sharing and information access.

Built on SunSoft's ONC platform of open systems distributed computing and the NFS distributed computing filesystem, PC-NFS supports key industry standards for PC and multi-vendor network computing. It gives MS-DOS and MS-Windows-based PCs direct access to filesystems managed by a wide range of operating systems - virtually all versions of UNIX including Solaris, VAX VMS, IBM mainframe operating systems, and many others.

PC-NFS is one of the most widely used tools today for allowing PC users access to file and print resources of their broader information enterprises.
PC-NFS pro extends the capabilities PC-NFS with the addition of fast 32-bit VxD memory architecture which does not require memory allocation by
MS-DOS. PC-NFS pro also employs real file names in MS-Windows file manager, rather than adhering to MS-DOS 11 character file name limitations.

PC-NFS pro adds dynamic host control protocol for simplified administration as new hosts are added to the network, and provides remote TCP/IP and PPP protocols to enable remote users of laptop computers to access applications, data, and electronic mail.

PC-NFS pro includes support for Window Sockets (version 1.1) as well as NetBIOS on TCP/IP (VxD standard).

Growth of the Internet

There is no longer any doubt about the importance of the Internet to business. In the past few years, the number of Internet users worldwide has soared to more than 40 million. The number of registered Internet servers is growing by more than 10% per month. The number of Web sites is doubling every year. And commercial users of the Internet are growing at 92% per year.

The reasons behind the growth of the Internet are equally clear. As data transport costs become distance-insensitive, more and more companies are recognizing the value of an intranet-based communications infrastructure, particularly for distributed applications. With the Internet, there is a way to move toward a distributed computing model without making drastic changes to existing LANs.

Commercial Benefits of the Internet

Commercial organizations adopting the internet see access as a way to extend their computing enterprises to provide better interaction with their peers and their customers. Primarily, these corporations are interested in the advanced communication services the Internet provides. The Internet and the World Wide Web give companies:

• Low-cost, easy advertising capabilities

• A powerful channel for product/service ordering and fulfillment

• Inexpensive business communications between colleagues, and with customers

• The ability to send and receive data and images ad-hoc worldwide

The wide distribution of Internet access points allows travelers convenient opportunities to access their email, keeping in better communication with their peers. News groups on the Internet also represent valuable opportunities to obtain information from experts around the world. And because of its low cost, a firm with Internet access can enjoy the same benefits of global networking once available to only the largest companies.

Solaris Internet Server

The Solaris Internet Server, a key member of the Solaris Server Suite product line, serves as a complete foundation for implementing workgroup-based Internet computing solutions. Essentially, the product turns your computer into a central server that provides departmental PC users with full access to the Internet, including electronic mail, World Wide Web access, FTP, Gopher, and other Internet services.

Solaris Internet server is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing TCP/IP networks or Novell NetWare LANs, so Microsoft Windows users gain full, transparent access to Internet resources without giving up familiar application environments. At the same time, MIS gains enhanced administrative server security.

Overview

When configured as an Internet Gateway Server, Solaris provides a centralized location for PC LAN users to access the global Internet. The centralized administration and management of a Solaris Internet Gateway Server greatly reduces the requirement for setup and administration of an Internet gateway. Configuration files are automatically maintained and setup of new mail users is simplified through a set of intuitive window-based tools.

Once deployed, the Solaris Internet Gateway Server provides all of the necessary features to immediately receive email as well as subscribe to Internet news groups. The Solaris Internet Gateway software also provides integrated support for Post Office Protocol (POP3) to provide PC and Macintosh users with complete access to their mail without the need to access and download it from a server.

The Solaris Internet Server software also includes information on how users can obtain and download public domain versions of Mosaic clients for their
MS-Windows, Macintosh, and UNIX-based desktops.

Key components of the Solaris Internet Server include:

• Domain Name Service (DNS)

Interfaces with the Internet DNS to allow LAN users to use textual names (hostnames) for the systems they wish to access.

• Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)

Demand dial high speed transmission using serial protocols for fastest possible connection to the Internet access provider.

• Easy-to-Use Administration Tools

For management and administration of users, systems usage, and fault recovery

• Integrated POP3 and UNIX Mail Services

Provides transparent interface support between UNIX and POP3 mail protocols.

• Access to Public Domain Software

Instructions for downloading important public domain software such as Mosaic and a WWW server.

• FireWall-1 (optional product) Security

Provides additional security to protect the LAN from outside access.

Key Benefits

The Solaris Internet Server is an easy-to-install, easy-to-manage product that creates a single point of access to the full spectrum of Internet services. Specifically, it allows an organization to:

• Reduce network costs and increase control. Because it centralizes workgroup Internet access and client administration, the Solaris Internet Server eliminates the need for multiple PC modems - and the accompanying cost, management, and security concerns.

• Streamline administration. With plug-and-play connection for TCP/IP networks, the Solaris Internet Server gives network administrators graphical tools that simplify everything from installation to implementing security policies. It provides an HTML-based administrative client that runs on any native browser.

• Increase performance for LANs. With support for PPP for dedicated high-speed LAN connections, ISDN, and third-party T1 add-on products, the Solaris Internet Server can dramatically improve LAN Internet performance. It adds robustness and performance to LANs by off-loading and backing up the primary DNS server; it also brings workgroups high bandwidth access for multimedia applications. Because not all users are confined to LANs in today's corporate computing landscape, Solaris Internet Server also supports Internet Messages Access Protocol (IMAP) to accommodate nomadic and laptop users who use electronic mail at more than one computer. In addition, with Sun's Java programming language, companies can turn the promise of interactive applications across the network into reality.

• Leverage existing applications. The Solaris Internet Server leverages mail systems such as cc:Mail and Microsoft Mail using SMTP gateways so that PC users receive mail directly at their desktops without requesting a download from the server. To preserve the integrity of existing IPX applications, an IPX gateway lets NetWare users communicate with the Internet nonintrusively, without imposing TCP/IP on the IPX LAN.

Enterprise Computing with the Solaris Server Suite: A Case Study

The best way to appreciate how the Solaris Server Suite can provide better enterprise integration for an organization is to consider its usage in a typical company. The sections that follow detail the use of Solaris Application Server, Solaris PC Administration Server, and Solaris Internet Server in a retail and distribution organization.

QBC Products: An Overview

QBC Products is a medium size corporation whose business is based upon retail and distribution of consumer products. QBC has several hundred retail outlets in a number of countries supplied by warehousing operations in six widely separated locations.

QBC purchases goods from thousands of suppliers worldwide, imports the products and distributes them from its regional warehouses. QBC has experienced rapid growth in recent years, partially as a result of its discount sales philosophy, and its highly sensitive awareness of consumer trends and purchasing patterns.

With QBC's rapid growth has come the common problems of managing a large distribution operation with centralized MIS facilities. QBC maintains a datacenter at its corporate headquarters in a large metropolitan community. In addition to several IBM mainframes, more than 20 minicomputers (IBM and HP), and several hundred multiuser superservers, QBC has almost 800 PC systems located in its regional offices and retail locations.

QBC uses its mainframes to support financial, business planning, catalog sales, and human resources applications. Minicomputers located in its warehouses manage inventory and distribution applications. QBC's retail outlets are connected to the mainframe systems via leased line, allowing local terminal users in those locations to provide headquarters with on-shelf product status, sales data, to place orders, and obtain credit authorization from point-of-sale terminals. Figure 4 illustrates QBC's MIS environment.

Because QBC's operations are so extensive, inventory planners have relied on individual and networked PCs to plan inventory and manage stocking of products on their shelves. Their dependence on QBC's datacenter and regional warehousing systems requires that they obtain printed reports weekly to inform them of product inventory and shipment status.

Figure 4 QBC's MIS environment

QBC's Business Issues

QBC is in a highly competitive environment, where a few marketshare percentage points can mean hundreds of millions of dollars in business. The rapid rise of QBC as a retailer has meant building stores at a faster pace than could be managed by traditional MIS systems and tools. As a result, QBC has had to rely on manual processes for many tasks that should be automated, including inventory tracking, direct ordering from warehouses, and real-time catalog sales order processing.

QBC also faces an on-going dilemma in maintaining customer satisfaction. Without up-to-date catalog sales information, customers can order products that are no longer available. Worse still, they have a difficult time getting precise information on when their order will arrive.

QBC's users have found that their reliance on manual reports from warehouses and headquarters is both tedious and at times unreliable. With the volume of goods being sold, inventory planners in retail locations have found the only clear way to know what products are available is to call their warehouses directly.

Amidst all of QBC's problems, it has found that an expensive mainframe upgrade to address system load appears to be inevitable. QBC is particularly concerned about its continued investment in its aging datacenter given its intent to move to distributed systems. QBC also wants to further differentiate itself from its competitors. Consequently, QBC has funded projects to investigate opportunities for focused product marketing using on-line services.

How the Solaris Server Suite Helped QBC Products

Prior to committing to an upgrade of its datacenter, QBC distributed a request for proposal to major systems vendors and integrators. QBC wanted to explore all possible options to tackle its broader distributed computing problems, before moving forward with a mainframe replacement.

The solution that QBC selected was chosen on the basis of open systems. QBC found that as they explored the idea of greater system interoperability, they could more likely preserve their existing systems investment, as well as be in a better position to expand as market changes permitted.

QBC chose Solaris as one element in its overall re-engineering effort. Its principal goals were to better integrate retail locations with their regional warehouses, replace manual processing with automated on-line queries, improve data quality by replication of mainframe and inventory databases, and begin setting up its first on-line services via the global Internet.

Distributed Computing and Off-loading Applications

QBC's plan was bold. It required that MIS management re-examine their traditional view of systems and consider the potential benefits provided by a broader distributed computing architecture. MIS became convinced of the benefits when they understood that they would actually gain better control of data and systems resources by selecting an enterprise-oriented solution.

QBC chose variations of the Solaris Server Suite together with multiprocessing Intel-based hardware to bridge existing PC LAN systems, thereby giving planners better access to their enterprise legacy systems. To make mainframe data more accessible, they selected ORACLE to run on a large UNIX server running Solaris and connected it directly to their IBM mainframes. The large IBM databases, based upon DB2, were integrated via a third-party gateway to download data into the server's ORACLE database once per hour, thereby maintaining synchronization between their legacy data and the new UNIX server. By moving selected databases to the UNIX server, many users in headquarters were able to gain access to applications and data, and peak loading on the mainframe dropped to manageable levels, thus allowing QBC to avoid a costly mainframe upgrade.

Extending the availability of data and applications to users in retail centers at this point became straightforward. ORACLE's Workgroup Server product, running on the newly setup distributed servers enabled QBC to perform automated replication of databases throughout the entire organization, including QBC's retail outlets. ORACLE Workgroup Server provided existing PC LAN users with a familiar MS-Windows interface to query current inventory levels, place orders, and track inventory. An additional benefit of distributing processing to retail locations was the ability to replace expensive leased lines with on-demand connections required only when the databases required synchronization.

Integrating Information Islands (PCs and PC LANs)

QBC still needed to incorporate its warehousing systems into their expanding enterprise network. To facilitate this, QBC added additional Solaris Application Server-based systems together with selected communications products, thereby placing the warehousing minicomputer systems on-line. Once again, use of an ORACLE database enabled the regional warehouses to distribute inventory data to retail locations and automate processing and verification of shipments.

Systems managers in QBC's operations were especially pleased with the ability to better manage their PC LAN environments. Without displacing existing NetWare servers, installation of Solaris Workgroup Server-based hardware improved data and applications access as well as reduced the overall administration of existing systems. Where stand-alone PCs existed, QBC's systems managers were able to incorporate them into the overall network, automate their management (including backups) and perform more complete audits of systems, applications, and data. Figure 5 illustrates QBC's MIS environment after installing Solaris Server Suite products.

Figure 5 QBC's MIS environment: After installing Solaris Server Suite products

Using the Information Superhighway as a Competitive Tool

During its evaluation of on-line services, QBC was pleased to discover that the Solaris Server Suite also provided a very effective means to connect to the Internet. Initially, QBC developed an Internet `home page' and associated content focusing on outdoor products. Over time, QBC added additional specialized advertising including consumer electronics products. QBC's last effort entailed placing their entire catalog of specialty items on the Internet.

Within six months of setting up its World Wide Web Server, QBC was the largest vendor of retail consumer products on the Internet, accounting for almost $20 million in sales per year. Table 2 lists the components, features, and benefits represented by QBC's use of the Solaris Server Suite.

QBC Maintains its Competitive Edge with Solaris

QBC Products is a brief illustration of how a company in one industry can use information technology to its competitive advantage. Decisions in business are often difficult, weighing opportunities against cost, and rewards against risks. QBC decided that had the right philosophy and products - but it needed a better way to differentiate itself in a highly competitive market. Distributed computing with Solaris was the solution.

QBC may be just an example, but it is based upon the experience and successes of thousands of companies worldwide. The Solaris Server Suite, with its core enterprise-wide computing capabilities and its optional add-on products was designed for these users.

As a result of its implementation of Solaris Server Suite products, including the Solaris Application Server running ORACLE Workgroup Server, Solaris PC Administration Server for integrating PCs and PC LANs, and Solaris Internet Server connecting QBC to the global network, QBC is well positioned to grasp new retail sales opportunities for decades to come.

Conclusion

Business today face a clear choice in maintaining and expanding their MIS environments: create an infrastructure which protects their investments and reduces expensive and time consuming processes, or fail to compete in a growing and competitive marketplace.

No two users of information processing are identical, but most share a common set of problems. Resulting from the parallel but separate philosophies of centralized processing and independent PC LAN environments, these companies are discovering that the best means to consolidate and integrate their vast data processing resources is via distributed computing.

Solaris is the most established and respected distributed computing environment available today. Its usage as a mechanism for distributing processing, managing enterprise networks, and tieing together the disparate systems of small and large users alike is undisputed. With its respected pedigree of over 20 years of development and field-proven capability, it shows the greatest promise of helping businesses succeed in maintaining their competitive edge today and in the future.

Solaris provides the basis of a powerful suite of product offerings from SunSoft. Known as the Solaris Server Suite, configurations of the Solaris Application Server and Solaris Base Server, together with optional systems management, connectivity, and Internet gateway software can bring a computing enterprise together more completely and efficiently than any other open systems solution.

For More Information

Solaris Commercial Extensions Products: Introduction to SunOS Security, SunSoft

Solaris SunOS: SunOS 5.0 System Administration, SunSoft

Solaris SunOS 5.0: SunOS 5.0 Multithread Architecture, SunSoft

Solaris ONC: Design and Implementation of Transport-Independent RPC, SunSoft

Solaris SunOS: SunOS 5.0 Release Report, SunSoft

Solaris SunOS 5.0: Multithreading and Real-Time, SunSoft

Solaris OpenWindows: The ToolTalk Service, SunSoft

Solaris ONC: Network Information Service Plus (NIS+), SunSoft

Catalyst: A Catalog of International Third-Party Solutions, SunSoft

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