Solutions to Windows '95 - Unix Integration | ||
 | ||
|
You can register to receive regular copies of the Centreline 2000 News Letter.
They always contain a mixture of product news, technical information, trade gossip - some of which you will not hear anywhere else! Centreline 2000 - keeping you informed. This issue:
Centreline 2000 Goes from strength to strengthA new relationship paves the way for a complete client-server solutions portfolio. IN A MOVE DESIGNED TO FURTHER EXTEND THEIR SERVICE TO CUSTOMERS, CENTRELINE 2000 CORPORATION LIMITED HAS ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH LEADING MICROSOFT LARGE ACCOUNT RESELLER (LAR) AND SERVICE PROVIDER (SP) LEADING EDGE. With the new relationship Centreline 2000 will be able to provide a complete range of Microsoft client-server solutions and services to complement those already on offer for UNIX-to-PC integration, Uniplex, Internet and the World Wide Web. "More and more people are looking to develop solutions to their business problems using a mix of products and expertise", commented Centreline 2000 Managing Director Simon Walden. "The new relationship offers Centreline 2000 customers a complete service for Microsoft desktop and network products so we can address every aspect of their business problems - from first steps to final implementation and beyond." Microsoft NetworksThe move is significant not only because of Leading Edge's experience with Microsoft desktop products such as Office Professional, but because of their expertise with Microsoft Windows NT networks and groupware products such as Microsoft Exchange.Authorised and accredited"We've always tried to set the highest standards" continues Walden, "and this is no exception. Microsoft rigorously manage the quality of their Large Account Reseller and Select programmes. They set stringent standards for any reseller who wishes to join. In addition, Leading Edge are ISO 9002 accredited. They are also an authorised Evaluation Centre for Microsoft so we can offer customers help in evaluating new products and deciding what best fits their needs. All in all, the result is that we can offer a service of the highest quality."Migration and co-existenceWith increasing numbers of organisations looking to Microsoft networks as well as UNIX, the relationship opens up many new opportunities. "We can help with every aspect" commented Centreline 2000 Technical Director Andrew Hart, "from organisations who need UNIX and Microsoft networks to co-exist, to those who need to manage a complete migration to Microsoft client-server solutions."In addition to networking, consulting and products, the agreement provides Centreline customers with access to Microsoft support and training services. "Centreline has always believed in the value of expert training and support" continues Hart, "now we can extend this philosophy to cover Microsoft Office, Exchange, BackOffice and Windows NT as well as UNIX based products and networks." What does it mean to me?We can now offer you a one-stop shop for every facet of your business systems:NetworksIncluding physical planning and installation, loading, bandwidth and management issues. We can assist in implementing UNIX, Windows NT and mixed UNIX/Windows NT networks. We can help develop security firewalls and remote access for mobile/teleworkers and branch offices.Groupware and communicationsIncluding mail, workflow, database and Internet/Intranet servers. We can develop solutions across UNIX and Windows NT, embracing UNIX mail, Microsoft Exchange, Uniplex, Staffware and a host of other proven products.DesktopsIncluding Microsoft Office and BackOffice. We can obtain the best volume purchase prices, buy, commission and rollout your PCs. We can help with document/data conversion, terminal emulation and integration with your legacy systems.SupportIncluding support packages for all Microsoft desktop and network products as well as for Uniplex, UNIX and Office 2000 products. Corporate support agreements mean a single point of contact for any problem, fast resolution and minimum disruption.TrainingIncluding Microsoft authorised training for users, system and network administrators as well as UNIX, Uniplex and Office 2000 training.Consultancy, project management & administrationOn every aspect of your system including initial specification, on-site administration and dial-up access.To find out more, call us now on 07000 88 2000.
Internet TrainingWe have new courses for Internet users and web developers.
All courses are available at your company or at Network City, one of the best cybercafe's in London. For training at your company on any of these courses you will require Netscape already installed and running. Only for "Using Netscape" will you require an Internet connection. All other courses are hands-on courses using local files. Using Netscape NavigatorWe guide you through an introduction to Netscape Navigator and the World Wide Web. Introducing you both to the functions of the product and how to find information on the Web. You will also see how to participate in on-line discussion forums.Web Design with HTMLFor those starting out designing web sites this course takes you through the key elements of HTML - the hyper-text markup language. You will gain a firm understanding of how web pages work and how to build successful pages.Web Design for ProfitA design oriented course which shows you the best (and worst) of commercial web sites. We show you how to make the most from your web site. Most importantly, you can see how to construct web pages which bring you business.Web Design for Public Sector.Following our review of Local Government sites we have prepared a special course for you, the public sector. You will see how to design for best effect and greatest usability for your users.Course ScheduleNetscape and HTML courses are available now. The design courses will be available during September. We will also be running public courses during September. Call sales now for more information.
How do I connect Windows to Unix?SOMETIMES INTEGRATING THESE TWO ENVIRONMENTS CAN SEEM A NIGHTMARE. WE TAKE YOU THROUGH PC-ENTERPRISE WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO INTEGRATE YOUR FILING AND PRINTING SYSTEMS INTO ONE ENVIRONMENT Sharing FilesWindows '95 comes with Network Neighbourhood, a simple means of identifying and selecting files that may be anywhere on the network. PC-Enterprise drops straight into the neighbourhood. Your Unix machine appears alongside your desktop PC. From there you simply select files and folders exactly as you do normally.The shared files are accessible from any application on your desktop. So you can open and save files directly to your Unix machine from Microsoft Word say. Better still, files like Access databases can also be shared giving you an instant, powerful multi-user database system. Sharing PrintersSo, you've been under pressure to buy each PC user a printer. Not any more. PC-Enterprise allows PC users to use the Unix connected printers.For the Windows user printing works just like normal - straight to LPT1. Instead though the file is sent to the Unix machine and runs through the Unix spooler in the normal way. In this way you can share printers fairly across all users and you have no pressure to buy more printers than you need to. Terminal EmulationOf course you already have Unix applications which you must continue to operate. PC-Enterprise comes compete with Terminal Emulation. Not only that, but it is an emulation that understands Uniplex!Now with emulation you can run Unix programs at the same time as Windows programs. You can simply switch between them as you need to. For example you could have your connection to your Unix accounts package in your terminal emulation window and your letter to your supplier in your Microsoft Word window. Connecting E/MailWhether you have been using Uniplex mail or not, PC-Enterprise gives you an opportunity to bring electronic mail to all your users.For the Windows desktop there is Eudora - one of the leading e/mail packages widely used with Unix systems but also fully Internet compatible. Eudora will exchange mail with your Unix system. Your windows users and your ASCII terminal users can freely interchange mail. In fact, even if you have no ASCII terminals Eudora is still a superior mail package. And if you connect to the Internet PC-Enterprise knows all about Internet mail, so there is no tricky decoding of messages and no extra software to buy. What about Windows 3.1?PC-Interface is the equivalent program for any Windows 3.x system. It provides the same functions, but Unix files appear as an additional disk drive letter. It's as simple as that.More information?Call Sales on 07000 88 2000. Evaluation copies are available and all of this costs less than you think.
What is Microsoft BackOffice?Microsoft BackOffice is an integrated suite of server applications. It offers services similar to the combination of Uniplex and Unix. It delivers office automation and system administration tools in a seamless fashion.BackOffice runs on the Windows NT server platform (on any of the chip types, Intel, Alpha, MIPS, etc). Building from simple file and print share capabilities all the way through electronic mail and forms building , leading to complex database and groupware functions.
The key strengths
Back Office ComponentsBack Office provides five services:
Exchange ServerExchange is the centre of the electronic messaging and groupware system. This is a large and powerful system with many opportunities for improving your working environment and productivity, it will be covered in much greater detail in a later Newsline.The Exchange Server is the equivalent of Uniplex' Mail, Time Manager and Screen Builder but with extended functionality. Key Exchange Server Benefits
Built-in groupware applications give you a head start with systems based on Group Scheduling, Bulletin Boards, Task Management and Customer Tracking available out of the box. These systems can be tailored and extended by you to fit your exact needs. Microsoft Schedule+ provides full diary functions for people, rooms and resources. It supports group meetings and regular, repeating schedules. Public folders are a simple means of sharing information between users. Access controls allow team, department or enterprise wide sharing. In addition, public folders can be shared across different computers, even those remotely connected via modems or the Internet. The Internet mail and news modules allow you to send and receive messages with other Internet users. X.400 is also supported as an optional component. Finally, off-line synchronisation means that you can dis-connect your portable PC for mobile working, be creating e/mail as you travel and be receiving e/mail at your office. When you next re-connect your mail is automatically updated.
Administration made simpleBackOffice integrates the administration and security controls of all the components into one place. This means that when a new user is added all modules, from passwords to e/mail to the database are updated automatically. This obviously reduces the time taken to maintain separate user account details as you do with a Unix/Uniplex combination.Of course, NT follows the Windows '95 model of auto-detection of hardware, networking and peripherals. There are already many 1,000's of supported hardware components. All leading office hardware, for example printers, are shipped with drivers ready to run on '95 or NT. These integrate automatically into Back Office. NT also includes standard functions for managing security, performance and backups. All of these functions use graphical interfaces and are easy to use. NT supports many network types including Ethernet TCP/IP and Novell Netware.
System Management ServerSMS is used for large scale NT and network implementations where there are more extensive management needs. It supports automated installations and remote desktop management. You can also develop your own systems, for example inventory management using SMS tools.
SNA ServerThe SNA server provides connectivity into IBM mainframe style environments. This module is not required for stand-alone or Unix connected systems.SQL ServerSQL Server is an industrial strength database system, originally developed by Sybase and now extended by Microsoft. This can provide database services for hundreds of users simultaneously. MS-Access, the Windows desktop database client, can integrate directly into SQL Server. This provides simple, organisation wide database access with easy to use tools for users on the desktop. SQL Server is the database "engine" if you will, similar to the Informix engine shipped with Uniplex. MS-Access contains the database design, user forms and data entry facilities. The reporting facilities from Access allow "wizard" based creation of reports, including multi-tables, charts and mail-merge. There is no real comparison with the Uniplex equivalents.Like to know more?Call Centreline 2000 to discuss your needs. We can arrange further information, training and seminars to extend your understanding of the BackOffice system
What's Happening at www.c2000.com?We have completely rebuilt and re-organised the Centreline 2000 web site this month (more on that later). Some pages you may find interesting are:White Papers and Reports:
Links Pages:
Downloads:
Re-build in a day.The site is radically different than its previous incarnation. Normally, this kind of re-build would have taken weeks, but we did it in a day.How? WebManage 2000 is our specially built software which (amongst other things) lets you specify templates for your site and have them applied automatically across the board. We simply re-designed the template and hit the button.
|
 |
|
|
|
Centreline 2000 - Uniplex, Unix, Windows and Internet Arle Court, Hatherley Lane, Cheltenham, GL51 6PN Tel: (UK) 01242 255 000 |
|
|
|
|
|
URL: www.c2000.com/papers/nw_9608.htm © 1995-2001 Centreline 2000 Last Updated: 8th August 1996 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
