The Monthly Bulletin For Users Of SPARC Based Products

Issue No. 78

I. SPARC NEWS

1. RAVE COMPUTER ASSOCIATION, INC. FEATURES RAVE'S INTEGRATED RACKMOUNT-ULTRA60

2. ON-LINE! DETECTIVE RELEASE 13.0 BIGGER BETTER

3. ANOTHER US FEDERAL AGENCY FINDS PORTABLE UNIX SEMPER FI

4. REPLACE SUN FE HANDBOOKS

II. SCD CERTIFIED & PVT VERIFIED TESTING ADDITIONS IN MARCH

III.SPARCSHOP

I. SPARC News

I. A. - RAVE COMPUTER ASSOCIATION, INC. FEATURES RAVE'S INTEGRATED RACKMOUNT-ULTRA60

Sterling Heights, MI--March 9, 2000--Rave Computer Association, Inc., an authorized Sun Master value-added System Integrator, now offers customers a 4U-rackmountable solution for the SPARCengine Ultra60.

Rave Computer integrates Suns dual processing Ultra60 motherboard into a 4U-rackmountable chassis. Rave's rackmount chassis allows for a total of nine peripherals-three external 5.25 drive bays, three external 3.5 hot-swap capable drive bays, and three internal 3.5 drive bays.

The Ultra60 features up to 2 GB of memory, onboard Fast Ethernet, dual Ultra SCSI busses, four PCI slots, three at 33MHz and one at 66Mhz and two UPA graphic slots. The Ultra60 supports one to two UltraSPARC II processor modules ranging from 300MHz to 450MHz with variable cache sizes, providing binary compatibility with Solaris operating environment applications.

Rave Computers RackMount-U60 is ideally suited for computing applications in telecommunications, medical imaging, graphical imaging, data analysis and networking. All of Rave Computers integrated systems come with a one-year warranty.

Rave Computer Association, Inc., provides a range of system solutions built to customers specifications. Rave Computers relationship with Sun Microelectronics and Sun Solaris software, both divisions of Sun Microsystems Inc., provides Rave Computer access to new technology and product support. Rave Computers other services include hardware depot and maintenance services, technical phone support and private-labeling services. Rave Computer also offers flexible leasing programs through its sister company, Rave Financial Services, Inc. Visit their web site at: www.rave.com.

I. B. - ON-LINE! DETECTIVE RELEASE 13.0 BIGGER BETTER

Waterford, MI--March 29, 2000--Version 13.0 of the On-Line! Detective for Sun is filled with new benefits to the end-user. New features include a global search engine, hundreds of new part numbers and X-options, detailed Solaris 7 information, a break out of SunVTS and much more. "The search engine was user driven and definitely enhances the value of the tool by providing quicker access to information," states Al Hoskins, CTO at SoftTech Solutions. "The 10,000 plus pages of the Detective are much more manageable with this enhanced search engine."

The On-Line! Detective is a software package benefiting those who interface with Sun equipment. Key users of the Detective include system administrators, field engineers, help desk personnel and resellers of Sun systems. The Detective saves time in finding answers or resolving problems, maximizes Sun system uptime and reduces the long-term cost of owning and upgrading Sun equipment.

The Detective has enhanced its troubleshooting information for memory and disk drives. The Detective's new "Memory Troubleshooting" guides users through a complete troubleshooting flowchart to make sense of complex memory errors. This module also defines and explains "Catastrophic/Correctable" memory errors and provides troubleshooting tips and techniques. In like fashion, the Detective has a troubleshooting module for Disk Drives. This offers tips for determining and resolving disk problems, retrieving data from a problematic drive and a comprehensive flowchart that quickly flushes out problems and determines the root cause.

The Detective continues to provide more value to system administrators by adding information to its Solaris module. Additional content includes: Solaris 7 Installation: installation methods, installation issues/bugs, patch analyzer, and troubleshooting/error messages. Solaris 7 Overview: Answerbook2, network management, and O/S information.

Panic: panic causes, bad traps, panic routine, capturing system crash information, core file analysis, hardware diagnosis/repair, and bug reports. File System: constructing the UNIX file system (UFS), disk partitions, organization, RAID, and backup information.

To receive information about the On-Line! Detective for Sun or to view a demo, access their website at www.sundetective.com or call (248) 738-7738.

I. C. - ANOTHER US FEDERAL AGENCY FINDS PORTABLE UNIX SEMPER FI

Cambridge,UK--March 16, 2000--M-business computing specialist Tadpole Technology plc of Cambridge today announced that its Tadpole-RDI hardware computing business unit has won its first portable Unix orders valued at over $1.5 million from the US Marine Corps (USMC).

The orders were secured by Government Technology Services Inc. (GTSI), one of Tadpole-RDI's principal resellers for the US Federal Market, and include a $700,000 contract to supply its Sun-Solaris range of portable servers VoyagerIIi for use in C41 systems of the Marine Corps.

Bernard Hulme, group chief executive of Tadpole Technology plc, comments: "Federal agencies are now focused on the use of commercially-available computing solutions in operational command centres, and the small footprint and lightweight features of VoyagerIIi servers are proving winning features."

About VoyagerIIi The size of a business directory and weighing around 10 lbs, Tadpole-RDI's unique range of VoyagerIIi systems are powered by Sun Microsystems' UltraSPARC-IIi processors and run in the 64-bit Solaris operating environment. They have all the features of large servers, with memory and removable disk capacity to 1GB and 32GB respectively.

About Tadpole-RDI Tadpole-RDI, Inc. www.tadpolerdi.com, a business unit of m-business computing vendor Tadpole Technology plc (LSE : TAD), is the global leader in portable UNIX workstations and servers for Sun and Hewlett-Packard operating systems and innovator of the world's first range of rugged Java-enabled pen computers. Its headquarters are based in Carlsbad, California and European operations in Cambridge, England. Tadpole-RDI is certified ISO-9001 and operates through a global network of specialist distribution channels providing applications in industry, commerce and government.

I. D. - REPLACE SUN FE HANDBOOKS

SoftTech Solutions has developed a new tool to compete directly with Sun Field Engineer Handbooks. The On-Line! Detective for Sun - Standard Edition provides everything found in the handbooks and more. The Standard Edition offers a complete breakout of each Sun system. This includes full-colored photographs of individual systems and components, configuration rules and guidelines, all part numbers that are compatible with specific architecture and basic troubleshooting information. The Detective also includes information on the different Storage Arrays.

Included in the Standard Edition are all Sun part numbers with a cross-reference to the X-options or Sun's marketing numbers. This reference is particularly helpful to those who are ordering or purchasing Sun parts. In addition, older part numbers are not purged, making it easy to find that obsolete item. There is also a complete listing of SCSI information including configuration rules, jumper setting, diagrams and compatibility tables.

If you are a current user of the Sun FE handbooks, you will appreciate the information found in the Detective. The Standard Edition of the Detective includes more information and better access to information, all at a lower price. A single user license of the Standard Edition is priced at $695. More information including a comparison chart between the two products can be found on SoftTech Solutions' website at www.sundetective.com/products/comparison.htm.

SoftTech Solutions is a leading software developer of on-line support tools servicing the UNIX marketplace. SoftTech also provides customized UNIX training and CBT courses. The Professional Edition of the On-Line! Detective provides additional content specifically targeting system administrators and those supporting large Sun populations. The Professional Edition provides information on system tuning, Panics, system log interpretation, unique troubleshooting routines and diagnostics and a complete Solaris module. To receive information on either of the Detective products or to view a demo, access their website at www.sundetective.com or call (248) 738-7738.

II. SCD CERTIFIED & PVT VERIFIED TESTING ADDITIONS IN MARCH

The SPARC Compliant brand, awarded by SPARC International, assures end users that systems so branded will work with any other product branded to the same level of the "SPARC Compliant Definition (SCD)." This list, updated monthly, includes changes made to the master list of SPARC Compliant products. To view the master list, please access our web site at www.sparc.org or send email to info@sparc.org.

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