IBM to Improve Enterprise Support in OS/2 Warp Server

Deborah Hess

IBM hopes to improve upon an already-solid server OS by adding support for multiprocessing as well as directory and security services to OS/2 Warp Server later this year. OS/2 Warp Server 4, released in late February, is the latest update of IBM's network OS (NOS).

OS/2 Warp Server 4 combines the OS/2 Warp version 3 OS with OS/2 LAN Server 4.0. It supports multitasking for 16-and 32-bit applications and standards-based system management and enterprise connectivity through IBM's SystemView. Warp Server also features a built-in gateway for accessing Novell NetWare servers, p rovides applications-server capabilities and remote connection for NetWare clients, and permits single sign-on to OS/2 Warp Serv er and NetWare servers alike.

With OS/2 Warp Server, IBM addresses a broad clientele, ranging from small- and mid-size businesses to organizational departments. Warp Server is especially well suited for workgroups--particularly those that must be integrated into their organization's management systems and services--because of its interoperability with Digital Equipment, Hewlett-Packard, and IBM enterprise-level systems and NetWare LANs.

With its software distribution, license management, and remote access, OS/2 Warp Server shows strong potential as an applications server. However, despite excellent reported performance, OS/2 Warp Server lacks a key component: symmetric multiprocessing (SMP). Competing products, such as Windows NT Server, can already take advantage of multiple-processor servers through SMP support. NetWare also has an SMP configuration option. IBM expects to have Warp Server SMP ready by the third quarter. Also not yet ready for prime time is Directory Security S ervices, IBM's global directory software, currently in beta testing. DSS will let users access any connected OS/2 resource; provide a unified client view; offer Distributed Computing Services security; and let administrators maintain resources locally, remotely, or centrally. DSS will give Warp Server significant advantages over NT, which provides applications services but has no centralized directory, and NetWare, which has a directory but doesn't include Warp Server's built-in software administration and performance monitoring.

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Enterprise Server Support

                    OS/2 Warp Server 4      Windows NT Server 3.51

Target market       Small business/         Departmental/enterprise
                    departmental
Interface           OS/2 Workplace Shell    Win 3.1; version 4
                                            will have Win 95 GUI
Clustering          No                      Expected by 1997
Server hardware     x86
                     x86, PowerPC, Alpha, Mips
Network management  SNMP, IBM               SNMP, IBM NetView
                    SystemView, DMI         (via SNA Server)
Networks            Ethernet, Token Ring,   Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI
                    PC-Net, FDDI,
                    Asynchronous
                    Transfer Mode (ATM)
LAN protocols       NetBEUI and Apple       NetBIOS, NetBEUI, TCP/IP,
                    EtherTalk (client);     IPX/SPX, SNMP, LU6.2, SMB,
                    NetBIOS; TCP/IP;        AppleTalk, XNS, DLC
                    IPX/SPX; 802.2;
                    Named Pipes; AppleTalk
                    and Unix/NFS via
                    additional software
Clients             DOS, OS/2, Win 3.x,     DOS, Win 3.x,
                    Win 95, Win for         Workgroups, Win 95,
                    Workgroups, Win NT      Win NT Workstation
                    client; AIX and Mac
                    with additional software

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Deborah Hess is