Gigabyte GrapeVine

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Vol. 3, Issue 11 (c)1996 GKM Journals Nov. 1998
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Topical Index

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Topic 1 /// Linux' Popularity Continues To Grow ///

Due to the wide acceptance of its open source-code, the Linux operating system continues to gain popularity among resellers.

The relatively new software really began to gain momentum last month when Intel Corp., Netscape Communications Corp., and two investment firms bought a stake in Linux developer, Red Hat Software Inc.

Previously, IBM Corp., Computer Associates International Inc., Sybase Inc., and Oracle Corp. announced plans to port software to the Linux architecture.

The fact that Linux is available virtually for free, added to its flexibility, has Microsoft executives very concerned, according to the chatter going around the computer industry. That concern has prompted Microsoft to weigh the possibility of opening up the Windows source code to the industry.

Linux has been propelled into the commercial sector by a small band of loyal distributors, which include Red Hat, and Caldera Inc. The investment into the new architecture by Intel Corp. did not at all mar the Linux image either. Many heads have been turned by the apparent surge in popularity of the novel operating system, but Microsoft executives must have gotten a bad case of whiplash as they watched those key vendors running over to take a good, long, look at Linux.



Topic 2 /// Internet Changing Of The Guard Delayed ///

The House Science and Technology Committee, last month, heard testimony regarding just how the transfer of power from public to private control will take place.

For the past five years, Network Solutions Inc. has wielded the power to assign domain names to users, but the contract giving NSI that authority expired on October 1. Along with the end of term for the contract, the federal funding of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), which acts as the overseer of the registry root servers also came to a halt on October 1.

As with any issue of this magnitude, there are going to be opposing views, but the U.S. Department of Commerce appeared to be upset over the fact that multiple positions over the issue are causing strife. A great deal of expectation was placed on the congressional hearings last month.



Topic 3 /// Microsoft Says DOJ Suit A Political Move ///

In criticism of the government's case against Microsoft Corp., one lobbyist said the lawsuit levied by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) was a political move that has the ultimate goal of regulating the computer and software industry.

The notably outspoken Haley Barbour, former top dog of the Republican National Committee, conveyed that the Clinton/Gore administration wants to turn the information superhighway into a government-run toll road, and its attack on Microsoft is only a starting point. As he spoke at the Federalist Society conference in Washington, D.C. last month, Mr. Barbour also stated that the DOJ's case against Microsoft would be just a "private" lawsuit anywhere else in the world, but the DOJ has made it their personal campaign.

In his address, Barbour said that the freedom to innovate and the freedom of choice are at stake as more government regulation is thrust upon us. He indicated that it may be the consumer who gets the short end the deal in these anti-trust actions.

Republican Senator Orin Hatch sees the actions of Microsoft as that of a "monopolist" that views a new technology as a threat.





Topic /// Micro-sized Combination Lock To Foil Hackers ///

What has been termed as the "world's smallest combination lock" may be used as the newest and best yet tool to thwart computer hackers.

A tiny mechanical device developed at Sandia National Laboratories, promises to create a virtually impenetrable firewall that can stop even the best hacker.

The "Recodable Locking Device" uses microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology so small that it takes a microscope to see it, according to one press release last month.

In the heart of the new device is a series of tiny notched gears that move to the unlocked position only when the right combination code is entered. Until till now, computer systems and networks have mostly been protected by "firewalls" controlled by software, but Sandia's researchers say that their device is hardware and is extremely difficult to break into.

The Recodable Locking Device gives a would be hacker odds of just one chance in a million of picking exactly the right code compared to a one in 10,000 chance, with most software firewalls.

After just one failed attempt, the new locking device mechanically shuts down and can't be reset and reopened except by the owner or someone who has been duly authorized.

Sandia has filed for patents on the locks, the first of which were built in July. Sandia's research team is refining the device and doing reliability tests for now, but they don't expect to have the mini-device ready for commercial application until after the year 2000.



Topic 5 /// GSU Student Hacks Government Computer ///

The U.S. Navy is investigating an incident where a student from the Georgia Southern University managed to hack into government files.

The Naval Criminal Investigation Office is looking into the case at GSU, and directed the school to find out which of its computers was used to access computer files from a government agency.

One GSU staff member traced the school's computer records and discovered that someone used a computer in the writing and linguistics department's model classroom to hack into a government computer while a class was in session.

Details about the Navy's investigation will be made available at a later date.



Topic 6 /// Netscape Security Flaw Deemed Serious ///

The programming language used in Netscape Communications Corp.'s Navigator and Communicator software has a potentially serious security flaw, as reported by the New York Times last month.

The defect could possibly allow an outsider to read information on another person's PC hard disk.

The weakness can be exploited by the widely used Javascript programming language, which Web site developers use for a variety of common tasks.

By writing a special 30-line Java code, information can be captured from the cache, or temporary storage area, on a PC's hard disk. Data including personal information typed in when registering at a site or conducting a retail transaction online could be hacked.

In some instances, the flaw could also be exploited through e-mail received using Netscape's software if an intended victim was sent an e-mail message that would secretly force the user to run an illicit Javascript program.





Topic 7 /// Now Anyone Can Play Big Brother ///

And we thought we only had to worry about big government keeping tabs on us... NOT SO!

Vision Systems, Inc. and its partner, Philips Flat Display Systems division of Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands have developed a new line of highly reliable flat fingerprint sensors for a line of portable computing and consumer electronics products.

Vision Systems, Inc. has been a leader in development of finger- print authentication technologies, and the partnership with a powerful global player such as Philips will most assuredly put fingerprint authentication into the main stream in the very near future whether we want it or not.

A new sensor design that addresses a number of key requirements such as thinness for easy integration into devices such as personal data assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, and notebook computers has issued from the partnership.

Reports from the test labs indicate that the sensors are both reliable and durable. One insider sees this technology as a means of addressing the growing need for secure Internet transactions generated by the growing trend of E-commerce over the Web.



Topic 8 /// PhotoMotion Stands To Alter The Ad Game ///

Quik Pix Inc., Buena Park, California, announced last month that it had been granted a patent on a revolutionary new technology termed PhotoMotion Multi-Imaging.

The company specializes in high quality photographic imaging and visual marketing technologies, and the new patent covers the technology enabling QPI to combine three or more images into a single color transparency that changes as a viewer moves past the image. An illusion makes the viewer think the image moves as he or she moves.

PhotoMotion Multi-Imaging Technology images combined with text or graphics creates a visual display that is so remarkable and distinct that PhotoMotion stands to revolutionize the imaging for most backlit advertising displays. Soon point-of-purchase (POP) locations, trade show advertizing gadgets, and other techno-wizardry may very well employ PhotoMotion Multi-Imaging Technology.

Many advertisers, marketers, and representatives from the photo industry have responded with enthusiasm over the new visual technology. Some are calling it a "milestone."



Topic 9 /// Is Your Web TV Watching You? ///

There is a sneaky system-polling feature built into Microsoft Corp.'s WebTV that can extract subscriber information from its users that is then passes on to Microsoft's advertisers.

The polling of the 450,000 WebTV users transpires each night, and the data pertaining to viewer Web site and TV preferences is then uploaded back to the system.

User's Zip codes and other demographic data are then compiled to more effectively target upcoming advertisements.

An analyst at Forrest Research Inc. compared the Web TV snooping to having someone place a camcorder focused on someone 24 hours a day, and recording everything they do.

The major cable operators are expected to distribute more than 5 million set-top boxes equipped with Windows CE and the Solo chip, bringing WebTV to the cable market.

Although WebTV customers are informed of the polling, they have no option to turn it off. But next year, WebTV viewers will be given that option, according to one observer. To entice users to leave the tracking function turned on, WebTV customers could be offered reduced rates, or in some cases, free use of the system for allowing themselves to be spied upon.



Topic 10 /// $700 Motorola Pager Works Anywhere ///

After eleven years of planning and $5 billion in financing, Motorola has put in place 66 low-orbit satellites that comprise the Iridium pager service.

If you want a pager that will work anywhere on Earth, you may not mind the $700 price tag. For those who must have a satellite phone, you should be prepared to shell out the $3,000 that Motorola will be asking for its Iridium phone.

Topic 11 /// 1-GHz Chip From Intel ///

Early last month, Intel Corp. revealed plans for future CPU chips running at clock speeds up to 1-Gigahertz that are destined for both the server and workstation markets

These new speedsters will still be based on 32-bit architecture, while the "Merced" processor, which should hit the market by mid-2000, will be offered as a true 64-bit CPU engine. Code named "Foster," the next-generation 32-bit chips are scheduled to roll-out in late 2000 or early 2001.

As usual in the computer market, Merced has not even been produced, but its successor, the "McKinley," 64-bit chip is on the drawing board. Also packing clock speeds of 1-GHz and above, this super-chip will debut sometime in 2001, according to Intel's road map.



Topic 12 /// RealNetworks Puts Lotus Notes In Step ///

Keeping in step with the rapidly changing computer/software markets has become rather exhausting for manufacturers and consumers alike.

To bring Lotus' Notes/Domino into the modern age, the Lotus Development Corp. has reached out to RealNetworks Inc. and an IBM Corp. division to fuse streaming multimedia into the Lotus Notes/Domino suite.

Licensing agreements and other legal matters were being worked out last month between Lotus and RealNetworks so that Real- Systems G2 streaming audio and video can be integrated into the Lotus product. Users will soon be able to create and view audio/video streaming from either the Notes Web browser or client application.

The experienced reseller or corporate developer will be able to grind out broadcasting applications through the Real-enhanced products, as outlined by an industry source.

RealSystems G2 technology-- complete with a multimedia player, encoder, and server module will be bundled into Lotus Notes/ Domino 5.0, and is slated to ship by the early part of next year.

IBM's Internet Media division is developing a middleware module called Hot Media Connect, which will simplify consolidation of the RealSystems G2 and Notes/Domino suite. Hot Media Connect will also make it easier to publish and post multi- media files, according to a Lotus executive.



Topic 13 /// Windows 98 Update Coming Soon ///

A "Service Pack" for Windows 98 will be released by Microsoft early next year if beta testing initiated last month goes smoothly.

The update pack will contain support for digital modems, device- bay peripherals, Wake-on LAN, and distributed component object modules (DCOMs).

A Microsoft spokesman said that the device-bay support will bring Windows one step closer to "true" plug and play perform- ance. Although Windows does currently support the Universal Serial Bus specification related to devices such as scanners, keyboards, and digital cameras, until the update is put into place, USB modems will not be supported, as noted recently by an industry analyst.

A number of security updates for Windows 98 have already been posted since the new operating system shipped. These updates are also intended to be included in the Service Pack when it is ready to be downloaded.



Topic 14 /// Beta NetWare Released By Novell ///

A beta version of NetWare for Small Business 4.2 was released by Novell Inc. last month. But don't let the term "small" business get in the way.

NSB 4.2 incorporates improvements and changes that allow for an increased number of users. Where the user limit was set at 25 on previous versions of NetWare, version 4.2 has increased that limit to 50.

Other new features include an Internet Connection Wizard, Fast Cache, and Tobit FaxWare 5 from Tobit Software. These, and other new features make connecting to the Internet much easier for small businesses, as noted by a Novell executive.





Topic 15 /// Resellers Making Ready For RDRAM ///

The major memory suppliers are getting ready for the arrival and transition to Direct Rambus memory technology next year.

Today's Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) chips are assembled in DIMM (dual in-line module) configuration. Next year's Direct RDRAM will be categorized as Rambus in-line memory(RIMM), and is expected to greatly out perform present memory systems.

Rambus Inc., based in Mountain View, California, recently initiated a validation program for its prospective vendors, and will administer a great deal of control over the actual chip assembly process of the D-RDRAM and the associated connectors and clock components.

Industry sources predict that by the end of next year, Direct RDRAM will account for 10 to 15 percent of the DRAM market, which coincides with Intel Corp.'s plans that call for the acceptance of the new memory architecture.



Topic 16 /// New Quantum Interface Gains Acceptance ///

The latest variant of the IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) interface, as delivered by Quantum Corp., is called UltraATA/66.

ATA, which stands for Advanced Technology Attachment, had been rated as ATA/33 (33-MHz) for quite some time now, but Quantum has boosted that figure up to 66-MHz within the UltraATA/66 framework.

To enable that doubling of speed under ATA/66 specifications, an 80-conductor cable must be used as opposed to the 40-cond. leads used with the ATA/33 configuration. With the 80-cond. cable, data characteristics are improved by eliminating cross- talk and rendering improved bandwidth.

Western Digital Corp. also announced plans to market an ATA/66 product line before the end of this year. Maxtor Corp. could only state that it will "eventually" offer ATA/66 compatible drives.



Topic 17 /// MobiNetix Pushes New Card Readers ///

MobiNetix Inc. hopes to create a market demand for its point- of-sale (POS) smart card reader scheduled for release next month.

The new device links up to the MobiNetix PenWare 3100 series of iPOS electronic transaction terminals released by the Sunny- vale, Calif.-based company last June.

A complete MobiNetix POS system can electronically capture written signatures and can read debit and credit cards in addition to reading smart cards.

If you shop at any of the 400 Federated Department stores, you will begin to see the iPOS units at the check-out counter very soon. MobiNetix is distributing 29,000 of its 3100 series units to the store chain this year.

The MobilNetix system is designed to be used with electronic gift certificate programs, customer loyalty records, and stored value card schemes.



Topic 18 /// Is It Child Protection Or Government Snooping? ///

The passage of the Child Protection and Sexual Predator Punishment Act in the Senate Oct. 9 and the House Oct. 12 leaves only President Clinton's signature to make it into law.

While most of the attention was drawn to the bill's provisions requiring sites to verify the age of visitors before allowing them to see adult material, there is one lesser known provision that has many free-speech and privacy groups greatly concerned.

One group, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), is trying to bring attention to a potentially intrusive measure written into the bill that could force ISPs (Internet Service Providers) to turn over information about their subscribers even when a law-enforcement agency has not presented a search warrant.

Under the dubious provision, ISPs who fail to report an incident of suspected child pornography face fines up to $50,000 for the first infraction and $100,000 for subsequent infractions.

The severity of the fines and the lack of a standard of truth in the law are among the many concerns expressed by EPIC. One EPIC spokesman feared that the law would encourage ISPs to over- report, giving information on subscribers who are not being investigated. The law sets no limit or guidelines as to the type of information ISPs may turn over to law enforcement nor does it provide legal recourse for subscribers whose personal information is wrongfully disclosed.



Topic 19 /// Sweeping Changes Due From AMD & Rambus ///

An announcement from Advanced Micro Devices Inc. on Oct. 9th disclosed the chip maker's plans to develop chipsets supporting Direct Rambus memory for its K7 microprocessor.

The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company stated that it will include licensing of the Direct Rambus interface technology developed by Rambus Inc. within its own development program, and will also work in conjunction with Intel Corp. as plans for next year's K7 CPU chips and chipsets fall into place.

The Direct Rambus technology will move the PC industry into the realm of 1.6 Gbytes per second of peak bandwidth for DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory).

According to industry sources, AMD is expected to release K7 during the first half of next year. The Direct Rambus memory modules should also coincide with the K7 releases.





Topic 20 /// You Think Your Pager Is Acting Weird Again? ///

We all remember the panic back in May, when we lost almost all pagers in the United States after a technical problem with the PanAmSat Galaxy IV communications satellite caused a virtual meltdown of our old reliable beeper system.

Well... it's time to brace yourself for a really big show this month! More thrills, more suspense, and more chaos than before!

Although opinion is divided over the prospect, one fact remains, there [will] be a major meteor shower reaching our outer atmosphere on Nov. 17 and Nov. 18, and the potential for damage to our satellite network is high.

Even though we use the word "potential," there is some cause for alarm among Satellite operators who are preparing for the worst. When the Leonids meteor shower comes in, there will be particles of debris traveling at more than 200 times the speed of sound. Although their size is no more than a grain of sand, at that velocity, they can vaporize objects in their path.

The sensitive electronics on board the some 800 satellites now in orbit above us could become useless dust in just a fraction of a second. But some experts think that the whole Leonids thing will not amount to much more than a giant fireworks show.

One scholar from the Institute of Astronomy, at Cambridge University, England stated that the intensity of the meteor shower does increase the chances of some satellites being struck, but he does not expect a communications catastrophe.

The history on the Leonids meteor shower shows that it is a remnant of the tail of the Temple-Tuttle comet, which passes by here every 33 years. This time, however, it will be closer to Earth than it has been for the past 22 years.





Topic 21 /// MS Service Pack Lacks Bug Fixes ///

One noted news source reported last month that Microsoft's first Service Pack for Windows 98 has a long list of new features, but falls short on fixing most of the bugs found in the new operating system.

While the Service Pack went into beta testing this month, its release to the general consumer is not scheduled until early next year, according to the news report.

Microsoft Corp. is still claiming that acceptance of the Windows 98 O/S is running high, but growing complaints about problems installing the new product over an existing Win 95 setup and other bugs are casting some doubt in regards to the integrity of Microsoft's bravado.

On the plus side, the Service Pack comes with power management software for Win 98 machines running as a network server and additional support for third-party devices. Service Pack 1 also adds support for the new "Device Bay" PC specification for adding PC peripheral devices without having to open the case.

Other features include an improved Advanced Configuration and Power Management Interface, providing better power management for laptops.



Topic 22 /// New HPs Are Smart Card Ready ///

Hewlett-Packard just announced that its corporate PCs, note- books, and workstations will be smart card-ready.

HP's OmniBook notebooks, HP Vectra PCs, and Kayak PC Work- stations will come ready for installation and deployment of smart card readers.

HP network users can now can log on from any PC on the network because the digital signature on the card provides instant proof of identity.



Topic 23 /// Italian Dignitaries Get Chip Implants ///

Italian dignitaries fearing abduction are having their bodies implanted with microprocessor chips so police can track them in the event they are kidnaped.

Called Sky-Eyes, the new chips were originally developed for use by Israeli intelligence researchers. The miniature device has been described as a "biological adaptation" of the Global Positioning System (GPS).

A company called Gen-Etics patented the device, but is keeping quiet about the details of the Sky-Eyes system in order to protect its clients.

The advanced device is reported as being manufactured with both synthetic and organic fibre, and can be run on a very small amount of energy, which can be absorbed from the human body.

According to one insider, the chip is supposed to be invisible to both the naked eye and to X-ray equipment. An eight digit code is provided by the manufacturer to the person with the implant, and he or she is advised not to divulge it to anyone except next of kin or a trusted legal representative. Then if the person does disappear, anyone entrusted with knowledge of the code is expected to contact the company's control center, so that the kidnaped victim's whereabouts may be pinpointed, and the authorities can be informed.

Accuracy of the Sky-Eye device is within 150 yards. But some security experts say that it is only a matter of time until the "bad guys" come up with a counter device that would negate its effectiveness. Or culprits lacking in technology may use this as an excuse to cut their victims to pieces in search of the implant chip-- something to consider before having your children implanted with this wonderful new gadget!





Topic 24 /// More Technology Out Of Control? ///

The following story came to us by E-mail from a professional acquaintance. As more and more stories unfold that just a few months ago were accepted only by the "black helicopter" crowd, but now prove to be factual, I am keeping an open mind to at least a few of these reports. Here are two of those stories that caught my attention. They were supposedly published in the "Microwave News," March/April and May/June 1998 editions.

Information Warfare... The U.S. Air Force (USAF) has mounted high-power microwave generators on air-launched cruise missiles to test their usefulness in waging computer warfare, reports AVIATION WEEK in its January 19, 1998 issue. The tests were somewhat successful, although "there were problems with range and focus", according to the magazine, which has excellent sources at the Pentagon. But the information wars of the future will involve more than just zapping computers. USAF General John Jumper predicts that the military will have the tools to make potential enemies see, hear, and believe things that do not exist, according to a follow-up item in the March 9 issue.

The same idea was contained in a 15-volume study by the USAF Scientific Advisory Board, issued in 1996, on how to maintain U.S. air and space superiority on the battlefields of the 21st Century.

Lawsuit Charges Illegal Experiments...

On April 15, the International Committee on Offensive Microwave Weapons charged in a federal court in Washington that the Department of Defense and the CIA have conducted "classified research on human subjects without their informed consent" in efforts to develop weapons using EMFs, lasers, microwaves, and sound waves. The lawsuit cites and article by retired Lt. Col. Timothy L. Thomas in the Spring 1998 issue of PARAMETERS, the Journal of the U.S. Army War College.

The article, "The Mind Has no Firewall," appears in a section on "Future Land Warfare." The committee, headed by Harlan Girard of Philadelphia, asked for an injunction to end the alleged illegal experiments."



Topic 25 /// Mac And Microsoft O/S Plagued By Bugs ///

Neither of the two industry big shooters, Apple Macintosh nor Microsoft can escape the infestation of software bugs.

The Apple Mac OS 8.5 operating system is so plagued with driver contamination that its users are up in arms. One agitated Mac user labeled the new O/S as the "8.5 hard drive kiss of death."

It seems that OS 8.5 users frequently find themselves in the situation of having to completely re-format their hard drives after a fatal block 0 corruption, witch causes loss of the Master Data Block. Other problems include failure of Micro- soft Word 6.01a to work after an upgrade to 8.5 and folder icons gradually disappearing from Finder windows.

An Apple spokeswoman explained that her company is aware of reports of damage to some hard drives associated with Mac OS 8.5 and they are thoroughly investigating the cause.

For Microsoft, the digital demons have infested the SP4 Service Pack, which was supposed to exterminate a myriad of other bugs found in Windows NT 4 and the Beta of NT 5.

But many users have found that problems are cropping up related to hardware incompatibilities. With certain video cards, the ability to set the color resolution to anything higher than 256-colors is lost.

If your computer has a SystemSoft Card Wizard 3.x, you may lose socket services. In that case, you will have to reinstall the Card Wizard 3.x after installing the Service Pack.

Power management and PC card controller services will cease if you have a Dell Latitude portable with Softex Advanced Power Management 1.0. One industry source noted that there are specific problems encountered when using the Microsoft IntelliPoint Productivity Tips. You may find it necessary to download the latest version of the IntelliPoint software from http://www.microsoft.com/products/hardware/mouse.

One story going around the PC industry says that if you are using the beta version of Windows NT 5.0, and you try to go back to using your version 4, you will find that you get error messages saying that some partitions are damaged and unusable.



Topic 26 /// Xeon Chip Geared For NT Server Market ///

Sparked by Intel Corp.'s Xeon series processor, network server computers are gaining renown by their very nature as powerful business machines. These Xeon-based servers have the capacity to handle with ease such enterprise chores as data mining and E-commerce.

Part of Intel's market strategy calls for "tiering" of product performance levels-- where the Pentium II technology now supports the business computer market, and the Celeron chip performs the entry-level and home PC role

The Xeon processor, however, replaces the outdated Pentium Pro series for the high-end server machines. Xeon's scalability allows for multiple tiers of Level 2 cache and will support up to eight CPUs on one motherboard.

One media source testing the 400-MHz Xeon processor noted that its cache can be built up to a grand total of 1-Megabyte and can address up to 64-Gigabytes of RAM. And coupled with as many as eight processors, the Xeon architecture is more than adequate to fulfill the requirements of an enterprise server.

Resellers and support personnel will like the System Management Bus (SMbus) built into the Xeon chip that allows monitoring of processor core temperature and other vital statistics.



Topic 27 /// Silicon-Germanium Process Used By IBM ///

IBM Corp. has laid claim to the first high-volume chips to be manufactured using its silicon-germanium process.

Designed for cell phones, pagers, and other small wireless communications devices, IBM's new chips will permit OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) to build wireless gadgetry offering longer battery life, lower cost, and smaller size.

IBM is counting on the silicon-germanium process to hurry up the consolidation of functions such as e-mail and Internet access from a single cell phone or other similar device.

The chips announced last month consist of multiple components including low-noise amplifiers, power amplifiers, and specially designed transistors to handle varied wireless communications tasks.

Although IBM has OEMs ready to buy the new chips, the company had declined to name them in the Oct. 26 press release.



Topic 28 /// VPN Trend Is Taking Hold ///

VPN (Virtual Private Network) strategies are taking hold in companies classified as "Mid-tier," where they are looking for a low-cost secure data network.

After a year of planting seeds, the proponents of VPN are about ready to reap their harvest, according to an industry review last month. Insiders are saying that interest is growing among value-added resellers (VARs) who are looking to enter the emerging VPN market.

Vendors such as Bridgeway Corp., Fortress Technologies Inc., Check Point Software Technologies Inc., Sonic Systems Inc., and RedCreek Communications Inc. were listed among those most interested in the new network architecture, which uses the Internet as an alternative to more traditional enterprise networks.

For about $300 per month, a mid-sized company can be up and running with VPN, as indicated by an executive of California- based systems integrator, NanoSpace Inc. Other vendors are predicting that as VPN prices begin to fall, acceptance of the new concept will continue to grow.

RedCreek Communications, for instance, plans to provide a package deal for $3,000 to their VAR and integrator customers that includes the network card, management software, and other components to get them into VPN operations.



Topic 29 /// Something New from Big Blue ///

The buzz word from the White House on down last month was IBM.

IBM Corp. has built a new supercomputer for the government, and has designated it as "Pacific Blue."

Specifically designed for the Dept. of Energy, Pacific Blue can perform 3.9 trillion operations a second and simulate a nuclear bomb test. The news stories noted that the new supercomputer will enable U.S. scientists to determine the reliability of atomic weapons stockpiles without having to actually conduct nuclear weapons tests, which are now prohibited by an international treaty.

Pacific Blue's amazing statistics include its phenomenal speed, which is 15,000 times faster than, and has a storage capacity 80,000 times greater than the average modern PC.

Highly complex problems that would take months to calculate on even our most current high-end desktops will take Pacific Blue just a few days to calculate, according to the officials interviewed. Non-military tasks could be performed by the new machine in service of major industry and weather forecasting. It could help design safer and more advanced aircraft or it could provide more accurate projections of weather and climate changes. In addition, the fields or medicine and health care most certainly could benefit from the tremendous computing power of the Pacific Blue supercomputer.



Topic 30 /// Did Netscape Blow Its Case? ///

Microsoft Corp. not only tried to prove that its cyber-war enemy, Netscape Communications, deliberately set out to entrap the software giant in a 1995 meeting, but it may have actually won that specific battle.

The Monday 10/26/98 government proceedings put Netscape on the hot seat as Microsoft lead attorney John Warden questioned Netscape president Jim Barksdale about documents subpoenaed from the government. Microsoft lawyers are saying the documents show that Netscape set up the meeting and then deliberately structured it in such a manner as to build an antitrust case against their client.

Just one day after the June 21, 1995 meeting, Assistant Attorney General Joel Klein issued a Civil Investigative Demand to Netscape, requesting information about its dealings with Microsoft.

It appears now that the subpoenaed documents did not show up until Saturday, 10/24/98. John Warden then attempted to prove that Netscape vice president Marc Andreessen talked to both in-house counsel as well as Netscape lawyer, Gary Reback about the meeting in hopes of provoking the government to take action.

Microsoft has maintained all the while that Netscape has been using the government's antitrust action to protect itself from competition. In another bold move by Microsoft, the Redmond, Washington software giant filed for sanctions against the government for not turning over the documents previously.

Microsoft called the 1995 meeting with Netscape a "setup."




Gary Miller

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