17 - NetFRAME

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of NetFRAME, a PC network server of NetFRAME Systems Inc. In the past few years, the growth of network computing has been driven by the proliferation of low-cost, powerful personal workstations, network operating system software, emerging standards, and the integration of departmental-level applications with PCs. In a typical network computing environment, a mix of PCs and workstations supplied by multiple vendors share the processing of business applications. Network computing demands high levels of data integrity, system security, integration of multiple operating environments, high I/O throughput, and wide network bandwidth. Key to the implementation of network computing is the server, which directs and processes shared data. However, most server solutions have lacked the reliability, power, and flexibility required in multivendor network computing environments. NetFRAME Systems Incorporated has addressed this network computing need with a PC network server dubbed NetFRAME that combines the reliability, security, and capacity of mainframes with the simplicity, flexibility, and compatibility of personal computers.