To the AFS Community:
Transarc is pleased to announce the availability of PC-Interface for
AFS installations. PC-Interface provides a solution for integrating
PC desktops into the AFS environment. A collection of Questions and
Answers about the product follows this message. More information,
including pricing, is being sent to AFS site contacts. In the
meantime, additional questions may be directed to your AFS
sales representative, or to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Elaine Wolfe
Manager, Marketing Programs
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PC-Interface
Questions & Answers
Is PC-Interface(TM) a new Transarc product?
PC-Interface is a product of Locus Computing Corporation. Until
recently, PC-Interface was limited to use with standard UFS partitions.
Locus(R) and Transarc have collaborated to make the product compatible with
AFS(R) vice partitions, and to enable Transarc to resell PC-Interface to
AFS sites.
What value does PC-Interface add to an existing AFS installation?
PC-Interface enables desktop PCs running MS-DOS 6.0 and Windows 3.1 to
function as AFS client machines. Unlike Transarc's NFS/AFS Translator,
PC-Interface does not require that a PC be running NFS.
Is the PC-Interface software installed on both DOS and UNIX?
PC-Interface consists of both PC and UNIX software. On the UNIX side,
the "server" software is installed on an AFS client machine. This
software is specific to a particular UNIX platform. Each PC requires the
PC-Interface client software, often referred to as the "bridge". This
bridge is universal, and operates with any PC-Interface server.
What UNIX platforms are supported by PC-Interface?
The PC-Interface UNIX-side software can be installed on the following
AFS system types: RS/6000/AIX 3.2, HP700 & 800/HP-UX 9.0, Sun
SPARC/SunOS 4.1.3 & Solaris 2.3.
How does PC-Interface work?
The PC (client) connects to a UNIX host (server) using standard DOS and
Windows programs. Part of the process includes AFS authentication, with
tokens being stored on the AFS UNIX host. The next available DOS or
Window drive is assigned to /afs and the PC user sees the remote AFS
UNIX resources as a local drive. For example, /afs would appear as a
DOS "D:" drive in DOS commands, in the Windows File Manager and in
DOS/Windows applications. From there, standard DOS and Windows commands
are used to access and manipulate UNIX files.
How are user identifies and file access controlled?
A PC user is given an AFS authentication account in order to gain access
to AFS through the UNIX host. This identity is used on AFS access
control lists to assign access rights, although the PC user cannot
modify ACLs directly from the PC. To modify ACLs, a PC user will telnet
to an AFS UNIX machine.
With PC-Interface, what files reside on a PC client?
Like any AFS client, the PC client only needs to store the most basic
start-up and configuration files on its own disk. DOS and Windows
application programs are stored in AFS and run directly from the PC
client as if those files were local to the PC. With an appropriate
terminal emulator, the PC client may also run UNIX programs from AFS.
Do AFS replication benefits extend to the PC-Interface client?
As long as PC programs are replicated on multiple AFS servers, a
PC-Interface client will switch over to another AFS server should the
server it is accessing become unavailable.
What are the advantages of PC-Interface over the NFS/AFS Translator?
Because PC-Interface does not require NFS, it is a simpler approach to
PC integration. AFS PC clients can be established without the
administrative overhead that accompanies NFS. From there, PC users
access files in AFS with familiar DOS and Windows commands. Because NFS
is not installed on the PC, memory requirements are much lower.
Does PC-Interface co-exist with Novell Netware?
PC-Interface provides users with concurrent access to both NetWare
servers and UNIX servers. For PC's that are already on a NetWare
network, PC-Interface will integrate AFS resources as an additional
drive. For example, DOS and Windows users may see NetWare files and
applications as drive "D:" and AFS files and applications as drive "E:".
How is PC-Interface licensed?
PC-Interface uses server-based licensing. The number of licensed client
machines is recorded by the PC-Interface server (AFS client machine).
Although the client PC-Interface software may be installed on any number
of PC clients, the server will only permit the licensed number of PC
clients to establish connections with the server at any given time ---
concurrent use licensing. PC-Interface servers are licensed on a
per-server basis.
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AFS and Transarc are registered trademarks of Transarc Corporation.
Locus is a registered trademark and PC-Interface is a trademark of Locus
Computing Corporation. All others names appearing herein may be
trademarks or registered trademarks of third parties.
