http://www.microsoft.com/BackOffice/READING/bo103095.htm (PC Press Internet CD, 03/1996)=========================================================
Microsoft(R) BackOffice News Electronic Newsletter
Vol. 1, #1, October 30, 1995
=========================================================
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
As part of Microsoft's continuing commitment to providing customers with timely information about our products and services, I am proud to introduce you to the inaugural issue of the Microsoft BackOffice News!
BackOffice News is a bi-weekly newsletter designed for people interested in Microsoft's BackOffice, the one fully integrated Server suite that's designed to work together, yet still offers you the greatest choice of both hardware and third-party applications and support. Microsoft BackOffice includes the following products:
Server Operating System:
- Windows NT Server: the network foundation that gives you high- performance file/print services while providing the infrastructure to run powerful client-server applications
Server Applications:
- SQL Server: for managing and storing data
- Systems Management Server: for managing PCs and servers
- SNA Server: for PC-to-Host connectivity
- Mail Server/Exchange Server: for communicating with anyone, anywhere
The goal of BackOffice News is to provide pointers to the most current product information on Microsoft BackOffice available on the World Wide Web and Microsoft Network (MSN) sites. These can be found in sections labeled "Summaries with Shortcuts". We will also publish quick, timely updates on product developments not yet documented online. These news bits can be found in sections labeled "Headline News". Information will be put into four sections as follows:
1. BACKOFFICE NEWS FLASH
Articles pertaining to key aspects of the Microsoft BackOffice family including general product information, case studies, technical information, and updates on strategic partnerships with third parties.
2. INTERNET PRODUCTS *Special Feature*
For the next few months this section will focus on Microsoft's upcoming Internet server products.
3. FROM OUR READERS
Comments and feedback from BackOffice News subscribers
4. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION FAQ
Answers to frequently asked questions on subscribing, unsubscribing and telling your friends about BackOffice News
If you have comments, suggestions or general feedback on this newsletter, we want to hear from you. Just send e-mail to us at: backofficenews-feedback@microsoft.bhs.com. We may not be able to respond to you individually, but we will be highlighting suggestions in our "From Our Readers" section
Read, surf and enjoy. And if you want to continue to receive BackOffice News, please remember to subscribe.
Rob Bayuk
BackOffice News Editor
____________________________________________________________________
Editor's Note: To meet our objective of keeping you informed, we employ much of the same technology that will be discussed in this newsletter. For example, Windows NT Server and SQL Server provide a reliable foundation for the list server that manages both Microsoft(R) BackOffice News and our sister publication Microsoft(R) WinNT News. In addition, http://www.microsoft.com, one of the busiest web servers in the world, is powered by Windows NT Server.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. BACKOFFICE NEWS FLASH
-------------------------
1.1 SUMMARIES WITH SHORTCUTS
1.11 BackOffice Overview
> What is BackOffice? and what's new in the BackOffice 1.5 release?
1.12 TPC-C BENCHMARKS: SQL Server 6.0 Sets New Record!
> Compaq runs benchmarks with SQL on a Proliant
1.13 NEW - TECHNOLOGY BRIEF
> Getting Real Advantage from Networking Technology
1.14 INDUSTRY REPORTS AND REVIEWS
> Check out how the industry views BackOffice products.
1.15 WINDOWS NT C2 CERTIFICATION
> Details now online!
1.16 SNA SERVER WHITEPAPER DETAILS INTERGRATION WITH WINDOWS 95
> Connect your Windows 95 machine to your IBM host. Download the Windows 95 client for free!
1.2 HEADLINE NEWS
1.21 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR SISTER NEWSLETTER - WinNT News
1.22 WINDOWS NT SERVER WINS EDITOR'S CHOICE AWARD
1.23 SNA SERVER NAMED EDITOR'S CHOICE
1.24 CLUSTERING STRATEGY FOR WINDOWS NT SERVER AND BACKOFFICE
2. INTERNET PRODUCTS *Special Feature*
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2.1 SUMMARIES WITH SHORTCUTS
2.11 JIM ALLCHIN KEYNOTE at Networld+Interop '95
> Talks About Microsoft Internet Strategy, video clips and a slideshow
2.12 OVER 700 WEB SITES POWERED BY WINDOWS NT TODAY
> See the complete list and checkout the "NT Web Site of the Week"
2.2 HEADLINE NEWS
2.21 TECHNOLOGY PREVIEW: INTERNET WORLD/BOSTON
3. FROM OUR READERS
---------------------
In this section we will spotlight feedback we receive from our readers.
4. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION FAQ
--------------------------------
4.1 Why did I receive this newsletter, I've never subscribed to it?
4.2 I already filled out the survey, what next?
4.3 Someone forwarded me a copy of BackOffice News and I want to keep receiving it?
4.4 How do I quit this list?
4.5 How do I change my address?
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1. BACKOFFICE NEWS FLASH
-------------------------
1.1 SUMMARIES WITH SHORTCUTS
1.12 BACKOFFICE OVERVIEW
What is BackOffice? and what's new in the BackOffice 1.5 release?
Microsoft BackOffice version 1.5 is an integrated family of server software built on the Windows NT Server operating system. The family consists of Windows NT Server 3.51, as the network foundation; Microsoft SQL Server 6.0 for managing and storing data; Microsoft SNA Server 2.11 for host connectivity; Systems Management Server 1.1 for managing PCs and servers; and Microsoft Mail Server 3.5 for distributing information. BackOffice 1.5 represents a significant upgrade of each one of the individual components in the family, and includes tighter integration within the family and with Windows 95 and Office 95.
The Microsoft BackOffice family of server software is available, for the first time, as a single packaged SKU. This BackOffice 1.5 Server Product will include a unified installation program for all component server software, and must be installed on a single server machine. Each of the BackOffice family of server software will continue to be available individually. Additionally, a BackOffice SDK is available.
For more details on Microsoft BackOffice 1.5, go to:
on the Web: http://www.microsoft.com/BackOffice/MBO00000.htm
on MSN: GO MSBKOFFICE - Product Information/Overview BBS
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1.13 TPC-C Benchmarks: SQL 6 Sets New Record!
This week Compaq submitted the first TPC-C benchmarks ever for the Windows NT Server platform running SQL Server 6.0! Running on a 4-way Compaq Proliant 4500, SQL Server set a new industry record for price/performance, achieving a 2454.97 transactions per minute at a cost of $241.64 per transaction. This is the lowest cost per transaction ever, and the best raw performance ever for systems costing less than $1 million! In addition, these benchmarks were run using ODBC clients, which should kill folklore that ODBC is slow.
For details on the benchmarks, go to:
on the Web: http://www.microsoft.com/SQL
on MSN: GO MSSQL - Product Information/Overview BBS
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1.14 Technology Brief: Getting Real Advantage from Networking Technology
This paper highlights the features of an effective distributed system foundation and how Windows NT Server provides comprehensive support for basic network services and mission-critical applications.
ABSTRACT:
Businesses today are changing the way they deal with their networks. In the past, most organizations used their networks primarily as a file sharing and print service. Today, businesses look at their information systems as an investment that gives them a strategic, competitive advantage. The role of the network is shifting from file and print sharing within a workgroup to distributed information systems which support mission-critical business applications. Microsoft(r) Windows NT Server is a robust, multi-purpose foundation that is designed to be both an excellent file and print server as well as a complete, mission-critical applications server.
For the details on Microsoft's Networking Technology, go to:
on the Web: http://www.microsoft.com/NTServer/adv1.htm
on MSN: GO MSNTS - Product Information/Technical Resources BBS
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1.15 INDUSTRY REPORTS AND REVIEWS
We've introduced a new feature section on both the web site and MSN forum to highlight what other publications and analysts are saying about BackOffice products and how they review them.
Check this new section out:
on the Web: http://www.microsoft.com/BackOffice go to "Reading Room"
on MSN: GOMSBACKOFFICE go to "Reading Room"
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1.16 WINDOWS NT C2 CERTIFICATION
Originally mentioned in our sister newsletter "WinNTNews" Windows NT Workstation and Windows NT Server have achieved the National Computer Security Center (NCSC), a division of the National Security Agency (NSA) that Windows NT 3.5 satisfies all of the requirements as class C2.
For details on Windows NT Workstation and Windows NT Server and C2, go to:
on the Web:
Windows NT Server & C2-
http://www.microsoft.com/NTServer/c2bltn.htm
Windows NT Workstation & C2-
http://www.microsoft.com/NTWorkstation/c2.htm
on MSN:
GO MSNTS - Product Information/Overview BBS
GO MSNTW - Product Information/Overview BBS
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1.17 NEW WHITEPAPER: SNA SERVER AND WINDOWS 95 CONNECTING TO IBM HOSTS
Microsoft is at the forefront of the recent Windows 95 technological evolution. Windows 95 and the myriad of complementary products offer to significantly change the way large numbers of end users perform their daily tasks, which in turn offers to improve personal productivity on the job. For instance, one such offer of improved productivity and profitability is to employ Windows 95 as a client operating system, combined with Windows NT Server and Microsoft SNA Server as the mainframe and AS/400 access conduit. This combination holds the potential to improve the productivity of both end users and administrators to a degree not before realized. The complete solution promised by these products is substantially more than just terminal emulation.
For the complete whitepaper on connecting Windows 95 desktops to IBM hosts and to download the Windows 95 client, go to:
on the Web: http://www.microsoft.com/SNA/ - Technical Resources
on MSN: GO MSSNA - Product Information/Technical Resources BBS
1.2 HEADLINES NEWS
-----------------------
1.21 WinNTNews: New Electronic Newsletter
Last week our sister newsletter WinNT News, shipped to over 2,000 subscribers and the list has already grown to over 4,000 people! WinNT News is designed for people with specific interest in the Windows NT operating system. Similar in content and format to BackOffice News, WinNT News provides an excellent complement providing detailed information on Windows NT, the operating system foundation for all BackOffice server products. We will alternate mailings of each of these newsletters, so you'll only receive one of these respective newsletters each week. Subscribe to WinNT News today!
To subscribe, go to:
on the Web: http://www.microsoft.com/BackOffice/subscribe.htm
OR
send the command
subscribe winntnews
as the first line of your message to:
winntnews-admin@microsoft.bhs.com
on MSN: GO MSBACKOFFICE - News Flash Folder
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1.22 Windows NT Server 3.51 Wins PC Magazine Editor's Choice Award
The award, for Application Server Operating System, is in the October Issue. Windows NT Server was evaluated against OS/2 SMP 2.11, SCO Open Server Release 5, and UnixWare 2.01. The review criteria was based on 4 particular factors: performance, setup and configuration, fault tolerance and management utilities.
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1.23 SNA Server Named Editor's Choice by the Internetwork Magazine
SNA Server is the winner of INTERNETWORK Magazine's 1995 Standards Achievement Award in the category for Best SNA Gateway. The award recognizes excellence in technology development in the internetworking industry. The Standards Achievement Awards are also named Editor's Choice. The magazine polled its entire team of technology exports, including their full-time editors, monthly columnists/analysts, field reporters, regular contributors and the non-vendor-affiliated members of the magazines advisory board.
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1.24 Microsoft Announces Clustering Strategy for Windows NT Server and BackOffice
We will work with industry partners to deliver clustering for Windows NT Server and the BackOffice family of server software. With this clustering, customers can connect a group of servers together to improve overall system performance and reliability. Our approach will not require proprietary interconnection hardware between the servers. We will be working with: AT&T GIS, Compaq, Digital, Hewlett-Packard, and Tandem.
2. INTERNET PRODUCTS *Special Feature*
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2.1 SUMMARIES AND SHORTCUTS
2.12 Jim Allchin Keynote Talks About Microsoft's Internet Strategy
Sept. 28th, Jim Allchin, Senior Vice President, Microsoft's Business Systems, gave the keynote speech, "Distributed Computing: Private and Public", at Networld + Interop in Atlanta, GA. Jim focused on Microsoft's Internet strategy and talked about the code names "Gibraltar" (web information server ), "Catapult" (secure internet access server) and "Merchant" (secure business transaction server).
To review the presentation Jim made online and watch some video clips, go to:
on the Web: http://www.microsoft.com/BackOffice/Internet
on MSN: MSBKOFFICE - Product Information/Overview BBS
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2.13 OVER 700 WEB SITES ALREADY POWERED BY WINDOWS NT
Beverly Hills Software maintains an interesting and diverse list of people who have built their web servers on Windows NT. Each week they highlight one of these sites as their "NT Web Site of the Week." If your running a web site on Windows NT add your site to the list!
This site also contains lots of great information on Windows NT resources on the Internet, go to:
on the Web:
http://www.bhs.com/ - "NT Web Site of the Week"
http://www.bhs.com/NTwebs - list of Windows NT powered web sites
2.2 HEADLINE NEWS
---------------------
2.21 TECHNOLOGY PREVIEW: Internet World/Boston - Microsoft Internet server products
This week at Internet World (Oct 30-Nov 1), The World Trade Center, Boston, MA. Microsoft will be demonstrating some of its upcoming Internet server software technologies based on Windows NT Server in our booth. Watch this newsletter for the latest, up-to-date information on these products and technologies and when they're available. We focus on these products in the coming months.
For more information on signing-up for Internet World, go to:
on the Web: http://www.mecklerweb.com
3. FROM OUR READERS
---------------------
In this section, we will highlight some of your comments and questions, about how we can improve this newsletter so it brings you the information you need. We won't be able to respond to all comments individually, but we will read them all.
Please let us know, if you DO NOT want us to use your name or print your feedback.
Please send feedback to:
backofficenews-feedback@microsoft.bhs.com
4. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMARTION FAQ
----------------------------------
FAQ on subscribing, unsubscribing and telling your friends about BackOffice News:
4.1
Q: WHY DID I RECEIVE THIS NEWSLETTER, I'VE NEVER SUBSCRIBED TO IT?
A: The BackOffice Team has sent this newsletter to customers and organizations, user groups interested in Windows NT, including the subscribers of our sister newsletter WinNT News. We plan to mail the first two issues of BackOffice News to this group and we encourage you to subscribe if the information looks useful to you or send us feedback on how we might make this newsletter better meet your needs, as a person interested in Microsoft networking and server technology.
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4.2
Q: I ALREADY FILLED OUT THE SURVEY ON THE WEB OR VIA E-MAIL, WHAT NEXT?
A: Once you've filled out the questionnaire, we'll automatically keep sending BackOffice News to you twice a month, these mailings will be coordinated with our sister newsletter WinNT News, so you'll only get one mailing each week.
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4.3
Q: SOMEONE FORWARDED ME A COPY OF BACKOFFICE NEWS, ILIKE IT AND I WANT TO KEEP RECEIVING IT?
A: To subscribe via the web or e-mail:
on the Web: http://www.bhs.com/microsoft.backofficenews/ and fill out the form there.
OR
fill out the survey at the end of this newsletter, and send it to:
backofficenews-questionnaire@microsoft.bhs.com
OR
send the command
subscribe backofficenews
as the first line of your message to
backofficenews-admin@microsoft.bhs.com
you'll receive the survey back in the mail that you'll need to return.
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4.4
Q: HOW DO I QUIT THIS LIST?
A: Send the command
unsubscribe backofficenews
as the first line of your message to
backofficenews-admin@microsoft.bhs.com
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4.5
Q: HOW DO I CHANGE MY ADDRESS?
A: On the web: http://www.bhs.com/microsoft/change.address
OR
send the command
unsubscribe backofficenews as the first line of your message to
backofficenews-admin@microsoft.bhs.com
then subscribe again under your new address.
===================================================================
BACKOFFICE NEWS SURVEY
E-MAIL SURVEY TO: backofficenews-questionnaire@microsoft.bhs.com
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01-1 TO 20 :COSIZE=
4) What is your current Network Operating System? (Please indicate
all
that apply) For multiple choices enter as comma delimited list
(1,3,7) :NETOS= 5) What is your current Desktop Operating System (Please indicate
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that apply) For multiple choices enter as comma delimited list
(1,3,7) :DTOS= ____________________________________________________________________
What is your email address:
EMAIL=
What is your preferred phone number
:PHONE=
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:NAME= For country use 2 letter designation. What issues would you like to see covered in this newsletter?
(end text with blank line)
:ISSUES
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IF YOU HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT YOUR LOOKING FOR IN THIS NEWSLETTER, STOP BY
ONE OF OUR ONLINE SITES:
On the World Wide Web point your browser to:
http://www.microsoft.com/BackOffice
On the Microsoft Network (MSN):
Categories/Computers&Software/Computer Companies &
Organizations/Software Companies/Microsoft
OR
GO MSBACKOFFICE
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