Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : 3Com Corporation (COMS) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: joe who wrote (17467)	6/16/1998 1:34:00 PM
From: Narotham Reddy	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 45548

3Com and SystemSoft news.. 3Com and SystemSoft are First to Demonstrate Pre-Boot Managed PC Solution for Notebook Computers Business Wire - June 16, 1998 13:16 PC Expo 98 NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 16, 1998-- Leading networking and PC Card software vendors combine forces to bring benefits of remote management to mobile computers 3Com Corporation (NASDAQ:COMS) and SystemSoft (NASDAQ:SYSF) today announced they are the first companies to demonstrate pre-boot management capabilities for notebook PCs. The demonstration at PC Expo 98 shows the benefits of remote manageability and previews a technology that could dramatically lower the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) to corporations that operate and manage notebook PCs. "Imagine the ability to remotely install, service, upgrade and troubleshoot notebooks without visiting each workstation and hunting down laptops," said David Flynn, director of marketing in 3Com's Client Access Business Unit. "3Com's corporate customers expect to manage notebooks the same way they manage desktop PCs." "SystemSoft has spent nearly a decade providing engineering services to the world's leading portable PC manufacturers," said Robert F. Angelo, chairman and CEO, SystemSoft. "SystemSoft is leveraging its expertise to solve a primary mobile concern: manageability. Through our work with industry leaders, SystemSoft is helping IT managers simplify the manageability of, and drive down the TCO costs for, the increasing number of notebooks that are replacing desktops in the enterprise." The demonstration uses a SystemSoft BIOS (Basic Input Output System) extension and a 3Com Megahertz 10/100 LAN CardBus PC Card to execute a pre-boot management environment in which IS managers can complete remote management functions. That means network administrators can remotely perform time-intensive chores such as initial system configuration, software updates, software configuration repairs and getting repaired notebooks back on-line. Recent research shows that network administration costs are up to 60 percent higher for notebook computers than desktop computers. (Gartner Group, 1998) By utilizing this pre-boot technology in the future to operate and manage networked notebooks, system administrators can help significantly lower the TCO associated with notebook computers. The system demonstration supports the Wired for Management (WfM) Baseline Specification. "With most of the leading systems vendors, manageability software suppliers and network card vendors supporting the Wired for Management initiative, all of us can be proud of our achievements in reducing TCO. And as this demonstration shows, more capabilities will be added in the future to support mobile systems," said Terry Dickson, director of the Wired for Management initiative, Intel Corporation. Wired for Management and Beyond This technology demonstration at PC Expo is based on 3Com's Managed PC Boot Agent (MBA) pre-boot technology. In addition to supporting Preboot eXecution Environment (PXE), in line with WfM specification and currently available on most business desktop PCs, 3Com's MBA works across multiple network protocols, including DHCP, BOOTP, RPL and NCP/IPX. Multiple protocol support eases the integration of MBA into existing platforms. 3Com's MBA also includes enhanced configuration and software utilities to enable manageability right out of the box. SystemSoft's mobile PXE BIOS firmware provides Pre-Boot dynamic detection and configuration of the notebook's PC Card controller and PC Card, as well as initiates the network boot sequence. SystemSoft's mobile PXE BIOS firmware is BIOS-vendor independent and also supports the WfM specification. "Once again, SystemSoft is the industry's first firmware technology company to demonstrate support of a key industry specification," said Stephen J. Gentile, vice president of marketing for SystemSoft's Platform Product's Group. "When WfM-enabled PXE is brought to mobile platforms, it will further the effort to make notebooks as fully manageable as desktops are today." In March 1998, 3Com acquired Lanworks Technologies, a leading provider of PC network boot technologies and products, which are critical components of a complete desktop management environment. This acquisition significantly increased 3Com's ability to design and deliver network interface cards that bring "managed PC" functionality to desktop and now mobile computers. The pre-boot support will be available on selected 3Com Megahertz LAN PC Cards during 1999. Commercial availability of SystemSoft's mobile PXE BIOS firmware is expected in the third quarter, 1998.