IBM 4690 Operating System Now Supports Telxon Wireless Adapters

Transcription

1 Software Announcement January 19, 1999 IBM 4690 Operating System Now Supports Telxon Wireless Adapters Overview IBM 4690 Operating System (OS), the leading in-store processor operating system, is now enhanced with support for Telxon Wireless LAN adapters. For users of IBM Store Systems, it offers a flexible solution for communication between point of sale (POS) terminals and their controllers by providing an effective alternative to the standard cabling used today. Benefits of the Telxon Wireless LAN include: Wiring cost savings Flexibility Quick installation or changes Greater mobility of the workstation placement Capability to use portable devices, using the same access points Enhanced end-user productivity Key Prerequisites IBM 4690 Operating System Version 1 at level 9900 OR IBM 4690 Operating System Version 2. Telxon wireless adapters in the terminals. Telxon access points to bridge from the wired Ethernet LAN to the wireless adapters. Planned Availability Dates January 22, 1999, for 4690 OS Version 1 ( ) March 12, 1999, for 4690 OS Version 2 (5639-F53) At a Glance A new wireless feature for the IBM 4690 Operating System expands the effectiveness of IBM s leading in-store processor operating system by offering: Increased flexibility in terminal connections This IBM 4690 Operating System feature, included in Version 2, is separately orderable on Version 1 and easily installed. EXTRA! EXTRA!... Subscribe to IBM isource, your electronic source for customized IBM information! Go to our web site at or send an to info@isource.ibm.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in the body. This announcement is provided for your information only. For additional information, contact your IBM representative, call 800-IBM-4YOU, or visit the IBM home page at: IBM United States IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation

2 Description IBM 4690 Operating System (OS), is now enhanced with support for Telxon Wireless LAN adapters. For users of IBM Store Systems, it offers a flexible solution for communication between point of sale (POS) terminals and their controllers by providing an effective alternative to the standard cabling used today. The Telxon wireless LAN adapter provides users of point of sale (POS) terminals access to an Ethernet local area network (LAN) by way of Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) wireless communications using the 2.4 GHz frequency band. The Telxon Wireless LAN communicates using radio waves between an access point on the network backbone and remote wireless workstations, within a geographical area referred to as a cell. In the past, in-store communication has usually been done over cables that connect POS terminals to their controllers. Cables offer a dependable medium for transferring data, but one that is often expensive to install and limited in flexibility when adding or relocating workstations. The Telxon Wireless LAN is most effective: When providing in-store communications in buildings that are difficult to wire In placing terminals in temporary locations for sales or special promotions Where there is frequent remodeling or arranging of sales areas When installing additional terminals on short notice Where there is no easy access to a wired LAN The Telxon Wireless LAN is capable of providing coverage and receptivity in large and small retail environments. Note: Multiple controllers are still supported on the LAN The wired LAN must be Ethernet Access Points cover about 150,000 square feet The wired LAN can support terminals running 4690 The controllers can still support loop terminals running 4690 All wireless terminals are running 4690 The wireless terminals are , or (other models may be added at a later time) There can be multiple base stations within the configuration Store Loop terminals can also communicate with the Telxon access point through the Aironet Universal Client wireless LAN adapter

3 For more information about the Telxon Wireless LAN technology and product, contact the Telxon Corporation or visit their Web site: Year 2000 This product is Year 2000 ready. When used in accordance with its associated documentation, it is capable of correctly processing, providing, and/or receiving date data within and between the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, provided that all products (for example, hardware, software, and firmware) used with the product properly exchange accurate date data with it. Product Positioning This new feature supports the same store environments supported by the IBM 4690 OS features and offers a functional enhancement allowing the 4690 OS to operate more effectively as an in-store processor. Hardware and Software Support Services SmoothStart /Installation Services IBM SmoothStart and Installation Services are not provided. Reference Information For additional product information, refer to: Software Announcement , dated June 1, 1993 (IBM 4690 OS Version 1) Software Announcement , dated September 27, 1994 (Revised Terms and Conditions) Software Announcement , dated October 4, 1994 (Enhancements to 4690 OS V1) Software Announcement , dated September 9, 1997 (New Features for IBM 4690 OS V1) Software Announcement , dated June 2, 1998 (IBM 4690 OS V1 Enhanced with new options) Trademarks SmoothStart is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States or other countries or both. Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others

4 IBM US Announcement Supplemental Information January 19, 1999 Technical Information Specified Operating Environment Hardware Requirements: Support for the Telxon Wireless LAN adapter requires the following IBM products POS Terminal model 104, 144 or 244 Telxon Access Points for Ethernet 630 Access Point (Wireless-to-Ethernet LAN bridge) AND Telxon PCMCIA Wireless LAN adapter ARLAN 690 PCMCIA radio Available in 2.4 GHz DSSS Software Requirements: Support for Telxon Wireless LAN adapter requires the following software in addition to the Telxon Wireless feature number: IBM 4690 Operating System Version 1 at level 9900 or later or IBM 4690 Operating System Version 2 IBM 4690 Operating System Version 1 Featurization diskette at maintenance level 9800 or later for V1 use LAN Terminal-to-Controller Communications Telxon IBM 4694 Wireless POS Configuration Disk Limitations: IBM has certified that up to 20 wireless POS terminals per site can be supported with the 2.4 GHz DSSS radio. According to Telxon information, access points cover about 150,000 square feet. Planning Information Packaging: This feature will be shipped on the IBM 4690 Operating System Version 1 package at level This feature is included in the IBM 4690 Operating System Version 2 package. Security, Auditability, and Control The announced programs use the security and auditability features of the IBM 4690 OS, which include: Authorization services (password) for each user and files protected from unauthorized access, which may be specified by the user during configuration. The customer is responsible for evaluation, selection, and implementation of security features, administrative procedures, and appropriate controls in application systems and communication facilities. Ordering Information Current Licensees Current licensees can order the new feature via MES by specifying the applicable feature number for a one-time charge. The Telxon Wireless Feature must be ordered per store terminal. Function for the feature in this announcement is enabled using the IBM 4690 Operating System featurization diskette. No media is shipped. Once an MES order is placed, current licensees should request the following PTF in the language desired: UR50500 (English), UR50501 (French), UR50502 (German), UR50503 (French-Canadian), UR50504 (Danish), UR50505 (Spanish). New Licensees For ordering information on the base program, IBM 4690 Operating System Version 1, refer to Software Announcement , dated June 2, Support Line-Premium (SLP) is described in the Store Systems Support Family Enhancements announcement. Refer to Services Announcement , dated August 6, Orders for new licenses will be accepted now. Shipment will begin on the planned availability date. New users of IBM 4690 Operating System Version 1 should specify: Type Model Basic License: To order the Telxon Wireless feature for the basic license, specify the program number and feature number 9001 for asset registration. Specify feature number 4083 for a one-time charge (OTC) and the desired quantity (maximum 250 per feature number per order). The Telxon Wireless feature must be ordered per store terminal. Basic Machine-Readable Material: No distribution medium is shipped. The Telxon Wireless feature is enabled using the Featurization diskette that is available with the IBM 4690 Operating System Version 1 ( ). Customization Options: Select the appropriate feature numbers to customize your order to specify the delivery options desired. These features can be specified on the initial or MES orders. Example: If publications are not desired for the initial order, specify feature number 3470 to ship media only. This announcement is provided for your information only. For additional information, contact your IBM representative, call 800-IBM-4YOU, or visit the IBM home page at: IBM United States IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation

5 For future updates, specify feature number 3480 to ship media updates only. If, in the future, publication updates are required, order an MES to remove feature number 3480; then, the publications will ship with the next release of the program. Description Feature Number Initial Shipments Serial Number Only (suppresses shipment 3444 of media and documentation) Ship Media Only (suppresses initial 3470 shipment of documentation) Ship Documentation Only (suppresses 3471 initial shipment of media) Update Shipments Ship Media Updates Only (suppresses 3480 update shipment of documentation) Ship Documentation Only (suppresses 3481 update shipment of media) Suppress Updates (suppresses update 3482 shipment of media and documentation) Expedite Shipments Local IBM Office Expedite 3445 (for IBM use only) Customer Expedite Process Charge 3446 ($30 charge for each product) Expedite shipments will be processed to receive 72-hour delivery from the time IBM Software Delivery Solutions (SDS) receives the order. SDS will then ship the order via overnight air transportation. Unlicensed Documentation: No publications are shipped with the announced product. Subsequent updates (technical newsletters or revisions between releases) to the publications shipped with the product will be distributed to the user of record for as long as a license for this software remains in effect. A separate publication order or subscription is not needed. Terms and Conditions The terms for IBM 4690 Operating System Version 1, as previously announced (Software Announcement , dated June 1, 1993, and Software Announcement , dated September 27, 1994) licensed under the IBM Customer Agreement are unaffected by this announcement