To: Stever AT Los Angeles@GRiD1 From: Jefferson@Marketing@GRiD Subject: Re: XIRCOM Date sent: 07/11/89 4:53 PM Copies: schlipper at marketing Strang AT Federal AT GRiD1 In reply to the message of 6/30/89 10:24 AM from Stever AT Los Angeles@GRiD1 Rick, since we have been playing phone tag, I thought I would mail you information I have. I am copying Will because first, he has my unit and second, he understands networks and tempest better than I. So Will, feel free to correct my statements or make any additional comments regarding the application. Does CINPAC want the ENTIRE network to be tempest, including cables? If so, even Xircom is not an immediate (if any) solution. There are no networks other than fiber-optic which will even come close to not transmitting inforamtion through the wire. If just the computer-to-network (Xircom) connection needs to be tempest, I do not envision too big a problem once I find someone to tempest it. I am also forwarding some mail from Will regarding fiber. It may offer you additional information. -------------------------------------------- Judy ... I might as well add something else for you! I have a customer at CINCPAC Hawaii that has already place $170K worth of 1537 business with NSA - eventhough it isn't on the IDIQ yet. Don't ask, Tom Hunt does some stuff with mirrors. The application is highly classified but is deployed on aircraft. They have been using 1307s and 1727s for proof of concept and are now ready to move to a fast/more data system. Part of the requirements is that it must be small, can not be attached to the plane (requires months and months of security agency work to modify the plane), must share data (25-30MB), needs 3 workstations and everyone is within 15 feets of each other. Since we haven't had a TEMPEST network solution, they were looking at serial to serial daisy chain cabling with alot of custom software. Lou mentioned the XIRCOM stuff and it sounds like a natural. The issue is TEMPEST. Must have it. They would like to use a network, actually most any network, that supports multi-user database access with mirror imaging to another device on the network for back-up purposes. Potential: CINCPAC has already briefed all CINCs with nuclear responsibility on their project. Europe and Atlantic CINCs have taken a portion of the software and are using the prototype already. Most all would use the 1537 solution. According to my reading, there are 40+ planes and some ground locations that could use the system. Each plane would have 2 to 4 1537s so upside is around 200 machines or $2M+. I hope this is enough to move the priority up. Give me a call to discuss. Rick -------------------------------------------- To: All Federal Field AT Customer Mkt From: Rudy AT Federal Subject: Re: XIRCOM Pocket Ethernet Adapter (Parallel Port to ethernet) Date sent: 06/29/89 11:48 AM Copies: jefferson at marketing;schlipper at marketing In reply to the message of 06/28/89 2:18 PM from Jefferson@Marketing@GRiD: All, Xircom has a product that will go from a parallel port to thin and thick ethernet. They currently have drivers for Novell LANs. 3Com (3+share) is next (in about two months). This would be a good method for getting 1537s on a LAN. Below, Judy Jefferson (Federal Product Marketing and Lou's assistant) states tempesting of the product is not a top priority right now. She also states that fiber is not high on the priority list. (Many classified LANs require fiber due to the inability to pick up the signal). I realize that the first priority is to get the 1537 into production, but after that, connectivity will be important. If you have input on this, I suggest you contact her. Scott -------------------------------------------- In reply to the message of 6/28/89 2:50 PM from Rudy AT Federal@GRiD1 Scott and company, No problem in me sending (LOANING) the Xircom Adapter to you for receipt on or around July 10. PLEASE be sure it gets returned to me! thanks The 3+share driver is expected to be complete in 2 months. They are VERY conservative and do not tend to announce product until it is in production. (What a concept!) They have not announce 3+share but since it is in development, that schedule looks good. They will be investigating fiber - at some point. They gave no indication whatsoever when that would be. They have many many items on the plate so don't plan on fiber in the near (or not so near) future. IF IT IS A BIG ISSUE, with loads and loads of potential, we may be able to sway their development. Also, let me know what additional environments and networks and potentials (if they exist) for the different products. Xircom is using our input for product development. I will address the tempesting of the unit. Not a top priority for me. If it should be or needs to be, let me know. Judy. -------------------------------------------- In reply to the message of 06/27/89 11:40 AM from Jefferson@Marketing@GRiD: Judy, Thank you for the information! We would love to test the unit with Novell now, and then when 3+share support becomes available, we would like to test it too (We proposed 3+share for the LAN-OS in the bid due to the unique disk drive configuration). (When will the 3+share driver be available?). Could you send us the unit and Novell drivers so that it arrives by 10 July 89? Tempesting it may not be a problem for this unique bid, althought I'm sure the other Federal Marketing Reps and Ken Thomas are interested in having it Tempested so that GRiD can offer a complete Tempest networking solution. The customer would like to see a connection to fiber instead of thin ethernet. We are currently telling them that only thin ethernet is supported, but as a backup, I'm curious - when will the Xircom device, if ever, be able to connect to fiber? I believe you said that they currently support thin and thick ethernet, right? Thanks Judy Scott -------------------------------------------- 6/27 - I forgot one small item (ha ha) Tempest requirements for the bid - No one has said at what point the configuration needs to be tempest. I need to know in a short amount of time so that if the Xircom adapter needs to be tempest, we can start planning now. I don't know how we will accomplish tempesting it, but I'm sure there are ways. So, please let me know the requirements. judy I met today with two of the players from Xircom. They confirmed that 3+share was the next software application for thin ethernet that would be available. 3+open is up in the air as to how it will happen since there are 35 lan manager licencees involved. Regardless, they plan on having both available by the end of the year. Price is $695 qty 1-100, over 100 is 50% discount. No plan for GSA, would like to piggy back with someone, I am looking into that someone being us. Disk space required for driver is equivalent as any representative driver for that network application. Possible issues - color is grey, requires separate power supply. We (GRiD) is looking into splitting our power cable so only one for the system is required. Don't plan on that yet. I'll keep you informed. Great news? I have one here that I can LOAN to you so you can touch and feel and see what it looks like. The software is for Novell Netware. Please return in 2 weeks. If you need more time, let me know. Judy. PS - I hope this helps. We are in the process of testing this with a variety of Grid systems. The 1537 will be on the list when it is available.