Specifications
Introducing the AM-6060 Network Server
Dear Alpha Microsystems VAR:
here was a time when every Alpha Micro user sat at an alphanumeric terminal with an
RS-232 connection to an AMOS host. That picture has been changing for years, driven by
networks, PCs, and an upheaval in marketing and distribution. Alpha Micro has introduced
many products and services to help you stay close to this evolving market. Software such as
AlphaNET and AlphaTCP; Ethernet controllers with steadily improving performance; and an
infrastructure of network-knowledgeable support are but a few examples.
It’s now our privilege to announce a new system designed for networking: the Alpha Microsystems
AM-6060 Network Server.
•
Fitted to the marketplace
—The AM-6060 (pronounced Sixty-Sixty) is optimized for
networking. Components, configurations, and plans for future enhancement are all directed
toward one goal: delivering top performance at workstations networked to an AMOS host.
•
Compatible with current products
—Power in the AM-6060 flows from the same MC68060-
based processor used in our AM-6000 system. A 32-bit bus-master Ethernet controller, with
10BaseT external port, is standard. Standard too is a 16-bit Wide SCSI bus that supports our full
line of disks, tapes, and other SCSI peripherals. The AM-6060 is also available with a narrow
SCSI bus, upgradeable to Wide SCSI when the need arises.
•
The right software
—AlphaTCP 1.4, standard in the AM-6060, includes TAME—short for
T
CP
A
ccess
M
ade
E
asy. TAME is a tool that lets you add TCP communications to any
AlphaBASIC or AMOS assembly language application. This brings the networking power of
TCP/IP to the heart of your business: your end-user applications.
•
Optimized for networks, adaptable for growth
—Since it’s network-oriented, the AM-6060
differs from other Alpha Micro systems in one key respect: serial ports. The AM-6060 has just
four, intended mainly for connection to high-speed modems. All other users connect via the
network. Site requirements can change, of course, so the AM-6060 is designed to adapt. A field
upgrade, installed inside the original chassis, converts the system into an AM-6000. Full serial
port expandability is then available.
•
Superior performance
—The AM-6060, like the AM-6000, is a performance powerhouse. Our
benchmarks show TELNET sessions on the network delivering 50% more throughput than serial
connections. See “System Performance,” later in the bulletin, for details.
•
Preconfigured for easier installation
—To help first-time networkers get started, we ship the
AM-6060 with the software configured and a PIC code installed. Plug in to the Ethernet, set up a
workstation, and you’re ready to run. Our Technical Assistance Center can guide you through
changes to tailor the system to site requirements. See “Preconfigured Setup” for an introduction.
T