News from Acorn Computers PR121/8.6.95 Acorn SchoolServer - The Network Server That Talks To Everybody Acorn Computers, one of the world's leading suppliers of information technology to schools, has announced Acorn SchoolServer, the first high performance network server for mixed platform educational environments. The product has been developed by Acorn using solutions from Microsoft Ltd, IBM(R) OEM Europe and ANT Limited in response to the growing demand from education for sophisticated network server solutions capable of sharing printers, hardware and software resources across Acorn, PC and Mac environments. Acorn SchoolServer is one of the first new products to be based on IBM's PowerPC technology, pre-installed with Microsoft(R) SchoolServer architecture, based on Microsoft(R) Windows NT(TM) Server 3.5 network operating system. Acorn OmniClient(TM) is installed on Acorn RISC OS client computers enabling connection to Acorn SchoolServer. Acorn, Apple and PC users can all store and retrieve files on Acorn SchoolServer, allowing schools to integrate their mixed IT environments on the same server for the first time. Acorn has always been committed to working with partners to ensure that it remains at the forefront of emerging technologies. Acorn's relationships with ANT Limited, IBM and Microsoft to bring Acorn SchoolServer to market underline the company's expertise both in developing innovative, new products and bringing together key skills and technologies from within the Acorn developer community and the general computing industry to deliver world beating solutions to target markets. Sam Wauchope, Managing Director, Acorn Computer Group plc, comments: "Acorn's heritage is in delivering innovative and effective IT solutions to education by working with teachers and educationalists to understand what schools need. Our knowledge of educational IT and our profile in education allows us to identify, develop and seek out a mix of appropriate hardware and software products from third party partners to deliver world-class solutions, like Acorn SchoolServer, to our target markets." He continues: "Acorn computers are valued for their ability to enhance creativity and for curriculum use but we appreciate that some schools use other systems. Acorn SchoolServer allows schools to make full use of all of their IT resources, and, for sites currently without Acorn systems, it is an ideal introduction to the very best of Acorn and educational IT." Acorn SchoolServer has been designed in particular for secondary schools and tertiary education sites requiring powerful and efficient information management and shared network resources across a range of different platforms and operating systems. It is suitable for schools setting up a medium or large network and for sites wishing to improve the performance of their existing network investment. As such, it can be integrated with a range of networking products, including Acorn Level 4, Acorn Access, Microsoft(R) Lan Manager(TM), NetWare, Microsoft(R) Windows(R) for Workgroups and RM Net LM(TM). Acorn SchoolServer consists of: Acorn PowerPC file-server available in two formats, for medium sized networks (up to 500 users) and a more powerful system for networks of 1000+ users, with enhanced processor, greater main memory (RAM), storage memory and built in backup facilities. Both have built-in CD ROM drives for sharing multimedia based information and are pre-configured for school use. Acorn OmniClient(TM), developed in conjuntion with ANT Limited, a universal client architecture facilitating high performance connectivity for RISC OS computers to the Acorn SchoolServer. Support for Lan Manager(TM), Windows(R) for Workgroups, Windows 95(TM) (on release), NFS (Network Filing System for Unix) and all current Acorn Ethernet protocols is also included. Microsoft Windows NT Server software with built-in support for Acorn, PC and Apple network protocols, together with a graphical user interface for powerful and efficient data management. This is pre-installed on each Acorn SchoolServer platform. A CD ROM based copy of the software is included. Acorn SchoolServer is part of the Acorn Universal Networking (AUN) range which has been designed to address key school networking issues including networked multimedia, Internet access for email, news reading and World Wide Web access. Acorn SchoolServer will be available for sale from Acorn Education Dealers early in the third quarter of 1995. Training and support will be available as soon as the product goes on sale. Notes to Editors Acorn has a community of over 400 specialist hardware and software developers and has technological and commercial agreements with: AB Dick ITEC, Blue Micro - IBM Microelectronic Division distributor, Colourgen, D2D, Future Technology Devices International, Granada Microcare, IBM Personal Software Division, Kodak, Psion and Tesco. Online Media, a division of Acorn, has partnerships with: Advanced RISC Machines Ltd, Advanced Telecommunications Modules Ltd, Anglia Television, BNP DDB Needham, BNR/NorTel, Cambridge Cable, DEC, ICL, ITN, Macromedia, Microsoft, NatWest, NOP, Omnicom, Oracle and SJ Research. Founded in 1978, Acorn Computers Ltd designs, develops and markets appropriate technologies to identified markets and is one of the world's leading suppliers of information technology to education. The first supplier of low-cost 32-bit RISC based personal computers in 1987, Acorn remains one of the most cost-effective research and development organisations in the industry, renowned for technology innovation which has led to the formation of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd and Online Media. Acorn Computer Group plc is the holding company for Acorn Computers Limited, Acorn Australia, Acorn New Zealand, Acorn GmbH and Online Media. Acorn Computer Group owns 43% of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd. Online Media, a division of the Acorn Computer Group, was launched in 1994 with the objective to design interactive multimedia products. PowerPC(TM) is a trademark of IBM(R). Windows NT(TM) is a trademark of Microsoft(R). OmniClient(TM) is a trademark of ANT Limited. Acorn and the Acorn device, Acorn in Education Centres (AEC), Acorn Universal Networking (AUN) and the AUN device, Online Media and the OM device are trademarks or registered trademarks of members of the Acorn Computer Group. ARM, the ARM device, and ARM powered are trademarks or registered trademarks of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd. All other trademarks accepted and acknowledged.