 TPS® ANNOUNCES SECURE WEB-BASED FILE TRANSFER SYSTEM
TPS® Systems, Inc., continuing in its 30+ year role as a leader in product development, announces its newest product, TPS®/Web File Manager (WebFM). WebFM is an enterprise/network secure web-based file transfer system packed with many features including a secure, easy-to-use web-based transfer portal allowing any user with a valid user account to send data securely into your company's back-office enterprise system through any Java-enabled web browser without the need to install any additional client software or overhaul your company's security model. WebFM gives companies that have remote branches, vendors, and other related entities outside the corporate network the ability to securely send data to the corporate office as long as they have a valid user account. WebFM supports up to 128-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL) to ensure all aspects of the data transfer and communication is protected. WebFM's detailed auditing system provides for tracking activities such as logons, files transferred, and viewing current file transfer status.
WebFM is comprised of three components: Server, Secure Bridge, and Client. The Server is deployed within the corporate intranet and secured using the company's SSL credentials. The Secure Bridge handles the secure connection to the Server from Clients outside the network. The Client is a signed Java Applet embedded within a HTML page. Since the Client runs within a web browser, users do not have any additional software to install or configure.
WebFM can be easily integrated with TPS®/NetWork File Manager (NFM). NFM is a complete, full-featured enterprise/network file distribution system packed with many additional features including back office file tracking and auditing, secure scheduled transfers, remote command line interface, and scheduled data delivery.
CSC CHOOSES TPS® SYSTEMS TO SOLVE CONNECTIVITY ISSUES
Computer
Sciences Corporation, a world-wide commercial and
governmental IT consulting firm, chose TPS® Systems, Inc.,
a software firm headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, to provide
a number of their connectivity products to assist CSC in functionally
replacing a mainframe-based system for a large governmental agency.
The system provides query, retrieval, and display services for
status verification of a person's eligibility for employment
and government benefits. Total users of the system currently
number around 100,000 with concurrent users nearing 1,000.
The
objective was to develop a system to replace an existing mainframe-based
system that supported a large number of 3270 terminals and dial-in
PCs with a more modern and cost effective solution. In addition,
the new system had to maintain the existing LU6.2 program to
program interfaces with two large government agencies and had
to incorporate a new "web based" access method. The system architecture
for the mainframe replacement consists of an RS6000/AIX Communications
Server, an RS/6000/AIX/Oracle Database Server, and several Intel/Windows
2000 based servers. Several trunk lines come into the Communications
Server connecting to FEPs at government sites. SNA traffic from
government networks come through the FEP across the trunk line
to the Communications Server.
TPS® supplied
CSC with three of its legacy connectivity products: TPS®/SNA
Primary, TPS®/TN3270
Server, and TPS®/TN3270
Client. TPS®/SNA Primary is being used as a mainframe
replacement utilizing its PU4/5 capabilities. It handles the
3270 connectivity from various state and federal networks, cross
domain connectivity to one State Agency, and LU6.2/CPIC support
to communicate program-to-program with the US Social Security
Administration. The TN3270 Server and Client handle the remote
PCs incoming TCP/IP traffic and convert it to SNA traffic.
The
products from TPS® formed the foundation of the SNA connectivity
needed by the project. TPS® was able to handle all of the communications
issues in getting off of a mainframe and still being able to utilize
existing downstream hardware. The use of a Unix mid level server
based architecture based upon TPS products, in lieu of a traditional
mainframe based architecture, has provided significant cost savings
to the US government.
HOMBASE
LTD. CONVERTS TO TPS®'s NETWORK FILE MANAGER (NFM).
Wallington, Surrey, UK - December 1, 2003 - Homebase Ltd., a leading Home Improvements
retailer in the UK, was faced with having to convert from a mainframe-based
file distribution management system to a Windows-based one in a relatively
short time frame. To accomplish this, TPS®'s
NetWork File Manger was chosen.
Having been spun-off from its original parent company, major UK
food retailer JS Sainsbury, Homebase had to find a file distribution
management package to replace the one that had been running
on their parent company's mainframe. After looking at several
packages, it was decided to do an in-depth investigation
of three packages. The key selection factors were support
for the IBM 4690 and Microsoft Windows environments, minimal
training, and the fastest means of implementation.
In choosing TPS®/NetWork
File Manager (NFM), Bhups Dokal (CPoS Development Manager)
stated, "NFM made the transition from our mainframe product
easier because the theory, terminology, and concept of plans
and cycles was much the same. Fortunately, NFM almost exactly
replicated its functionality, and provided a much more user-friendly
GUI, so the previous users adapted to the product in a matter
of days. We were excited to find a product that so closely
met our needs."
"Dealing
with a company in the US was a concern with regards to support.
However, with Sol-Tec, one of TPS®'s resellers in the
UK, providing first line of support, this has not been a
problem. The Support Group has been extremely responsive
and supportive of the few issues that have been encountered."
The
choice of TPS®/NetWork
File Manager (NFM) over other file distribution products
by Homebase Ltd. was based on several criteria. Homebase
was faced not only with the conversion, but also with a time
constraint. NFM provided the compatibility with the previous
system, supported IBM 4690 and Windows environments, needed
minimal training, and provided the fastest means of implementation.
The conversion was completed well within the time frames
needed.
All
company and/or product names are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective companies.
About Homebase Ltd.
Homebase Ltd. is a leading Home Improvements retailer in the UK. With
over 270 locations in the UK, Homebase provides its customers
with everything necessary for maintaining and improving the
home.
About Sol-Tec Ltd.
Sol-Tec
Ltd. creates fully integrated, end-to-end IT solutions that
generate competitive advantage for a wide portfolio of organisations,
ranging from private to public sector. It is delivered through
a mix of consultancy, project management, and on-going support.
TPS® ANNOUNCES
ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONALITY TO TPS®/NFM
TPS® Systems,
Inc. is continually expanding the functionality of our Network Management
suite of products. Thus, TPS® is excited to announce the following
new functions incorporated into TPS®/NetWork File Manager (NFM) followed
by a brief description of each:
- Software Management System
- NVDM Node Support
- OS/390 and Stratus Client Support
- IP Multi-Casting
- Bandwidth Management
- Quick Functions
- Modem Pooling
- Local and Remote Command-line interface
- Streaming File Transfers
Software Management System
SMS provides a way to group, distribute, track, and install software packages
and suites across the corporation’s internal network. SMS allows software
to be grouped together in packages (which contain single installable programs)
or suites (which contain multiple packages). Software packages and suites can
have certain requirements (software, hardware, operating systems, etc.) that
is checked before the software is installed on the computer.
NVDM Node Support
This component supports the IBM’s NetView Data Management Client functionality.
Utilizing TPS®/SNA gateway, files can be distributed throughout an SNA
network to nodes defined as using the NVDM client. Will support concurrent
SNA and TCP/IP protocols.
S/390 and Stratus Client Support
The Client for OS/390 will support NFM services on the IBM OS/390 mainframes
running OS/390 MVS V2R5 or higher. The client exists as a basic load module
that can be started interactively or run unattended as a OS/390 background
task. The NFM client runs as a POSIX compliant application and uses the native
OS/390 TCP/IP subsystem to communicate with the TPS/NFM server on a server
host machine.
The Client for Stratus will support NFM services on the
Stratus i860 running VOS Release 12.4.0m with OS TCP/IP.
The client can be run from the VOS start_process command
as is customary with other VOS application services.
IP Multicasting
IP Multicasting is a feature of the Internet Protocol Standards. This feature
is implemented in TPSÒ/NFM so that when a fileset is transferred from
a single source client to a large group of target clients, the IP multicast
protocol can provide dramatically increased performance.
Bandwidth Management
There are several functions within NFM that allow you to control Bandwidth
Management:
- Throttling - Resource throttling.
- Pacing - Block size and request/acknowledgment interval timing
- Traffic Shaping - Time throttling
- Priority - priority levels
Quick Functions
Quick Functions enable users to perform simple operations on demand (non-scheduled).
A user can perform a simple file transfer (one file) from a source node to
a target node, execute a non-interactive command on a target node and run a
pre-defined plan. The quick functions, in addition to offering a simplified
way for users to perform certain tasks, also allows for a class of users to
be created that can benefit from the services of NFM while being completely
restricted as to which resources they may access.
Modem Pooling
Modem Pooling allows the user to control a list of available modems for use
by NFM. This will allow the automatic scheduling of the modem pool.
Local Command and Remote Line Interface
The NFM Command Line Interface provides a server functionality to allow
the flexibility to accomplish tasks that can be performed through the
GUI user interface. This feature will allow you to automate functions
to control and configure the system.
The NFM Remote Command Line Interface provides a functionality
to allow the client program to control server functions.
It enables the system to have event driven capabilities
and allow you to automate functions to control and
configure the system.
Streaming File Transfers
A streaming file transfer allows a file to be transferred as it is being written
to by another application or command. Once a streaming file transfer starts,
it will copy whatever portion of the file that exists to the target node, check
the file every # seconds, and continue copying any new data appended to the
file until such time as the transfer is terminated.
If you need more information, please go to TPS®/NFM or contact sales
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TPS® WINS BIG WITH TPS®/NETWORK FILE MANAGER AT WAKEFERN FOOD CORPORATION
Wakefern
Food Corporation, a retailer-owned supermarket cooperative
headquartered in Elizabeth, NJ, has chosen TPS®/NetWork
File Manager (NFM) to replace its mainframe file distribution
system. Wakefern had used this distribution system to
exchange data among its mainframe, RS/6000s, and IBM
4690s for distributive processing, as well as Stratus
systems, which are used to handle the Warehouse Management
Systems.
The
need to convert from SNA file transfers to TCP/IP transfers
initiated the search for a replacement. In addition to
NFM, Wakefern reviewed two other file distribution products
from large software companies. However, neither of them
was able to provide IBM 4690 support.
In
choosing TPS®/NetWork File Manager, Charles
Hawalka, Manager of Infrastructure for Wakefern, stated, "Clearly
NFM had a number of advantages over its competition.
Foremost of these are:
- NFM
supports all the platforms Wakefern was looking to
convert, the mainframe (OS/390), RS/6000s (AIX), 4690s,
and the Stratus.
- The
ability to eliminate in-house developed data translators.
- NFM
provides an automated and secured FTP solution for
Wakefern's business partners with the integration of
PGP encryption software into the external file transfers.
- NFM's
ability to implement the conversion with no coding
changes to any existing application programs
on all platforms involved in the conversion."
Hawalka
added, "NFM has taken processes that took hours and minutes
to complete down to minutes and seconds. NFM has eliminated
the time consuming headaches of trouble shooting our
dial-up transfers down to a reliable, secured FTP process
that completes in seconds."
About
Wakefern Food Corporation:
From a small, struggling cooperative with seven members - all owners
of their own grocery stores - Wakefern Food Corporation has grown
into the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States
and one of the largest employers in New Jersey. The cooperative
is comprised of 39 members who individually own and operate supermarkets
under the ShopRite banner. Today, Wakefern, the merchandising and
distribution arm of the company, and the 200 ShopRite stores located
throughout New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and
Delaware, employ more than 40,000 people
FIRMS CHOOSE TPS®/NETWORK FILE MANAGER
The Retail/Wholesale
community has discovered TPS®/NetWork File Manager
(NFM). In the past few months, TPS® has added five new companies
to our growing list of users. The new companies cover a number of
industries: grocery, do-it-yourself, sports equipment, wholesale
distribution, and property management. In addition, another two companies
have the software in a pilot mode. Below are short profiles on a
few of the companies that have bought NFM. These sales have come
directly through the TPS® sales department and through our
Reseller Program.
The first success was a sale to a large
grocery chain of over 200 stores located in the Northeastern
part of the United States. They were looking for a way
to move their file distribution off of an IBM mainframe
in order to extend its life cycle. They had been
using IBM’s NetView Distribution Manager (NVDM)
to distribute files to UNIX boxes, IBM 4690s, and
a Stratus box. They were looking for a package to
run on a UNIX server that could communicate with
these devices as well as the mainframe. The user
tested NFM against another UNIX package, a mainframe
package, and NVDM. NFM easily outperformed each of
the other products and was the only product that
could communicate with each of the desired platforms.
Additional bonuses were that NFM was substantially
less expensive and the training time was minimal.
The lessened training time was due to the format
of NFM being very similar to NVDM. Needless to say,
the migration was very successful and the user is
extremely happy.
The second success was the sell of NFM to
a large do-it-yourself chain with over 250 stores in the United
Kingdom. Their situation was very similar to the one above.
They also had an IBM mainframe running NVDM. They
had been sold and had been given a short time to
move of the former owner’s mainframe. Since
the new owner did not have a mainframe, they were
looking for an inexpensive way to distribute their
files from a Windows-based Server to IBM 4690s and
Windows-based terminals in all of their stores across
the UK. Because of their short time frame, they needed
a package they could learn quickly and would meet
all of their needs. In looking at packages, they
discovered NFM was so similar in format to NVDM that
it took them a very short time to migrate to NFM.
This, along with the competitive pricing, made their
decision very easy. They were up and running with
plenty of time to spare.
In addition to these installations, our Reseller Program
has provided installations at a large beverage retailer,
a commercial real estate management firm, a small
sports equipment chain, and a small distribution
firm. The beverage retailer had over 200 stores they
needed to manage remotely in a Windows-based environment.
The commercial real estate management firm owns numerous
malls across the United States. Their need was to
keep track of available square footage, customer
demographics, and other items to determine how best
to develop their properties.
These, as well as the numerous other NFM users, have chosen
NFM based on price, performance, and product capabilities.
Rread the White
Paper on NFM. For additional information, to
schedule a demonstration, or to order the product,
contact the TPS
sales department.
TPS® NETWORK FILE MANAGER CUSTOMER SUCCESS PROFILE
WEGMANS FOOD MARKETS, INC.
COMPANY OBJECTIVE: Enhance information delivery to
increase customer satisfaction.
Known
widely as a leader in their industry, Wegmans
is a privately-held supermarket retailer that
was founded in 1916 and has its headquarters
in Rochester, New York. They have 60 stores
that produce over $2 billion in annual sales
and rank among the 100 largest private companies
in the country.
With
stores spread over a three state area, Wegmans
was in need of a fast, secure and reliable
means of sending and receiving files between
its corporate and stores systems. TPS®/NETWORK
FILE MANAGER (NFM), marketed by TPS® Systems,
Inc. of San Antonio, Texas, was one of the
products they evaluated. In their examination,
the product needed to fulfill the following
requirements:
- Be
able to schedule sending and retrieving files
as well as provide remote program execution.
- Provide
a central point of management.
- Provide
a batch mode interface.
- Provide
a browser interface to provide access from
anywhere on the company intranet.
- Be
able to transfer files not only from server-to-client,
but also from client-to-client.
- Be
able to support AIX, SUN, NT, 4690, OS/390,
and Stratus platforms.
- Be
able to support SNA and TCP/IP protocols.
- Be
able to interface with our current scheduler.
Mr.
Don Reeve is Director of IT of Wegmans Food Markets.
Since selecting NFM, Mr. Reeve has stated, "TPS®/Network
File Manager meets all of our needs. After evaluating
some of the top-selling systems, we found the
TPS® product not only meets our processing
requirements, but also our budgetary qualifications.
The TPS® system provides us what
we need and then some without having to pay for
extra bells and whistles that we would never
use."
"NFM
has given us the ability to distribute files
and software updates, and start processes throughout
our enterprise. It will also give us the ability
to establish business-to-business communications
with our vendors by exchanging information via
our extranet. While TPS® has some requirements
to complete (OS/390 support the end of 1Q01),
TPS® has been very cooperative
in discussing our future needs as well."
"Wegmans
has been a hybrid SNA and TCP/IP shop for years,
and plans to totally convert to TCP/IP by the
end of 2001. The NFM solution gives us the ability
to install a package now under SNA and migrate
store by store to IP, allowing us to get rid
of NDM, without having to do a mass changeover
at once. I would recommend TPS® as
a company and NFM in particular if a company
is looking for a reliable, cost-effective means
of distributing files and software updates. They
have not only met our needs, but have exceeded
our expectations."
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