About Your New Server

SunLink Server software is a set of Solaris(TM) operating environment services that enable powerful, highly scalable, highly reliable Sun(TM) computers to perform vital local area network (LAN) tasks within a Microsoft Windows, Windows NT, or mixed-client environment.

As a server within a LAN, a Sun computer with SunLink Server software installed provides file, print, authentication, and primary and backup domain controller (PDC and BDC) services that enable the efficient sharing of computing resources among desktop computer users. Incorporating Microsoft technology, SunLink Server software works like a native Windows NT server in network "neighborhoods" that include systems running Windows NT Server, Windows NT Workstation, Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows for Workgroups (Windows 3.11). (Note that, in this guide, references to Windows 95 generally apply as well to Windows 98.)

SunLink Server software implements many of the services that are offered by Windows NT Server 4.0. Among these services:

• Windows NT PDC and BDC functionality

• Windows Internet naming Service (WINS)

• Microsoft Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs)

• Windows NT Directory Services (NTDS)

• Windows NT Registry

• Microsoft NTFS-compatible file Access Control Lists (ACLs)

• Event Logging

In addition, SunLink Server software offers user account synchronization between NTDS and related Solaris services.

The additional benefits of Sun computers running the Solaris operating environment include true preemptive multitasking and symmetric multiprocessing. The time-sharing, multiuser model employed by the Solaris operating environment ensures file system integrity and continued server availability--even if a user's application crashes.