Microsoft Announces SQL Bridge, Data Migration Tool for Windows NT Page 42 - more - For Release 9 a.m. CST December 7, 1993 Microsoft Announces SQL Bridge, Data Migration Tool for Windows NT New Products Enhance Interoperability With UNIX, NetWare Environments CHICAGO _ December 7, 1993 _ Microsoft announced two new SQL Server products that will make it easier for companies to integrate Microsoft client-server platforms into heterogeneous computing environments. One, Microsoft SQL Bridge for the Windows NT operating system, is a protocol gateway that seamlessly connects Microsoft client-server platforms with UNIX environments from Sybase, Inc. , allowing clients and servers to communicate across dissimilar networks without having to deploy host-based protocols on desktop PCs. The other, Microsoft Database Transfer Utility, provides a simple, one-step operation for migrating databases from other platforms, such as UNIX or Novell NetWare, to Windows NT-based servers, plus the ability to transfer databases between Intel-based and RISC-based implementations of SQL Server for Windows NT. Both products are scheduled to ship in January 1994. "Microsoft SQL Bridge and the Database Transfer Utility are further examples of Microsoft's commitment to open computing and interoperability," said Gary Voth, group product manager, database and development tools at Microsoft. "These products will make it easier for our customers to integrate Windows and SQL Server-based applications in UNIX and enterprise computing environments." Microsoft SQL Bridge Simplifies Client-server Networking In the past, deploying large-scale client-server applications in mixed computing environments has been difficult due to the need to have common network protocols on all platforms. As result, companies trying to integrate UNIX-based servers with PC LANs for example, would need to add TCP/IP protocols and connectivity software to each PC, at an estimated cost of $300 to $400 per workstation. With Microsoft SQL Bridge, SQL Server-based workstations and servers can have different network protocols. As network traffic moves between servers and clients, SQL Bridge acts as a router, automatically applying the proper transport protocols. As a result, applications and database servers can interact with each other regardless of the differences in underlying operating system or network protocols. At a suggested retail price of only $2,495 per server for an unlimited number of users, SQL Bridge can significantly reduce the cost as well as the complexity of deploying client-server applications in heterogeneous computing environments. Microsoft SQL Bridge for Windows NT replaces Microsoft SQL Bridge for OS/2, which has been available since April 1992 for Microsoft LAN Manager networks. The new product is based on the same high-performance multithreaded architecture as SQL Server for Windows NT, and supports a broad variety of networks, including Microsoft Windows-based networks, Novell NetWare, Microsoft LAN Manager, and Banyan VINES. For SQL Server for OS/2, Microsoft SQL Bridge for Windows NT adds the ability to interoperate with Sybase UNIX environments over TCP/IP sockets; SQL Server for Windows NT has this support built-in. SQL Bridge runs on the Windows NT 3.1 or Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1 operating systems. It supports connectivity to SQL Server-based client platforms including clients running the MS-DOS operating system, Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups, Windows NT, OS/2, UNIX and the Macintosh operating system; and to server platforms including those running Windows NT, OS/2, UNIX and NetWare. Supported client-server protocols include Novell's IPX/SPX, Named Pipes, TCP/IP sockets, and Banyan VINES/IP. Connectivity will be available in the future for VMS-based servers and DECnet protocols. Microsoft Data Transfer Utility Ships With Microsoft SQL Server, Automates Data Migration The Microsoft Database Transfer Utility is a new tool included with SQL Server that simplifies the process of integrating Microsoft Windows NT-based platforms into existing UNIX or NetWare environments. It provides a simple, push-button operation for migrating databases from other SQL Server-based platforms, including those running UNIX, OS/2, or NetWare, to Windows NT. Either Microsoft or Sybase SQL Server may be the source servers destination servers run Microsoft SQL Server for Windows NT. The product also includes functions for transferring databases between Intel- and RISC-based Microsoft SQL Server installations. Before this product, structural differences in binary formats between different hardware architectures made it impossible to perform database dumps and loads between Intel and RISC systems. Now databases can easily be transferred from one architecture to another in a simple one-step procedure. The utility has a multithreaded 32-bit architecture and runs on Windows NT or Windows NT Advanced Server. Pricing, System Requirements and Availability Microsoft SQL Bridge for Windows NT has a suggested retail price of $2,495 for an unlimited-user server license, and is scheduled to ship in January 1994. The Microsoft Database Transfer Utility is a new member of the visual database administration tool set that is included with Microsoft SQL Server. It will be packaged with Microsoft SQL Server beginning in January 1994. A prerelease version of the tool is available now from the Microsoft SQL Server forum on the CompuServe Information Service (GO MSSQL). Microsoft SQL Bridge requires an Intel-based hardware system compatible with Microsoft Windows NT or Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1. The Database Transfer Utility will run on all Windows NT-based or Windows NT Advanced Server- based systems supported by SQL Server. Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day. ######### Microsoft and MS-DOS are registered trademarks and Windows NT and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX System Laboratories, a wholly owned subsidiary of Novell, Inc. Novell and NetWare are registered trademarks of Novell, Inc. OS/2 is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, licensed to Microsoft. Banyan and VINES are registered trademarks of Banyan Systems, Inc. Sybase is a registered trademark of Sybase, Inc. Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. VMS and DECnet are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation. CompuServe is a registered trademark of CompuServe, Inc. Editor's Note: MS-DOS is a trademarked product name. Please do not abbreviate to DOS Windows NT is a trademarked product name. Please do not abbreviate to NT. Prices listed are U.S. suggested retail prices. Reseller prices may vary. For More Information, Press Only: Catherine Miller, Microsoft Corporation, (206) 882-8080 Shelly Julien or Tricia Bull, Waggener Edstrom, (206) 637- 9097 or (503) 245-0905