Included here are notes from Stuart Finn's presentation on SoftSwitch to the
Electronic Mail project group on January 19.
Debi
1/19/94 Stuart Finn, Soft Switch presentation to the Email project group
Issues Miami is facing in building an enterprise mail environment
- Enterprise mail backbone solutions
- Conn. to > 50 different mail environments
- External connections via X.400 to 15 ADMDs and PTTs
3 Challenges
1. Full Elc. mail connectivity--connect all of my mail NW and gateways into
a cohesive whole
2. Elec. mail NW management--help me manage this internal NW
3. Mail Enablds Applications--provide me applications to explot this
interconn. and managed NW. E.g., providing course materials over e-mail.
Definitions
Connectivity:
1. Transparency
2. Final form text
3. Binary files
4. Revisable documents--end up in receiver's wp of choice. Choices in
whether document gets trx. into flat ASCII if can't accept into WP format
5. Status--you want messages
6. Copy lists--who else received the message I received
7. Packages--ability to send multiple parts--SS, voice annotation, wp text.
If recipient can't receive as 1, break them into 3 parts.
Network:
layer 7 is application layer. Exchange of information. Soft Switch's goal
wants to build layer 7 on top of our existing physical infrastructure, layers
1-6.
Requirements: Ability to send email, fax -- across university and outside.
EMMS-Enteprise mail newsletter
mail monitor--tests ability of each component to send and receive mail.
Soft Switch Central vs. EMX
- Requires MF
- More advanced management, monitor TCP/IP, SNA, OSI stacks
- Want to run new applications on MF?
- Are you looking to build a non-IBM-centric NW?
- EMX allows you to build X.400 backbone. Multi-protocol switch with X.400
in middle.
- Cost-distrib. product has higher up-front cost need to buy MIPs.
Runs on a UNIX (5.4 level) 39 MIPS---118 MIPS--turnkey system.
Data General
"One butt to kick"
Sold like a phone switch
We need to know volumes of mail messages sent per hour.
This is not a user agent solution. End user doesn't know Soft Switch is
installed. Solves cross-platform issues--not MS-mail issues. This doesn't
solve problems that exist in the desktop solution. Once a year--install new
freshman class. In 15 weeks--install another 1,000 users.
REQ: Training needs must be minimal.
Only cross-platform mail goes through the EMX box.
E-Mail
backbone switch
interoperability services
directory services
management services
Requirement -Automatically put an email in your directory when you reply or
when you send a message.
-EMX Box - up to 20,000 half-messages / hour - largest box.
- SMTP, TCP/IP
- Ethernet, X.25, Token Ring
- SNADS Support
- Token Ring & SDLC
- SNAPI Server support - Ethernet
we have:
SMTP Mail
MS Mail for appletalk NW
MS mail for PC NW (future?)
P-Mail (SMTP Mail) MHS
UNIX - Pine, Mush ...
Bitnet - RSCS based
Mail II lookalike- PMDF - (on VMS)
Rice Mail (VM)
SoftSwitch doesn't provide a domain name server.
Centralized directory resides on the soft switch box.
1. Batch input to the directory. UNIX data.
2. Interactive through grahics mgt. interface.
3. Automatic Registration - the first time someone sends mail.
4. Algorithmic Mapping - don't put them in. Admin by mail services -
admin. can add modify, delete.
Requirement: Can delete by last used data.
May be a way to send external mail the acct "Dr. Paul Risser" and internal to
"P.J. Risser."
Everyone's address would be muohio.edu if used SMTP to ttalk to outside
world.
Requirement - Students change the location of ther mail service on a monthly
basis when they find a new machine.
Ask users to name one mail client - their preferred mail client.
Issues: Backbone
User Agent
Directory Synchronization
Issue: How to get out to directories dor UNIX clients. PHQI
Issue: Desire of Univ. to std. on SMTP as backbone protocol of choice. Many
SS features aren't relevant for SMTP. SS may not add a lot of value.
IF want to provide native support for MS mail etc., not thru SMTP, then
will add lots of value.
IF we decide to use a higher function backbone, then SS can add value.
We want to provide MIME support.
X.500 does not say what directory looks like.
Does say: DAP - how do I get info. out of dir.
DSP - how does info in my directory get out to another dir.?
min - $100,000 - max - $500,000
msgs. per hour - Price based on volume.
* We license doc. trx. software from Mastersoft or Keyword & others. Runs on
EMX box. ~$1,000 per document type. (Mastersoft)
Mail Monitor - HW/SW turnkey solution. Runs on 486.
* No interactive access to EMX box except for mgt. Dumps directory down to
local server if you want. May not want to do that - MS mail server wpold
chokeon total number. Can break nto groups? and DL only that in directory?
No - not a standard feature.
* Do we have a desire to use something other than SMTP as the least common
denominator?
Are we tied to that because of the use of internet? No - it's the user
agents being SMTP - based SS enables you not to be tied to low - func. of
SMTP.
Can we get by with SMTP until MIME comes along?
Kent sends mail with 5 enclosed in PMDF to Joe in MS Mail. Will he see 6
msg. or one? If sent as a package & can be received as a package, won't be
burst.
Requires - 1 person to manage mail NW w/a backup. Initially 1/2 time, less
later. (doesn't include administration of local mail systems.)
Names processing rules engine. <-> mail environments. - biggest adv. of SS.
Also - NW mgt. (graphical).
Usually 4mo. impl. time.
Bill for travel & expense
15 days of education - 3 classes - available.
most of our requirements are user agent related.
Consulting - on developing mail system. $1,250 per day plus expenses.
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