Conference bulova::decw_jan-89_to_nov-90

597.0. "DECwindows (X), to the rescue?" by SUNBRN::BOYACK () Thu Apr 13 1989 18:31

    Recently I visited a LARGE customer in the northwest that has +1000
    IBM 5080's running Catia. All the 5080's are running off a "gaggle"
    of 6 IBM 3090's. The customer would like Digital to help them find
    a way to distribute the engineering data.
    
    Here are the facts:
    
    	o Catia ONLY runs on IBM 5080's and RT's
    	o Customer wants to distribute data
    	o 5080's are not easily distributable
    	o Customer does NOT want products which EMULATE Catia
    	o All data must remain in Catia database
    
    We are developing a Process Planners workstation that uses a number
    of tools on a VAXstation running DECwindows. Our need is to give
    this person access to the Catia program and/or data.
    
    One possibility that I am investigating (here's where I need help)
    is to see if we might get Catia to run in a X client/server
    relationship from the IBM 3090 to the VAXstation. Because the customer
    has the software source code, we/they can develop the X graphics
    interface (through PSS for example), however, the BIG question is
    I need to know if there is an X client program for an IBM 3090 running
    MVSXA. IBM participated in project Athena, so we have our fingers
    crossed that this might exist. If not, the prospects of us persueing
    this tack might be in vain.
    
    If the Client exists, how can we get access to it? Any ideas what
    the operational performance might be? What other problems might
    we encounter?
    
    Does anyone have any other ideas?
                 
    Thanks for your comments! This is a very BLUE customer and this
    might prove to be a very strategic opportunity to offer a solution
    that IBM cannot provide.
    
    regards,
    
    Steven Boyack
    Santa Clara ACT

	One option is 5080 emulation using the CS1080 product from 
	Spectragraphics. This is a hardware solution, 5080 graphics
	running in an X Window.

	Contact Art Lagasse in ESG for more information.

    Steve,
    
    We've been working with the Spectragraphics people and have their
    equipment set up on a VS3500 at Lockheed. Give me a call.
    
    				Jolley 
    
    

    The Commset 1080 is a PART of the total solution we are aiming to
    provide. It's coverage is for the designer who can afford the
    cost by justifying appropriate time savings using the Commset.
    This justification doesn't cover the CS 1080 cost for the very
    "casual" user who only needs occasional Catia data access. He is
    by FAR the more common user we are trying to provide workstaions
    for. He is mainly using other applications to do his job and if
    we can provide access to Catia for him we win a major plus. Asking
    him to part with an extra few thousand $$$ per workstation for this
    capability the casual user would like might cost us the business.
    
    I've cross posted this in the DECwindows notesfile and the
    WS_Competitive notesfile.
    regards,
    
    Steven