Toshiba TEC Corporation will release "CrossMission
Deployment System", a software distribution system based on the
.NET technology, following the "CrossMission Ver2.0", a development
and execution environment on .NET which has been well received
since its release in June 2003.
In the past, there has been the need to improve usability and
operability of a client terminal. As a result of meeting this
need, a client application in a client/server-type system has
become complex and overburdened (what is called as fat client).
Accordingly, the client application needs to be upgraded whenever
a simple modification is made, putting a heavy burden on a system
administrator as well as greatly increasing management costs.
Now, with an advanced Internet technology, a web server is no
longer required in a web application system and only a web browser
is required for a client terminal (thin client). Running the web
application system on an intranet environment became a solution
to the above-mentioned maintenance problem of the client/server-type
system. On the other hand, the web browser used only for viewing
is not a "convenient terminal" for various business scenes. For
example, it is not suitable for data entry on a large amount of
slips or for a CTI system which requires high turn-around, and
an excess load is put only on a server. For these reasons, many
system administrators hesitate to adopt a web application in business
application systems. .NET utilizes several technologies to facilitate
software distribution to client terminals, greatly eliminating
problems caused by "fat client". Microsoft explains their concept
of and approach to "Smart Client" and "No-Touch Deployment".
Toshiba TEC developed "CrossMission Deployment System", a software
distribution tool combining .NET-based software distribution capabilities
and Toshiba TEC's accumulated software maintenance know-how that
Toshiba TEC has provided for large-scale retail users over long
periods of times. Its main function, "Deployment Manager" plays
a role as an information management center to meet specific requests.
For example, a Graphical User Interface (GUI) easily handles a
request to send XXX module to AAA division of BBB-area factories
on (date). Installing "Deployment Updater" in a client terminal
provides all features necessary for the client, such as check,
download, and installation of information. Using "Deployment Log
Monitor", a delivery server can easily check results of download
and installation performed by each client. In addition, "Deployment
List Monitor" provides detailed installation status of modules
by retrieving a version management list of a specified client
terminal, which greatly reduces burden on system administrators.
Also, SOAP/Remoting protocol, used for communication between a
server and a client, realizes a system where Internet and intranet
coexist. "CrossMission Deployment System" can meet various needs
concerning system configurations, for example, reduction of loads
on network and reliable pausing/resuming of download with Background
Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), distribution from a server
(in an intranet environment only), implementation of Application
Program Interface (API) which can be accessed from an application
program. "CrossMission Deployment System", for which CrossMission's
execution environment of business framework is not a must, is
available for any environment where .NET Framework is implemented,
whether or not a system was developed using CrossMission .
Mr. Kyoichiro Suzuki, Director of the Developer Marketing Division
of Microsoft Japan made the following comments regarding the release
of "CrossMission Deployment System": "Microsoft's Smart Client,
a new ideal corporate system, is intended to minimizes a burden
put on a system administrator while maximizing the capabilities
of Windows Client. Smart Client is gaining great attention as
it provides merits of .NET Framework and web service. I strongly
believe that Toshiba TEC Corporatin's "CrossMission Deployment
System" increases feasibility of Smart Client, thus, promises
its wide acceptance in Japanese market."
A reasonable price is set for this small-scale system, "CrossMission
Deployment System": 105,000 JPY for server and 189,000 JPY or
higher for client (100 clients). Toshiba TEC expects to sell five
hundred (500) systems over the next three years.
The latest information regarding "CrossMission" and "CrossMission
Deployment System" is available at the following URL: http://www.wxfw.net/CrossMission_E/home_e.html
