Acorn SchoolServer has been designed to offer comprehensive networking support for large numbers of Acorn RISC OS computers, which are widely recognised as the leading creativity-enhancing curriculum computers. This provides a cost effective means for schools with a large installed base of Acorn computers to continue to increase their hardware resource without discarding their current investment.
As the network server that 'talks to everybody', Acorn SchoolServer is also the first server capable of integrating the multiple platforms many secondary schools and tertiary sites now have installed for a range of education, training and administration purposes. As a result, schools will be able to optimise the management of valuable information and hardware resources with an easy to use, cost effective solution.
Acorn SchoolServer reinforces Acorn's support for the de facto educational operating system standard, RISC OS. By placing Acorn systems at the heart of any network, Acorn SchoolServer allows Acorn's RISC computers to be added to other networks to perform tasks in which Acorn computers excel, such as curriculum use, pre-press and publishing and graphic design.
Acorn SchoolServer is Acorn's high end solution for medium to large mixed network educational environments such as those found in secondary and tertiary education establishments. Other products in the AUN portfolio, such as the Access range and Level 4 Fileserver release 3, will continue to play an important role in small to medium sized networks, for those users wishing to use multimedia over networks and to make maximum use of network resources such as CD ROM, printers and software applications.
Acorn SchoolServer consists of an Acorn file-server based on PowerPC technology from IBM pre-installed with Microsoft® SchoolServer architecture, based on Microsoft® Windows NT Server 3.5 network operating system. The third element of the solution, Acorn OmniClient is installed on the Acorn RISC OS client computers. This allows Acorn, Apple and PC users to store and retrieve files on Acorn SchoolServer, enabling schools to integrate their mixed IT environments on the same server for the first time.
Founded in 1978, Acorn Computers Ltd designs, develops and markets appropriate technologies to identified markets and is one of the world's leading suppliers of information technology to education. The first supplier of low-cost 32-bit RISC based personal computers in 1987, Acorn remains one of the most cost-effective research and development organisations in the industry, renowned for technology innovation which has led to the formation of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd and Online Media.
Acorn Computer Group plc is the holding company for Acorn Computers Limited, Acorn Australia, Acorn New Zealand, Acorn GmbH and Online Media. Acorn Computer Group owns 43% of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd. Online Media, a division of the Acorn Computer Group, was launched in 1994 with the objective to design interactive multimedia products.