May 1, 2000–Wolfram Research has introduced a new solution for all Mathematica users with the need for centralized administration and concurrent-use program options. Network Mathematica is now the easiest, most flexible, and cost-effective way to buy, deploy, and administer Mathematica and other Wolfram Research products throughout an organization.

Network Mathematica relies on MathLM, Wolfram Research’s license-management tool for controlling and distributing Mathematica network processes (sessions). Installed on the license server, MathLM is used to control an arbitrary number of Mathematica processes. Under this system, Mathematica licenses can be floated to different machines on an as-needed basis, thereby serving many users over the course of a day. As a result, network licenses will usually be employed a greater fraction of the time than licenses fixed to single machines. This shared-license usage leads to significant savings over the cost of providing single-user licenses throughout a facility.

MathLM currently runs on Windows 95/98/NT/2000 and a variety of Unix platforms, including Linux. Client machines may run on any platform supported by Mathematica. The actual Mathematica program can be installed locally on the client machines or kept on a file server and floated out to clients upon request. Centrally installing Mathematica on a file server rather than a local workstation ensures that every user has access to the same Mathematica release, allows for simultaneous installation and upgrading, and makes Mathematica available to every computer on the local network.

Network Mathematica is an ideal access solution for small workgroups as well as for widespread organizational networks servicing literally thousands of machines. Network Mathematica enables cross-platform implementation of Mathematica and prevents problems with lost or replacement passwords and orphaned licenses, thereby greatly simplifying program installation and administration.

For more information on Network Mathematica, visit http://www.wolfram.com/products.