The Small LAN Letter ....Communications & Connectivity for Small Business.... by SOS Publishing, P.O. Box 320, Pickerington, Ohio 43147 March/April 1990 We the Little, the Forgotten! ---------------------------- by John Smart, Editor Too often, the computer industry tends to focus on the needs of the corporate user as the primary audience of PC related publications. Five years ago, they were the "primary market" of users looking for more information concerning personal computers and related topics. Today however, we are witnessing an increase in the number of small business as well as home business users who need timely information on these issues. Falling hardware prices have made it possible for an entirely new base of owners to enjoy the benefits (and challenges!) of installing, operating, and maintaining a personal computer and associated products. The computer, in fact, is generally the extra "arms and legs" of the small business owner. It minimizes the need for additional manpower in the critical early stages of a growing enterprise. A well planned computer system will cost justify itself many times over in leveraged productivity. Not surprisingly, many entrepreneurs find it more cost effective to add a second or third PC before they hire additional employees! Computers don't pay social security tax, they won't ask for a raise (some PC's have been known to beg for additional disk space however!), and they work long hours without complaining. Just one extra system can make a business 10 times (or 100 times possibly) more productive than before. Many business owners have now found they are running two or three systems in their office. generally they are dedicated to specific tasks. Each system has become a sort of "island" only able to process the files and software stored on it's own disk. Also, the printers, modems, and other equipment attached to these machines cannot be shared by all users. Our Charter ----------- A need now exists for information directed to the small business and home business user who works with multiple PC'S. This brings us to the primary focus of "The Small LAN Letter." There are many communication / connectivity issues that apply primarily to the small user. Product value for our almighty dollar is near the top of the list! Among the array of thousands of PC "compatible" (what a loaded word!) networking / connectivity products that are out there, some work, some work marginally, and some simply exist only on a data sheet! The unfortunate fact is they all take away a little bit of your precious capital (the pay check from your other job.) While this letter will never claim a product to be 100% viable and true to marketed promises, we will attempt to lift the vail of truth based on our experiences, and those reported by others. The intent is to use this publication as a central clearing house of information that addresses the connectivity and communications needs of the small business and also the home business ( we are searching for a system that irons clothes!) We do not intend to make this a LAN (local area network) only type of publication. There are multitudes of "disk sharing"products that do not qualify as a true network. Nevertheless, these hardware/software add-ons can make information sharing as well as printer sharing a low cost reality. Other proposed topics include Home LAN cases studies, remote communications, file back-up methods, businesses with multiple networks tied together, and a survey of software related products in the E-mail and office productivity class. This is the essence of what the publication is intended to accomplish. The final product will largely be guided by response from the readership. Which brings me to an important feature that will definitely be included in every issue. Every good PC related publication that's worth its salt should have a Questions & Answer section. It is our commitment to answer questions as space permits. Similar and related questions may be grouped to prevent duplication and save space, but only if the essence of the question is covered. Regretfully, time and resources will not permit us respond directly to each user, but every attempt will be made to cover the issues requested. The point is that we want this to be a "user focused" product. Not an ivory tower view of how small systems should be connected, but hopefully a window view into the offices of the small systems user, showing how they ARE WORKING, and how other users might implement them. A Brief History --------------- Enough of the WHAT we intend to accomplish! A little insight into how this project grew into a reality may help one understand the slant of "The Small LAN Letter." My (John Smart) background has centered around computers for the last 14+ years, both in the technical and marketing aspects of the business. Serving in positions with several major product manufacturers and distributors helped me to realize the need for information (and reliable!) in this field. I became interested in the working at home movement shortly after leaving a sales post with Novell in the summer of '89. It was then that I realized the power of the personal computer was really in the hands of many users who depend on these systems daily in their home business. While at Novell, I encountered hundreds of small business users who had purchased a very reasonably priced networking software product called Novell ELS (Entry Level System). Many of these users would complain they had "No Support" or low support from the source which had sold them the product. They had became an island to themselves. The low entry price had been a curse in disguise for many of the owners. They failed to recognize that for any product, the old saying holds true: "You get what you pay for!" Neither Novell nor the computer dealer/mailorder house who sold them ELS could justify extensive support because of the low selling price. Once the system was up and running, they generally were on their own. Some wrongfully were never helped to this point in set-up. A need for support, ideas, questions & answers was identified. The real decision to actually publish The Small LAN Letter came after a string of message exchanges with Paul & Sarah Edwards, Sysop's on CompuServe's Work at Home Forum. They along with other forum members agreed with the need for timely information regarding small systems connectivity. This response gave me the assurance that at least a few interested parties were out there. Being a work at home type myself has allowed me to appreciate just how isolated a small business can be. If was responsible for fighting every hardware / software battle alone, minus little previous computer experience, I'm convinced I'd be a basket case! Hence, another information product was born! Small Connections ----------------- Now down to business! As I stated earlier, the major focus of this newsletter is to supply the reader with information that applies to small computer networks. In this premier issue, I will cover two of the currently available PC/AT based networks that fall into the low end (affordable) category. They are the "Invisible Network," from Invisible Software, Inc. and "Lantastic," by Artisoft, Inc. This first installment of product reviews will be limited to information supplied by each vendor. Future issues will cover actual hands-on product comparisons with comments supplied by the vendor and actual users. Again, user input is encouraged! If you are using a small and/or low cost connectivity product, please respond with questions, comments, and recommendations for the benefit of all readers. Artisoft is a network products company that has been around since 1982. They are no newcomer to the industry. Their product, Lantastic, has made some major noise in the low cost network industry. Last year it was selected as PC MAgazine's Editor's Choice, and also as PC World's Best Buy. A key feature which Lantastic offers is "peer-to-peer" networking. In network jargon, peer-to-peer generally means "the ability of each user to send and receive files and print jobs between each other user." Peer-to-peer networks allow users to share all resources connected to each computer more conveniently. The Lantastic software is unique since it uses a very small 13 - 40K of memory in the workstation. Memory usage is the biggest challenge to networking compatibility. If the LAN you are using takes away too much memory, your application software will never run. The product is available in a 2 user starter kit priced at $399. This kit includes two workstation interface cards, rated at a speed of 2 mega-bits-per-second (Mbps), a 15 foot network cable, and the network operating system (NOS) software complete with all documentation. Another interesting note for those interested in sharing very large databases of information: Artisoft states that Lantastic will support networked CD-ROM drives which use the Microsoft CD-ROM extensions. This could open up support for a large number of information based businesses who need a low cost networking system. Lantastic supports 3 printers per server, offers password security, plus basic electronic mail. This system will track each user's access using an audit trail that records log in and usage of the network. Based on the features, price, and specifications, I rate this package with an "8" on the 0 worst, 10 best scale. For more information on Lantastic contact Artisoft at 575 East River Rd., Tucson, Arizona 85704, (602) 293-6363 Number Two ---------- Invisible Software also offers a workable solution for creating a low cost network. Their product, appropriately named the Invisible Network, also comes packaged as a 2 station starter kit priced at $215. They use a network adapter card rated at 1.8 Mbps, which is slightly slower than Lantastic's, but not enough to create a major performance difference. Their NET/30 software will support up to 44 workstations. A nice standard feature found on this product is the ability of the network card to "boot" the computer and load the network driver automatically without requiring a floppy drive in the workstation. This "boot PROM" feature is usually optional in most other networking systems. NET/30 does not include password security or electronic mail features, but for the price, I could learn to trust my employees and yell messages across the room! The Invisible Network is easy to wire together, since it uses standard push and click telephone wire and connectors. Since this network uses the Master / Slave approach to networking, you must power on the master station before the slave computer will work properly. Overall, the Invisible Network is an excellent value at $215 for a two user system. I rate it a "7" on the preference scale. For more information, contact Invisible Software, 1165 Chess Drive, Suite D, Foster City, CA 94404, (415) 570-5967 General Considerations ---------------------- Buying and installing connectivity products for your business can be a smooth process or it can result in disaster! As with any project, a little planning can go a long way toward preventing chaos. Here are a few questions to address during the planning stage of your network project: What is the major purpose of your network? Do you need to share printers, application programs, data or mixture of all? How many computers do you need to connect? How far apart are they? Can I add more workstations in the future? What is the free amount of disk storage in your system? (This maybe the best time to increase your hard disk capacity) Does the software you currently have support network usage? How do you intend to back-up the information on the network? (Don't cut corners here, your business records and data are likely more valuable than the extra cost of a backup system). Who in your business will be responsible for the network? These are just a few of the questions you need to examine before making a decision on which network to select. Installation ------------ You may elect to contract with a consultant for installing this system and training your employees on it's operation. Choose this person or company wisely. Insist on references. Interview them as though you were going to "hire them" full time in your company. This element can make a significant difference regarding the success or failure of your system and indirectly, your business! By all means, make sure they understand what you expect this system to provide. Get some form of performance statement in writing! I have heard the same story more than once about a vendor who sold and installed a complete network, only to find that his customer would not pay because the system did not operate up to the customer's expectations. Also, spell out the level of training you expect; how many users, what software, how many training sessions? Time well spent in the planning stage of your system will pay for itself many times over in increased productivity down the road. Questions & Answers ------------------- Q. "Do you have any economical solutions for networking 2-4 computers that are at different locations?" from Jim Roberts, CompuServe Work-at-Home Forum. A. This is probably the single most asked question in the small (or large) network field. Their are several solutions that allow users at different locations to connect with one common network. They vary primarily in the cost involved and the ease of access to the network information. These systems usually consist of two software components: One at the network site and another at each of the remote locations. The remote computer dials into the network system via modem. Once connected the remote user appears as though he was connected locally and has the use of all normal network resources. The main limitation in any remote connection will probably be the modem baud rate. Slower modems mean slow performance. A dedicated PC at the network site is usually required. This means setting aside one machine just for remote communication. This machine could be used for other applications during off periods when no dial-in traffic is expected. This is a great way to keep in touch while on the road or when helping a customer with some PC related issue. Two products that offer such features are: Close-Up sold in two modules at $245 + $195 for each remote, from Norton-Lambert, P.O. Box 4085, Santa Barbara, CA 93140 (805) 964-6767 and secondly, Co-Session sold in two modules at $125 and $175 remote or a two user only package for $249, from Triton Technologies, 200 Middlesex Essex Turnpike, Iselin, NJ 08830, (201) 855-9440. If you have a question about small networks or communications please address them to: The Small LAN Letter, P.O. Box 320, Pickerington, Ohio 43147, or send E-Mail to CompuServe address 73317,122 While every effort will be made to answer these inquiries, it may not be possible to address each and every one, due to high volume. Answers will be published bi-monthly in this section of the letter. The Small LAN Letter is published bi-monthly by SOS Publishing, P.O. Box 320, Pickerington, Ohio 43147. To obtain subscription information, please send your name, complete address to the above address or send via EasyPlex to John Smart, 73317,122. ... Notice to Readers ... This publication is sold as information only. The publisher makes no guarantee or warrantee regarding it's content and shall have no liability with respect to contacts or agreements of any kind that may result from information obtained in this newsletter. SOS Publishing assumes no liability for any loss or damage caused by the use of such information. .... Networking Glossary of Terms .... Unit 1 ACCESS: The ability to open and read or write to files which are stored on a network disk drive. Different levels of access may be assigned to specific users, depending on the features of the particular network software in use. ACTIVE HUB: A device which is used to boost the network signal and thereby allowing more workstations to be connected. This unit is most often referred to when dealing with the ARCNET system for connecting workstations and servers. ADD-ON CARD: An circuit board that is installed in one of the computer's expansion slots, which adds non-standard features and capabilities to the system. Most commonly used as a Network Interface Card (NIC) in LAN jargon. ADDRESS: A number that represents a specific location within the computer's memory section. Also, can refer to a number that designates a particular workstation or other network device. ADMINISTRATOR: A person who is trained on the overall use of the network and is generally responsible for adding users, system back-up, and general maintenance of the network hardware and software. APPLICATION: A software package that runs on a computer / workstation that is used to perform a specific function; ie: wordprocessing, spreadsheet, accounting, etc. It may support multi-user operation or may only be a standalone (single-user) version. ASCII: (Pronounced ASKEY) Acronym for American Standard Code for Information. A standard set of 128 characters used to represent alphanumeric letters, numbers, and symbols in a 7 bit computer binary format. The IBM-PC/AT system uses an extended form of the ASCII character set which includes 256 characters stored in an 8 bit format. An ASCII TEXT FILE is a file made up of ASCII characters that is readable directly from DOS and can be easily transferred between application programs. ARCNET: Acronym for Attached Resource Computer Network. A network interface standard designed by Datapoint, Inc. Popular in small networks because of a convenient star/hub connection for workstations. ASYNCHRONOUS: The most common transmission method for sending information between personal computers. Each character is sent one bit at a time. Each character has one start and stop bit which is used to synchronize the communications link on both ends of the transmission. Most 300/1200/2400 baud low cost modems use asynchronous transmission.