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1993-01-05
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LANtastic(r) and Windows(tm) for Workgroups Networks
An addendum to the 11/92 Comparison documet Sales Guide
Since its release of Windows(tm) for Workgroups has been the subject of
many reviews and product comparisons.
"Windows for Workgroups evokes fear and loathing in IS
corridors... Since WFW will be widely available in retail stores,
it's likely that users will buy the product and try to install it
themselves. However, installation is a matter best left to a LAN
administrator, according to many WFW beta testers.
PC Week, October 26, 1992
A number of published articles report that the initial sales and acceptance
of Windows(tm) for Workgroups have not meet Microsoft's expectations. This
hangup in the acceptance of Windows for Workgroups presents an opportunity
for Artisoft resellers to demonstrate the LANtastic(r) system to end users.
These endusers may be those who are considering Windows for Workgroups
or those who have purchased Windows for Workgroups but are dissatisfied
with its performance, functionality, or the limitations it place on some PC
hardware types (XTs, ATs).
The tremendous amount of advertising that Microsoft has done for Windows
for Workgroups has also raised end user awareness of the benefits of
networking. We can take advantage of this heightened awareness to place
LANtastic into additional sites.
The November 12, 1992 Wall Street Journal highlighted some of the
drawbacks of Windows for Workgroups.
"On the videotape, which lasts 15 minutes, this process
[setting up the network] looks trivial. By the end, two actors not
only have networked a pair of PCs, but are happily exchanging E-
mail.
"This isn't possible. In my own case, it took about three
hours and a call to Microsoft to get everything running right. And
that may understate the time required, because I've done this sort
of thing before...
"Windows for Workgroups has other drawbacks. Its
pricing is confusing. Six versions, ranging from $60 to $630 in
discount stores....
"However, Windows for Workgroups has an even bigger
drawback: It works fully only on PCs running Windows. In fact,
it's a part of Microsoft's basic strategy to promote Windows as the
universal way of running PCs. But most PCs still rely on the older
MS-DOS operating system. These computers can only be
connected via a $70 add-on product, and even then they can
merely use files on Windows machines; they can't share their own
files with Windows or DOS machines.
"If you are in this majority of PC owners and want to set up
a simple network, you would do well to consider instead the
current market leader in the field, LANtastic, by Artisoft, Tucson
Ariz. This product runs on DOS and Windows, costs about the
same as Microsoft's entry and is relatively simple to set up."
This recommendation has special impact because the Wall Street Journal is
not a computer industry publication, but is a highly respected business
publication, that owes no allegiance to major computer companies with large
advertising budgets.
Using components of Windows for Workgroups with the LANtastic system
Since the release of Windows for Workgroups, Artisoft has done some testing
of the product. Here are some of our findings:
oWindows for Workgroups can use all Artisoft's "AE" boards when they are
set in the NE2000 mode.
oThe mail and schedule features of Windows for Workgroups will work under
the LANtastic system. This is accomplished by removing the workgroups
network from Windows for Workgroups with the result being regular
Microsoft Windows with the Mail, Schedule+ and a toolbar for File
Manager. This is accomplished by modifying the Windows SYSTEM.INI file
and the CONFIG.SYS file.
oWindows for Workgroups will not work under LANtastic. It has its own
REDIR and SERVER and low level drivers which are not compatible with the
LANtastic system.
To replace a Windows for Workgroups network with a LANtastic network
change the SYSTEM.INI file as follows:
[Boot]
Replace
network=wfwnet.drv
with:network.drv=lantnet.drv
[386Enh]
Delete all but vnetbios.386 from below line
network=vnetbios.386,vnetsup.386,vredir.386,vserver.386,vbrowse.386,vwc.386
replace with:network=vnetbios.386,lantasti.386
Replace
NetHeapSize=20
with:NetHeapSize=64
After you have made the above changes you need to add the following to the
SYSTEM.INI file
[386Enh]
Add
NetAsynchFallback=TRUE
NetAsynchTimeout=5.0
PerVMFiles=0
[LANtastic]
Network_IRQ=(15) (appropriate IRQ setting for that machine)
After these changes have been made you have Windows 3.1 with the
following additions:
Mail
Schedule+
Network File Manager
ClipBook (this includes the original ClipBoard) The ClipBook Viewer
will work locally, however it will not share the file across the
network
After these changes are made, the following Windows for Workgroups
functions will not work:
NetDDE Programs (The LANtastic for Windows DDE feature will function.)
Chat
Hearts (game)
VSERVER.386 programs
NetWatcher
WinMeter
The Intel EtherExpress 16Bit network interface card that ships with Windows
for Workgroups will work with LANtastic A/I(tm). The driver used is
EXP16LAN.EXE. It was developed by Intel Corporation. Version 2.01 of
the driver was tested with LANtastic/AI v4.1 and was found to be compatible,
except when trying to configure multiple adapters on one computer. In this
case, frequent disconnects were encountered. The EXP16LAN.EXE driver is
not yet included in the LANtastic/AI standard distribution diskette. Users
can download the driver by calling Intel's BBS at 503-645-6275 or Artisoft's
BBS at 602-293-0065. Version 2.01 of EXP16LAN.EXE is not backward
compatible with earlier versions of LANtastic/AI. and does not currently work
on XT machines. This is not a problem in a Windows for Workgroups
situation, since WfW cannot be installed on an XT machine. For other types
of adapters, you should check the current compatibility list on Artisoft's
BBS. If Windows for Workgroups was loaded using the Intel EtherExpress(tm)
adapter cards, you must also remove the low level drivers from the
CONFIG.SYS file.
Listed below is an example of the SYSTEM.INI file after the changes have
been made:
SYSTEM.INI:
[boot]
shell=progman.exe
mouse.drv=mouse.drv
+ network.drv=lantnet.drv
language.dll=
sound.drv=mmsound.drv
comm.drv=comm.drv
keyboard.drv=keyboard.drv
system.drv=system.drv
386grabber=vga.3gr
oemfonts.fon=vgaoem.fon
286grabber=vgacolor.2gr
fixedfon.fon=vgafix.fon
fonts.fon=vgasys.fon
display.drv=vga.drv
drivers=mmsystem.dll
SCRNSAVE.EXE=(None)
[keyboard]
subtype=
type=4
keyboard.dll=
oemansi.bin=
[boot.description]
keyboard.typ=Enhanced 101 or 102 key US and Non US keyboards
mouse.drv=Microsoft, or IBM PS/2
network.drv=Microsoft Windows for Workgroups (version 3.1)
language.dll=English (American)
system.drv=MS-DOS System
codepage=437
woafont.fon=English (437)
aspect=100,96,96
display.drv=VGA
[386Enh]
32BitDiskAccess=OFF
device=*int13
device=*wdctrl
mouse=*vmd
+ network=vnetbios.386,lantasti.386
++ PerVMFiles=0
++ NetAsynchTimeout=5.0
++ NetAsynchFallback=TRUE
ebios=*ebios
woafont=dosapp.fon
display=*vddvga
EGA80WOA.FON=EGA80WOA.FON
EGA40WOA.FON=EGA40WOA.FON
CGA80WOA.FON=CGA80WOA.FON
CGA40WOA.FON=CGA40WOA.FON
keyboard=*vkd
+ netheapsize=64
device=vtdapi.386
device=vcd.386
device=vshare.386
device=vpicd.386
device=vpd.386
device=*vtd
device=*reboot
device=vdmad.386
device=*vsd
device=*v86mmgr
device=*pageswap
device=*dosmgr
device=*vmpoll
device=*wshell
device=*BLOCKDEV
device=*PAGEFILE
device=*vfd
device=*parity
device=*biosxlat
device=*vmcpd
device=*combuff
device=*cdpscsi
local=CON
FileSysChange=off
PermSwapDOSDrive=C
PermSwapSizeK=7786
transport=vnb.386
device=VASBID.386
[standard]
netheapsize=8
[NonWindowsApp]
localtsrs=dosedit,ced
CommandEnvSize=1024
[mci]
WaveAudio=mciwave.drv 4
Sequencer=mciseq.drv
CDAudio=mcicda.drv
[drivers]
timer=timer.drv
midimapper=midimap.drv
wave=sndbrd.drv
[DDEShares]
[network]
ComputerName=DAN
Workgroup=WORKGRP
UserName=
[ClipShares]
[sndbrd.drv]
NumAdapters=1
InDMA.1=1
OutDMA.1=3
++ [LANtastic]
++ Network_IRQ=15
+ Lines that have been changed
++ Lines that have been added
Should you have any questions concerning the conversion of Windows for
Workgroups networks, call Artisoft technical support, at 602-293-6363.
Select number three for the technical support queue, and then number one for
the Windows support queue.
(C)1992 Artisoft, Inc. All rights reserved. Artisoft and LANtastic are
registered trademarks and LANtastic/AI a trademark of Artisoft, Inc.
Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corp. Other company, brand and
product names are the property and/or trademarks of their respective
companies.