NetDoubler™ is an Asanté software product that accelerates file transfers between a Mac client and an AppleShare server or between two Mac Clients who are using Personal File Sharing. NetDoubler is optimized for Fast Ethernet (100Mbps) but will work on standard 10Mbps Ethernet and FDDI networks. Using NetDoubler with LocalTalk is not recommended.
NetDoubler must be installed on every client that you want to be accelerated. NetDoubler must also be installed on any client or server whose disk/volume you mount on your desktop; if you don't, there will be no acceleration. The exact same software is installed on both the server and the clients.
NetDoubler works only on Macintoshes and Macintosh Servers at this time.
WHAT SHOULD I DOWNLOAD?
Two version of NetDoubler are available for downloading from the www.asante.com Web site.
"NetDoubler Application Software", is the fully licensed retail version of NetDoubler. If you have an Asanté Fast 10/100 PCI or NuBus Fast Ethernet card, this version will detect it and run on that card automatically, with no serial number, no time limit, and at no charge. It is Asanté’s way of "thanking" all past and future customers for choosing the Asanté Fast 100Mbps solution. This download will ONLY work on Asanté Fast 10/100 cards.
"NetDoubler Demo Software" is identical to the retail version with two major differences: 1.) It has a 30-minute time limit, and 2.) it will work with any brand 10Mbps, FDDI, or 100Mbps Fast Ethernet card that you’ve already purchased, including built-in ethernet. Download this free demo version to see NetDoubler's incredible performance boost. Then, you may purchase the fully licensed version from your software distributor or call Asanté Sales at 800-662-9686 (Domestic), 408-954-1849 (Domestic & International).
NetDoubler is sold at the following retail prices:
1 user - $ 99
5 user - $ 399
20 user - $ 1399
When you purchase, for example, a 5-user package of NetDoubler, you will get five different serial numbers that will activate NetDoubler on 5 different Macs (clients or servers). By the way, NetDoubler is smart — duplicate serial numbers won’t work on any other Mac.
Since NetDoubler ships for free with every Asanté Fast 10/100 PCI or NuBus card for Macintosh, you are money ahead by purchasing the Asanté card.
Whether you purchase NetDoubler, or are using it for free with your Asanté Fast card, you can download all future maintenance upgrades at no charge from our Asanté web site. The installer application will preserve you old serial number, if necessary, during installation.
By the way, users of the Asanté Fast 10/100 PCI card should check out our Web site for the new version 2.1 Open Transport-optimized driver. Even without NetDoubler, this new driver makes the Asanté Fast 10/100 PCI card significantly faster than any other 100Mbps solution.
CPU REQUIREMENTS
NetDoubler is a high-performance application for power users. You need to have at least 3.5 MB of RAM to spare on your server and at least 1MB RAM (preferably 3.5MB) to spare on your Client Mac. The “Client” Mac is the one you sit at. The “Server” is any Mac that allows someone else to mount its hard disk, so it can be a dedicated AppleShare server or someone else sharing their hard disk using Personal File Sharing.
All the Macs running NetDoubler must be using System 7.5.2 and Open Transport 1.0.8 or higher. System 7.5.3 is highly recommended. You must use Open Transport with NetDoubler.
Macs with a 68030 processor can use NetDoubler, but you will see a much greater performance boost with 68040, and especially PowerPC-equipped Macs. PCI-equipped Mac will experience an even greater speed boost than NuBus Macs.
AppleShare dedicated servers must run System 7.5.3 and AppleShare 4.2.1 or newer. This version of AppleShare requires a Power Macintosh.
NetDoubler is so fast, your hard drive may actually be slower than the network! When using Fast Ethernet (100Mbps) with NetDoubler, RAID level 0 (striped) drives on your server can give even more speed boost to you network. Those users with very high performance Macs will see such a speed boost on their 100Mbps network that NetDoubler will become a “must have”!
HOW TO INSTALL
After downloading the NetDoubler Software, you should unstuff the ".sea" file by double-clicking it. This will give you a folder named "NetDoubler™ Installer". Do not change the name of this folder. Open the folder, double click the Installer program and follow the instructions. We recommend the Easy Install option. Then restart. Do the same to a second Mac that will act as your server.
Open the NetDoubler control panel on your client Mac. Make sure the “Enable” button is highlighted If it is not highlighted, do so and then restart.
You have two speed choices: ADSP and TCP/IP. The latter is 30-40% faster than the ADSP mode, but you must configure your TCP/IP control panel to use it. We recommend you just use the ADSP mode. If you have the knowledge to properly configure the TCP/IP control panel on your Mac, do so, restart your Mac, and select "TCP/IP" in the NetDoubler control panel. (The NetDoubler User’s Guide tells you how to easily set up TCP/IP).
(Note: NetDoubler User Guides are avialable at no charge to customers who have previously purchased Asanté Fast 10/100 cards. Contact Asanté Sales at the above phone numbers. Proof of purchase will be requested.)
Set up your server the same way.
Now that you are set up, you will no longer have to restart when changing settings in the NetDoubler control panel. The changes are immediate.
Mount the server’s hard drive. Drag a large (e.g. 20MB Photoshop photo) file from the server to your hard disk. Then open the NetDoubler control panel, select “Disable” and drag the same file again from the server to your hard disk. Notice the big difference.
Try opening a big photo file into Photoshop over the network and you will see an even bigger speed boost when NetDoubler is enabled.
Even the slowest Macs will see a marked speed difference on 10Mbps networks with NetDoubler Enabled, versus Disabled. Using fast, new, PCI equipped Power Macs with fast hard drives on the server, a 100Mbps Fast Ethernet network, and lots of RAM for Photoshop, we have easily recorded a six times network speed boost from NetDoubler! And MacBench 3.0 clocks NetDoubler’s boost at eight or nine times over Fast Ethernet and FDDI!
NetDoubler will also be moving to UNIX-based AppleShare servers soon, and NT-based AppleShare servers this summer. Watch for it. And watch your network fly!
