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1992-02-17
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7KB
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135 lines
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe Waldygo, PR Manager
Voice: 602/293-4000 ext. 3215
FAX: 602/293-8065
MCI Mail: JWALDYGO
ARTISOFT ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF LANTASTIC(r)
VERSION 4.1
Includes Increased Performance, System Management And Printing
Enhancements
(TUCSON, AZ - February 18, 1992) - Artisoft, Inc. announced that
LANtastic v4.1, the latest version of its network operating system, will
be shipping by the end of the month. This newest version of the award-
winning LANtastic Local Area Network offers increased performance
as well as additional feature enhancements to its System Manager and
printing capabilities.
"LANtastic v4.1's increased performance, feature enhancements, and
price/performance ratio makes it an attractive and competitive solution
for small- to medium-sized businesses," said Jack Schoof (pronounced
"shoaf"), Artisoft President and CEO.
Four important features will improve the speed and efficiency of the
LANtastic Local Area Network - a faster NetBIOS, resource caching,
random access caching and delayed record-locking. Other new
features of LANtastic v4.1 include new System Manager features,
immediate despooling, enhanced printer queue display, new NET
PRINT switches, new print resources parameters, automatic login to
servers, login to multiple servers with one command, hot keys to menu
items, and enhanced NET HELP display.
The NetBIOS in LANtastic v4.1 transfers data between servers and
workstations faster than any previous version. Because the NetBIOS
operates in the background without any user interaction, users will
simply notice a faster accomplishment of their networking tasks.
The new resource caching feature speeds the process of looking up
and opening files by keeping user access information in a server's
RAM instead of having to read it each time from the server's disk. This
allows a server to rapidly read access control list information for each
network resource from RAM and also reduces the frequency with
which the server has to check the information before allowing or
denying a user request. LANtastic v4.1's new random access caching
quickens access to data on disk by allowing server computers to search
through files more quickly.
Delayed record locking allows a server to hold onto a user request for
a record that is already locked and in use by another user. After the
record becomes unlocked, the user request is completed. Without
delayed record locking, the user request for a locked record would be
denied and the attempt would have to be retried until completed,
degrading response time. With LANtastic v4.1, the user request is
completed as soon as the record is free.
New System Manager features allow users with the System Manager
privilege to accomplish a number of network tasks from their own PC,
including installing an entire network. They can also manage the entire
network by copying accounts from tne server to another with either a
command line or menu interface, or set up servers by running the
batch file on their shared drives. In addition, they can also log users out
of a server and prevent other users from logging in to a server. This
makes tasks such as backing up a server much easier because the
System Manager can log all the network users out of the server, then
disable logins until the backup is finished.
Immediate despooling allows LANtastic v4.1 users to print faster
because it begins printing as soon as the print command is given,
instead of waiting for the print job to be completely spooled onto the
server's disk. The print job, however, is still stored on the user's disk,
so if for some reason, the print job isn't completed, the file won't be lost.
Users can also pause printing, restart the print job or print multiple
copies. The improved printer queue display tells users when their jobs
will print, how long it will take and when it will finish.
Four new NET PRINT switches have also been added. The /NOTIFY
switch sends a print completion message to users at their workstations,
which is convenient for users that are located in a different room from
the printer. The /NONOTIFY switch disables this feature.The
/DIRECT switch lets users with an attached shared printer print their
own files faster by sending them directly to the printer without first
copying them to the server's despooling area. The /DELETE switch
tells the network to delete the file from disk immediately after it is
printing using the /DIRECT switch.
New print resources parameters grant greater control in printing
ASCII files and let users specify the number of lines (up to 255) that will
be printed before a form feed. When combined with LANtastic v4.1's
other print options, this allows users to format the printing of text-only
files with great precision.
Automatic login to servers makes it easier and faster for users to access
a server's resources. After users have logged into a server, they no
longer have to enter their usernames or passwords to access other
servers. By allowing users to log in to multiple servers with one
command, LANtastic v4.1 saves them from having to type multiple NET
LOGIN commands and allows them to create shorter batch files.
Hot keys have been added as shortcuts to the LANtastic v4.1 menus.
This allows users to activate an option by pressing the letter key
corresponding to the highlighted letter in each command.
The NET HELP display now includes instruction regarding
networking topics as well as specific commands. For example, to see a
list of expandable strings for use in a macro, the user simply types NET
HELP MACROS.
Other new LANtastic v4.1 features include NET PAUSE and NET
FLUSH commands and Change Your Username without Logging Out.
The LANtastic v4.1 upgrade will be available to all registered endusers
through Artisoft or any Authorized Artisoft Five Star Dealer. The
upgrade will cost $50 per network for networks using Artisoft adapters.
Users of the LANtastic/AI(tm) network, the adapter-independent
version of the LANtastic network which includes software drivers for
running the LANtastic network on other manufacturers' adapters, will
be able to upgrade to v4.1 for $99 per network.
Artisoft develops and manufactures a full line of hardware and software
for local area networks including the LANtastic Local Area Network.
The LANtastic network is recognized as the leading DOS-based peer-
to-peer network and has won numerous industry awards for its cost-
effective features, performance, and ease of use. It allows up to 300
users of IBM(r)-compatible computers to connect and share information
and peripheral devices such as printers, hard drives and CD-ROMs.
For more information about Artisoft or its product line, contact Artisoft,
Inc. at 691 E. River Road, Tucson, AZ 85704. Sales 800-TINYRAM.
Fax 602/293-8065.Corporate 602/293-4000.
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