While all elements required to set up a FirstClass system appear on our price list, this document helps you understand exactly what you need to set up FirstClass for a given purpose.
Before purchasing FirstClass, one should have a good grasp of exactly how the system will be used and how many people will be using it. Do you intend to use FirstClass simply as a network e-mail and conferencing product? Do you wish to allow remote access for people to check their mail? If so, how many incoming lines will you require? Do you want to use FirstClass primarily for technical support with your customers over modems, with a minimum of network access? Do you want to use FirstClass simply as an outstanding graphical BBS?
Client And Server Issues
The FirstClass server will run on any Macintosh with at least two megabytes of memory under System 6, or four megabytes of memory under System 7. A Mac Plus or better is recommended as the minimum to use for your server. The FirstClass server is exceptionally high-performance software, and will offer you impressive results even on a Plus.
A Mac Plus may accommodate as many as 20 simultaneous network users and one modem session. This means 20 people in your office could be logged in and checking their mail at the same time over your network (regardless of how many people in your office actually use your FirstClass system in total everyday) and one person at a time could be logged in by modem.
FirstClass may be run on a non-dedicated Macintosh. However to minimize potential conflicts with the FirstClass server and not compromise reliability, SoftArc recommends the server machine be kept free of INITs and foreign system extensions. However, the FirstClass server can be run on the same machine as an AppleShare fileserver without conflicts, for example, or on a print server or FileMaker Pro server.
If you require more than 20 simultaneous network sessions, consider a faster machine like a Mac II class Macintosh. A Mac II or IIx can offer you dozens of simultaneous sessions. A Quadra or Centris class machine can accommodate more than 100 simultaneous sessions.
If you need to hook up more than one or two modems, you'll need a Mac II class server for its NuBus expansion slots. While it's possible to accommodate two modems on the same non-NuBus Mac at the same time, Apple does not recommend you use anything over 2400 baud. Also, you need to forego any AppleTalk access to your server, because the printer port must be kept free for AppleTalk... even when logging into the FirstClass server with the FirstClass client running on the same machine (normally possible.)
For such use, consider a Mac II or Quadra machine with spare NuBus slots (with which to accommodate the serial expansion cards SoftArc sells if you need more than one or two modems.)
SoftArc recommends and resells as its four port serial expansion card Creative Solutions' "Hurdler", which can drive up to four high-speed modems without difficulty with its reliable on-board processing. However one must also purchase SoftArc's four modem port upgrade software in order for FirstClass to "see" the NuBus board and allow extra modem sessions to be configured on it. This four port software increases your server license limits by four ports. Without this software license, the physical card itself is of little use to those wanting to expand the number of incoming lines on their FirstClass systems.
Up to five expansion cards may be inserted into Mac II or Quadra class Macintoshes, allowing FirstClass to accommodate up to 22 modems when licensed for the equal number of ports.
Choosing Modems
FirstClass will work reliably with any Hayes-compatible modem once configured properly. Modem configuration is performed by selecting a modem configuration file via a pop-up menu listing popular models on both the client and server. If a given modem is not listed, it is sometimes necessary to edit the default modem strings and enter some of the modem's "AT" commands.
Both the FirstClass server and client take advantage of "hardware handshaking", a process by which the Macintosh makes up for deficiencies in the number of pins in its serial ports when using high-speed modems. When using a high speed modem with either the FirstClass server or client, it's important to ensure the modem has been plugged in with a "hardware handshaking" cable with the carrier-detect pin enabled (although not all Macintoshes recognize carrier detect at their serial ports.) SoftArc sells these cables, and includes one for free with every system purchase and four with every four port serial card package.
If hardware handshaking cables are not used and the proper modem configuration file has not been selected, FirstClass may not properly negotiate connections between high-speed modems and default to a lower (usually 2400 baud) connection, or a connection may not work at all.
FirstClass insists on hardware handshaking, while other terminal programs or communication packages may not, so as to deliver the fastest, most reliable connection yet still offer its advanced communication features like simultaneous multiple file upload and download.
Regular vs. Telecom Users
When you purchase a FirstClass system, you pay for the FirstClass server, plus a license to accommodate however many users you anticipate will use your system. You may purchase additional user licensing as you need.
Users are available in two classes in FirstClass: regular users, who may access your system via network or modem, and telecom users, who may connect with your server by modem only. Regular user licenses are those you'd purchase for people using FirstClass internally. Telecom users are available for organizations who'd like to extend access to their FirstClass system to large numbers of their customers, or for groups or individuals who would like to use FirstClass as a BBS.
Packages of regular users are available starting at quantity five, all the way up to quantity 1000. The cost per user is $79 at five, and drops to $15 a user at 1000. Packages of telecom users are available starting at quantity 50, up to quantity 1000. Per user, they start at $8 and drop to $2.50 at quantity 1000. (Even in minimal configurations, FirstClass is considerably cheaper than other e-mail or conferencing packages.)
An exact itemization of license limit packages is available in our formal price list, posted elsewhere in this area.
Please note that FirstClass user licensing is cumulative. One does not pay an "upgrade" price from one user package to another, but rather the full price of another user package that will boost one's server to the desired number of users. For example, you do not pay a special upgrade price to increase your server limits from 50 to 100 regular users; you purchase another package of 50 users to add to your original.
What Comes In The Box?
To install a new FirstClass system, one must order the FirstClass Server and one or more license packages.
In the Macintosh server package one receives the server and Macintosh client diskettes in addition to a license diskette that, once installed, sets the FirstClass server's serial number and licenses it for two regular users: the administrator and one "free" regular user. Also in the box is are single copies of each of the client user manual and administrator reference manual—a total of about 700 pages of documentation. Finally, a series of quick-reference cards which may be freely copied and distributed are also included, as are a hardware handshaking modem cable and basic information on FirstClass and available options.
User license packages are shipped in a smaller box that contains simply the license diskette.
Extra copies of the FirstClass user's manual and administrator's guide are available for the amounts indicated on our price list.
Options
The following briefly summarizes which optional add-ons one requires to fulfill specific communication needs with FirstClass.
Organizations requiring multiple servers will be pleased to discover FirstClass servers come complete right out of the box with the ability to talk to each other and exchange mail and conferences via network or modem. Mail, conference and file exchanges are done bidirectionally... reducing phone bills by up to 50% if connections are made by modem.
A popular option for those opening their servers up for remote access is the FirstClass Command Line User Interface. This software module installs on the FirstClass server in seconds and enables modem logins from users without the graphical FirstClass client software (they may then download it from your system if you make it available.)
Also popular is the FirstClass Windows User Interface, which allows users of Microsoft's Windows operating environment to log into FirstClass systems via modem with SoftArc's FirstClass client application for Windows. Sites wishing to accommodate Windows users on their networks also require SoftArc's IPX Protocol Module in addition to the Windows Users Interface.
A variety of gateways from FirstClass to other systems and services are available. Internet connectivity for private mail and Usenet Newsgroup replication within FirstClass conferences is handled by way of SoftArc's UUCP or SMTP Internet gateways. Gateways are available from FirstClass to foreign mail systems like Microsoft Mail® or QuickMail®, a variety of systems through our Novell MHS gateway or the world of fax machines with SoftArc's FirstClass Fax Gateway.
Full descriptions of all of these options are available.
