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. # # #