LANtastic Network Operating System Compatibility Testing Report Product Reviewed: EXAC v1.42 by ACM! Multipurpose Software Classification: LAN Remote Control Date: 4/15/93 컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴 Compatibility Statement: EXAC version 1.42 is compatible with LANtastic NOS version 4.xx and 5.xx. Product Overview: EXAC (for EXternal ACcess) provides remote control and screen broadcasting capabilities within a NetBIOS or NetWare network environment. Viewing, controlling, and broadcasting functions are supported for video types up to and including VGA. EXAC's RAM overhead is low, 8 to 12K on a slave workstation (the controlled PC) and 18K on a master (the controlling PC). EXAC includes a unique feature which allows a master station to control and broadcast any slave screen to all other slaves or a selective group of slaves on the LAN. Additional RAM overhead is required when a slave is operating in broadcast mode for storage of its current screen, but this buffer may be located on disk or in conventional, extended/XMS or expanded memory. VGA Graphics transfers are extremely fast. Remote keyboard or mouse control of Microsoft Windows 3.0 in 386 Enhanced or Standard modes is not currently supported, although a slave running Windows in either of these modes may still be viewed by the "master" program. Keyboard control of a slave running Windows in Real mode is possible. In addition, a master may run Windows in any mode and broadcast its own screen across the LAN for teaching/demonstration purposes. Overall, EXAC is a full-featured, high performance LAN remote control utility. Product Installation Notes: EXAC does not include an installation program, but all that is required is to copy a few files from the diskette to the computer's hard disk. During these tests, the software was installed on the CompuAdd 333 and all other stations loaded EXAC from this server. One obstacle is that the user must contact the distributor, 3rd Planet Software, for an "unlock code" which will allow the software to run correctly. Without this code, the software runs for only a five minute demonstration period. Users will need to plan this extra time into their installation process, and international customers may find it very inconvenient. Product Execution Notes: Configuration of EXAC is accomplished when the program is invoked, via either a simple menu system or by command line switches. The command line configuration was the preferred method used during these tests, as it offers more flexibility in specifying options when the program files are stored on a main server. On the master station, EXAC was brought up with the following command line: EXAC Main333 /M+ /S+ /B+ /R+ which configures this station as both a slave and a master with broadcast capability and installs the master program as a TSR (a requirement for the self-broadcasting feature) using the name Main333. On the workstations, a batch file similar to the following was used: net login 333 user net use d: \\333\c-drive set path %path%;d:\EXAC EXAC ws1 /S+ /B+ installing EXAC as a slave with broadcast reception capability. Once all workstations are configured this way, the master may control any one of them individually, control a slave and broadcast its screen to any or all other workstations, or broadcast its own screen to any or all slaves. Selection of each mode is accomplished by popping up the EXAC master program via a configurable hot key (default is ctrl-alt-M), choosing the slave's name from a list, and taking control of it by pressing the enter key. To broadcast that slave's screen to all other workstations, the user follows the same process, but presses ctrl-enter once the desired slave is selected. Compatibility Notes: Broadcasting of a monochrome based slave to VGA stations (from either a monochrome or VGA based master) is not supported. Remote control and broadcasting of a VGA slave's screen in text mode from a monochrome based master works, but a VGA master cannot view a monochrome slave. The manufacturer is aware of these problems and will be addressing them in a future release. Version History: 9/13/91: EXAC tested for compatibility with LANtastic v4.0. 4/15/93: EXAC compatibility confirmed with LANtasic v5.0. Vendor Information: 3rd Planet Software, 9819 National Blvd, Suite #2, Los Angeles, CA 90034 213/841-2260 (voice), 213/841-2265 (fax), 213/841-0176 (BBS) ARTISOFT, Inc. makes no warranties as to the completeness or accuracy of this document. LANtastic is a trademark of ARTISOFT, Inc. Brand names and product names are trademarks of their respective companies.