LANtastic(r) and Windows(tm) for Workgroups Networks An addendum to the 11/92 Comparison documet Sales Guide Since its release of Windows(tm) for Workgroups has been the subject of many reviews and product comparisons. "Windows for Workgroups evokes fear and loathing in IS corridors... Since WFW will be widely available in retail stores, it's likely that users will buy the product and try to install it themselves. However, installation is a matter best left to a LAN administrator, according to many WFW beta testers. PC Week, October 26, 1992 A number of published articles report that the initial sales and acceptance of Windows(tm) for Workgroups have not meet Microsoft's expectations. This hangup in the acceptance of Windows for Workgroups presents an opportunity for Artisoft resellers to demonstrate the LANtastic(r) system to end users. These endusers may be those who are considering Windows for Workgroups or those who have purchased Windows for Workgroups but are dissatisfied with its performance, functionality, or the limitations it place on some PC hardware types (XTs, ATs). The tremendous amount of advertising that Microsoft has done for Windows for Workgroups has also raised end user awareness of the benefits of networking. We can take advantage of this heightened awareness to place LANtastic into additional sites. The November 12, 1992 Wall Street Journal highlighted some of the drawbacks of Windows for Workgroups. "On the videotape, which lasts 15 minutes, this process [setting up the network] looks trivial. By the end, two actors not only have networked a pair of PCs, but are happily exchanging E- mail. "This isn't possible. In my own case, it took about three hours and a call to Microsoft to get everything running right. And that may understate the time required, because I've done this sort of thing before... "Windows for Workgroups has other drawbacks. Its pricing is confusing. Six versions, ranging from $60 to $630 in discount stores.... "However, Windows for Workgroups has an even bigger drawback: It works fully only on PCs running Windows. In fact, it's a part of Microsoft's basic strategy to promote Windows as the universal way of running PCs. But most PCs still rely on the older MS-DOS operating system. These computers can only be connected via a $70 add-on product, and even then they can merely use files on Windows machines; they can't share their own files with Windows or DOS machines. "If you are in this majority of PC owners and want to set up a simple network, you would do well to consider instead the current market leader in the field, LANtastic, by Artisoft, Tucson Ariz. This product runs on DOS and Windows, costs about the same as Microsoft's entry and is relatively simple to set up." This recommendation has special impact because the Wall Street Journal is not a computer industry publication, but is a highly respected business publication, that owes no allegiance to major computer companies with large advertising budgets. Using components of Windows for Workgroups with the LANtastic system Since the release of Windows for Workgroups, Artisoft has done some testing of the product. Here are some of our findings: oWindows for Workgroups can use all Artisoft's "AE" boards when they are set in the NE2000 mode. oThe mail and schedule features of Windows for Workgroups will work under the LANtastic system. This is accomplished by removing the workgroups network from Windows for Workgroups with the result being regular Microsoft Windows with the Mail, Schedule+ and a toolbar for File Manager. This is accomplished by modifying the Windows SYSTEM.INI file and the CONFIG.SYS file. oWindows for Workgroups will not work under LANtastic. It has its own REDIR and SERVER and low level drivers which are not compatible with the LANtastic system. To replace a Windows for Workgroups network with a LANtastic network change the SYSTEM.INI file as follows: [Boot] Replace network=wfwnet.drv with:network.drv=lantnet.drv [386Enh] Delete all but vnetbios.386 from below line network=vnetbios.386,vnetsup.386,vredir.386,vserver.386,vbrowse.386,vwc.386 replace with:network=vnetbios.386,lantasti.386 Replace NetHeapSize=20 with:NetHeapSize=64 After you have made the above changes you need to add the following to the SYSTEM.INI file [386Enh] Add NetAsynchFallback=TRUE NetAsynchTimeout=5.0 PerVMFiles=0 [LANtastic] Network_IRQ=(15) (appropriate IRQ setting for that machine) After these changes have been made you have Windows 3.1 with the following additions: Mail Schedule+ Network File Manager ClipBook (this includes the original ClipBoard) The ClipBook Viewer will work locally, however it will not share the file across the network After these changes are made, the following Windows for Workgroups functions will not work: NetDDE Programs (The LANtastic for Windows DDE feature will function.) Chat Hearts (game) VSERVER.386 programs NetWatcher WinMeter The Intel EtherExpress 16Bit network interface card that ships with Windows for Workgroups will work with LANtastic A/I(tm). The driver used is EXP16LAN.EXE. It was developed by Intel Corporation. Version 2.01 of the driver was tested with LANtastic/AI v4.1 and was found to be compatible, except when trying to configure multiple adapters on one computer. In this case, frequent disconnects were encountered. The EXP16LAN.EXE driver is not yet included in the LANtastic/AI standard distribution diskette. Users can download the driver by calling Intel's BBS at 503-645-6275 or Artisoft's BBS at 602-293-0065. Version 2.01 of EXP16LAN.EXE is not backward compatible with earlier versions of LANtastic/AI. and does not currently work on XT machines. This is not a problem in a Windows for Workgroups situation, since WfW cannot be installed on an XT machine. For other types of adapters, you should check the current compatibility list on Artisoft's BBS. If Windows for Workgroups was loaded using the Intel EtherExpress(tm) adapter cards, you must also remove the low level drivers from the CONFIG.SYS file. Listed below is an example of the SYSTEM.INI file after the changes have been made: SYSTEM.INI: [boot] shell=progman.exe mouse.drv=mouse.drv + network.drv=lantnet.drv language.dll= sound.drv=mmsound.drv comm.drv=comm.drv keyboard.drv=keyboard.drv system.drv=system.drv 386grabber=vga.3gr oemfonts.fon=vgaoem.fon 286grabber=vgacolor.2gr fixedfon.fon=vgafix.fon fonts.fon=vgasys.fon display.drv=vga.drv drivers=mmsystem.dll SCRNSAVE.EXE=(None) [keyboard] subtype= type=4 keyboard.dll= oemansi.bin= [boot.description] keyboard.typ=Enhanced 101 or 102 key US and Non US keyboards mouse.drv=Microsoft, or IBM PS/2 network.drv=Microsoft Windows for Workgroups (version 3.1) language.dll=English (American) system.drv=MS-DOS System codepage=437 woafont.fon=English (437) aspect=100,96,96 display.drv=VGA [386Enh] 32BitDiskAccess=OFF device=*int13 device=*wdctrl mouse=*vmd + network=vnetbios.386,lantasti.386 ++ PerVMFiles=0 ++ NetAsynchTimeout=5.0 ++ NetAsynchFallback=TRUE ebios=*ebios woafont=dosapp.fon display=*vddvga EGA80WOA.FON=EGA80WOA.FON EGA40WOA.FON=EGA40WOA.FON CGA80WOA.FON=CGA80WOA.FON CGA40WOA.FON=CGA40WOA.FON keyboard=*vkd + netheapsize=64 device=vtdapi.386 device=vcd.386 device=vshare.386 device=vpicd.386 device=vpd.386 device=*vtd device=*reboot device=vdmad.386 device=*vsd device=*v86mmgr device=*pageswap device=*dosmgr device=*vmpoll device=*wshell device=*BLOCKDEV device=*PAGEFILE device=*vfd device=*parity device=*biosxlat device=*vmcpd device=*combuff device=*cdpscsi local=CON FileSysChange=off PermSwapDOSDrive=C PermSwapSizeK=7786 transport=vnb.386 device=VASBID.386 [standard] netheapsize=8 [NonWindowsApp] localtsrs=dosedit,ced CommandEnvSize=1024 [mci] WaveAudio=mciwave.drv 4 Sequencer=mciseq.drv CDAudio=mcicda.drv [drivers] timer=timer.drv midimapper=midimap.drv wave=sndbrd.drv [DDEShares] [network] ComputerName=DAN Workgroup=WORKGRP UserName= [ClipShares] [sndbrd.drv] NumAdapters=1 InDMA.1=1 OutDMA.1=3 ++ [LANtastic] ++ Network_IRQ=15 + Lines that have been changed ++ Lines that have been added Should you have any questions concerning the conversion of Windows for Workgroups networks, call Artisoft technical support, at 602-293-6363. Select number three for the technical support queue, and then number one for the Windows support queue. (C)1992 Artisoft, Inc. All rights reserved. Artisoft and LANtastic are registered trademarks and LANtastic/AI a trademark of Artisoft, Inc. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corp. Other company, brand and product names are the property and/or trademarks of their respective companies.