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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