ONLINE INTRODUCES OPTI-NET Lite

Software adds cache, prefetching to speed access to CD-ROM-based
applications, data for users of NetWare Lite, Windows for Workgroups,
LANtastic

GERMANTOWN, MD., Jan. 10, 1994 -- A new software utility provides faster
access to more applications and data stored on CD-ROM drives for users of
LANtastic, Windows for Workgroups, NetWare Lite, 10NET, PowerLAN and other
peer-to-peer networks.

OPTI-NET Lite from Online Computer Systems Inc. of Germantown, Md., boosts
network performance and user productivity by adding data caching and data
prefetching to shared CD-ROM drives that are installed in the servers of
peer-to-peer networks.

The utility can speed access to CD-ROM applications by up to 600 percent.

OPTI-NET Lite's CD-ROM data caching enables network users to store recently
and frequently-used applications and data in high-speed extended memory
(XMS), for almost instant retrieval. This significantly reduces the number
of reads that are required from a CD-ROM drive.

CD-ROM data prefetch uses an Online-developed proprietary algorithm and a
user-defined system buffer to predict and retrieve data that multiple
users might request, then stores that data in the CD-ROM data cache.

Online's prefetch changes a random stream of small requests from multiple
users of a CD-ROM drive into an orderly flow of large requests. This
prevents thrashing that cripples CD-ROM drive performance.

In application, Online's data caching and prefetching speed network
response and decrease queuing by helping to eliminate the long delays
associated with CD-ROM drives -- which have typical access times of 300
milliseconds, almost 20 times slower than conventional 16ms hard disks.

As a result, OPTI-NET Lite makes it practical for multiple users to share
applications and data stored on one or more shared drives -instead of
purchasing, installing and configuring a drive for each user.

Versatility

OPTI-NET Lite requires no special hardware or software. It installs as a
transparent complement to the Microsoft MS-DOS CD-ROM extensions and the
device driver supplied by the CD-ROM drive vendor -- and is compatible
with virtually all CD-ROM hardware and software designed for Windows,
MS/PC-DOS and MS/PC-DOS applications that are run in a "DOS box" under
Windows, as well as Kodak Photo CD.

OPTI-NET Lite may be loaded into high memory as a terminate-and-
stay-resident (TSR) device driver that launches at system startup.

A menu-driven installation automatically configures OPTI-NET Lite.
Alternatively, users may also specify the amount of XMS memory assigned to
the data cache and system memory assigned to the prefetch buffer.

Users may also run utilities that determine cache and prefetch
effectiveness; protect against the potential loss of data when disks are
changed in the CD-ROM drive; manage and manually flush the disk cache, as
needed; and unload OPTI-NET Lite from memory.

OPTI-NET Lite also supports up to 16 CD-ROM device drivers simultaneously,
which enables network users to enhance shared CD-ROM towers, jukeboxes and
servers configured with multiple CD-ROM drives.

Requirements

OPTI-NET Lite requires a peer-to-peer network; an 80286-or-higher
server; at least 1MB of extended memory; a shared CD-ROM drive; MS/PC-DOS
5.x or higher with EMM.SYS, or MS/PC-DOS 3.3 or higher with a third-party
memory manager such as Qualitas' 386Max or Quarterdeck's QEMM-386; the
Microsoft MS-DOS CD-ROM extensions; and a device driver supplied by the
CD-ROM drive maker.

Online's software may be configured to use 8KB to 74KB of configurable
system memory. This figure is dependent upon the amount of system memory
allocated for the data prefetch buffer, from 4KB to 64KB, if used. For
memory-sensitive, non-dedicated, peer-to-peer servers, OPTI-NET Lite may
be configured without prefetch to use only 8KB of memory.

Availability, pricing

OPTI-NET Lite is available immediately. Pricing is $179.00 SRP for a CD-ROM
server license.

The new utility extends to peer-to-peer networks the performance-
enhancing capabilities of Online's family of CD-ROM networking software,
which includes OPTI-NET NLM, OPTI-NET DOS and OPTI-NET VAP versions.

Online Computer Systems Inc., a member of the Reed Elsevier group, is a
leading developer and provider of CD-ROM, networking and
electronic-publishing products and services to clients worldwide.

Online Computer Systems Inc
20251 Century Blvd
Germantown, MD 20874-1196
800-922-9204,  301-428-3700,  fax 301-428-2903

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