Lantastic 95-- a good choice for small networks
by Alan Zisman
(c) 1996. First
published in Computer Player, June 1996
Artisoft-Canada
10 Carlson Court, Suite 590
Etobicoke, Ontario M9W 6L2
1-800-756-2763
fax: 1-416-213-8602
$189 (suggested list) ?single copy
$669 ? 5 users
$470 ? 2 user kit including network adapters
$100 ? upgrade from DOS/Windows versions
Artisoft Inc.?s Lantastic networking software has long
been a favorite
among business and home users needing to set up a small network. Only a
few diskettes, a bit of RAM and hard drive space, quick and easy to set
up. Unlike the big-time corporate networks, users didn?t need to set
aside
a computer as a dedicated server; Lantastic let users create
peer-to-peer
networks, where computers could simultaneously act as servers and
workstations.
A few years ago, when Microsoft released Windows for
Workgroups, with
peer-to-peer networking built right into that operating environment,
there
were fears that this would eat away at Lantastic?s market? fears that
have
increased as Windows 95 added even more native networking features.
Artisoft?s recent release of Lantastic for Windows 95,
however, has
demonstrated that there are still reasons to add onto that operating
system?s
built-in features.
Lantastic-95 comes on a CD-ROM disk, which includes
the networking software
and the reference manual?as seems to be the trend these days, only a
small,
printed beginners manual is included. (The software can be obtained on
diskette, minus the manual?and a printed copy of the manual can be
ordered
for an additional $39.95 US).
Like earlier versions of the software, it is a quick
and easy install,
making it easy to set up a basic network. As with the earlier versions,
computers can be set up as either a combination server/workstations, or
as workstations alone. Resources can be set on servers as shareable.
Functions
are easily controlled using the Lantastic Control Panel?which is a
separate
mini-program, not installed as part of the main Win 95 Control Panel.
Note
that if other Win 95 networking components are previously installed,
you
will need to follow installation instructions carefully? you have to
remove
previously-installed components in exactly the order specified for
correct
results.
While Windows 95?s built-in peer-to-peer networking
can connect to NT
or Windows for Workgroups machines, it cannot be used to connect
to Windows 3.1 or DOS machines (except using the now hard-to-find $49
Microsoft
DOS Workgroup Connection software). Lantastic-95 can be used to connect
to other machines running Lantastic version 5.0 or later (including the
low-cost Simply Lantastic version)? that means it can be used in a
network
including DOS, Windows, and OS/2 computers, as well as Win 95 machines.
Of course, your DOS and Win 3.1 machines won?t be able to view long
file
names on your Win 95 machines.
As well, Windows 95 offers very little security; while
it can be set
up to appear to require a password at startup, users can bypass that by
simply pressing Escape (!). Microsoft seems to imply that users
requiring
any sort of security should upgrade their hardware and software to
Windows
NT? their big-time networking operating system.
Lantastic 95, in contrast, offers many levels of
security?individuals
or groups can have privileges for varying combinations of file reading,
writing, creating, deletion, and more? for drives, folders, or
individual
files. If you prefer, servers can allow free and open access? no
password
needed.
There are some limitations, however. Lantastic doesn?t
make use of the
Windows 95 Device Manager to configure networking cards, for example,
and
recognizes far fewer adapters than Win 95. Your old ArcNet cards can?t
be used, for example. The best bet is probably to set yourself up with
the inexpensive and widely available NE-2000 clone adapters.
It uses NetBIOS and NetBEUI networking protocols,
rather than the newer
IPX/SPX. TCP/IP support is limited, unless you purchase a pricy ($299
US
per user) add-on.
When Artisoft first announced this product last Fall,
they claimed that
it would include an optional non-DOS file system, building on Win 95?s
Installable File System. This announcement excited many power-users,
critical
of Windows 95?s reliance on the old DOS FAT file system, while both
OS/2
and NT offered more modern file systems. Unfortunately, this feature
seems
to have quietly vanished from the shipping version.
If you only need to connect Windows 95 machines or Win
95 and Windows
for Workgroups or NT machines, and don?t have any security
requirements,
you can stick with Win 95?s built-in peer-to-peer networking. But if
you
need to connect a more diverse mix of hardware and operating systems,
or
if you find Win 95?s security inadequate?but don?t want the time or
cost
involved in setting up a big-time Netware or NT network, get Lantastic
95.