NetSoft Computer Networks
Last Updated
March 10th
1997

Mirror Sites
NetSoft LAN
Download the
Software

Network Card
Drivers

Secure
Features
User's Guide
Help
VeriSign

Search
Distribution
Rights

Listserv
Shareware Links
Order Now
Order the
Software

Help Us
Promote
NetSoft LAN

Dealer
Enquires
Welcome

Home Page
http://www.netsoft.ie/

Welcome


Welcome to NetSoft Computer Networks, a powerful network operating system for DOS and Windows-based personal computers.

NetSoft LAN includes many features that turn your stand alone computers into a powerful networking system, ideal for business or personal use. These features are described in detail later in this introduction.

If NetSoft LAN is not yet set-up on your computers, see Chapter 1 "GETTING STARTED" for information about how to use the network set-up program.

This introduction to NetSoft LAN User's Guide includes a list of the printed documentation provided with NetSoft LAN, an introduction to NetSoft LAN features and a list of terms and conventions used in the guide.

About NetSoft LAN Documentation

NetSoft LAN documentation consists of the NetSoft LAN User's Guide, some Quick Reference Guides and some on-line documents. This guide provides both information for users who have little experience with networks and more advanced users who are already familiar with NetSoft LAN. You may use the detailed table of contents and the index to find the information you desire.

Below is a brief summary of each chapter in this User's Guide:

Chapter 1 "GETTING STARTED" Explains how to install DOS-NET on to your hard disk.

Chapter 2 "NETWORK INSTALLATION" Explains how to configure DOS-NET manually.

Chapter 3 "THE NET COMMAND" Details how to execute network commands using the NET command.

Chapter 4 "THE DOS-NET MAIN MENU" Shows how to activate the DOS-NET Pop-up Menus.

Chapter 5 "THE STATION MANAGER" Shows how to share and connect to network resources using the menus.

Chapter 6 "NETWORK PRINTING" Explains how to set-up a print server and a print client machine.

Chapter 7 "THE COMMUNICATIONS REDIRECTOR" Shows how serial ports can be shared.

Chapter 8 "FILE AND DIRECTORY PROTECTION" Details how to protect individual files and directories.

Chapter 9 "EXTENDED NETWORK FILING SYSTEM" Shows how to share up to 10,000 open files at once.

Chapter 10 "NETWORK HARDWARE DRIVERS" Details how to set-up your hardware.

Chapter 11 "INTER-NETWORKING AND PACKET ROUTING" Explains how to connect incompatible hardware.

Chapter 12 "NETBIOS" Details how to install and use the NetBIOS supplied with DOS-NET.

Chapter 13 "THE DOS SHARE COMMAND" Details the command line parameters of SHARE.EXE.

Chapter 14 "CD-ROM DRIVES" Details how to share Compact Disc drives on the network.

Chapter 15 "MS WINDOWS INSTALLATION PROCEDURES" For MS-Windows users.

Chapter 16 "DEVELOPING MULTI-USER APPLICATIONS" Notes for network application programmers.

Chapter 17 "THE DOSNET.INI CONFIGURATION FILE" Details all of the network parameters in details.

Chapter 18 "ERROR MESSAGES" Details all the DOS and network specific error messages in detail.

Chapter 19 "CABLE SPECIFICATIONS" Details the cable pin-outs for serial and parallel based connections.


Features of NetSoft LAN 1.40a

Major Features

  • Peer-to-Peer, Client and Server modules.
  • Worlds Smallest Drivers typically requiring only 2k of memory (smallest requires only 1.2k).
  • Access Protection Software takes care of network access rights, protects sub directories, files with user-specified attributes.
  • Communications Redirector allows use of remote serial ports, modems and communications software from any client machine.
  • Extended Network Filing System provides complete file management, extends DOS open file limit (up to 10,000 open files) on servers.
  • Server Printer Spooler allows many advanced print server management functions such as viewing, changing, rearranging print queues and viewing printer status in real time. You can even watch the data going to the printer in HEX and ASCII formats.
  • Client Printer Management Software views server's print queues from client machines.
  • Pop-Up Station Manager allows connection to drives, devices on the fly from within your own software, using a simple pop-up menu (requires only 7k of memory).
  • Supports Serial and Parallel Ports so you can now connect your laptop to your Ethernet/Arcnet based network without the need for a pocket Ethernet/Arcnet adapter and it's completely automatic.
  • Supports all Standard Novell NE1000, NE2000 or SMC Ethernet. It also supports all standard Arcnet cards.
  • Can Be Used With Third Party Drivers such as NDIS standard, or FTP Packet Drivers to coexists with DOS-NET's own standard. You can even have different standards within the same machine.
  • Built-in Wide Area Networking connect your local area networks together using standard Hayes compatible modems or fax/modems. Now you can be connected to your office computer from home, simply use the DOS or Windows commands to transfer files back and fourth.
  • New major features are added or improved with each update.

Minor Features

  • Works on all PC compatible computers.
  • Minimum client configuration requires only 13k of memory.
  • Any machine can be a server, client, or both. Configurations may be easily be changed.
  • Works with any type of disk cache or disk compression software.
  • It is not necessary to format the servers hard disk.
  • Share any hard disk, floppy disk, CD-ROM drive or Tape backup system at any time.
  • Share any dot matrix, laser printer, or plotter at any time.
  • All DOS-NET drivers and programs can be loaded into high memory.
  • DOS-NET is 100% compatible with the IBM PC LAN and MS-NET Networks.
  • Almost every feature of DOS-NET can be fine-tuned for optimum performance.
  • Stores entire network configuration in a single text file called DOSNET.INI.
  • Includes a NET RC command that allows any machine to be remotely controlled from any other machine on the network.
  • All commands available through pop-up menus.
  • Runs all single and multi-user DOS and Windows software.
  • Full file and record locking support using the DOS SHARE command.
  • Connects up to 255 machines on a single network.
  • Mixes Ethernet cards and Arcnet cards on the same network (completely transparently).
  • Runs over standard null modem serial cable @ 115,200 bps.
  • Runs over parallel cable at speeds of up to 500,000 bps.
  • Mix DOS & Windows machines on the network.
  • Printer supports 8 printers (4 serial and 4 parallel.
  • Printer supports starting printing client jobs as they a spooled. (early printing).
  • Printer redirecter supports real-time printer status.
  • New! NET BOOT \\* to boot all machines on the network or a singal specified machine.
  • New! NET PING tests if remote machines are on-line and ready
  • New! NET GHOST Allows virtual connections to servers that are off-line
  • New minor features are added or improved with each update.

Terms used in this guide

It is recommended that you become familiar with the followingnetwork terms, which are used extensively throughout this guide


Terms                    Description

Computer, Machine,  A computer connected to, or being
Station, Node       connected to the network.
                    
Local               The machine you are currently using.
                    Local is the opposite to remote.
                    
Remote              Any machine, except the one you are
                    using.
                    Remote is the opposite to local.

Client              A machine on the network that uses
                    server resources (i.e. hard disks,
                    and printers, etc.). A client cannot
                    share its resources with other clients.

Server              A computer on the network that 
                    shares its resources (i.e. hard
                    disks, and printers, etc.) With
                    other network clients. A server
                    machine cannot use another server or
                    clients' resources.

Peer-to-Peer        A computer that is a server and a
                    client. It can share its resources
                    with other clients, plus use the
                    resources on other servers. This is
                    referred to as a DOSNET
                    configuration.

Resource            Any drive, directory, printer
                    device, or serial port that can be
                    shared as part of the network.

                    Resources include, CD-ROM drives,
                    floppy drives, printers, tape backup
                    systems, modems, computer fax
                    machines, etc.

Conventions used in this guide

This guide uses document and keyboard conventions to help youlocate and identify information.

Document Conventions

To help you locate and interpret information easily, this User'sGuide and the Quick Reference Guides use consistent visualcues and standard key combination formats. These conventions areexplained below.
This                  Represents

Courier Bold       Commands you must type exactly as they
                   appear. To carry out a command, type
                   the command and press the enter key.
                   For example, if you are instructed to
                   type NET SHARE, type all the bold
                   characters exactly as they are printed
                   and then press the enter key.

italics            Place holders that represent
                   information that you need to provide,
                   e.g. if you are asked to type filename,
                   you would type the actual name of the
                   file, instead of the word shown in
                   italic.

\\                 A double backslash, must precede all
                   network machine names.

ALL CAPITALS       The names of computers, printers,
                   directories, and files.

NetSoft documentation uses the term MS-DOS or DOSto refer to Microsoft MS-DOS and IBM PC-DOS disk operating systems.

Keyboard Conventions

Key combinations and key sequences appear in the following format:


Notation              Meaning

KEY1+KEY2          A plus sign (+) between key names means
                   that you must press both keys at the
                   same time.

CTRL+ALT           These keys are known as the network
                   keys when they are held down together.

                   If these keys are pressed while the
                   network is loading, the network does
                   not install itself. This is useful to
                   know when you do not want to load the
                   network.

CTRL+ALT+*         This command is used to send a print
                   job to the print queue. This is only
                   required for old software that prints
                   through the Pc Bios.

CTRL+ALT+Right     This command displays the DOS-NET Main
Shift Key          Menu.

                   Most of the utilities provided with
                   DOS-NET have a sub menu accessed
                   through the DOS-NET Main Menu.

                   The Right Shift key may be substituted
                   for another key.

Left Shift + ESC   These keys are used to start and end a
                   remote control session when using the
                   NetSoft LAN remote control option (NET RC).

CTRL+ALT+DEL       This is the standard way to soft-boot a
                   machine. NetSoft LAN traps these keys and
                   displays a network warning message.

Some of the key combinations may be changed or disabled by editingthe DOSNET.INI network configuration file.


[Chapter 1]
[Table of Contents] [Home Page]

Prices and World Wide Ordering Information

Copyright © 1997 NetSoft Computer Networks. All Rights Reserved.
20 Sea Road, Galway, Ireland.
Tel (353)+91-529607.