New Release: MacServerIP 9.0
extremely fast file server for Mac clients

MacServerIP 9.0 is an advanced Apple file sharing system that replaces services for Macintosh (SFM) on Microsoft Windows servers and workstations. The new rock solid system solves many SMB and SFM networking as well as file sharing problems, reduces workflow bottlenecks, eases administration responsibilities, and allows PC based IT departments to better co-exist with Mac dominated graphics departments. MacServer IP is guaranteed to speed up and optimise file sharing between Windows Servers, MacOSX and MacOS9 clients.

• new: AFP 3.1 support
• new: Support for file names longer than 31 characters and support of ‘\/`*?<>|’ in file and folder names
• new: Full support for TIGER MacOSX 10.4
• new: Kerberos support for single sign on pass through authentication in ‘Active Directory’
• new: Unlimited login password and user name lengths
• new: Unicode support
• new: DHX password encryption support
• new: On a cluster failover volumes are immediately available
• new: Very fast file searching via our new MSIP framework
• new: High performance MacOSX file access on Windows servers
• new: Bonjour (Rendezvous) support
• new: reduced memory consumption when sharing millions of files
• new: Supporting full compatibility between MacOS Classic and MacOSX files unlike Mac SMB client
• new: No hidden files or resource forks to lose,as with SMB
• new: Improved stability of Windows based servers in Mac dominated environments
• new: Enhanced Gigabit network performance
• new: Unlimited file and volume sizing (no 2GB file size limitations)
• new: 5 x faster than SFM and voted the fastest IP based Mac sharing system on the Windows platform
• new: improved performance; optimized for Win 2000; special optimized version for NT Cluster / Win 2000 Datacenter/Advanced / Win 2003 Datacenter/Enterprise available; inexpensive Workstation version available for turning a NT Workstation & 2000/XP Professional PC into an inexpensive extremely fast print & file server for Macintosh clients (*1) 

MacServerIP 9.0 Testimonials:

‘After experiencing several problems using Services for Macintosh on our new Windows 2003 server we decided, on recommendation, to try the CYAN MacServerIP solution. Since that first trial installation we have bought two more simply because the solution was so easy to use, trouble free, and very fast on the network.’
Chris Bunnett, The Art Group London

‘MacServerIP has really sped up our production environment! The new functionality with MacOSX and long filenames really improved our workflow and the speed enhancements to our RIP ‘Hot Folders’ have really made a positive impact on our manufacturing figures.’
Graham Preston, Imageco

Computer Reseller News review: ‘... Multiple files and folders were transferred consistently at rates two to three times faster than that of the standard NT Macintosh services. ...MacServerIP product performed as advertised -- and can be a great improvement for multiplatform enterprises. The CRN Test Center at PC Expo recommends MacServerIP.‘

Important Features Not Offered by Other AFP/IP Servers:

The MacServerIP product represents a significant advance in AppleShare-type (AFP) file servers for the Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 platform, offering a number of features not found in other products, including support for AFP-over-IP:

• Excellent support of CD-ROMs and removable media, supports CD-ROM changes (SFM does not)
  
• Can share HFS CD-ROMs, media with e.g. MacOpener
  
• Sharing of non-NTFS volumes
  
• Remote administration
  
• Optimized for Windows NT/2000 cluster servers; MacServerIP is currently the only AFP/IP server, which allows to use only the Virtual IP number of the cluster software; this feature is required for a cluster fail-over solution
  
• Real support for multiple network cards; MacServerIP is currently the only AFP/IP server, which allows all users to connect to it by using the Macintosh Chooser, regardless how many NICs are installed in the server
  
• Efficient use of memory, so many clients can make simultaneous file transfers with a consistent speed
  
• Can share volumes with millions of files
  

Performance:

The aggregate throughputs of five G3 Macintosh clients with 100Base-T network cards to a Dual Xeon Server with a RAID system can reach 90 MB/sec. (Server is connected over 1000Base-T to the Hub; measured with Helios LanTest 2.0.1)

Demo Versions:

A fully functional trial version for Intel can be downloaded at download_MacServerIP.htm

Review:

‘... Multiple files and folders were transferred consistently at rates two to three times faster than that of the standard NT Macintosh services. ...MacServerIP product performed as advertised -- and can be a great improvement for multiplatform enterprises. The CRN Test Center at PC Expo recommends MacServerIP.‘

AFP-over-IP Heads List of Major Features

MacServerIP offers a more complete range of important features than any other AFP server product for Windows NT/2000/XP/2003. MacServerIP is currently the only AFP server product to support access via the Internet Protocol (IP), using the specifications developed by Apple Computer for its AppleShare IP products. MacServerIP allows Macintosh computers to access the server and transfer files using IP instead of the AppleTalk Datagram Delivery Protocol (DDP), offering significantly better performance than DDP and making it possible for users to access the server from anywhere in the world via the Internet, using the standard AppleShare client software provided in MacOS 8.1 and higher or System 7.6 and higher with AppleShare Client Software installed (AppleShare Client 3.7 or higher required for AFP-over-IP access).
In addition to the performance benefits of AFP-over-IP, MacServerIP offers greater flexibility in sharing volumes than Windows NT/2000 Server's Services for Macintosh. While Services for Macintosh requires Windows NT/2000 Server and can only share volumes that are formatted with Windows' NTFS, MacServerIP can run on either Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 Server or Workstation/Professional, and can make non-NTFS volumes available to Macintosh clients. MacServerIP is also able to share CD-ROM drives and other removable media.
While offering better performance and more flexibility than Windows NT/2000's Services for Macintosh, MacServerIP is tightly integrated with Windows' security environment, allowing administrators to establish and maintain a single database of users, groups, and access privileges, unlike other third-party products, which require maintenance of a separate database of AFP users.

Better Preservation of Macintosh-Specific Information

A significant difference between MacServerIP and other third-party AFP servers for NT/2000/2003/XP is the use of the same file format for Macintosh files as NT/2000/2003's MacFile Service. This approach is provided for storing the resource fork of Macintosh files in a second invisible file stream within the main file object, along with Finder information such as type and creator codes, comments, and other Finder information. This ensures that when non-Macintosh users move, copy, or rename Macintosh files, none of this important information is lost, even if MacServerIP is not running at the time. Other third-party AFP servers for NT/2000/2003/XP use a discrete second file for the resource fork and Finder information, with a database of links between the data fork file and the resource fork file. Because the NT/2000/2003/XP operating system is not aware of the connection between these files, if a user other than a logged-in AFP client copies, moves, or renames the main file, the link to the resource fork information is broken.
Use of the same file format as NT/2000's MacFile Service also provides easy migration from NT/2000/2003's Services for Macintosh to MacServerIP; existing MacFile server volumes can be shared immediately by MacServerIP, with no reconfiguration necessary. In fact, MacServerIP can run simultaneously with NT/2000/2003's MacFile Service.

Remote Administration

MacServerIP is also designed to make network administrators' lives easier by providing a remote administration program that allows users to control and configure servers from another Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 machine on the network, or even from a remote site via Windows NT/2000/2003/XP's Remote Access Services (RAS). This makes it possible to configure multiple servers from a single point.

Product versions

MacServerIP will be available in a range of versions to meet the needs of different types of users and sites:

• inexpensive MacServerIP Workstation Edition. Up to 10 simultaneous client connections
  
• MacServerIP Server Edition. Up to 10 simultaneous client connections
  
• MacServerIP Server Edition. Up to 25 simultaneous client connections
  
• MacServerIP Server Edition. Up to 50 simultaneous client connections
  
• MacServerIP Server Edition. Up to 100 simultaneous client connections
  
• MacServerIP Server Edition. Up to unlimited simultaneous client connections
  
• MacServerIP Cluster Edition: special optimized version for Windows NT Cluster; Windows 2000 Datacenter/Advanced and Windows Server 2003 Datacenter/Enterprise
  
• Versions for Intel processor types and NT/2000/2003/XP Workstation/Professional, Standard/ Web Edition and Server available
  

System Requirements

MacServerIP requires a Pentium processor (or compatible), 32MB or more of RAM and Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 Server or Windows NT/2000/XP Workstation/Professional (versions 3.51, 4.0, 2000 or XP) or Windows 2003 Server (all editions). Windows' TCP/IP Protocol is required for AFP-over-IP.

Complete MacServerIP Features and Benefits List

• AppleTalk Filing Protocol (AFP) Server for Windows NT/2000/XP
  - Provides access from all Macintosh clients; any AppleShare (AFP) client
  - Runs on Microsoft Windows NT Workstation or Server versions 3.51 and 4.x, Windows 2000/XP Server & Professional & Windows Server 2003 (all Editions)
  
• Supports AFP-over-IP (AppleShare IP)
  - Up to 4 times faster than conventional AFP servers
  - Provides access from anywhere in the world via the Internet using IP
  
• Supports standard AppleTalk-based AppleShare clients (AFP versions 1.1, 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2)
  - Compatible with any Macintosh client and most non-Macintosh AFP client software
  
• Supports unlimited simultaneous client connections
  
• Fully integrated into Windows' security system
  - Uses existing Windows user accounts
  - Supports guest login, cleartext passwords, one-way and two-way random number exchange DES-encrypted password logins
  
• May be integrated with Windows NT/2000 Server's MacFile service, or may run as a standalone service
  - Uses same file formats for Macintosh resource forks as NT's MacFile service; file resources written by NT/2000's MacFile service can be read by MacServerIP and vice versa
  - Seamless upgrade from Windows NT MacFile service and no need to re-establish server volumes or share points
  - Does not require Windows NT/2000 Server
  
• Single-file storage of Macintosh resource fork and Finder information
  - Resource forks, type and creator codes, comments and other Finder information is stored in second invisible file stream within the file
  - Information is preserved when files are moved, copied, or renamed by Windows users even if MacServerIP is not running
  
• Shares non-NTFS volumes for read and write access
  - Can make any file on Windows NT/2000/XP machine accessible to Macintosh clients without reformatting the volume
  
• Shares CD-ROMs and other removable media
  - Detects media changes automatically
  - Can share HFS (Macintosh) CD-ROMs with e.g. MacOpener or third-party juke box managers
  
• Provides notification of file changes to clients
  - Ensures that file information displayed by Macintosh finder is up-to-date and accurate
  
• Comprehensive management software including remote management
  - Windows NT-based administration software allows remote management of server via RAS
  - Can manage multiple servers from a central point
  
• Extremely stable multithreaded implementation
  
• Runs on Windows NT/2000/2003 cluster servers
  

High Performance:

For testing the performance of MacServerIP and doing some tuning, we recommend Helios LanTest 2.5.0, a network testing utility for Macintosh clients.

Large Volumes Support / No Number of Files or Folders Limit:

MacServerIP is THE solution for the large volume problem (hundreds of thousands of files per volume) other AFP file servers, like MacFile of SFM, have. Before buying an AFP server, you should test whether the AFP server has problems with many files per volume (MacServerIP does not). For testing the behaviour of an AFP server with many files per volume, we recommend to download TestFileLimit.zip. With the TestFileLimit Windows application, you can, for instance, create 2 Millions of files on a volume for testing.
You should check that you have the latest AppleShare client software installed on your Macintosh computer to ensure that the Macintosh uses the much faster TCP/IP transfer.

Footnotes:

(*1) - the inexpensive MacServerIP Workstation bundle version is required for having Macintosh files services on an NT Workstation & 2000/XP Professional PC