Thanks to Leonardo Salazar
Sr. for this announcement.
Network Concierge unveils the industry’s first build-it-yourself
thin server/appliance software
Ashland, Mass., May 11, 1999/Press Release/ — At
Networld+Interop 99 in Las Vegas, Network Concierge unveiled the
industry’s first build-it-yourself software for system
administrators, small business owners, small/home office workers
and multi-PC homes, that will let them convert a standard PC into a
network gateway or appliance server. Building and managing the
network or appliance requires no operating system, networking or
server expertise. The software is being introduced at a special
introductory price of $99 with a 15-day free evaluation period –
making it the most easy to use, affordable and complete
client-server networking solution on the market today. For those
that do not wish to build-it-yourself, Network Concierge sells
integrated sub-$750 PC (hardware with pre-loaded software)
solutions that are ready for use right-out-of-the-box.
Features/Functions
Unlike other appliance servers, Network Concierge software supports
dual network configurations and offers a multiple feature/function
set that can be enabled as needed. When used in the Small Business
configuration, the PC running Network Concierge software can
connect an unlimited number of IP-enabled clients to the Internet
via a single analog/DSL/ISDN/Cable modem or router/switch/hub
connection. Built-in DHCP, DNS and NAT services automatically
create an instant client-server network or network segment without
having to install software on the clients. When used in the Work
Group configuration, the PC becomes a network-ready appliance
server that you simply plug into a pre-existing network. In either
configuration, the software comes with an e-mail server, print/file
server, web server and web caching engine to provide all server
functions required by a small network. Additional features
supported include VPN/firewall, UPS, SMP and others. Installing the
software takes less time and is similar to installing Windows on a
regular PC, while network configuration is performed with a Setup
Wizard. This kind of flexibility and features can only be found in
very expensive/complex multi-vendor client-server solutions. The
software offers significantly better price/performance than other
appliances and peer-to-peer home networking products.
Underlying Technology
Network Concierge software CD auto-runs, when inserted on any
Windows host machine, to display an online installation guide. It
provides hardware requirements for creating a thin server or
appliance server out of a standard PC, including network
installation and client setup. It also contains a Windows based
Install Utility that auto-senses network parameters, before
transferring pre-configured Linux OS and related software from the
CD onto the target PC – to convert it into either a dedicated new
network (gateway) or network-ready appliance server. Using a
standard web browser based Graphical User Interface (GUI) to
connect with the Linux based Setup Wizard, the user can configure
it in less than 15 minutes – whether building a stand-alone small
network or deploying PC appliances in pre-existing large
networks.
Beta-Test and Soft Launch Results
Network Concierge software was beta-tested for 6 months before a
web-based soft launch was done on March 15, 1999 by invitation only
to a small number of customers with limited budgets/expertise.
Since then it has been shipped to hundreds of customers and
partners around the world – U.S., Canada, South America, Europe,
Asia and Australia. Corporations, Large Businesses and Hospitals
have purchased it to segment their main network into small
workgroups. Small Businesses, Schools and Homes have used it for
creating small stand-alone networks. Resellers, System Integrators,
Dealers and others are partnering to sell/service their own
out-of-the-box solutions by pre-loading the software onto hardware
from their favorite PC vendor.
Leading the industry into the 21st
Century
With proliferation of sub-$500 and free PCs, a majority of PC
owners now have multiple PCs. In order to significantly lower
computing costs and dramatically increase productivity; these PCs
need to be networked to share resources. However, the cost of
networking gear and its complexity is still much higher than what
is typically needed for purchasing and connecting a single PC to
the Internet. Unlike other appliance vendors in the industry,
Network Concierge is the first true software solution that allows
the customer to acquire a full networking solution in the same
manner as they purchase a standard PC. By reducing cost and
complexity of networking/server OS technology to no more than that
of a standard PC, Network Concierge plans to make networking easy
and affordable for anyone who owns multiple PCs. By leveraging the
maturity of Linux OS on standard PC hardware and an easy to use
Installation Utility plus Setup Wizard, Network Concierge has
staked a leadership position with its ability to serve industry
leading price/performance solutions to any customer, from large
corporations to dual-PC households.
About Network Concierge
Formed in 1998, Network Concierge is spin-off from a 10-year old
privately held computer engineering corporation. For more
information see http://www.nc4u.com NOTE: All brand or product
names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify
products or services of, their respective owners. © 1999. All
rights reserved.