INTRODUCING VIRCOM's MAJORTCP/IP VERSION 2.0 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, June 26th, 1996 (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) Vircom Inc., announced today the production release version 2.0 of its flagship product MajorTCP/IP. When Vircom began working on MajorTCP/IP in late 1993, its vision of the final product included a staggering suite of Internet tools. With the final addition of the FTP server, MajorTCP/IP v2.0 is the conclusion of over 32 months of intensive development toward this vision. The notable features of MajorTCP/IP v2.0 include: - INTERNET CLIENTS: The Internet Clients make up the user- interface part of MajorTCP/IP. These clients currently operate in ANSI/ASCII mode; graphical (client/server) clients are planned. An Internet Client is always used to communicate with an Internet Server. * Telnet: Telnet is used to open a terminal connection to a remote site or service. Playing Multi-Users Dungeons (MUD) or Telneting to online services are common applications. * RLogin/RLogin-Plus: RLogin is generally used as a true eight bit connection between local systems. With the Plus extension, the remote system can query the Worldgroup system for information, and even change the credits consumption rate. This is generally used to integrate UNIX services in a user-friendly fashion with the Worldgroup server. * IRC: The Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is the biggest electronic teleconference in the world. Without additional costs, your users will be able to chat in real-time mode with anyone on the globe. * FTP: The FTP protocol is one of the most commonly used method to transfer files across the Internet. Users can connect to a FTP server, transfer the file to a temporary area on the Worldgroup server and then download it using conventional file transfer protocols, such as x-/y-/zmodem, kermit, etc. * Finger: Finger is used to query remote systems for either user or general information. The user information typically displays a profile of the user. General information can vary wildly, such as weather forecasts, list of online users, etc. * Ident: Although this client is not directly accessible by the user, it is a crucial operating component on the Internet. When users login the Worldgroup server, via Telnet or RLogin, the Ident client sends a request to the system where the Telnet is originating from to attempt to identify the userid of that person on the remote system. This feature is a great security tool. * DMA: The Distributed MajorBBS Architecture is a protocol and concept introduced by Vircom. It is used to off-load add-ons from the main Worldgroup server onto a second PC, also running Worldgroup. When the user selects an off-loaded option, he/she is transparently transported over the second system. The software running on the second PC is the DMA server, another product sold by Vircom. MajorTCP/IP contains the client to connect to any such DMA server, either locally or half-way across the world, through the Internet. - INTERNET SERVERS: The Internet Servers all run behind the scene, without any direct user intervention. Incoming connections from the Internet must be received and handled by a Server. * Telnet: With the use of a channel type introduced by MajorTCP/IP, the Worldgroup server can be contacted by anyone with a Telnet client across the Internet. This connection could even be in client/server mode, although it will most commonly ASCII/ANSI. * RLogin: As the Telnet server above, ASCII/ANSI connections can be opened with the Worldgroup server by anyone with a RLogin client. As RLogin is a true 8 bits connection by default, it is generally preferable to use it, instead of Telnet, between local systems. * FTP: File libraries can be made available to the Internet via FTP. FTP users connect either as their normal userid on the Worldgroup server or as anonymous users. Security is maintained through the Worldgroup server's standard locks & keys. Anonymous access is controlled by creating assigning a default accounting class. * Finger: The finger server can display three types of information to anyone using a finger client: user status, if directed toward a specific user; general system information, such as a list of online users, if directed toward the system; or specific text information if directed toward configurable pseudo-users. As an example, "info" can be used to display general system information to anyone who fingers that userid. * Ident: As the Ident client, the server is a background operating component of the Internet. Many FTP and IRC servers on the Internet demand to know the userid, on the remote system, of the person wishing to use their services. This use of this security feature is becoming widespread, and a must. * NNTP: The Network News Transport Protocol is used to exchange newsgroup articles between news servers. Each newsgroup is mapped to a forum on the Worldgroup server, thus providing access to the articles either via QWK or the Worldgroup Manager (in client/server mode). * POP3: The Post Office Protocol is used by mail applications, such as Netscape Mail and Eudora, to retrieve messages on the Worldgroup server. * SMTP: The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol defines a standard method of handling and delivering Emails across multiple platforms and the Internet. MajorTCP/IP's SMTP server is MIME compliant, another standard for Email file attachments. The standard interfaces of Worldgroup are used to send Internet Emails, so the user does not have to learn a different user interface. * WWW: World Wide Web surfers can come visit your Worldgroup system through this Internet Server. Used in combination with Worldgroup's Netscape plug-in or other add-ons, this could even be the main method used to login your system. Most of the standard features of web servers, such as Java, frames and VRML support are supported. * SLIP/CSLIP/PPP passthrough: This Internet Server is arguably the most powerful feature of MajorTCP/IP. Using a TCP/IP winsock stack, end-users are able to surf the net by connecting in SLIP, CSLIP or PPP over a modem line. This server also opens the door to the many winsock based applications available on the Internet (CUSeeMe, Internet Phone, RealAudio, WinIRC, etc.). - ETHERNET CONNECTION: The Worldgroup server can be connected to the Internet in two fashions: using a network card or over a dial-up connection. An Ethernet connection requires a higher capital investment, but allows an unlimited growth in the bandwidth to the Internet. * Compatible with almost all Ethernet network cards: Network card manufacturers provide an ODI driver, and often a packet driver, on their installation diskette. Although MajorTCP/IP requires a packet driver interface, one is provided to support the ODI shim. In essence, this means that just about all network cards are supported. * Compatible with any Internet link: The actual link, whether it is frame-relay, ISDN, T-1 or even T-3, is handled by external hardware and interfaces with MajorTCP/IP through the network card. This means any kind of Internet link is supported, with appropriate external hardware. * Compatible with Novell Netware (and other unsupported NOS): Novell is implemented using an ODI shim. As mentioned above, a packet driver interface is provided to share the same network card between MajorTCP/IP and Novell. A Novell Netware LAN is definitely not required to run MajorTCP/IP. - DIAL-UP CONNECTION: A permanent connection to the Internet is necessary to work with MajorTCP/IP, so a modem, telephone line and channel must be dedicated to maintaining the connection. * Standard modem channel: MajorTCP/IP does not interface directly with the serial hardware; instead, it uses a standard Worldgroup channel. Any kind of equipment that can connect a serial port can be used to connect to the Internet Provider, including ISDN modems. Without intelligent serial hardware though, the maximum port speed is limited to 57.6kbps. * Dialer to provider with scripting: Connection to the provider can use a simple scripting language, if required. This is generally used to go through the logon process on the Internet provider's equipment and then start the SLIP/CSLIP/PPP session. * Keep-alive/Re-dialer link monitor: As a permanent connection is required, MajorTCP/IP will monitor the link. If the connection is dropped, attempts will be made to re-establish it. Some Internet provider also use an inactivity monitor on their dial-up lines, hanging up the connection if it remains idle too long. To prevent this problem, MajorTCP/IP can be configured to generate traffic at regular intervals. - ADVANCED FEATURES: These advanced features are unique to MajorTCP/IP in the Worldgroup environment. Although the above modules have distinguishing features, these are the big seller for MajorTCP/IP over competitive solutions. * PAP support with PPP: The Password Authentication Protocol is used when users connect to the PPP dial-up server. It eases the end-user setup process by removing the need for scripting at connection time. This feature alone can make an enormous different on technical support requirement for Windows 95 users. * DNS negotiation with PPP: Microsoft has proposed an addition to the PPP standard in the ability to negotiate the DNS server with the end-user's winsock stack. Without this feature a quad numeric IP address must be given to the end user to enter. Added to the PAP, this feature contributes to lowering technical support costs if the end-user's winsock stack support the extension. * Primary & secondary DNS requester: It is not uncommon for a Domain Name Server to fail. As the DNS is required to convert domain names into quad numeric IP address, supporting only a primary DNS leaves your system dead in the water when it fails. MajorTCP/IP will automatically switch between a primary and secondary DNS, when either one fails or times out. * Multi-homing: The ability to provide clients with their own domain name is a recurring requirement. Without multi-homing, it isn't possible to handle multiple IP addresses on the same Worldgroup server, thus impossible to distinctly support multiple domains. These virtual domains can be used in conjunction with the WWW, FTP, SMTP, Telnet and RLogin servers. * Expandable to 1,024 sockets: High volume TCP/IP traffic, especially with the FTP or WWW server can take a considerable amount of sockets. If MajorTCP/IP's base package with 255 concurrent sockets isn't enough, it can be upgraded to 1,024. AVAILABILITY AND PRICING Current MajorTCP/IP clients may download the release 2.0 from Vircom's support BBS immediately. The upgrade is free. New clients may order the software from any of our fine distributors below (or other unlisted resellers). MajorTCP/IP is priced at $700 USD. VIRCOM'S SUPPORT BBS 28.8Kbps modem pool (514) 687-2210 Telnet bbs.vircom.com WWW http://www.vircom.com FTP ftp.vircom.com VIRCOM'S DISTRIBUTORS Digital Consulting Services (800) 899-2002 sales@digiconsult.com Tessier Technologies (800) 473-3177 sysop@hs.wisenet.com High Velocity Software, Inc. (800) 572-5582 sales@support.hvs.com Datasafe Publications, Inc. (800) 870-0004 sysop@dump.com Sirius Software (888) 747-4872 sirius@gcomm.com Logicom, Inc. (800) 764-4266 sysop@logicom.com ProDesign, Inc. (800) 399-2640 sclement@nmol.com Majorware, Inc. (Canada) (800) 321-3774 info@mjw.com Online Store (Europe) +41/75-3736677 sysop@onlinestore.com ABOUT VIRCOM Vircom was incorporated in January 1994, with the mission to develop high quality and leading edge software for the online industry. Since its inception, Vircom has distinguished itself through its commitment to the highest standards of technical support. Its first product, MajorTCP/IP, was first released in April 1994 and has since sold over 1500 licenses. VIRCOM CAN BE REACHED AT: Telephone (514) 990-2532 Fax (514) 523-6990 MajorNet sales@GMS Internet sales@vircom.com WWW http://www.vircom.com