Stac Electronics Inc, Carlsbad, California has unveiled CD-QuickShare, which it claims to be the first software-only CD-ROM server for networked and remote Windows users that need simultaneous access to CD-ROM-based information. It enables network users to share any number of CD-ROMs at hard disk speeds, and, by storing compressed CD-ROM data on available disk space, turns any networked hard drive into a CD-ROM server, the company said. In contrast to other CD-ROM products, which it said experience performance degradation as the number of simultaneous users is increased, and often limit access to a single user per drive, the company said its own product builds a library of compressed CD-ROM images on the server, using just a single CD-ROM drive, so the whole network of Windows users can access the data at once. Completely network-transparent and, since no server-based software is executed, it ensures compatibility with network file servers including NetWare, Windows NT, Vines, and OS/2 LAN Server. CD-QuickShare also has CD-ROM metering features that track, enforce and report CD-ROM licence counts and usage to the administrator, said Stac. CD-QuickShare will be available this month at an expected list price of about $500 for a five concurrent user CD-ROM disk licence. Add-ons for clients and disks are expected to be available for under $135 for each 10-Client Add-On or 10-Disk Add-On licence.
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