WEB4LIB digest 223

[Bryan Davis]

At 7:48 AM 4/19/96, JQ Johnson wrote:

>Kevin Justie asks about Mac models for web servers.  I concur with
>other postings that hit rate is not important.  One thing that is
>CRITICAL, though, is the quality of the web server software.  There is
>active competition between WebStar and NetPresenz (nee ftpd) in this
>area (the free MacHTTP is no longer a serious contender), and WebStar
>seems a pretty clear winner for CGI apps at the moment.  For example,
>see this week's MacWeek (p. 1) for a discussion of Quarterdeck's plans
>for the next version of WebStar, mostly changes designed to boost
>performance of CGI apps.
>
>I tend to disagree with the "buy a fast box" recommendation, though.
>It's fairly easy to partition web servers into several servers, so one
>should seriously consider multiple slower machines rather than one
>wicked-fast one.  Low end Macs are very cheap at the moment, making it
>possible to put together a complete system based on a 7100/80 or
>7200/75 for under $2000 including software.
>
> JQ Johnson                       office: 115F Knight Library
> Academic Education Coordinator   Internet: jqj at darkwing.uoregon.edu
> 1299 University of Oregon        voice: 541.346.1746
> Eugene, OR  97403-1299           fax: 541.346.3485
>

Perhaps some readers of this list would be interested in the following
announcement about RushHour which promises dramatically faster transfers
for Mac based servers.  Anybody tried this yet?

============================================================================
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 1996 17:47:48 -0500
From: MacWay at aol.com
To: macway-for-guy at solutions.apple.com
Subject: PR--RushHour
Message-ID: <960318174746_171507475 at emout06.mail.aol.com>

Reply to: <dean at maxum.com> (Dean Dahlgren)

Maxum Development Corporation
820 Bartlett Road, MS-104
Streamwood, IL 60107
Phone: (708) 830-1113
Fax:   (708) 830-1262
Internet:  info at maxum.com
Internet home page: www.maxum.com


PRESS CONTACTS:

Contact: Dean Dahlgren

For Immediate Release

Maxum Development Announces RushHour - Web Graphics Accelerator Sets New
Server Performance Standard

Chicago, Illinois, March 6, 1996 -- Maxum Development Corp., a leading
developer of commercial World Wide Web server tools for business and
education, introduced RushHour, the graphics accelerator for the World
Wide Web. RushHour is designed to keep your Web server operating at
maximum speed and efficiency during peak loads.

Maxum's RushHour is a software-based web server graphics accelerator for
the Macintosh. Unlike processor upgrades, which increase the CPU
processing rate, RushHour eliminates performance bottlenecks that are
typically responsible for significant slow downs on your web Server.

RushHour runs in conjunction with your existing web server software and
allows you to dramatically improve overall throughput at your site.
Graphics comprise the majority of most Web server traffic. RushHour's
"three to ten fold" improvement in performance is due largely to an
advanced RAM cache and streamlined operation resulting from graphics-only
optimization.

"Within 8 hours of installing RushHour I was serving 35% more customers,"
said Eric Marcoullier, Editor of Imagine Publishing, publishers of
NextGeneration and Game Player Magazine.

RushHour benchmarks show significant improvement regardless of server
network setup. Running on a Power Macintosh 6100/60 with MacTCP, RushHour
is capable of flooding a T-1 line with throughput of over 2 Megabits/sec.
With Open Transport running MacTCP emulation, RushHour will more than
flood your 10 Megabit Ethernet. Preliminary tests show Open Transport in
native mode to be greater then 16 Megabits/sec. or 40 connects per
second. Other features RushHour supports are the serving of QuickTime,
QuickTime VR, PDF and HQX files.

RushHour gives your Macintosh Web server performance levels at or better
than platforms costing many times the price, all with the ease of use you
expect from your Macintosh.

"The Mac has always been the best Web server platform for price, ease of
use and security," according to Joe Duffy, Manager -Technology and Tools,
Baxter Healthcare. "Now with RushHour, the Mac blows by UNIX and NT in
raw price/performance as well.

RushHour can be used to accelerate any Web site based on any platform
with the use of a Macintosh to handle the graphics. The product carries a
list price of $295.00 and through March 15th an introductory price of $
239.00 and is available immediately from Maxum Development's Web site at:
"http://www.maxum.com/" or through any registered Maxum Reseller.

RushHour's benefits derive from:

-       Greater overall network throughput by optimizing network usage.
-       Reduced latency by using a sophisticated caching algorithm.
-       Support for Apple system components like multi-threading and Open
Transport.
-       Bypassing of redundant security overhead.
-       Optional minimized logging functions.

Founded in 1991, Maxum Development is a leading developer of commercial
World Wide Web server tools for business and education. Maxum products,
NetCloak and NetForms, were the first commercial interface tools for
Macintosh-based WWW servers and are now industry standards. All Maxum
products are designed to enhance the function and performance of web
sites by making them dynamic, interactive, reliable and fast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bryan Davis, Assistant Director                 Cedar Rapids Public Library
davis at crpl.cedar-rapids.lib.ia.us                        319-398-5124 voice
                                                       Luck follows effort.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~