Action for Libraries

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ACTION FOR LIBRARIES
311186 0019 36754
A LANTASTIC CONNECTION FOR
CD-ROM SYSTEMS
by David Brunell
The increased interest in the use of local area
networks (LANs) in conjunction with CD-ROM
databases grows directly out of the popularity of
CD ROM services and the need to make them
more productive and cost-effective. A number of
larger libraries in the BCR region are currently
operating a dozen or more separate CD-ROM
systems. They often experience significant
problems in scheduling and managing workstation
use, as well as the expense of purchasing multiple
copies of some popular CD-ROM database sub­scriptions.
In theory, both problems can be
reduced through the use of a local area network
to connect CD-ROM workstations. (Jim Hen­singer's
accompanying article explains more
about the possible benefits of LAN use in a
library setting.)
In practice, a reduction of either CD-ROM
expenses or administrative headaches wiII only be
possible if the local area network is both very
inexpensive and can also be set up easily using
existing library microcomputer equipment. In
addition, the LAN should have an operating
system that supports the CD-ROM drive inter­face,
and flexibility enough to easily accom­modate
the legal constraints of some CD-ROM
licenses which prohibit or limit simultaneous
multiple users. One would also hope that a library
LAN would support industry standards such as
Ethernet and NetBIOS.
Our recent experience with implementing the
LANtastic local area network at BCR would seem
to indicate that this product meets these basic
requirements for a cost-effective tool to use in
connecting CD-ROM systems. In fact, LAN­tastic's
low cost and flexibility make it useful for
many non CD-ROM jobs around the library.
ISSN: 0363-0250
t2l::IlioIt'!!ric system can be implemented
for than $200 per node. This means
that it one of the lowest priced LANs on the
market. Three or four workstations can be con­nected
for a total cost less than the annual
subscription price of most CD-ROM databases.
LANtastic also uses very little memory; less than
40K is used for a file server and under 10K is used
on regular nodes. The system will allow a single
copy of the DOS CD-ROM Extension software to
serve the entire network, which saves memory for
running applications software on the node
workstations.
In addition, LANtastic is a peer-to-peer network,
and a dedicated file server is not needed. A
microcomputer at any node point can be used as a
se;ver. This means that the 640K AT and XT type
mIcrocomputers commonly available in libraries
c~n be utiliz~d throughout the LAN, sharing hard
dIsks, flopp,es, modems, printers, or CD-ROM
drives. The system does require that each
workstation have at least 256K of RAM and use at
least the 3.1 version of DOS.
Naturally, the apparent speed of the LAN is
affected by the processing speed of the
microcomputers used in it. Faster workstations
work best, especially for shared CD-ROM use
where the drive access speeds are relatively slow
to begin with. In addition, multiple CD-ROM
drives often have to be used to mount a full
CD-ROM database on a single workstation. Thus
while some additional equipment purchases wiIl
probably be needed in implementing a library
LAN for CD-ROM systems, using LANtastic
keeps such purchases to a minimum.
LANtastic's security system is relatively sophisti­cated,
with both password log-on features and a
separate resource access control. Using these
features, you can limit the number of workstations
that acces~ a CD-ROM database, printer, modem
or hard dISk. For example, you could set up a
LAN where the ERIC or MEDLINE CD-ROM
A NON-PROFIT, MULTI-STATE LIBRARY SERVICES COOPERA TIVE