Shared LAN Cache™ Server Solves WAN Performance Problems

NETWORLD + INTEROP, Las Vegas, NV, May 6, 1997 /PRNewswire/ -- 
Measurement Techniques, Inc., (NetWorld+Interop Booth #3085) 
the leader in network caching technology, today announced 
Shared LAN Cache™ Server version 2.0 to solve wide area 
network (WAN) file performance problems. Previously only 
offered as a hardware device, the Shared LAN Cache (SLC™) 
Server is now packaged as software that runs as a service on 
a user-supplied Windows NT server.

   SLC Server provides a shared cache of data to a group of 
SLC Clients connected to the same LAN segment. The SLC 
Server responds to file requests made by SLC Clients for 
data that is already stored in its shared cache. Data is 
read only once from the file server by one of the SLC 
Clients and automatically transmitted and written to the 
shared cache of the SLC Server.

   By caching files on the local segment that were read from 
a remote file server, SLC Server reduces file access times 
and eliminates redundant read requests for users in remote 
offices that access files over a WAN. An SLC Server is a 
lower cost alternative to deploying additional file servers 
at each remote office.

   Since the SLC Server is not a file server, all rights to 
data stored in its shared cache must first be granted to the 
SLC Clients when files are opened on the file servers. Once 
the files have been opened, the SLC Server operates 
transparently to the file servers, responding to data 
requests from the SLC Clients. The file servers continue to 
be responsible for administering security, application 
metering and mass storage.

   MTI’s patent-pending Shared LAN Cache technology improves 
network performance by storing the most recently accessed 
files in a combination of local and shared caches. Both the 
shared cache of SLC Server and the local cache of MTI’s SLC 
Client software incorporate non-volatile caching to 
eliminate redundant read requests over the network. While 
most caches in use today are volatile, losing their contents 
when power is shut down, data in SLC's non-volatile cache is 
retained and is available immediately when power is 
restored.

   All Shared LAN Cache products are NOS (Network Operating 
System) independent and compatible with all network 
operating systems including NetWare, NT, OS/2, LAN Manager, 
NFS, Vines and PathWorks.

   The first time the application or document is read, it is 
automatically written into both the SLC local and shared 
caches. The next time a user requests the same file, it 
comes from either the local cache of SLC Client, or the 
shared cache of SLC Server instead of the file server. This 
dramatically improves performance and reduces the load on 
the network and file server.

   "NetWorld+Interop 97 is an excellent opportunity for 
Measurement Techniques to demonstrate the value of caching 
to the networking industry," said Clinton Battersby, 
president of Measurement Techniques. "Shared LAN Cache 
allows IT managers to maximize the performance of existing 
networks and to optimize networks deployed in the future."
Mier Communications, Inc., an independent test laboratory 
based in Princeton Junction, New Jersey, recently tested 
Shared LAN Cache and confirmed that the software increased 
performance by as much as 300 percent.

   The report concluded, "Under all test scenarios ... 
Shared LAN Cache software consistently delivered performance 
gains, in the form of reduced application-launch time, in 
the specific environment where server-based applications are 
repeatedly opened by a user at a client workstation."
MTI products, including the latest versions of both SLC 
Client and SLC Server, can be used to improve the 
performance of routers and switches from companies including 
Cisco, 3Com, Intel, SMC, Bay Networks, Ascend, Cabletron and 
Shiva.

   SLC Server software is available today for Windows NT. 
Shared LAN Cache Server prices begin at $1,750 for 25 users. 
SLC Client software, is licensed per user and is sold for 
$99/single user, $4995/100 user, with volume pricing 
available.

   Measurement Techniques, Inc., headquartered in Stoughton, 
Massachusetts, is the leading supplier of high performance 
LAN caching solutions. Measurement Techniques is a privately 
funded corporation. For more information about Measurement 
Techniques or Shared LAN Cache, visit 
http://www.lancache.com on the World Wide Web.
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Note to editors: Shared LAN Cache is a trademark of 
Measurement Techniques, Inc.  Windows NT is a trademark of 
Microsoft Corp. All other trademarks are of their respective 
companies. 

SOURCE    Measurement Techniques, Inc.