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Shared LAN Cache Quick Start Guide

Introduction

Shared LAN Cache(tm) is a new LAN caching technology that dramatically improves PC network performance by redirecting redundant file read requests to local and shared non-volatile caches. Local caching on the PC provides near hard-disk performance, reduces network segment traffic and unlike network switches, off-loads existing file servers.

SLC is easy to install, NOS independent and requires no changes to existing file servers. All file security, file rights, access methods and application monitoring/metering work without modification.

Installing the Software

The installation begins by running SLCx_xx.EXE (the x’s will be replaced with the version number of the software you downloaded, e.g. SLC1_09 for version 1.09) if you downloaded the software from the Web or SETUP.EXE if you got software media directly from MTI. The installation program will prompt you for the drive and directory for the SLC software. During initial evaluation of the product, the default is C:\SLC on the local hard disk. The SLC software can also be installed on a file server for wide deployment within an organization.

Next, the setup program will ask which components you want to install. Select the platform(s) (i.e. Windows 95, Windows NT, etc.) that you want to install, along with the SLCWIN component. SLCWIN is the graphical interface to the SLC clients that will be referenced later in this guide.

One of the components that you can select is the 'SLC License Pack'. If you don't have a valid SLC license number, don't worry, SLC will automatically default to an "Evaluation" mode that allows you to evaluate SLC for 72 hours before flushing the cache. MTI also offers extended evaluation licenses that can be used to evaluate SLC for 30 days. If you would like to receive one of these licenses, please fill out the form on our web site.

Note: The SETUP.EXE program is required to install the license using the SLC License Pack option.

After all the files have been copied, the setup program will ask if you want to perform a Workstation Install on the machine that you are currently using.

Workstation Install

The Workstation Installation automates the process of installing SLC on workstations and is started by running SLCWIN.EXE from the directory where the SLC files were copied. The Workstation Install will prompt the user for the name of a software group (defaults to SLC) and provide the option to add SLCWIN to the Windows StartUp group. There is a SLCWS.INI file that can be configured to automate this process without any user options or prompts.

Note: There is also an un-install SLC icon created to automate removing the software following evaluation.

Caching Results

When the Workstation Install is complete, SLC is started automatically and the SLCWIN interface is started. The SLCWIN interface includes three speedometer style gauges that show data read from each of the three sources, the Local LAN Cache, the Shared LAN Cache and the original file server.

To demonstrate the SLC cache, launch a program that is normally run from the network (Word, Excel, 1-2-3, Word Perfect, etc.) The first time the application is run, you should see the gauge labeled File Server go up based on the number of bytes read to load the application. If the gauge does not increase, it means that the application software is loaded locally and you should select another application.

The next time you run the same application you should notice two things.

The Local Cache gauge should increase showing that the data is coming from SLC.
The application should also load faster. (In some cases with slower PCs, the application may not load much faster but always load at the same speed independent of network and server load.)

Note: Exiting SLCWIN puts removes the user interface but does not actually halt the SLC. Select Exit and Unload to close the SLCWIN interface and terminate the SLC program.

If you encounter any trouble during installation or you do not see a significant improvement in performance, please contact us by e-mail at support@lancache.com, phone (617) 344-6230, or fax (617) 341-4892.You may also want to check our web site at http://www.lancache.com for the latest version, or the SLC Windows help file in the Troubleshooting appendix (click Appendixes from the main page, then Troubleshooting.) The SLC help file is installed with the SLCWIN component.

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