K-AShare

UNIX File Server Software for Macintoshes

K-AShare Features

• K-AShare provides multiplatform compatibility. Macintoshes and UNIX systems can share data and resources.
• Macintosh computers use a UNIX host as an AppleShare file server, providing increased performance and eliminating the need for a dedicated Apple server.
• Mac users stay in their native environment. Files stored on the UNIX server appear as familiar icons to Macintosh users. Transparent File Determination converts UNIX files to Macintosh application files -- automatically and transparently.
• Files created by Macintosh applications like FrameMaker or Adobe Illustrator can be accessed on UNIX systems running the same or other applications.
• Easy administration with a point and click GUI
• K-AShare runs entirely on the UNIX host. Macintosh clients need no additional software.
• K-AShare volumes can be backed up with standard UNIX tools.
• Through K-AShare, Mac users can access mounted NFS file systems anywhere on the network.
• Includes AppleTalk routing with support for multiple Ethernet interfaces.
• Compatible with AppleTalk Phase 1 and Phase 2 networks.
• Provides full support for System 7.
• Supports all AFP (AppleTalk Filing Protocol) 2.1 features.
• Large sites can have an unlimited number of open client connections.
• UNIX system administrators can post messages on Macintosh client screens at any time.
• Security: maps AppleShare group permission models to UNIX.

Product Description

K-AShare is an AFP-compatible file server for UNIX hosts. It allows a UNIX host to act as an AppleShare server for Macintosh users. To access K-AShare, a Macintosh user opens the Chooser, logs in, and selects AppleShare volumes just as if the volumes were on an Apple dedicated file server. K-AShare volumes then appear on the desktop. Mac users can open, read, copy, move, drag to the trash, or launch files on the volumes just like local files.

While Mac users see nothing different, the network benefits from a number of UNIX features. Access to files on the host conforms to standard UNIX system security with login validation and file access permissions enforced. At the same time, K-AShare maps AppleShare security (drop folders, see folders, see files, and make changes) to UNIX security.

K-AShare allows system administrators to assign Mac users individual accounts on the host machine and to create groups of users who have common access privileges to the files and folders. Mac users only need to know the appropriate password to gain access to these files and folders. System managers may also send messages to Mac users and log out individual Mac users from the server.

Administrators will find K-AShare easy to install -- requiring a single installation on the host machine rather than an installation on each Mac client.

K-AShare's Transparent File Determination (TFD) feature automatically integrates applications which run on both UNIX and Macintosh platforms. To interact with data files created under UNIX, Mac users only need to "point and click." When a Macintosh user double clicks on a data file originally created under UNIX by an application, for example FrameMaker, TFD interrogates the file and allows the Macintosh to launch the correct application. TFD can be extended easily to include new file types.

K-AShare includes a UNIX utility which converts Macintosh archival formats (for example BinHex, AppleSingle, AppleDouble, and MacBinary) to K-AShare formats. This allows Macintosh-archived files to be stored in K-AShare and makes it possible, once the files are converted, to transfer them via email.

NFS Gateway

A UNIX host running K-AShare can be a client to remote file servers based on Sun's NFS and can act as a gateway, making any mounted file system accessible to Macintosh users.

Network Configuration

K-AShare is versatile. Macs can be on a LocalTalk network connected to the Ethernet by a router or directly connected to the Ethernet. K-Talk, Xinet's implementation of the AppleTalk network communications protocols. AppleTalk protocols run on both LocalTalk and Ethernet networks with EtherTalk protocols. EtherTalk can co-exist on an Ethernet with other protocols such as TCP/IP or XNS.