January 6, 1997 (Vol. 19, Issue 1)

Integrated Web server software

Back to the future: Intranets meet Wildcat BBS
By Howard Millman

[Note: Santronics purchased Wildcat from Mustang on November 1998]

Long before the word "intranet" entered our vocabulary, thousands of character-based BBSes existed, some so small they got by with just one telephone line. Although primitive in comparison to today's graphical and content-rich Web sites, those old-time bulletin boards nevertheless managed to deliver e-mail, discussion forums, and file libraries to tens of thousands of users.

Many of those bulletin boards ran Mustang Software's Wildcat BBS software. And although it took Mustang longer than it should have, the company recently released its Wildcat Interactive Net Server  , a software suite that combines the best features of a BBS and a Web server. 

Low in cost and easy to configure, this comprehensive suite simplifies the development and management of highly interactive, high-performance Web sites. Wildcat! Interactive Net Server deftly integrates a handful of servers that individually provide a variety of mail, electronic commerce, and Web hosting services.

Mustang also packs the suite with client-side modules, including Terminal, Chat, FTP, and Message clients, and Microsoft's Internet Explorer 3.0 browser.

Overall, the suite is well-suited for small to midsize companies that want to build an Internet or intranet site. Although the server suite will work with any Internet service provider that will grant you a static host address, you will get better performance with your own ISDN or T1 connection to the Internet.

Dial in for data

The addition of BBS features gives your users direct dial-up access to your Wildcat! Interactive Net Server site. Capitalizing on this novel dial-up idea, Mustang's Custom Connector enables you to give your customers or staff members disks that dial in only to your site. Of course, users can access a Wildcat! Interactive Net Server site over the Internet if they already have an Internet connection.

Using Mustang's dynamic HTML feature, clients can use any browser to log on to a Wildcat! Interactive Net Server Web site. Browser-only users can experience almost the same level of interactivity as users of Mustang's proprietary client software, although Mustang's client software is required to take part in real-time chats.

My installation of Mustang's server software went smoothly. Although new users may be overwhelmed by the myriad menu options, the choices are straightforward. I suggest that users have at least some experience in the care and feeding of servers before proceeding with the installation.

Some of the setup highlights included a group of templates you can use to create a schematic of your Web site. Afterward, you add the professional touches. For example, Mustang's robust configuration utility allows you to change user access restrictions, edit your menu and file structures, and modify conference groups.

Other nice touches include a utility called wcSubscribe, which enables you to allocate a block of server time to a user, bill for connect time via credit cards, and analyze server activity.

Wildcat! Interactive Net Server's security features allow you to assign custom access profiles to each user or group and restrict access to certain menus, file areas, conferences, and chat channels.

Wildcat! Interactive Net Server falters a bit when it comes to adequate security. Although it offers password protection and leverages Windows NT's built-in defenses against crackers, it lacks advanced security features such as Certificates and Secure Sockets Layer.

Wildcat! Interactive Net Server deserves high marks for its performance. When I tested its dial-up feature, the scripted log-on quickly logged me in. If you have a direct LAN connection, you will barely have time to blink before it connects.

Wealth of features

Wildcat! Interactive Net Server's message conferences can be configured for Internet e-mail, Usenet newsgroups, public messages, and private mail. Mustang's e-mail client is structurally and functionally similar to other e-mail clients.

Wildcat's file management system allows for easy updating and management of file libraries on the server. A Wizard walks you through file maintenance procedures and provides for duplicate file detection and removal. Other Wizards help automate file uploading and downloading. Filters automatically move newly uploaded files into designated file areas.

Overall, Wildcat's many attributes make it an attractive candidate to provide small to midsize firms with a full range of Internet and intranet services. One note of caution: If you plan to use it in an enterprise-class environment, you will want to add a firewall or proxy server.

Howard Millman operates the Data System Services Group and is a co-author of the forthcoming IDG book Netscape Server Bible. Reach him at hmillman@mcimail.com.

THE BOTTOM LINE: VERY GOOD

Wildcat Interactive Net Server

Mustang Software's latest offering is a hybrid intranet and Web software suite. The server provides comprehensive access to a variety of Web and conferencing services via a LAN or Internet or through direct dial.

Pros: Fast; easy to configure and maintain; works with popular browsers as well as Mustang's access utility.

Cons: Lacks advanced security features such as Certificates and Secure Socket Layer.

Santronics Software Inc., Homestead, Fl.; (800) 864-6944, (305) 248-3204; fax: (305) 248-3638; http://www.santronics.com.

Price: Business Edition costs $1,495 and provides 16 concurrent user connections; Enterprise Edition costs $3,995 for 64 concurrent user connections.

Platforms: Windows 95, Windows NT 3.51 and 4.0.