http://energetic.com/net-effects/infonow_server.html (World Wide Web Directory, 06/1995)
Step Into the Internet with an InfoNow Server!
The NET+EFFECTS INFONOW SERVER is a complete World Wide Web, Gopher, FTP, and Mailing List Server, already built and configured, including all hardware and software. All you do is attach it to your Ethernet local or Internet network and you are ready.
The server is based on a powerful UNIX workstation and includes a high speed modem for remote configuration and administration by Net+Effects and an uninterruptable power supply.
Everything is done for you; Just add Data!
See How Easy It Is...
With the Net+Effects InfoNow Server, all the building and configuring has already been done. It is a complete package including all the hardware and software you need to begin publishing your information to the Internet or even your own internal company network. Since the server is located in your company, you have full control over content.
Everything is done for you; Just add data!
One of its main applications has always been to provide information. At first the tools were crude and required significant technical capability to be useful. But through the years more refined tools like Gopher and the World Wide Web were created to simplify locating information on topics of interest.
Then in September 1993 Mosaic, a graphical interface for the Internet's standard file location tools, was released and immediately simplified the use of the Internet for finding information. Mosaic client software, "Windows for the Internet," takes away the "teckie" stigma for common computer users and allows them the same improvements in "look and feel" that Windows provided DOS users several years earlier. This is a full multimedia file browser that can be used to view much of the organized information on the Internet. And of course, many anticipate this graphical interface will have an impact on the Internet similar to the impact of Windows on the PC. (Use "Back" on your browser to return if you follow the links in the remainder of this paragraph.) In fact you can see the dramatic growth of WWW traffic compared to the more traditional browsers like Gopher. WWW traffic has grown to be a very significant portion of all Internet file traffic.
The Internet has many enhancements over more traditional communications media: In today's dynamic and changing world messages may be updated at any time assuring that the inquirers get the very best, most accurate and most recent version of your message. Changes become effective at the next inquiry. Time is no limitation. Your message is delivered as effectively at 2am Sunday morning as it is 10 am Tuesday morning. Your information door is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including religious holidays, if you wish. Geography is no limitation. Recipients can read your message from places all around the globe just like they were in the same town. The message can be targeted to specific interest groups. Using security techniques to limit access or targeting how people learn about your information can define who gets to see the information. Statistics captured from electronic log files provide useful feedback on the interest in your message.
Using the Net+Effects InfoNow Server, you can present your company information to your customers, including your catalog. You can even take orders on-line!
Specifically, you only connect the cables between the Computer, Display, Modem and UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply), as described. Contact Net+Effects to identify that the machine is set up. We will give you a passkey on the telephone that will initiate the remote configuration. In a short time your new Server will contact Net+Effects and we will configure the system according to your specifications. After completing configuration you will connect your machine to the access medium for your Internet Service Provider, ISP. Then you load information according to the instructions left by Net+Effects. If there are any operational difficulties using the server in the next five days, call us for additional assistance at no expense.
All hardware is warranted, generally for 1 year. For longer term operational support, Net+Effects offers various programs.
Commerce on the Internet has required new techniques to protect the clients proprietary information. Most people should be concerned about transferring sensitive information such as credit card numbers without taking privacy precautions. Net+Effects can assist you in providing a secured commerce environment using NetScape Communication Inc.'s NetSite Commerce WWW Server software. When used with NetScape Communication's Navigator secured browser, the customer can be protected with the highly respected RSA encryption of credit information. The Commerce WWW Server includes a one year support program that Net+Effects will administer on your InfoNow server.
Often an InfoNow Server is added to a LAN and becomes the first activity at that site to draw in the attention of others on the Internet. Security for the other existing machines at the same site soon becomes a concern. The IRX Firewall router offers the advantage of physically isolating the pre-existing machines on a separate private Ethernet LAN from the public Ethernet LAN where the InfoNow server will provide your information to all comers. Net+Effects will provide the initial firewall configuration and where an Administration and Support Agreement is signed, Net+Effects will keep the configuration updated.
