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As we deployed the AppleShare IP beta on Network Computing's Apple Workgroup Server 8550 at the University of Wisconsi n, we experienced very few problems and migrated successfully. In fact, migration not only moved us to a TCP/IP-based AFP file server, but e-mail, FTP and HTTP authentication services also were integrated into the master user and password database. Once installed, configuration continued with an improved management console that integrates administration of services, including file service, e-mail, FTP and HTTP.

Previously, our server had a smattering of third-party services like FTP and HTTP provided by a variety of packages. With AppleShare IP, we replaced not only AppleShare 4.2, but also Peter Lewis' NetPresenz FTP server and StarNine's WebStar Web server.

For straight file service, AppleShare IP appears and functions exactly the same as the previous version. Version 5.0 simply adds more functionality--and potentially better performance--by letting Apple Filing Protocol work over IP.

IP offers the flexibility of larger data packets and routing over public Internet networks. Under lab testing, AFP over IP performed comparably to AFP over AppleTalk. We even mounted the AppleShare IP server over the Internet via a V.34 dial-up router. Over that WAN connection, we discovered that AFP over IP performed much like FTP transfers. However, simply being able to browse the server in native finder format is a tremendous benefit.

We didn't have e-mail services running on our server, so we chose to activate them under AppleShare IP. Because of the ease of maintenance and integration with existing file service accounts, with a simple checkbox, we enabled Internet Mail for an account that had file server access.

As with past versions of AppleShare, Apple leaves quite a few issues open for future releases of the server software. Remote management still must be done using third-party software packages, printing has not yet migrated to IP-based transport, and AppleTalk still is required to browse the network via the Chooser. Eliminat ing the AppleTalk protocol will leave you without some of the key ease-of-use components of an AppleShare network.

The FTP server integrates well with the accounts already active on the file server. Clients other than Macintoshes can gain access to files, though not quite as seamlessly as AFP over IP, which Macs currently use. Much to our disappointment, the FTP server doesn't include the concept of home directories. You must change to your home directory after logging in.

Web Service for AppleShare IP is an obvious addition to the protocol support. However, it is only a replacement for very simple WebStar implementations.

Robert J. Kohlhepp can be reached at rkohlhepp@nwc.com.