Network Computingwww.networkcomputing.com

For delivering the right data to the right client at the right time--the fundamental goal of any network--push middleware lets network administrators wrest control from individual clients and put it firmly on the server. Push middleware pipes data through the network consistently, reliably, securely and economically. Best of all, the network administrator, not each client, decides what data gets piped where and when. StarBurst Communications Corp.'s Multicast product is an expensive, yet worthwhile tool for eliminating wrong file and missing file problems on large networks.

We like StarBurst Multicast for its quick, reliable ability to move and copy files based on scripted instructions. Multicast uses StarBurst Communications' MFTP (Multicast File Transfer Protocol) to efficiently send a single stream of data to a group of clients. The scripting interface is simple and effective, and the Multicast graphical interface is intuitive and comprehensive. Multicast even gives administrators a throttle control they can configure; the throttle governs the rate at which Multicast uses network bandwidth.

StarBurst Multicast, starts at $39,900 (single server, 25-client license, special starter kit prices available),
StarBurst Communications Corp.,
(800) 585-3889, (978) 287-5560.
www.starburstcom.com