From: rick@ut-emx.uucp (Rick Watson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.comm
Subject: Announcing MacSLIP
Date: 9 May 92 16:00:21 GMT
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas

Hyde Park Software is pleased to announce the availability of 
MacSLIP -- a SLIP Link Access Protocol Module for MacTCP. 

MacSLIP allows you to extend the network connectivity of your 
Macintosh to locations that might not be accessible to a LocalTalk
or Ethernet network via a modem connection over the telephone
or a hardwired connection to a SLIP Server. SLIP (Serial Line IP)
is a protocol that allows many simultaneous IP connections to run
over a single serial connection to a SLIP Server (a terminal
server or other host that supports SLIP). Instead of running a single
terminal emulator session over your serial port, MacSLIP allows you
to run simultaneous Telnet, FTP, News, Mail, and other MacTCP based
applications. You can even run XWindows although XWindow based
applications tend to require lots of bandwidth.

MacSLIP supports normal SLIP connections as well as connections that
allow TCP Header Compression (CSLIP).  TCP Header Compression is a 
method for compressing the headers of TCP/IP datagrams to improve
performance over relatively slow serial lines. Not all SLIP Servers
support CSLIP but MacSLIP will work either way.

MacSLIP's connection script facility allows automated modem dialing,
logging into a SLIP Server, establishing a SLIP session, etc.
The script facility will write a log of the connection process for
easy debugging of your script. Sample scripts are provided.  During
the connection, a script status dialog appears to notify the user of
the progress of the connection. The script can write messages to a
status area and can prompt the user for passwords or connection data.
The incoming character stream from the serial port is also displayed. 

The script facility supports sending strings, matching strings read
from the serial port to control script execution, simple counters,
timers, loops, prompting for user input, and a status dialog to inform
the user of the script's progress. 

You can configure your Mac to use a static IP address or you can get
an IP address from your SLIP Server via the bootp protocol. 
*** You can also parse incoming text during the connect process to
determine your IP Address Netmask etc.

Included in the package is Netstat, an application designed for
monitoring TCP connections to your Macintosh. Netstat displays all
open TCP connections' source and destination IP addresses, TCP ports,
and connection state. You can view all the internal counters that
MacTCP keeps for each connection as well as global MacTCP and MacSLIP
counters. 

Requirements:

 - Any Macintosh running System 7 or a Mac-II class Mac running System 6.0.7.
*** A version that supports system 6 on non-MacII class machines is in 
testing
 - MacTCP 1.1 (or MacTCP 1.1+ for a Mac Plus)
 - A serial connection to a SLIP Server via modem or hardwired connection.

Availability:

We will begin taking orders immediately (Mon-Fri 8-5 CDT) with
shipping scheduled to begin the week of May 25. Sales and support are
being provided by
*** Currently shipping.  Allow about a week for shipping via ground UPS.
They take about 2-3days to ship the product, then shipping time
They accept phone credit card orders.

    TriSoft
    1825 East 38 1/2 
    Austin, Texas 78722
    Sales: (800) 531-5170
    Support and Info: (512) 472-0744
    FAX: (512) 473-2122

Individual copies are $49.95 + shipping + sales tax if applicable.
Questions about MacSLIP and other pricing may also be sent to:

    info@hydepark.com

Rick Watson
Hyde Park Software

** additional comments by Mark isfeld   msi@nsd.3com.com
*** This is sent out as information only.  I don't have any special
relationship with either party.


*****
Also Intercon is about to Announce a SLIP implementation.  I have not
seen it, since it has not been announced.  However, I have rumors thata
it is being shown at the Mactivity Show right now!  (7/15/92) Pricing and
availability unknown.
--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Mark Isfeld   
| msi@NSD.3Com.com                     
| 408-764-5167