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From: leefi@microsoft.UUCP (Lee Fisher)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans,comp.misc
Subject: Re: Help please on CD-ROM
Summary: CD-ROM XA, Microsoft Extensions, information packets, xyzzy
Message-ID: <7908@microsoft.UUCP>
Date: 30 Sep 89 05:23:47 GMT
References: <1783@jato.Jpl.Nasa.Gov> <3999@phri.UUCP> <820@pccuts.pcc.amdahl.com>
Organization: Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA
Lines: 51

Regarding the earlier question about retail cost of the CD-ROM
Extensions the Extensions are an OEM (CD-ROM drive manufactuer) licensed
product, not a retail one. This is because the Extensions consist only
of MSCDEX.EXE, the machine independent driver which groks ISO9660/HSG
and makes it look transparent at the file I/O level to applications, and
the OEM-dependent CD-ROM device driver (ex., HITACHI.SYS, SONY100.SYS,
etc), which the OEM writes. Regarding their cost, I don't know how
CD-ROM drive sellers would show it, as it should come with the drive.
There is a list of some CD-ROM drive manufacturers (in the CD-ROM
Extentions Information Packet, see below) which will sell single copies
of MSCDEX (useful if your OEM isn't shipping the latest version, etc). I
don't know how much they're selling it for, maybe $50, I would guess. 

Regarding the earlier question about connecting a CD-ROM drive running
Microsoft Bookshelf (thanks!) over a 3Com (and later Banyan) network, 
there are a few solutions here. Version 2.10 of the Microsoft CD-ROM 
Extensions will share a CD-ROM drive over MS-Networks-based networks. 
I'm not up on which network manufacturer is or is not, but I think that 
3Com is and I think that Banyan isn't. If you're not using a MS-Net
based network, contact the Net OEM and ask them if they support it.  I
think a few do, like Lantastic by Artisoft. There are two companies that
I know of that write CD-ROM drivers that allow discs to be shared over a
network. One is Opti-Net (OnLine Computer Systems, 800-922-9204), and
the other is CDNet (Meridian Data Systems, 408-476-5858). I think there
is a third but can't recall it. These guys basically add a layer under
the CD-ROM device driver layer, bridging the CD-ROM calls over the net
via NetBIOS calls.
 
If you want some general information on MSCDEX or CD-ROM XA, the
Microsoft Product Support Services (PSS) group has two information
packets that you can request. The Microsoft MS-DOS CD-ROM Extensions
Information Packet contains general marketing and technical information
on the Microsoft MS-DOS CD-ROM Extensions version 2.10. The Microsoft
MS-DOS CD-ROM XA Information Packet contains information about the
Philips, Sony, and Microsoft CD-ROM Extended Architecture (XA)
specification. It also includes XA technical information as well as the
March 1989 Audio specification. To obtain a copy of the Microsoft MS-DOS
CD-ROM Extensions Information Packet and/or the Microsoft MS-DOS CD-ROM
XA Information Packet, call Microsoft Product Support Services at
206-454-2030 and ask for one or both packets. Outside the US, I guess
you should contact the nearest Microsoft subsidiary.

And to clarify an earlier comment on CD-ROM XA, it is NOT strictly a 
Microsoft standard: it is a joint effort between Philips, Sony, and 
Microsoft.

Hope this helps.
--
lee fisher, microsoft corp., redmond, wa, usa, leefi@microsoft.uu.net
{uw-beaver,decvax,decwrl,fluke,intelca,sco,sun,uunet}!microsof!leefi 
disclaimer: my opinions are not necessarily those of my employer.