Rascal v2.3 Copyright (C) 1996-2000 Basta Computing, Inc. All rights reserved. Shareware with a 30 day evaluation period. Limited distribution (see the license agreement for details). DESCRIPTION Rascal is an advanced dial-up session manager for users who need a single reliable solution for keeping their connection alive. Rascal monitors your dial-up sessions to make sure that you stay connected. It does this by simulating network activity to fool idling detectors and by restoring the connection if it is lost. When a connection is made or lost, Rascal can notify you of it with an audio alert. Rascal also gives you information about your dial-up session, including the name of the dial-up server, the IP address of the current connection, a calculation of your monthly connection costs so far, and a time log of how long you've been online for the current session, day, week, month, and year. If you are a more demanding user, RascalPro is made for you. In addition to the features of Rascal, the professional version adds the ability to schedule when you want RascalPro to start monitoring, stop monitoring, or release your connection. You can also define batch processes that should start when a connection is made or lost, and you have the ability to log these events and more to a file for later reference. For a bare bones connection keeper, check out our Rasputin product. IMPORTANT NOTE (for first time users) This application anchors its icon near the clock in the system tray which, by default, is located at the bottom right of your desktop. You may invoke the application menu by right-clicking on the icon. REVISION HISTORY - v2.3 on 2000-02-09: Improved the pinger and added the ability to save and unsave DUN credentials in Windows NT/2000. - v2.2 on 1999-04-02: Added more status information, an option to round up the length of connection sessions to the minute, and an option to use DUN's credentials for authentication (for NT only). - v2.1 on 1998-06-01: Added command line access to allow remote and batch control of dialup sessions. Fixed a bug that caused the application to freeze under some configurations of Windows modems and drivers. - v2.0a on 1998-02-19: Eliminated the 16 DUN session limit and made the monthly time log properly wrap when the year changes. - v2.0 on 1997-06-22: Updated installation procedure and package information, overhauled the product, and added time and fees tracking. - v1.6 on 1996-11-19: Added connection monitoring time-out support. - v1.5c on 1996-11-03: Fixed the "Do not dial-up first" feature. - v1.5b on 1996-11-02: Fixed a bug that prevented the reconnection frequency from being higher than the verification frequency. Consequently, the initial reconnection timing was also corrected. - v1.0 on 1996-09-01: Initial release. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS - Windows NT4.0, 95, 98, 2000, or later. - Enough free disk space to accommodate the software (less than 0.5MB). PACKAGE CONTENTS - SetupRascal.exe: Software product setup file. - ReadMe.txt: This file. - File_ID.diz: Product identification summary. INSTALLATION Close the application if it is currently running, then run the SetupRascal.exe file and follow the instructions. UPGRADES Close the application if it is currently running, then install the new release in the same directory where you had installed the older version, unless otherwise specified in this file. UNINSTALLATION Close the application if it is currently running. Click the Windows "Start" button, and select "Settings", then "Control Panel". Double-click the "Add/Remove Programs item". Proceed by double-clicking the line corresponding to this product and follow the instructions. Note that configuration files, generally with a ".dat" extension, and registration files, namely "Registration Form.txt", may be created by the application and will not be deleted for your convenience in case you wish to refer to them at a later date. Delete these files manually if you do not want them. REGISTRATION / HOW TO BUY This product is being provided to you for evaluation purposes. You may use it free for 30 days, after which time you are obligated to purchase a license or you must discontinue using it. You will be prompted to register daily during the evaluation period, and each time you run the software thereafter. Answer "Yes" to the registration prompt in order to review registration information. This information may also be accessed by pressing the "Registration" button from the About window. CONTACT Internet web site: http://www.basta.com E-mail (let us know if you are registered): info@basta.com marketing@basta.com sales@basta.com registrations@basta.com support@basta.com bugs@basta.com suggestions@basta.com guestbook@basta.com Fax: +1 (425) 889 8745 Address: Basta Computing P.O. Box 485 Kirkland, WA 98083-0485 USA FURTHER INFORMATION For the latest news about our products and services, please visit our web site at http://www.basta.com