Features and Benefits

ExtremeZ-IP is the industry standard for seamlessly integrating Mac clients into Windows Server environments. ExtremeZ-IP 8.0 takes this to a whole new level. With our new Network Reshare capability, enterprises can now deploy an ExtremeZ-IP server that provides AFP access to files on other on NAS storage devices.

Only ExtremeZ-IP provides you with advanced features and capabilities that guarantee compatibility, reliable performance, and maintaining the integrity of the Mac user experience.

With over a decade of experience and more than 7,000 organizations worldwide, ExtremeZ-IP has become the industry standard for seamlessly integrating Macs into enterprise environments empowering Mac users and simplifying IT management and administration. ExtremeZ-IP is the solution of choice for thousands of production workflows and is the only Windows AFP server product being actively maintained and supported since 1999.

What's new in ExtremeZ-IP 8.0?

GroupLogic is proud to introduce ExtremeZ-IP 8.0, which will move enterprises with Macs into a new era. With ExtremeZ-IP 8.0, enterprises can now enable Mac users to access files on NAS storage systems, such as those from NetApp or EMC Isilon.

This greatly extends the flexibility of both the Mac user and the IT organization by opening up access to virtually any file server or NAS storage device within the enterprise. And access is still controlled through Active Directory.

ExtremeZ-IP 8.0 includes:

• Network Reshare support. Network Reshare allows an ExtremeZ-IP server to make files available that reside on other Windows servers or NAS devices. More info.
• DFS namespaces can now be made available as ExtremeZ-IP Network Reshare AFP volumes. More info.
• ArchiveConnect is now compatible with ExtremeZ-IP Network Reshare AFP volumes. More info.
• Optimized how ExtremeZ-IP initially accesses files and folders to provide an improved client experience with ArchiveConnect. This change prevents files from being unnecessarily scanned by anti-virus applications or brought on-line.
• Additional performance optimizations, Spotlight search fixes, and Bonjour fixes.

Compatibility

• Proven & Supported
  
  Remains the solution of choice for thousands of production workflows regardless of the number of Mac computers connected to the server. ExtremeZ-IP is the only Windows AFP server product being actively maintained and supported since 1999.


• Network Reshare
  
  Traditionally, ExtremeZ-IP has been able to share files that reside directly on the server ExtremeZ-IP is installed on, as well as on any storage that is directly attached to that server. New Network Reshare allows an ExtremeZ-IP server to make files available that reside on other Windows servers or NAS devices that support the standard Windows file sharing (SMB/CIFS) protocol. This capability allows a customer to deploy one ExtremeZ-IP server that can provide AFP access files on other Windows servers and NAS devices.


• Full Support for the Apple Filing Protocol (AFP)
  
  Designed for the Macintosh, AFP is the recommended file sharing protocol for Mac devices and has been enhanced with each release of Mac OS X. ExtremeZ-IP remains the only Windows server to be fully compatible with the Mac OS X AFP protocol, and includes support for:

  • Long File Names - allows Mac OS X clients to create files and folders that have names longer than 31 characters.
  • Large Files > 2GB - allows Mac OS X clients to access, create, and copy files on the server that are larger than 2GB.
  • Windows Shortcuts - ensures workflows and links set up for Windows clients can be accessed by Mac users.
  • Time Machine software - fully supports self-service backup and restore by Mac clients, including per-user backup quota management (10.5 or later only).
  • International Language/Unicode - fully supports the Unicode (and Kanji) capabilities of Mac OS X.
  • Manipulation of Windows Access Control Lists (ACLS).
  • Mac OS X Extended Attributes.


• Integrates with Active Directory
  
  Simplifies server administration by allowing Mac clients to be authenticated directly against Active Directory on logon. ExtremeZ-IP enforces the Windows file permissions configured on your file server for all Mac clients - you get exactly what you intended. File permissions can be set directly using standard Windows administrator tools.

  • Encrypted Logins & Long Passwords - Supports both long and encrypted passwords via the DHX/DHX2 UAM (user authentication module) built into Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X.
  • Password expiration notification.
  • Home Directory Support, including Accessed Based Enumerations (ABEs) - Simplifies the configuration of home directories, saving users from having to search through thousands of folders.
  • Support for Disk Quotas.
  • Kerberos / Single Sign-on (SSO) - supports Enterprise-class single sign-on authentication of Mac clients against Active Directory using Kerberos.


• File Name Policy Enforcement
  
  ExtremeZ-IP gives administrators the flexibility to define and enforce file naming policies on their server. Policy enforcement keeps files that break naming policies out of important workflows, delivers improved compatibility between Mac, Windows and other platforms without Administrator intervention, and results in better utilization of disk space by keeping files off the server that don't belong there.


• No Client Software is Required
  
  ExtremeZ-IP's core file server functionality leverages the AppleShare client built into every Mac.


• Reconnect Seamlessly
  
  Supports the innovative "reconnect" facilities of the AFP protocol, which allows a Mac that loses connectivity to the server to seamlessly re-establish connectivity, authentication, and all of its open files without data loss. ExtremeZ-IP is the only AFP server besides Apple's XServe that supports this technology.


• Support for Microsoft DFS Namespaces and Home Directories
  
  ExtremeZ-IP's DFSConnect is the only solution for providing Mac computers with access to DFS resources over the AFP file sharing protocol.
  
  * DFS-based home directories are not yet supported for Mac OS X 10.7 Lion clients. Support for DFS-based home directories will require a follow-up release of ExtremeZ-IP and/or Mac OS 10.7.
  


• Supports Apple's Innovative Network Spotlight feature
  
  Full content searching is accomplished in ExtremeZ-IP by bringing the best of both worlds together for the user Network Spotlight on the Mac, and Windows Search* on the server. Mac users connected to an ExtremeZ-IP file server can type a phrase and immediately get back a list of all the files on the server that contain that phrase.

  • Only Windows Server solution on the market that allows full content searching from the Mac client to a Windows-based file share.
  • Allows users to find the files they need without wasting time browsing through 100s or 1,000s of files.
  • Leverages enterprise-class security of Windows Search.

  
  * Windows Cluster does not support Windows Search.
  * Requires activation of Microsoft Windows Search on the file server; please contact GroupLogic if you want to index more than 1,000,000 files on a server.
  


• Supports Windows Server 2008
  
  The only AFP server to support Windows Server 2008, providing the most compatible file and print sharing experience for Mac clients on Microsoft's groundbreaking new operating system platform.

  • Provides the best in class file sharing for Mac computers.
  • Delivers AppleTalk printing support for Windows 2008 servers, for those customers that need to continue providing the AppleTalk protocol for print service discovery but want to migrate to Windows 2008.


• IPv6 Compatible
  
  Insures Mac compatibility and compliance with the 2008 IPv6 Government mandate.


• Bonjour Networking Support
  
  Supports Bonjour, Apple's Internet standard for browsing and discovering devices over TCP/IP networks, allowing Mac OS X clients to easily find and connect to ExtremeZ-IP servers. ExtremeZ-IP File Server is the only Windows-based server to fully support Bonjour.

Scalability & Performance

• Most Scalable AFP Server on the Market
  
  Supports significantly more users than any other AFP server solution.


• Supports Microsoft Clustering
  
  Provides increased availability, scalability, and support for server consolidation efforts. ExtremeZ-IP supports fast failover with no indexing at startup, as well as multi-node clustering configurations. Multiple virtual servers can be supported per cluster node, with each virtual server running in its own memory space to provide for better stability and scalability.


• Immediate Startup
  
  Eliminates the need to index volumes at startup, providing higher availability and significantly reduced downtime in case of server restarts. Other solutions require hours to index in some situations.


• Blazing Search Speeds
  
  Offers increased search speeds significantly faster than SMB and Windows built-in Services for Macintosh (SFM). ExtremeZ-IP has unique, optional support for full content searching on Windows servers by Mac OS X 10.5 clients using Apples innovative Network Spotlight feature.


• Unlimited Number of Files
  
  Can share an unlimited number of files across the entire file server.


• Tuned for Mac Clients
  
  Leverages GroupLogic's extensive knowledge of the unique behavior of Mac file sharing workflows with sophisticated caching strategies to provide the best performance and stability for Mac clients on the market. Caching allows more user requests to be handled without having to go to disk, which is typically the key performance bottleneck in modern server systems.

Print Features

• Full Support for ExtremeZ-IP Zidget™
  
  Users can browse for file servers through a simple Dashboard widget or web interface. The ExtremeZ-IP Zidget allows administrators to completely eliminate the AppleTalk protocol from their network, while preserving the simple-ease-of-use that AppleTalk provided for service discovery.
  Users can quickly and easily discover and setup print queues - no configuration or end user PPD selection required! Administrators can:

  • Organize printers by "zones" to map to legacy AppleTalk services.
  • Build a simple hierarchy so users can search on location or other characteristics.
  • Set up maps or other web pages that allow users to browse directly to printers and have them configured with a single click.
  • Overcome and workaround the limitations of Bonjour service on the WAN.


• Force PPD Download
  
  Reduces print errors due to incorrectly installed PPDs and improves ease of use for users by automatically downloading and installing the correct PPD and hiding all options from the end user. Administrators can specify which PPD is used for each print queue.


• Built in Accounting
  
  Increase your control over enterprise- wide printing with ExtremeZ-IP Print Accounting, our print-tracking software. ExtremeZ-IP Print Accounting is compatible with most software packages on Mac OS X, supports printing via TCP/IP or AppleTalk protocol, and works with any print spooler or printer.


• Flexible Print Spooling Destinations
  
  Including Windows print queues, LPR, AppleTalk and Drop Folders.