Computerworld

Citrix rival picked up by publisher

Auckland-based Legend Software has begun distributing software which competes with Citrix to maximise bandwidth across networks and the internet.

Auckland-based Legend Software has begun distributing software which competes with Citrix to maximise bandwidth across networks and the internet. BoostWorks, originally from France but now based in the US, offers three products. Boost SQL, which competes with Citrix thin-client software, aims to speed the delivery of applications across client-server networks. In New Zealand Auckland medical publisher Adis uses it to transfer large files from Asia. Boost Web Optimizer, which reduces HTTP traffic on the network and accelerates web page display, is used by US retailer the Home Depot for its online store. BoostWorks claims that, depending on the type of data and network speeds, Boost Web Optimizer reduces the amount of HTTP traffic by between two and seven times, scalability of the site increases 30% or more and pages display two to four times faster. It is entirely based on server software and is priced from $US10,000 to $US12,000. Another product, Boost VT Emulation for Unix terminal networks, increases performance of TCP/IP networks by reducing the size and frequency of network exchanges. Instead of each typed character on a user's screen making a return trip to the server, complete data fields are sent as one packet. Only differences between succession screens travel over the network. Simultaneously BoostVT performs real-time selective data compression of the data that is transmitted. BoostWorks claims the result is an eight-fold reduction in traffic volume. BoostVT has a server- and client-side component.