		      Network Audio System (NAS)

		      Frequently Asked Questions

This file contains a list of frequently asked questions about the
Network Audio System (NAS).  If there's a question you'd like to see
included in this list, please send mail to greg@ncd.com.


TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------
    1.	What is the Network Audio System?
    2.	Where can I get it?
    3.	What platforms does it run on?
    4.	Is there a mailing list?
    5.  I'm having problems getting the NAS clients to work with my
	NCD X terminal.

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    1.	What is the Network Audio System?

>>	The Network Audio System was developed by NCD for playing,
	recording, and manipulating audio data over a network.
	Like the X Window System, it uses the client/server model to
	separate applications from the specific drivers that control
	audio input and output devices.

	Key features of the Network Audio System include:

	    o   Device-independent audio over the network
	    o   Lots of audio file and data formats
	    o   Can store sounds in server for rapid replay
	    o   Extensive mixing, separating, and manipulation of audio data
	    o   Simultaneous use of audio devices by multiple applications
	    o   Use by a growing number of ISVs
	    o   Small size
	    o   Free!  No obnoxious licensing terms


    2.	Where can I get it?

>>	The latest release of the Network Audio System can be obtained
	from:

		ftp.ncd.com:/pub/ncd/technology/src/nas
		  ftp.x.org:/contrib/audio/nas

	Release 1.2 of NAS is also included with the X11R6 contrib
	distribution.


    3.	What platforms does NAS run on?

>>	The Network Audio System distribution includes sample server
	implementations for:

	    o Sun Sparc 1 AM79C30A Digital Subscriber Controller and
		  Sparc 10 Dual Basic Rate ISDN Interface
	      (SunOS 4.1.[23], Solaris 2.x)

	    o SGI Indigo (IRIX 5.x)

	    o VOXware (FreeBSD, Linux, SVR4.[02])

	    o HPUX (note that this is an experimental implementation -
	      it might not build or function correctly)
	      
	Also, several models of NCD X terminals as well as NCD's
	PCXware (an X server for PCs running Microsoft Windows) all
	include an NAS server.

	Ports of the NAS server to addition platforms are in the
	works.

	The NAS sample clients will compile and run on numerous
	platforms.


    4.	Is there a mailing list?

>>	You bet.  nas@ncd.com is a mailing list for general discussion
	of the Network Audio System.  Send a request to
	nas-request@ncd.com to find out how to get added to the list.

	The mailing list is archived at ftp.ncd.com in the directory
	/pub/ncd/technology/src/nas/nas-mail-archive.


    5.  I'm having problems getting the NAS clients to work with my
	NCD X terminal.

>>	Some NCD X terminal models running NCDware 3.0.1 or greater
	support NCDaudio, NCD's X terminal implementation of the
	Network Audio System.  Audio clients shipped with a particular
	NCDware release should function correctly with that release.
	However, the NAS protocol changed slightly after the release
	of NCDware 3.0.1, making newer clients incompatible with older
	servers.  NAS clients should function correctly with NCDware
	3.1 or greater.  Please contact support@ncd.com if you have
	further questions about NAS on NCD products.

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$NCDId: @(#)FAQ,v 1.5 1995/05/24 18:11:23 greg Exp $
