Helios Software — a developer of multi-purpose file-, print-, image-, and PDF-server software — has launched a public preview of its upcoming Helios UB2 server solutions suite.

UB2 delivers better overall performance, enhanced Mac and Windows client support, as well as a broad range of new features including improved SMB/CIFS and AFP compatibility, new AD/PDC authentication, PDF text export, Apple Spotlight compatible searches, and support for Oracle Solaris 11 and Red Hat 6 servers, says Helmut Tschemernjak, president of Helios Software.

He says that Windows PCShare UB2 clients will benefit from higher SMB/CIFS compatibility, increased overall performance, as well as a new AD/PDC authentication. The upcoming Helios EtherShare UB2 provides advanced file server compatibility for Mac clients, including support for extended attributes used by Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6 clients to store file comments. Support for AppleTalk, which is no longer part of Mac OS X starting with 10.6 Snow Leopard, is optional with UB2, as all Helios EtherShare UB2 services — including Helios printer drivers for Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 — are supported over TCP/IP. 

Extending its ability to work on all major server platforms, Helios UB2 server software will also support Oracle Solaris 11 and Red Hat 6 server operating systems. The UB2 preview download is available via the Helios WebShare server at http://webshare.Helios.de .