Friends Jim Wayner and Mark Peterson discuss writing Internet software, in Java, to help system administrators monitor network traffic, and user activity. Jim Wayner worked for Sun and Mark Peterson worked for a major Automation company in Milwaukee. The initial name given to the product was "NetSnoop".

After Mark, a C++ expert, spends a couple weeks learning Java and developing components of "NetSnoop", he notices how FTP servers are interacted with in web browsers. Just recently learning about ActiveX at a Microsoft Developer's conference, Mark decides to explore writing an ActiveX control that could be used in a web browser. Mark begins work on FtpTree ActiveX Control. Jim and Mark discuss the name of the company and name it Rhino Software, a name selected by Jim's son, Eric. Jim registers the domain "RhinoSoft.com". FtpTree is working well in Internet Explorer, but the potential for FtpTree goes far beyond just use in Internet Explorer. So Mark begins developing a Windows Explorer like FTP client as a sample of how FtpTree ActiveX can be used. It doesn't take long to recognize the need for an FTP client more than an ActiveX control, so all of Mark's development effort is focused on his Windows Explorer like FTP client that uses FtpTree as the FTP engine.

The Windows Explorer like FTP client is "released" to the public. However it was named the same as another Windows Explorer like FTP client, so the name needs to be changed. While driving home from his "day job," Mark notices a large number of a particular type of mini-van on the road. The product is renamed "FTP Voyager,", now a registered trademark of Rhino Software, Inc. FTP Voyager 2.0 is released to the general public. FTP Voyager takes the look and feel of the Windows 95 Explorer interface and made an FTP client in that style. The focus is to remove all of the complexities of command line FTP and make FTP as easy as using the Windows Explorer interface. Mark is introduced to Rob Beckers, creator of the FTP Serv-U Server, through a common customer and tester. Mark obtains a license for Serv-U to aid in FTP Voyager's development. Mark and Rob work closely together to establish new FTP commands (e.g. MDTM) and FTP functionality (e.g. server-to-server file transfer status). Mark and Rob are still friends to this day. After an incredible amount of feedback from customers, FTP Voyager 3.0 (actually version 3.0.1.6) is released adding customer requested features, bug fixes, and new features for the industry. Somewhat surprised and excited by the customer response to FTP Voyager, Mark releases FTP Voyager 4.0. FTP Voyager now has new and innovative features like Quick Connect, Folder Short Cuts, Filtering, description file support, and a configurable toolbar. All these features remain popular in the current release of FTP Voyager 13. FTP Voyager 4.1 is released. New features include Synchronize Folders and on-line editing. FTP Voyager is becoming so popular, Mark has become tempted to leave his "day job" to work on FTP Voyager full-time. Realizing he isn't contributing to the company as he should due to its change in direction, Jim Wayner turns the company over to Mark and Jane Peterson. Rhino Software officially changes its name to Rhino Software, Inc. after being incorporated in the state of Wisconsin (USA). After attending another Microsoft Developer's Conference, Mark realizes that Microsoft isn't going to add the needed support to its WININET.DLL to aid in compatibility with all the different FTP servers. Rhino Software, Inc. releases FTP Voyager 5.0 using its own libraries for communicating with FTP servers, giving FTP Voyager complete flexibility in how it interacts with FTP servers.

Mark is contacted by Mike Deerfield, of Deerfield Communications in Gaylord, Michigan USA. Mike proposes that Deerfield become the worldwide, exclusive publisher of FTP Voyager. Deerfield begins selling and supporting FTP Voyager, allowing Rhino Software to focus exclusively on software development. FTP Voyager 6.0 is released. Mark, still working at his "day job", decides to leave and dedicate 100% of his time to Rhino Software, Inc. and its software products. InterQuick (now called AllegroSurf) software development begins. InterQuick is designed to improve web browsing speed by using a shared cache of visited web pages and images. InterQuick also includes a DNS cache to help speed up DNS requests.

InterQuick development is well underway with select testers helping. InterQuick 1.0 is released, represented exclusively by Deerfield Communications.

FTP Voyager wins PC Magazine's "Best Internet Utility" award at the annual Shareware Industry Conference (SIC) held in Tampa Bay Florida, USA. Rhino Software Inc.'s first employee of outside its founders is Douglas J. Papenthien. Doug's initial role was software development on specialized software for WinGate, distributed with Compaq computers. The software was designed to help configure customer's computers for Internet access and Internet connection sharing (ICS). Doug is currently employed with Rhino Software, Inc. as a Vice President. InterQuick 2.0 is released. A free version (InterQuick Lite) is introduced along with faster filtering, improved prefetching, and exception URLs that allow bypassing of site filtering. FTP Voyager 7.0 is released. New features include FTP Voyager Scheduler, Queue support, FTP URL clipboard monitoring, and a sizeable FTP Site Profile Manager.

Rhino Software, Inc. gives 60 days notice to Deerfield that it will terminate its exclusive agreement and publish its own software. FTP Voyager 7.1 is released. Rhino Software, Inc. officially begins publishing and supporting its own titles, ending its relationship with Deerfield Communications. AllegroSurf 3.0 (previously known as InterQuick) is released. AllegroSurf takes the pre-fetching abilities of InterQuick and turns it in to a full blown proxy server capable of connecting an entire network of computers to the Internet through a single Internet connection. FTP Voyager 7.2 is released, debuting the fully translated German version of FTP Voyager, right down to a translated installer. FTP Voyager wins the Shareware Industry Awards Foundation's (SIAF) "Best Internet Utility" award at the annual SIC, again held in Tampa Bay, Florida USA. AllegroSurf 4.0 is released adding group support, user login, auditing, and logging.

FTP Voyager 8.0 is released adding browser integration, the ability to move (transfer and delete) files, improved firewall support, and show row listings. Serv-U 3.0 is released. Rob Beckers terminates his agreement with Deerfield Communications agreeing to have Rhino Software, Inc. publish the newly branded Serv-U (previously known as FTP Serv-U). FTP Voyager wins its second consecutive SIAF's "Best Internet Utility" award at the annual SIC, this year in St. Louis, Missouri USA.

FTP Voyager 9.0 is released adding FTP over SSL/TLS support, SSL certificate management, new graphics, XP style hot images, and SysOp chat. Serv-U 4.0 is released adding FTP over SSL/TLS support.

Doug begins development on the DNS4Me dynamic DNS service. AllegroSurf 5.0 is released adding graphical reports, filtering, and a separate HTTP proxy (previously achieved through a generic TCP proxy).

DNS4Me 2.0 (initial version) is released. DNS4Me allows Internet users to associate a dynamic IP address with a static domain name allowing them to provide Web services (e.g. HTTP, FTP) from their home or mobile computers using an easy to remember domain name. FTP Voyager 10.0 is released adding SSH (SFTP) support, automatic time zone adjustments, an optional simplified interface (Simple Mode), support for 64-bit file sizes, and vastly improved transfer rates. FTP Voyager wins its third SIAF "Best Internet Utility" award at the annual SIC, held in Rochester, New York USA. AllegroSurf 6.0 is released adding new statistics, filter bypassing, new telnet proxy options, and improved performance.

DNS4Me 3.0 is also released offering an integrated web server, custom DNS functionality for the power DNS user, and online redirects for HTTP services.

Fed up with 200+ daily spam messages flooding his personal Inbox, Mark P. Peterson begins development on Zaep AntiSpam. Zaep is designed to ensure that Mark no longer has to look at another spam in his Inbox again. Serv-U 5.0 is released adding database support through ODBC, XCRC file integrity checking, server level bandwidth limits, a new Serv-U Corporate edition, and domain level NLST options. Zaep 2.0 (initial release) is released featuring a native web interface. Mark P. Peterson can count on his two hands the number of spam messages he's received from "enterprising" spammers since. FTP Voyager 11.0 is released adding Power Transfers, XCRC file integrity checking support, use of a Rich Text Edit control in the log pane for a more function log view, and improvements to Synchronize Folders. Zaep 3.0 is released adding email reply support, global white and black lists, and the ability to move items between lists from the web interface. AllegroSurf 7.0 is released adding user and server limits, custom HTML administrator messages, and support for on-the-fly compression through AllegroSurf proxies.

Serv-U 6.0 is released adding NT-SAM support and improved administrator security.

DNS4Me 4.0 is released adding an integrated mail server and free basic DNS4Me service.

Zaep 4.0 is released adding support to run as a native plug-in for the MDaemon mail server, new user account templating, and additional statistics. FTP Voyager 12.0 is released adding thumbnail support for viewing previews of local and remote images, FTP Voyager add-ons, new command line options, and live updating of changes made to the local file/folder view. Zaep 5.0 released adding Universal Plug-and-Play (UPnP) support, Windows Firewall support, and an integrated automatic update checker. FTP Voyager wins its fourth SIAF "Best Internet Utility" award at the annual SIC, held in Denver, Colorado USA. Mark and Rob meet to discuss co-development of the next version of Serv-U. They agree to share development responsibilities. Rhino Software, Inc. agrees to become Serv-U's primary development team, allowing Rob to focus on specific Serv-U tasks and to spend more time with his family and other professional endeavors. FTP Voyager 12.3 and FTP Voyager Software Development Kit (FVSDK) 12.3 are released.

The FVSDK is designed to replace FtpTree ActiveX control as Rhino Software Inc.'s primary FTP client software development product. The FTP Voyager SDK development focused on ease of use and heavy documentation in an effort to help software developers utilize the power of FTP Voyager in their own programs.

In preparation for Serv-U software development, all Rhino Software, Inc. products are internally re-organized to make use of company wide shared libraries. This re-organization aids in developing more reliable software and bringing shared features across products to release at a much faster rate. DNS4Me 5.0 is released. New features include real-time logging of all DNS4Me integrated server and DDNS activity, tip of the day, TXT record support through Custom DNS, and full URL redirects. Rhino Software, Inc. agrees to purchase the rights to Serv-U and its source code from Rob Beckers. Rob changes his role to an advisor, allowing him to focus most of his time on non Serv-U related goals.

Serv-U 6.2, now maintained and developed exclusively by Rhino Software, Inc., is released adding UPnP support, a modernized installer, and better multi-byte character support (focused an Asian languages). FTP Voyager 13.0 is released adding Network Information to the About box, Automatic Update checking, a unified installer for multi-language translations of FTP Voyager (made possible largely by the re-organization that took place in Nov. 2005), additional translations (Italian and Simplified Chinese), new public key support for SSH, and an improved startup time. AllegroSurf 8.0 is released adding support to grant users access automatically without defining accepted IP addresses, column sorting for FTP listings, and vastly improved FTP listings through usage of the FTP Voyager Software Development Kit. FTP Voyager wins its fifth SIAF "Best Internet Utility" award at the annual SIC, again held in Denver, Colorado USA. This is FTP Voyager's 5th time in 7 years that it has won the prestigious award. Rhino Software, Inc. celebrates its 10th anniversary!

Develoment of Serv-U 7.0.

The long awaited release of Serv-U 7.0!