Horst, thanks for the plug but if I understand correctly, Duncan is
already running terminal services, and wants a secure and foolproof
connection to it over VPN from any host PC.
In this case, blackdog would seem ideal, with an auto-executing
script to connect the VPN (you can't do this with the Windows VPN
client) and launch a terminal session.
Peter.
On 08/02/2006, at 8:21 PM, Horst Herb wrote:
On Wed, 8 Feb 2006 19:25, Duncan Guy wrote:
My primary interest is to provide my 30 specialist colleagues in our
group with a device that will allow them to log onto our network
via a
VPN - securely - and use any computer as if they are in the rooms.
This would allow us to look up notes etc form theatre and do
billing etc
Does BlackDog allow this or any other products that would - and must
really be luddite proof (ie. look and feel like windows)
Duncan Guy
www.specialistservices.com.au
Blackdog is not what you want then. It looks and feels like Linux
because it
is, and it has not enough processing power nor RAM for many desktop
tasks. It
could run a VPN session though securely, even VNC, using any host
computer
that is connected to the Internet without having to do any
modification on
that host computer.
What we are using in my practice is Win4Lin Terminal Server
(http://www.win4lin.com)
It allows us to run Win98SE in a virtual machine running on Linux,
and to
connect remotely with any number of users in any number of sessions
(as long
as we have paid for the corresponding licenses) from virtually any
platform
to these virtual Windows boxes. It scales beautifully and is very
gentle with
ressources like RAM - on an Athlon 2000 with 1 GB of RAM 16 concurrent
sessions run at the same speed as a single session, no difference -
haven't
tested more because of license constraints.
We ran MDW first, but since 3 years the system ran only Pracsoft,
Medibase and
MYOB. Flawless, performance indistinguishable from running
natively. Booting
from scratch in under 3 seconds. Since the emulation layer prevents
the usual
resource problems in Windows leading to crashes, it is indeed more
stable
than running Win98SE natively - and if you need to reboot, it takes
only 3
seconds. I understand McDonalds is using the same system on several
hundred
thousand work places (and employees don't even realize they are
using just a
virtual session)!
Main drawback: you are constrained to Windows versions <= ME, some
DirectX
applications won't run in the emulation layer (fast 3D games-
multimedia
applications I tested all worked fine), and you are limited in what
additional hardware you can use via USB and Firewire - scanners for
example
will not work as a rule.
Why not run Windows Terminal Server?
- far cheaper and far more comprehensible licensing; you only pay
once and use
forever incl. all future updates, and you can swap users etc as you
wish.
- far easier to administrate: you can create "templates" for Windows
installation, and backup the whole system image into a single file and
reinstall in seconds on another machine with completely different
hardware
and it will run without a hitch there too (because all hardware
Windows sees
is virtual)
- easier to secure network connectivity
What I would check first: if your application happens to run stable
in WINE
(or CEDEGA, or CrossOver - both commercial advanced versions of
WINE) you are
in paradise (almost): no licensing fees to pay per seat, all source
code
available for future proofing, huge developer community supporting
it, and
almost as easy to integrate networkwise (access GUI sessions from
anywhere)
as X itself.
My advice: take the time to check whether the applications you
really need run
in WINE. If they do, your troubles will be over and it will simply
work.
If it doesn't, and you application runs well on Win98SE and the
application
vendors confirm that they will ensure compatibility with Win98SE go
for
Win4Lin TS.
Else, consider Peter Machells solution, which appears to work w/o
any major
drawbacks apart from the licensing costs. He/his company appear to be
experienced and competent in setting up solutions as the one you
want, and
their pricing is rather reasonable (I bought his services twice now
and got
excellent value for money)
Horst
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