X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL11]
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.novell
Date:         Tue, 18 Aug 1992 18:20:38 PDT
Reply-To:     Novell LAN Interest Group <NOVELL@SUVM.BITNET>
From:         sga <ANDERSON@PEPVAX.BITNET>
Subject: Re: Dial-In Access to Novell

> <text deleted...>
>
> I see a temporary solution in something like Carbon Copy, but have never
> personally used it.  In the future we will need to have the ability for
> multiple simultaneous connections.
>
> I have heard of building something along the lines of a communications server.
> This would consist of a main CPU, and a special card which acts as a separate
> CPU for the incomming connection.  Does anyone have any information on this
> kind of system?
>
> I would greatly appreciate any help/suggestions.  I am also interested in the
> relative price for this kind of system.  Thanks.
>
> ---------------End of Quoted text -------------------------------------
>
> We have been lo these many nonths trying products for remote access.  I
> will summarize the results here for David and anyone else looking into
> this can of worms....
>
> The software solutions we tried were
> PC Anywhere
> Cross Connect
> Another I can't remember right now (drat!) -- maybe carbon copy
>
> All worked well enough (though VERY slow) and we settled on Cross Connect
> because (at that time) the cost was far less that the other two.  Not long
> after we purchased the software we discovered (don't know why we never
> thought to test this) that it will not do any graphics (e.g. the WordPerfect
> preview screen).  Up until then weh and only been typing documents remotely
> to test the system.  (Oh, yes - also got Cross Connect because it used only
> one modem for dial-in, dial-out and a non-dedicated PC.  PC anywhere needs
> two modems and the other needs a dedicated PC on the network to access other
> workstations).  This lack of graphics makes it useless for most
> applications, and we no longer have our eval copy of the other produts to
> test.  Cross's tech support says a graphics-supporting version is
> forthcoming.  In the mean time they recommended we buy everyone on the
> network a copy of all the applications on the server so that they can use
> Cross for file transfer only.  (Now there's a cost saving suggestion!  Let's
> see, 25 copies of Harvard plus 25 copies of WP plus........)
>
> so,...........
>
> At a recent show and tell I saw a demo of the Microdyne Access Server
> (Novell's remote access software on a special PC manufactured by Microdyne)
> and arrangeed for a trial (could only get it for 5 days and if I promised
> to buy it if it did what I had requested, that is graphics, etc.)  This can
> also be purchased as a software product and installed on a dedicated
> computer.  Results:
>
> MUCH faster than the Cross Connect software, but ....
> still cannot do the WP preview (they blame WP)
> locks up when running other graphics (tried Quattro Pro and Harvard)
> re-maps drives differently when you access it after your login script
>      has executed (can really mess things up).
>
> Microdyne tech support recommends changing the drive mappings back
> after logging in (what fun) and re-configuring Quattro to exclude
> expaned memory when it loads (OK I can live with this, I guess).  They
> don't have an answer for Harvard.  Of course my 5-day trial was over by the
> time they got back to me so I never got to try these "patches".
>
> SUMMARY:  I don't think that anyone yet has the answer to "painless" remote
> access.  I can live with slow (to a point) but I would like things to work
> as if I were any other user on the network.  Next we try PC Tools remote
> product which promises windows support including remote mouse (for windows
> only, I believe).  Will keep you posted....
>