RemoteServ/IS

The Test Drive
For testing purposes, we received a RemoteServ/IS preconfigured with Citrix WinFrame 1.6, WorldDesk Server 1.32, WorldDesk Manager 1.32, and WorldDesk Client 1.32 for NT. (Client software is also available for DOS, Win3.1x, and Win95.) Cubix's tech support was outstanding--one phone call and I was talking to Product Manager Gary Lyon. Gary quickly and logically stepped me through the operation and configuration.

With WorldDesk Manager, I configured a virtual cluster from two Citrix WinFrame servers, as Screen 1 shows. When prompted, I selected a Master Server within the cluster to handle the administrative overhead for the cluster. If the Master Server fails, the remaining servers elect a new Master, all transparent to the user (much like when a BDC is promoted to a PDC). In my testing, the role of Master Server simply alternated between the two available servers.

Load balancing and failover testing were complete and effortless. My initial installation software had an outdated mouse driver for the Integral Multiplexor. The Master Server kept locking up on the mouse and keyboard. Cubix is aware of the driver problem and supplied the updated drivers within 24 hours.

After I installed the new driver, I did not experience system lockups. RemoteServ/IS let me isolate the PC board and reset the server. The second Citrix WinFrame server picked up the role of Master Server, and the remote application service continued to operate.

With RemoteServ/IS, I could power up or power down any subsystem, including multimodem, multiport, and ISDN adapter cards. After the original server was back online, I cut power and reset the remaining server. The roles reverted. The internal switching between the two servers was transparent to the workstations and me.

WorldDesk Manager contains powerful and simple tools for application management. Several key features stood out during my review: For example, the administrator can set application configuration rules using IF/THEN Boolean algebra. Screen 2 shows the Use Rules radio button selected for where to run the program. This feature lets the administrator set parameters for whether an application will run locally or remotely. For example, I set a rule, "IF the application accessed is greater than 75KB, THEN run the application on the server." This statement means that if a program has a certain RAM requirement, the administrator can run the program from either the server or a remote location.

You can also use WorldDesk Manager to enhance security by selecting the domain or workgroup server that manages logon accounts to control authentication. This feature also means no extra logon procedures. I tested usernames and passwords to confirm the connection. I also set specific user time limitations by hours or days.

WorldDesk Server supports Data Encryption Standard (DES), the encryption algorithm that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) developed. Plus an administrator can monitor remote access sessions in several different options, produce graphic outputs, and manually adjust load balancing.

On The Road
The best software feature is the easy configuration of the WorldDesk Client software for remote access users. Cubix calls this feature the I Can Icon. Gary Lyon talked me through the procedure once, and then I had fun.

From the WorldDesk Server dialog box, I activated the Setup Configuration icon to start the WorldDesk Client Preconfiguration window shown in Screen 3. First, I designated applications for remote access. Settings include an icon label, network path, dial-in number, and working folder. Then I saved the information to the WorldDesk NT Client disk. With this disk, I was able to go to any workstation on the network and run setup.exe. (You can run this command from either the client disks or a network drive.) Presto! The workstation now had icons for the remote access applications installed on the desktop. I could double-click any of the icons to start a remote access session, and I could use the application as if it were running from the workstation.

I was surprised at the operation speed. I ran a graphics program to see how it affected packet transmission and speed. With the Network Statistics feature, I monitored the rise in packets transmitted and received. But even working with a large .bmp image, I saw no visible slowdown at the workstation.

The beauty of the remote access feature is evident for any multinational organization with employees around the world. For example, imagine a marketing manager traveling on the US East Coast. Suppose this manager needs access to the vendor database on the company server in Colorado. You can set up the application the marketing manager needs, save the configuration to a WorldDesk NT Client disk, and deliver the disk overnight. The manager runs a:\setup, plugs into any modem, and clicks the desired icon to start a remote access session.

To the marketing manager, the application runs as it does at the local workstation in Colorado. The end user will love this feature for its simplicity; the administrator will love it because no additional end-user training is required and it doesn't compromise security.

No Sunday Driver
One difficulty I had during my review of Cubix's clustering solution was wading through the documentation. Cubix admits the documents are not for the casual reader but are meant for technical reference. The two hardware manuals remind me of learning the thermo-dynamic characteristics of the third-stage compression blade assembly of a high bypass turbofan engine: highly technical! The System Administrator's Guide for WorldDesk is manageable if you're familiar with Citrix WinFrame. New users will prefer a more user-friendly installation and configuration guide, with plenty of screen shots. A picture is worth a thousand words.

The Results
The technical support from Gary Lyon and his staff was superb. Gary discussed and explained all the technical aspects of RemoteServ/IS and led me through the GUI for cluster configuration. His help more than made up for the user manuals. Excellent product technical information and white papers are available at the company's Web site. Overall, the RemoteServ/IS is a superb combination of hardware and software, a must for the network administrator seeking remote access functionality, with security and availability.*

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