01 August 2006

GraphOn GO-Global for Windows

Have been asked on numerous occasions, ”Is there a solution that does not require Microsoft Terminal Server and RDP.” Of course what the real question they are asking is there a solution that does not require a Terminal Server Client Access License. Yes there is. From the GraphOn web site and their product literature,


“The GO-Global family from GraphOn is a fast, simple, affordable application publishing and Web-enabling solution. Using advanced server-based computing technology and near-zero-footprint clients, GO-Global enables easy, cross-platform application access from anywhere in the world – regardless of connection, location or platform. So now you can use GO-Global for Windows to run Windows programs on your Linux and UNIX clients – and GO-Global for UNIX to run Linux and UNIX programs on your Windows clients. All without modifying a single line of code or adding infrastructure such as Citrix, Windows Terminal Services, or local X Server software.

Windows Application Access Made Easy.

Provides instant access to Windows applications from any device or platform, while retaining 100% of the application’s features, functions and branding

Eliminates the need for Windows Terminal Services, Citrix, costly rewrites, add-ons or extensions

Publishes one or more Windows applications, not the entire desktop

Integrates fully with existing platforms and infrastructure

Reduces costs, improves security, and simplifies licensing


Advanced Product Features.

Server-centric solution with near zero-footprint clients

High performance over low-bandwidth connections

Secure operation using native server security, Secure Socket Layer (SSL), and proxy server tunneling

Complete cross-platform compatibility

Integrated load balancing

Universal print driver, file access, and clipboard support

Session reconnect and shadowing


System Requirements.

Server
Windows 2000, 2003, or
XP
256 MB RAM, 500 MB disk space, TCP/IP connectivity, 56 Kbps or higher connection

Windows Client
Windows 95/98/Me/XP/2000/NT4.0/CE

Linux Client
Red Hat, SUSE, and others

Mac Client
Mac OS X

Java Client
Windows 95/98/Me/XP/2000/NT 4.0
Solaris
OS/2
Linux
Mac

Browser Plug-ins
Windows 95/98/Me/XP/2000/NT 4.0”


If you have the ability to view a flash demo, click the link to go to the GraphOn Go-Global products presentation http://www.graphon.com/flash/flash_demo.html for more background information.

GraphOn also permits private branding!!!

The Invisible Solution.

GO-Global is invisible to your users. Web enabled applications look and feel exactly the same as natively running applications. And as an ISV or an enterprise, you can private label the solution to promote your own branding. Software Development Kits (SDKs) are available for customized solutions.”

Some other features that maybe important to you,

“Drive Letter Mapping. Through the Cluster Manager, administrators can hide client and server drives and remap client drives.

SSL Security. GO-Global provides support for Secure Socket Layer (SSL) as a method for communication between Windows clients and GO-Global Servers.

Serial and Parallel Port Redirection for Linux. Allows applications running in GO-Global sessions to access devices connected to serial and parallel ports on Linux computers. Mouse Wheel Support for Linux. Allows users of the Linux Client to scroll using the mouse wheel.

Enabling Support for PAE

On Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003, GO-Global supports memory in excess of 4 GB by way of the Physical Addressing Extension (PAE).”

For more information on accessing up to 64 GB go to http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/pae_os.mspx.


The Cluster Manager is the control center for Go-Global for Windows.
“The Cluster Manager allows you to administer, monitor, and control client access to the GO-Global Server. The Cluster Manager displays a list of the users logged on to a GO-Global Server, along with the applications the users are running, and the time the application was started.

Through the Cluster Manager, you can perform a variety of administrative tasks, such as adding and removing applications, terminating user sessions, and ending processes taking place on the
server.”


Other important information from GraphOn,

“Load Balancing Requirements

A GO-Global Server must be installed on each of the servers in the cluster.

For Web deployment, each of the GO-Global Servers in the cluster must have a Web (server) running and the Web server home directory should contain the GO-Global Web files.”

How is easy is the installation? If you know which web server is installed on the server, then the only choices you need to make is Yes and Next. Then reboot. Copy the license to the server and click on the desktop shortcut “Go Global Cluster Manager”. Simple!

How about the client install? Only Yes and next is required. Then click on the desktop shortcut “Go Global client”. Simple.

Want Windows clients to have access to Unix/Linux applications? Go-Global Unix/Linux?


Until the next post,

Steve