Chapter 1
WorldDesk Introduction

Cubix WorldDesk is a family of scalable, fault-tolerant remote access solutions for Novell® and Microsoft networks.

The WorldDesk family consists of two server options, a server management application and an application interface:

• Commuter is a dedicated, standalone remote access server which includes a built-in 10-baseT interface.

• Comlink is a software application that, when used in conjunction with the Cubix MP2008 Multiport Serial Card, allows you to create a scalable, software-based remote access server on a Windows NT Workstation (version 3.51 or later).

• Applink is a rules-based network application interface operating under Windows NTÔ that seamlessly blends remote-node and remote-control application access for remote users.

• Manager is a remote access server management application designed to centrally manage WorldDesk Commuter and Comlink servers.

Both Commuter and Comlink provide mobile professionals with easy access to their favorite NetWare, TCP/IP, LAN Manager, Windows for Workgroups, and Windows NT services and applications. Users can also control remote workstations or Cubix's managed, fault-tolerant processors through popular remote-control applications.

WorldDesk’s modem pooling enables users on an Ethernet network to dial-out via shared modems and access information services such as bulletin boards and online services.

WorldDesk’s failure-recovery software reconnects and resumes interrupted or dropped sessions automatically, either on the same WorldDesk Server or on a different one. A file transfer need not be restarted + it will automatically pick up where it left off.

Commuter Server

The Commuter is a dedicated, standalone remote access server which includes a built-in 10-baseT interface. Commuter is available in three configurations:

• 12 built-in PCMCIA-standard modems.
• 12 DB9/RS-232 connectors for connection to external analog modems, or ISDN terminal adapters.
• A combination of 6 built-in PCMCIA-standard modems and 6 DB9 connectors for use with external modems or ISDN terminal adapters.

Commuter provides users with the following capabilities:

• Dial-in remote access extending company LANs to user's remote site.
• Dial-out modem pooling for applications supporting INT 14, NASI, and WinComm 16 redirection.
• Industry-standard IPX, TCP/IP and NETBEUI protocols simultaneously over PPP.
• Call failure recovery reconnects and resumes sessions at the point where they were discontinued.
• Built-in PAP and CHAP security server function.
• WorldDesk Manager software to configure and monitor Commuters.

Figure 1-2 illustrates a typical Commuter configuration.

Comlink Server

Comlink is a software application that when used in conjunction with the Cubix MP2008 Multiport Serial Card allows you to create a scalable, software-based remote access server on a Windows NT Workstation (version 3.51 or later). Features of Comlink include:

• Comlink runs as a service under Windows NT and is equipped with graphical management and client software providing unlimited user licenses.
• Dial-in remote access which extends the company LAN to the user*s remote site.
• Dial-out modem pooling for any application supporting INT 14, NASI, and WinComm 16 redirection.
• Simultaneous multiprotocol support for IPX, TCP/IP and NETBEUI over PPP.
• Call failure recovery reconnects and resumes sessions at the point where they were discontinued.
• Built-in PAP and CHAP security server function.
• WorldDesk Manager software for centralized server management.
• Support for up to 120 ports on a Cubix managed PC platform.

Figure 1-2 illustrates a typical Comlink configuration.

Applink

Applink is a rules-based network application interface operating under Windows NT that seamlessly blends remote-node and remote-control application access for remote users. Using a database of user-definable rules, Applink automatically establishes a remote-node or remote-control session depending on which will provide the best performance for the remote access user.

Features of Applink include:

• Load balances Citrix WinFrame servers enabling standard uniprocessor PCs to perform as clustered processors.
• Fully scalable to support hundreds of users.
• Operates with popular remote-node based products such as Microsoft RAS, NetWare Connect, and Shiva LANRover.

Manager

WorldDesk Manager is a remote access server management application designed to centrally manage Commuter and Comlink servers. When installed on any Windows 95 or Windows NT workstation (version 3.51 or later) on a network, a system administrator can manage individual remote access server and port operation and combine servers into an unlimited number of remote access server clusters. Additionally, WorldDesk Manager provides an easy to understand graphical display of remote access server configuration (see Figure 1-3) .

Commuter Administrative Step Summary

The following steps are suggested to successfully setup and manage WorldDesk Commuter servers.

Comlink Server Administrative Step Summary

The following tables outlines steps necessary to successfully setup and manage WorldDesk Comlink Servers.

Documentation

The following is a complete list of all WorldDesk documents:

This document, and all Web contents, Copyright © 1997 by Cubix Corp., Carson City, NV, USA.