High-Performance Connectivity to Corporate Information
and Network Resources

Overview | Features/Benefits | Specifications | System Requirements
OnNet Host Suite - Additional Features | How the CIM Works

Product Features/Benefits

OnNet Host's high-performance applications and unique management capabilities significantly reduce the total cost of desktop ownership by streamlining configuration, deployment, and administration of software on the desktop.

Lowering cost on the desktop starts with the people who use the software. If software isn't reliable and easy to learn and use, you pay the price with higher training costs, additional help desk calls, and more IS resources applied to troubleshooting visits at the desktop.

Simplicity for End Users

Full-featured TN3270, TN5250, and VT terminal emulators make it easy for users to access information on host systems from Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT desktops. Usability features such as customizable toolbar, keyboard remapping, floating terminal keyboard display, right mouse support, and record mode scripting simplify terminal emulation for everyone. Customizable toolbar buttons can be mapped to scripts, commands, or strings. Repetitive tasks can be scripted using record mode simply by capturing keystrokes. Then tasks can be automated by mapping the script to a toolbar icon. Customized sessions and login scripts can be redefined by administrators and provided to end users by e-mail, via the Web, or from a central server. In addition, users have various terminal emulation print options such as Form Feed key, Lines per Page (LPP)/ Characters per Line (CPL), Raw Mode and Margin Control.

Enhanced Usability

Proven graphical user interfaces provide point- and-click simplicity that makes host access easy for everyone. Client networking applications are integrated with Windows user interfaces. So once users learn the operating system, they've learned how to perform networking tasks. This means fewer troubleshooting calls to help desk resources and lower maintenance costs. The right mouse button is a powerful tool. One click of the right mouse button lets users view or print files, get help, or launch connections to remote systems. Context-sensitive help is available on every user interface control so that users can learn quickly and be more productive.

The Application Assistant helps novice users get started with selected OnNet Host applications. Easy-to-understand questions prompt users through setup procedures. Wizards guide users through common networking tasks. There's no need for nontechnical users to understand network protocols, IP addresses, or complex commands to work efficiently.

Windows Integration

Integration with Microsoft System Policies and User Profiles allows users to access their OnNet Host applications anywhere within their domain. Simply by logging into the Windows network, mobile or remote users can have access to their specific network drive mounts and terminal emulation and file transfer session files. No matter where users log in on the network, their desktop configuration, including predefined sessions, toolbars, screen appearance and all their applications are available. This also allows multiple users to share the same PC in job-sharing and multiple-shift environments. Each user can have access to a personalized desktop configuration, while administrators retain needed control according to the System Policies, user access privileges, and passwords they set up.

Task Automation

Open Object Technology in OnNet Host lets administrators automate multistep networking tasks. With a single icon click, users can bring files from a server to a PC desktop, perform a PC backup, print, get a stock quote from the Web, send an automatic mail reply, and more.

And, OnNet Host allows scripting of network applications with NetManage Open Object, Visual Basic, C, Microsoft Office Basic, and Java. Because Open Object technology is based on Microsoft ActiveX or OLE, administrators can plug connectivity directly into PC business applications that use OLE. For instance, a toolbar icon can be set up to launch a network connection from within spreadsheets, databases, CAD systems, drawing or accounting packages. There's no need for users to stop what they are doing to launch a separate terminal emulation or FTP session. Networking tasks integrate seamlessly into users' workflow.

Web Integration

Session files from OnNet Host and OnNet Host Suite, such as TN3270, TN5250, TNVTPlus, and File Transfer (FTP), can be easily embedded in Web pages, so that these applications can be launched directly from an intranet. With this capability, network administrators can easily manage host access sessions from a central location.

FTP Applications

OnNet Host includes two File Transfer applications - FTP Client and FTP Client Add-In for Windows Explorer. FTP Client provides a double-pane view that allows users to drag-and-drop between long directory trees to copy files between local and remote systems. The FTP Client Add-In application is integrated into Windows Explorer so users don't need to learn a different interface. Once they understand Explorer, it's easy to transfer files using the FTP Client Add-In. Users can easily find, preview, and copy remote files. In addition, users have the option to automatically resume failed file transfers from Windows Explorer.

Protecting Sensitive Corporate Information

Using the Custom Install Manager, network administrators can control access to host resources on a group or an individual basis by installing only those applications and session files appropriate to those users.

FTP Client includes both ANS and Raptor firewall support.

FTP Server (in OnNet Host Suite only) provides user access control through a local password or NIS authentication.

The FTP Server Connection Monitor gives network administrators greater control by monitoring FTP server traffic. FTP Server is integrated with Windows NT domain security and allows user restrictions to be set by IP address.

InterDrive® Client (in OnNet Host Suite) provides user authentication for file and print sharing with NIS or PCNFSD protocols. These security features help protect sensitive data residing on network servers.

Network utilities such as IP Trace, Ping, Query, Retriever, and Network Time enable viewing, monitoring, and troubleshooting of network activity.

Integrated NFS

InterDrive Client provides the performance advantages of NFS v3, plus the reliability and the operating system integration that users need to efficiently access directories, files, printers, disks, CD-ROMs, Zip drives, and other network devices. NFS v3 also delivers numerous performance improvements - including efficient directory lookups executed in a single transaction - plus both read and write caching, and larger read and write data sizes.
InterDrive delivers unmatched performance and reliability even in high-traffic network environments.

InterDrive is easier to use than other NFS applications because it's seamlessly integrated into the Windows Explorer interface. NFS connections, passwords, global or individual connection properties, and tuning options can be set up and configured from Windows Explorer or Network Neighborhood. Users select network drives, directories, files, printers, and other devices in the same way that they select other items in Windows Explorer. Aliasing enables shortcuts to network resources using shorthand names to designate complex network paths. Aliases can have their own settings for security, performance and permissions; or they can use system or host defaults.

Autotuning optimizes performance under constantly changing network conditions. Read and write sizes are adjusted based on the number of packet retransmissions resulting from network collisions or hardware problems. The autotuning feature can be selected as required.

InterDrive Client includes Network Information System (NIS) Automap integration within Windows Explorer. This integration provides a centralized directory service that graphically displays remote NIS automount maps and the configured resources available to NFS Clients. Users only need to know the appropriate NIS server to find listings of available resources.

Changes can be made "on-the-fly" to network connections, including file permissions and performance settings, without disconnecting services. Users can also save time and effort by remapping exported file systems and subdirectories. Instead of navigating through a complex directory hierarchy, users can assign a drive letter for direct access to a specific folder.

FTP Server

In addition to FTP Client, OnNet Host Suite includes FTP Server. The FTP Server Connection Monitor gives network managers greater control by monitoring and troubleshooting FTP server traffic. FTP Server is integrated with Windows NT domain security and allows user restrictions to be set by IP address. Users can be authenticated through a local password or NIS authentication. 

Client-based or Server-based Installation

OnNet Host products provide complete flexibility and significant management advantages with both client- and server-based installation options. By maintaining applications on the server, deployment, upgrades, and fixes can be managed centrally. Using server-based installation, network administrators can perform a complete software rollout or a phased implementation of selected applications to department, groups, or specific users. This provides organizations with significant cost savings by drastically reducing the amount of time required to roll out applications over the corporate network.

Customized and Automated Installation

The Custom Install Manager allows network administrators to easily create customized installation templates for departments, groups, and individual users. User names can now be imported from NIS or NT databases, reducing the time required to create user directories. Installation from a server using a "questionless" install based on preconfigured templates saves installation time, eliminates the need for administrators to visit individual desktops, and reduces end-user reliance on help desk support.

The Custom Install Manager automates the configuration and installation process in three easy steps:

1. OnNet Host is installed once on a central server.
2. The administrator customizes the installation procedure for departments, user groups, or individual user and saves the installation scripts on the server.
3. Each user downloads the appropriate script from the server and runs Setup; the customized installation is done automatically. Users don't need to understand the details of an installation procedure.