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christopher_smith

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Unix equivalent to Microsofts terminal server

Experts

Please could you make recommendations for available Unix software that
provides the same functionality as (or similar) Windows terminal server.

It is preferable if the software will run from Windows client machines to allow
users to run some graphical applications that live on the Unix server.

Please note cost is not an issue, it is best tool for the job that is important.

regards


chris
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liddler
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negativl

Other than major security problems, check out VNC, too.  ( www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/ )  Most linux versions support having multiple VNC server sessions running and tied to X sessions.  each client can connect to a VNC instance and login.  The security problem is that access control is a simple fixed token string (some might call it a password) for each VNC server session.  THis means that any user can take over any other user's session with that correct password.

An X application on the desktop, with CDE/KDE/Gnome/etc session management at the main server, is the technically best solution.
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You can also get X-Win32 (it useed to come with secure shell client/secure ftp, and it is a lot cheaper than WRQ reflection X), and it is a very good package.

If you are concern about security, you can always run X inside secure shell -- X tunneling!

Have a look at the following pages for more info:
http://www.starnet.com/products/
secure shell/ftp:
http://www.f-secure.com/
http://rocs.acomp.usf.edu/soft/xwin32ssh.php
http://www.ece.uvic.ca/~fayez/courses/ceng465/access.html

Secure X-Server for windows X-SecurePro
http://www.softpile.com/Utilities/Network/Review_09036_index.html





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ASKER

Thanks for your posts.

I will investigate them further, and award the points when
we decide what package to use.
If in the meantime any of you have more suggestions then please post again.


regards

chris
If the money is not the problem, then you should use "Exceed". By far the best program that runs on windows and allow the connection
to Unix system. It give you the exact environment that the Unix consol gives you, But it expensive!!!

http://www.unipress.com/hbird/exceed/

If you are after something free, Then the BEST things around is "ssh". Without ANY doubt it is the BEST. you need to install ssh on your
unix box and the install the ssh cilent for windows on window box ( There are some ssh cilent for windows but " Teraterm" is the free one ).

It is a bit  tricky to set up, but it is the most secure connection around.

"ssh" come in come in commercial and free version:

commercial : http://www.ssh.com

free: http://www.openssh.com

and Teraterm:

http://www.zip.com.au/~roca/ttssh.html

If you need any more help let me know.


__Mehdi
just a note, although term term is pretty good, it doesn't support SSH2 only SSH1, which is a shame, as ssh1 is not secure enough.  
Chris,

You might be interested in Tarantella. It is highly configurable from what I have seen and users can run an application on the server or have a whole desktop session served up. Check it out!http://www.tarantella.com

Chris,

Here is a taranrella demo:

https://ttademo.tarantella.com
Thanks everyone for your posts,
some excellent info provided.

If anyone else has any suggestions please post while we
decide which is the best route to take.

regards

chris



I've been playing with tarantella for months now -- Great product :-)
might also want to look New Moon's Canaverar IQ also from tarantella website.
and Applinx - however I find this clumersome to setup and configure
Thanks everyone.

decided on WRQ Reflection in the end.

regards

chris