Access to IBM SPCs, Virtually Anywhere, Anytime
 The
IBM® Solution Partnership Centers (SPCs)
have enhanced their remote access capability so developers can access
any SPC system more conveniently without being on site. Now, a web
browser is all that developers need to access IBM eserver hosts
for porting, tuning and development. This new remote access capability
is provided by Tarantella® Enterprise
3™ software from Tarantella, Inc. Although developers obtain
many benefits by being on site with the SPC technical staff, remote
access can boost their productivity and lower costs.
Over the years, the IBM Solution Partnership Centers have built
a strong reputation with software developers by providing access
to a wide range of hardware and support from experienced technical
staff located at the centers. Remote access has been offered for
five years, but has been limited to text-based terminal emulators
and file transfer tools such as ftp. Now, the SPCs have added a
convenient remote control capability for all their systems, even
those with graphical interfaces, with a Java™ applet running
on a standard web browser to Tarantella®
software.
Remote Access Made Simple
The systems behind the remote access capability are conceptually
quite simple. Tarantella Enterprise 3 software enables secure remote
access to GUI and terminal-based applications. Non-intrusive and
application independent, the Tarantella software resides on a server
that is co-located in the data center with the host. The Tarantella
server connects to the host using one of the host’s native
protocols; thus, the host requires no changes. In turn, the Tarantella
server provides an HTML link over the Internet to any web browser.
The server pushes a Java applet to the client browser to provide
the remote display. In addition to specific applications, entire
host desktop environments can be published to the Java applet, allowing
complete control of the host operating system.
Tarantella Enterprise 3 software provides consistently high performance
by using its own TCP/IP-based protocol to connect to the client.
According to Guy Churchward, Tarantella director of strategic alliances,
users with at least a 30kbps connection can feel as though they
are LAN-attached to the application.
By using a standard browser to provide the remote display, almost
any device can be used — PCs, laptops, cell phones, PDAs and
so on. Tarantella also provides non-Java interfaces for Microsoft®
Windows® CE, Symbian OS and
other operating systems.
Says Manish Rai, director of product management at BackWeb Technologies,
“We have found system access and remote control through Tarantella
to be very easy to use. From multiple locations in San Jose, Toronto
and Israel we have reliable access to our WebSphere portal family
environment.”
The Virtual SPC
The SPCs provide all types of IBM eserver systems and software
to developers. In 2001, the IBM SPCs were looking for a way to provide
improved remote control capability to all their systems, even those
with graphical user interfaces.
The ability to provide remote connections to any server application
or GUI desktop through a nonintrusive communications link was very
attractive to the SPCs. It simplified the task of installing the
software and enabled a remote access service to be available quickly.
The Tarantella solution does not require additional software on
the client or host. Thus remote developers can easily access a “clean”
system, just as if they were at the SPC, without learning how to
use any new communications software.
For developers, remote access eliminates the need to reserve physical
space at the SPC, to travel, to spend time out of the office and
so on. It also enables IBM to provide faster access to its resources
and staff, which can help software developers speed their development
efforts. There are perhaps two disadvantages: many developers find
that being out of the office actually improves their productivity,
and they will miss the donuts and airline miles.
Remote developers can easily access a “clean”
system just as if they were at the SPC.
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The Challenge
IBM SPCs were looking for a way to provide improved
remote control capability to all their systems, even those with
graphical user interfaces.
The Solution
With Tarantella software, the SPCs have added
a convenient remote control capability for all their systems, even
those with graphical interfaces.
The Benefits
Remote access eliminates the need to reserve physical
space at the SPC, to travel, and to spend time out of the office.
It also enables IBM to provide faster access to its resources and
staff, which can help software developers speed their development
efforts.
Customer Testimonial
“We have found system access and remote control
through Tarantella to be very easy to use. From multiple locations
in San Jose, Toronto and Israel we have reliable access to our WebSphere
portal family environment.”
- Manish Rai, director of
product management at BackWeb Technologies
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