[ale] OT Running executable apps on IIS

[Van L. Loggins]

On Wed, 10 Dec 2003 20:18:06 -0500
ale-request at ale.org wrote:

> Message: 8
> Date: 10 Dec 2003 18:15:10 -0500
> From: Jeff Hubbs <hbbs at comcast.net>
> Subject: RE: [ale] OT Running executable apps on IIS
> To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts <ale at ale.org>
> Message-ID: <1071098109.25967.1136.camel at localhost>
> Content-Type: text/plain
> 
> No.  VNC is meant to export a Windows machine's entire display out to
> one or more other machines.  Windows to this day has no concept of
> independent severable displays either per system or per application.  In
> order to get that class of behavior, you have to go to a Citrix or NTTSE
> (or whatever they call it now) solution.
> 
> Basically, there isn't a way (that I know of) to run an arbitrary Win
> app via Web initiation UNLESS the link you click on is a document type
> that the browser recognizes and the appropriate app is launches as a
> result.  For instance, click on a link to a .doc file and OpenOffice :)
> should launch.  The Win app so launched can either live on the client's
> own drive or on a file server.
> 

It isn't done via the web, but We figured out how to run selected windoze applications over the network here at work 
on our NCD thin client terminals that boot and run off our linux servers using TFTP
using a windows 2000 server set up for nt 4.0 compatible terminal services. all We had to do was use rdesktop and 
use the shell variable to point it to the appropriate program or batch file on the windoze 2k server.

Much Much cheaper than having to pay for a citrix license, all you have to worry about is having enough terminal services licenses.

Here are some examples of programs we have shared over our network using this method.

Internet Explorer
Microsoft Word (making sure we have enough office license to support the amount of users we have using this)
Microsoft excel (ditto)
the windows version of PC-Miler (multi-user version with appropriate amount of licenses)

I also figured out how to use rdesktop to set up the palm desktop software for selected users on our network 
so they can hotsync their palm using a centrally located hotsync cradle that is directly hooked into the windoze 2000 server 
without giving them physical access to the server itself.

If this method of sharing applications sounds like something you might be interested in trying let me know, I'll offer any assistance I can.

Van
-- 
Van Loggins        vloggins at turbocorp.com
Assistant System Administrator - ESC Dept
Linux User #316727
1-770-532-2239 Extension 9404
Turbo Logistics
http://www.turbocorp.com