HOBLink JWT Enterprise Access

HOB Enterprise Access Data Sheet
(PDF file)

Platform-independent, Java-based Access to
MS Windows Terminal Servers

HOBLink JWT Enterprise Access is a platform-independent, Java-based solution for accessing MS Windows Terminal Servers. It makes business-critical data in Windows-based applications available to all users, regardless of the type of hardware or operating system they are using. Designed with a view to larger organizations, HOBLink JWT Enterprise Access eases the system administrator's workload: The more users your system has, the more you will benefit from using HOBLink JWT Enterprise Access!

HOBLink JWT for Apple Mac Users - Click Here!

Download "Getting Started" (125 KB, PDF)

HOBLink JWT has been tested by VeriTest and is now certified as "Designed for Windows XP"!

Product Highlights

HOBLink JWT Enterprise Access: All the JWT Benefits From
A Single Point of Administration

Server-based computing – since the advent of the Windows Terminal Server (WTS), the world of Windows has also enjoyed the benefits of accessing applications residing on a central server. HOBLink JWT Enterprise Access is the innovative solution for accessing WTS that goes a step further: Central installation and administration through Java technology.

By using HOBLink JWT with HOB Enterprise Access, the administrator can centrally manage all user and configuration data. The users are represented in a group and tree structure, considerably simplifying administration, which is especially useful if there are a great many users. All user-settings are bequeathed by the tree to the groups, and then from the groups to the users in each group. The result is a significant reduction in administration. Via the LDAP interface, HOBLink JWT Enterprise Access supports all the important directory services, e.g. Novell NDS and Microsoft ADS.

Reduce TCO, Protect Your Investment

As a platform-independent solution, HOBLink JWT lets you use the entire range of Windows applications running on the Windows Terminal Server, regardless of how the client computer is equipped. By centrally installing and managing all the Windows applications as well as HOBLink JWT itself, you can significantly reduce your total cost of ownership.

Data Security

Secure data communication with the WTS is a must – HOBLink Secure (optional) gives you strong encryption (SSL up to 256-bit) and authentication. Further information is available under HOBLink Secure.

Enhanced Local Drive Mapping

Access to local drives is provided by HOBLink JWT's enhanced Local Drive Mapping feature. This solution supports more than just local hard drives and partitions, local CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, and mobile storage media (as far as they are supported and known by the local system): It supports all storage media that can be assigned a drive letter. The administrator can map subfolders and set write and read access rights for individual drives and sub-folders as well as combine rules for rights, giving each rule a specific priority. Additionally, he can restrict access to specific file types or to files with specific byte patterns.

Universal Printer Support

Easy Print
This new function gives you support for virtually any printer on the market, without having to install the driver for each printer on the WTS. Print data is processed on the server using standard drivers and converted by HOBLink JWT for output on a local or network printer. You cut administration to a minimum and avoid hassles with unstable drivers on your WTS!

Extensive local print support
Allows printing to local (or network) printers via drivers on the WTS. Here, the quality and reliability of the printing depends on the printers installed on the Terminal Server.

LPR/LPD print support
HOBLink JWT acts as a Line Printer Requester and can print the data stream of the WTS via a server designated as a Line Printer Daemon.

IP print
Here, the print data stream is forwarded over HOBLink JWT directly to a port.

Automatic printer mapping
Locally installed printers are recognized and automatically created in the Terminal Server session (Windows platforms only).

Application Publishing

This optional feature allows administrators to publish applications centrally from the Windows Terminal Server, making them available to every user. Users of HOBLink JWT can connect directly to published applications and do not have to specify the name of the Terminal Server. With this feature, it is not necessary to configure each Windows Terminal Server within a server farm identically. The Application Publishing Manager, which is installed as a snap-in for the Microsoft Management Console (MMC), lets you publish applications quickly and easily.

WebSecureProxy

Since many enterprises use firewalls to provide extra protection for their Windows Terminal Servers, they usually want to limit access to their servers by opening just one firewall port. Unfortunately, when encryption, application publishing and load balancing are needed in addition to the RDP session, more than one port must normally be used (UDP, TCP/IP), opening a sizeable security hole in the solution. For this reason, HOB developed the WebSecureProxy, which combines these four services and allows the entire process to be handled over just one port in the firewall.

HOBLink Secure Sample Scenario
HOBLink Secure Solution

Click here for instructions on installing the WebSecureProxy

Hot Key Support

Hot keys are shortcut key combinations for certain common functions within the Terminal Server session, such as switching between applications. When used correctly, they can significantly speed up handling.

Load Balancing at No Extra Cost!

Load balancing is a critical function for enterprises employing server farms (groups of Windows Terminal Servers). The load balancing component in the server farm is designed to optimally distribute the load among the different Windows Terminal Servers. Ideally, it lets you control the distribution of the workload to the servers in the farm as your needs dictate. Besides providing improved performance, this leads to better protection against system failures – when a server connection is interrupted a re-connect is made to the next available server.
With HOBLink JWT, you get true load balancing which actually measures the CPU load of each server. When one WTS goes down within a server farm, the client is connected to another WTS for signing on. Not every WTS in a farm must be configured the same. In addition, no “master browser” is needed, eliminating potential connection problems if it fails, and reducing the network “chatter” between servers.
And it's included as a standard feature with HOBLink JWT!!

Application Serving

With this feature, a certain application can be started automatically at logon. The user then has access to this application only, instead of to the whole Windows desktop.

Session Shadowing

The administrator can “look in” on an active client session for “remote management” purposes or to give assistance to the user.

Worldwide Availability

Connections via phone lines, WAN and LAN are possible on the basis of TCP/IP. Due to the worldwide availability of the Internet, access from virtually any location is a given. This makes HOBLink JWT the ideal solution for companies that need to provide multi-user access to Windows applications anywhere in their enterprise network.

Reconnecting Disconnected Sessions

Client sessions that have been disconnected – e.g. due to network failure – can be reconnected at the point where the interruption occurred. When the user restarts his session, he can continue working exactly where he stopped earlier. This function is operable with your existing server farms, too.

Key Features at a Glance

Includes extra component for Load Balancing free of charge
Central installation on Web server with browser as client, or local installation
Support for Windows and non-Windows platforms
Central administration via HOB Enterprise Access
Enhanced Local Drive Mapping provides access to local drives (optional)
Requires no dedicated server components for the communication (in base configuration)
TCP/IP as transport protocol
Supports the RDP 4 and RDP 5 protocols
Offers flexible print features for local and network printing
Optional: HOBLink Secure provides components for using SSL encryption and load balancing simultaneously
Client connection possible via LAN and WAN, dial-up, ISDN, xDSL, VPN
Support for system sounds
Copy and paste of text between client and server
Connection to an active or disconnected session
Direct connection to an application (application serving)
Application Publishing (optional)
Full-screen mode
Viewing of other client sessions (session shadowing)
Support for WTS encryption with up to 128-bit key length
Supports encryption via SSL with up to 256-bit key length (optional with HOBLink Secure)
Automatic version check (smart update)
Pre-configured client with IP address, server name and other connection settings

System Requirements

Window Terminal Server
HOBLink JWT is compatible with:

Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 - Terminal Server Edition
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, Advanced Server and DataCenter Server with integrated Windows Terminal Services
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Microsoft Windows .NET Server
Microsoft Windows Server 2003

Web Server
HOBLink JWT can be installed on any Web server, regardless of the operating system.

Client Platforms
HOBLink JWT supports every Java-enabled platform, JDK 1.1 or higher. A JVM with Java 1.2 standard should be used on UNIX platforms. The only prerequisite on the client is a JVM (Java Virtual Machine), which can be installed with the browser (Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, etc.). A JVM with JIT compiler is recommended (e.g. Microsoft jview). The client should have at least a 64-MB RAM. A Pentium processor with 90 MHz or more is also recommended.

Further Information on HOBLink JWT

Expanding the Value of the Windows Terminal Server Investment (White Paper) (PDF, 10 p., 198 KB)