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F E A T U R E

Remote Possibilities

October 10, 2002
By Sean Doherty and Dilip Advani, Saurabh Bhasin, Julio Caraballo and Bilson M. Poikayil

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CrossTec Corp. NetOp Remote Control 7.01

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	In this article
	Introduction
	NetSupport Manager 7.0
	CrossTec Corp. NetOp Remote Control 7.01
	Symantec Corp. pcAnywhere 10.5
	Other Products Reviewed
	Executive Summary
	How We Tested
	Report Card, Part I
	Report Card, Part II

NetOp Remote Control was developed to support a critical database application for the Danish stock market, so it was designed with connection speed, stability and data security in mind. Version 7.01 lives up to its billing with a high degree of security and above average performance.

Although slower in file transfers than half of the products we tested and ranked twelfth in bitmap transfers, NetOp posted high marks in network management and security. Users are notified within approximately 50 seconds after their connections are interrupted. In addition, NetOp uses a small amount of memory on the desktop.

Like NetSupport Manager and Symantec pcAnywhere, NetOp splits its code into separate programs to improve functionality and performance. You can install the master, host or both programs on a machine. The optional enterprise deployment uses a deployment utility to let you choose which features to install to multiple PCs. First, select the source of installation (CD or direct download). Next, configure the hosts (input the license key and select other options). Last, select the target computers. You can install NetOp on a single workstation or select from an NT domain list. You also can group computers into target groups.

If you plan to maintain your initial configuration settings over all selected PCs, choose the default installation. This worked in our labs without fail. Once complete, we could view a log file to verify the NetOp installation on selected PCs.

Remote-Control Software Features

Click here to enlarge

NetOp masters can manage their local caches in three ways: separate files for every host, a common file or no cache file. This is useful for administrators who want to keep separate log files for every session. The caching option also lets you set a maximum size for the files, to limit disk-space usage. And, like NetSupport Manager, NetOp supports Wake-on-LAN and provides record and playback features for troubleshooting and training, though the playback is rather slow and jerky.

CrossTec does not compromise on security. Rather than rely on a machine's default CSP, like pcAnywhere does, CrossTec offers AES encryption and up to 256-bit keys for authentication and to protect against third parties reading the data stream transmitted between a master and host. It also uses integrity checking to verify that data streams have not been altered and to protect against compromised keys, and offers a separate product, Security Server, to manage security.

Security Server provides enterprises with role-based remote access using SQL 7.0 or MSDE. You create roles using a wizard that can draw on user and group information from Microsoft Windows NT domains and Active Directory. If you do not use Windows domains, you can use a common user name/password, but we don't recommend this route. Instead, create your own identities with separate passwords. With roles, you can allow unfettered access to all hosts and their file systems for your domain administrators and limit others to certain activities by function, time and location. NetOp lets you limit location by IP or MAC address. Security Server also performs daily logging and log management so you know who is controlling whom, when and where on your network. If you don't use Security Server, security roles can be defined locally on each host.

NetOp supports a cascade control that let us control a host from another host we were already controlling. This activity compromises speed and can be confusing, but it may be handy for troubleshooting multiple servers or desktops from a remote location. NetOp also can operate in stealth mode, hiding the master from the host, and sports a request-for-help feature for hosts to call for service and support.

NetOp Remote Control 7.01, $179/$29,965. CrossTec Corp., (800) 675-0729, (561) 391-6560. http://www.NetOpUSA.com