Best Remote Access Software

Microsoft's RAS Has Tight Grip On Victory

Software remote access solutions are faster and easier to use than ever. Remote Access Service (RAS), included in Microsoft's NT 3.5 has the tightest NOS integration, is extremely fast and is easy to manage and set up. As a technical solution, it is unmatched. That it comes with NT makes it hard to resist, even in NetWare shops.
As part of Microsoft NT, RAS setup is just another network option, and it uses the same administration tools available for LAN-connected clients. Being part of NT also means that for those networks already running NT, there's no additional cost to provide IP and IPX remote node access.
Performance tests consistently showed RAS to provide some of the fastest throughput for file transfers and remote use of locally stored files. The 70 Kbps turned in by RAS for a text file transfer was the fastest of all the software remote node products we tested this year.
A runner-up, Novell's NetWare Connect is fast, tightly integrated and offers a remote access solution for everyone. Its remote node speed was consistently one of the fastest we tested. While NetWare Connect offered the familiar NetWare installation and management interface, there are no graphical user interface tools.
Finally, for running applications remotely, no road warrior should be without Stac Electronics' ReachOut Remote Control software. The optional DOS or Windows operation shares configuration for ease of use. Its proprietary maximum of 8:1 compression makes file transfer fast, while the Windows drag-and-drop, Windows File Manager-l ike interface make moving files easy. ReachOut's autodetect capability let it remote control another ReachOut host or attach to a BBS as a dumb terminal.

Microsoft Remote Access Service
(built-in feature of Windows/NT Server), $699 for Windows/NT Server license, $29.95 for client license,
Microsoft Corp., One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399.
(206) 882-8080; fax (206) 93-MSFAX.

Runners-Up

Novell NetWare Connect, Novell, 122 E. 1700 South, Provo, UT 84606-6194. (800) 346-7177;
fax (801) 228-9517.

ReachOut Remote Control, modem version (host and viewer), Stac Electronics, 12636 High Bluff Dr., San Diego, CA 92130-2093. (619) 794-4300; fax (610) 794-4570.