Funk Software Proxy User manual
Funk Software, Inc.
222 Third Street
Cambridge, MA 02142
617 497-6339
617 491-6503 (technical support)
© Copyright 1992-1996 Funk Software, Inc. All rights reserved.
2nd Edition, September 1996.
Part No. 166-024-764
Proxy © 1992-1996 Funk Software, Inc. All rights reserved.
This manual is printed on recycled paper.
Table of Contents
Introducing Proxy 5
Welcome to Proxy............................................................................................................6
How Proxy Works............................................................................................................6
System Requirements.......................................................................................................9
Installing Proxy.................................................................................................................9
Technical Support.............................................................................................................10
The Proxy Basics 11
Starting Proxy...................................................................................................................12
Using the Proxy Menu......................................................................................................12
Standard Control Menu Commands................................................................................. 13
Connecting to a Host PC via IPX..................................................................................... 14
Connecting to a Host PC via IP........................................................................................17
Wildcards in Station Names.............................................................................................21
Passwords..........................................................................................................................21
Request Permission .......................................................................................................... 21
Creating a Shortcut...........................................................................................................22
Interacting with the Host PC............................................................................................ 23
Copying to the Clipboard................................................................................................. 24
Rebooting the Host PC.....................................................................................................25
Disconnecting................................................................................................................... 25
Proxy Settings and Preferences 27
The Settings Dialog.......................................................................................................... 28
Master Settings ................................................................................................................. 29
Mouse Transmission......................................................................................................... 30
Local Keys........................................................................................................................ 32
Host Settings.....................................................................................................................32
Auto-scroll........................................................................................................................33
DOS Sessions (Text Settings)..........................................................................................34
The Preferences Dialog .................................................................................................... 36
Proxy Tasks 39
Task Capabilities .............................................................................................................. 40
The Task Dialog ............................................................................................................... 40
The Task Description Dialog ...........................................................................................42
The Proxy Host 45
Starting the Proxy Host .................................................................................................... 46
The Host Control Panel.................................................................................................... 46
DOS Proxy Host Support................................................................................................. 56
Tips and Techniques 59
Controlling Many Host PCs............................................................................................. 60
Setting Up Banks of Host PCs.........................................................................................60
The Proxy Command Line...............................................................................................61
Display Mode Support......................................................................................................63
Introducing Proxy
1
6 Proxy: Chapter 1
Welcome to Proxy
Thank you for selecting Proxy.
Proxy is a network-based remote control program that lets you fully take over
any PC on your network, right from a Windows or Windows 95 session. You can
control multiple PCs simultaneously; the controlled PCs can be running DOS,
Windows, or Windows 95.
Typical uses for Proxy include:
network-based technical support and help desk
accessing files and applications on a remote network over a remote node
dial-in connection
centralized software installation, updates, and system configuration
software training
monitoring of unattended PCs, such as job servers or data-collecting
workstations
How Proxy Works
Proxy contains two major components:
The Proxy “Master” is a Windows application that allows you to take
over other PCs on your network.
The Proxy “Host” is a program that you load on the PC that you’d like to
take over.
The Master and Host communicate via the IPX or IP protocols.
Both the Proxy Master and Host operate in Windows and Windows 95
environments. A Proxy Host TSR supports DOS remote control over IPX.
Introducing Proxy 7
The Proxy Master
With the Proxy Master program (PROXY.EXE), you can control any host
machine on your network from Windows or Windows 95, using the IPX or IP
protocol.
When you want to connect to a PC, Proxy will poll the network to locate all the
workstations that have the Proxy Host loaded and are available to be taken over.
You simply select the PC you want to take over from the list of workstation
names that Proxy displays.
You can also set up Windows shortcuts that automatically run Proxy and connect
to different machines. You’ll then be able to take over any PC simply by clicking
on its icon.
Once connected, the screen of the host PC will be displayed in your window, and
you’ll have complete mouse and keyboard control of the host PC. Proxy can
render the screen of the other PC whether it is in text mode, graphics mode, or
even if it is running Windows.
You can display each PC in a full-sized window, or you can trim the windows
down to see a number of PCs at once. Even when the windows are reduced in
size, you can scroll to see any section using the scroll bars, or you can let Proxy
automatically scroll based on mouse and cursor position.
The Proxy Master has many other features that make it easy to connect to and
operate other PCs. You’ll be able to:
Customize text mode display with a selection of fonts
Copy any part of any screen (text or graphics) to the clipboard
Reboot the host remotely, with automatic re-connect
Poll the local network segment or across routers for available hosts
Create “tasks” that automatically connect to a workstation and run a
program on that station
8 Proxy: Chapter 1
The Proxy Host
With the Proxy Host software loaded, your workstation is available to be
controlled by Proxy Master stations across the network.
The Proxy Host software can be run from the following PC operating systems:
Windows or Windows 95 — Using a special Windows application,
PHOSTWIN.EXE, using the IP or IPX protocol. After installation,
PHOSTWIN will always run whenever Windows is started.
DOS — Using PHOST.EXE, a memory-resident program (TSR) that is
loaded on the machine that you want to control using the IPX protocol.
PHOST can be loaded into high memory on a 386 or above if you use
DOS version 5.0 or higher, or a suitable memory manager.
The Host Control Panel permits you to set various options for controlling access
to your host PC. You can:
Lock out others at any time, or require specific permission to connect
Set times during which outside access is permitted
Require a password for access
Elect that your host PC beep whenever a Proxy Master takes or
relinquishes control
Elect that your host PC beep while a Proxy Master has control
Determine if a session is in progress, and which master station is
currently connected
Abort a session in progress
Introducing Proxy 9
System Requirements
The Proxy Master software runs as a Windows or Windows 95 application, and
requires a 386 or higher PC with at least 4 MB of RAM.
The Proxy Host software runs as a Windows or Windows 95 application, and
requires a 386 or higher PC with at least 4 MB of RAM.
The DOS Proxy Host software runs as a memory resident program, and requires
DOS version 5.0 or higher; it uses approximately 9K of conventional memory
when loaded with the DPMS memory manager.
Proxy can be run over any type of network including dial-up, ethernet, token
ring, and FDDI, using either one of the following standard protocols:
IPX — usually run on networks using Novell NetWare. It is not
necessary for either the master or host workstation to be logged in to a
server, nor is it necessary to run a network client.
For Windows 3.x you need the Novell 16-bit (VLM) or 32-bit Client IPX
protocol support.
For Windows 95 you need to use the Microsoft Client for NetWare
Networks, or Novell’s Client-32 IPX protocol support.
IP — a general purpose protocol supported on a wide variety of
networks and servers.
For Windows 3.x you need to use a Winsock 1.1-compliant IP stack.
When running Windows 95 you need to use a TDI-compliant 32-bit IP
stack, such as Microsoft’s TCP/IP.
Installing Proxy
Installation instructions for Proxy are provided in a separate booklet contained in
your Proxy package. Follow the instructions in that booklet to install either the
Proxy Master or Proxy Host software.
10 Proxy: Chapter 1
Technical Support
If you have questions or problems as you install or use Proxy, please contact our
Technical Support engineers using one of the following methods.
This manual and the README files on your diskettes may contain the
information you need to solve the problem you are having. Please re-read
the relevant sections — you may find a solution you overlooked.
We can be reached by sending e-mail to our Internet address
[email protected]. Note that most on-line services such as
CompuServe, America On Line, Microsoft Network, and Prodigy offer
an Internet e-mail gateway.
We can also be reached through our world wide web server on the
Internet at http://www.funk.com.
Our technical support staff is available to assist you Monday through
Friday between 9:00 AM and 5:30 PM Eastern Standard Time at
(617) 491-6503, or via fax at (617) 547-1031.
If you’re located outside North America, please refer to the enclosed
sheet entitled Authorized International Partners for the name of the
support provider in your country.
If you haven’t already done so, please fill out and return the Registration Card to
ensure that you will be notified of upgrades and of new networking products
when they become available.
The Proxy Basics
2
12 Proxy: Chapter 2
Starting Proxy
You start Proxy just as you would any Windows application—either double-click
on its icon, or use the Windows 95 Start Run or Windows Program Manager
File Run command. The name of the program to run is PROXY.EXE.
Each time you start Proxy you create a new Proxy window. You can have several
Proxy windows active at once. Each Proxy window can be connected to a
different host PC.
Using the Proxy Menu
When you first start up Proxy, you’ll notice that, unlike most Windows
applications, Proxy does not have a menu bar. Instead, all Proxy commands are
contained in the Control Menu. This is to allow more space for showing the
screen of the host PC.
To issue a Proxy command, simply click the Control Menu button in the upper
left corner of the Proxy window, then select the appropriate command.
Figure 2-1: The Proxy Control Menu
Some of the commands on the Proxy menu are in gray, to indicate they are not
available at the time. For example, you can only Disconnect if you are already
connected.
The Proxy Basics 13
Standard Control Menu Commands
Note that the Proxy commands completely replace the standard window-
management commands that are normally found in the Control Menu (Restore,
Minimize, Maximize, etc.).
The standard Control Menu has not been eliminated. It is still available, but as a
popup menu attached to the Window command.
Figure 2-2: The standard Windows Control Menu
14 Proxy: Chapter 2
Connecting to a Host PC via IPX
To connect to a PC using the IPX protocol:
1 Select Connect ... on the Proxy menu.
2 Click the IPX tab.
3 The IPX Connect dialog will appear, and Proxy will poll the network and
display the names of all host PCs that it finds.
4 Use one of the following methods to connect to a host PC:
select a host PC from the list and click Connect
double-click a host PC on the list
type a station name in the Host workstation field and click
Connect.
Figure 2-3: Connecting to a host PC using IPX
Proxy will connect to the selected PC. Its screen will appear in your Proxy
window, and you’ll be able to control it with your keyboard and mouse.
The Proxy Basics 15
IPX Polling
“Polling” refers to Proxy’s process of searching the network for host PCs. When
using Proxy to search for IPX-based workstations, Proxy can poll in two ways:
A local poll searches for host PCs on the local network segment and on
neighboring segments. Each time you bring up the Connect dialog,
Proxy automatically performs a local poll (if this feature is set in the
Preferences dialog).
The “# of hops” setting lets you control how wide-ranging a search to
perform; each hop represents the crossing from one network segment to
another over a router. PCs on the local segment are 0 hops away, PCs on
adjacent segments are 1 hop away, and so on.
An inter-network poll searches for host PCs on the network segments
you specify. You can select one or more network segments from a list of
known segments; Proxy will search for host PCs on only those segments
you select.
Proxy automatically performs a local poll when you bring up the Connect dialog.
You can poll again at any time while the Connect dialog is displayed by clicking
Poll. Proxy will poll the network based on the settings you’ve entered.
To perform a local poll:
1 Make sure Local is selected and # of hops is to your liking.
2 Click Poll.
To perform an inter-network poll:
1 Click Inter-network number(s).
2 Highlight one or more network segment(s) in the list.
3 Click Poll.
Specifying IPX Station Names
Each Proxy Host station has a “station name” that is assigned using the Host
Control Panel. When Proxy polls for host PCs, it displays their station names in a
list for you to select.
You can also type a station name directly into the Host workstation field, then
click Connect. Proxy will attempt to locate that station name and establish a
connection.
16 Proxy: Chapter 2
If you enter the station name of a host PC on your local network segment (i.e.,
not across a bridge or a router), you don’t have to worry about specifying a
network number in order to make a connection.
However, to connect across a router to a host PC on a different network segment,
you must precede the station name with the number of the network on which the
PC may be found. The network number and the station name must be separated
by a colon (:).
For example, to connect to a host PC on IPX network segment 00000028 named
“George’s P200,” you’d specify:
28:George's P200
It is not necessary to supply the leading zeroes of the IPX network number.
If you’re not sure of the network number of a Proxy Host, you can find out by
running the Host Control Panel at the host PC; the network and node address will
be shown.
Specifying IPX Addresses
You can also connect to a host workstation by specifying its IPX address. To
indicate that you are specifying an IPX address rather than a station name, prefix
it with the @ symbol; for example:
@1B3893A1 Address of node on local segment
@28:1B3893A1 Address of node on network segment 28
Note that leading zeros for network number and node number are optional.
The Proxy Basics 17
Connecting to a Host PC via IP
To connect to a PC using the IP protocol:
1 Select Connect ... on the Proxy menu.
2 Click the IP tab.
3 The Connect dialog will appear, and Proxy will display a list of all
known broadcast addresses that you have previously saved.
4 To show a list of host PCs shown in the Broadcast Addresses list, select
one or more addresses from the list and click Poll.
5 To connect to a host PC shown on the Available Hosts list, select a host
PC from the list and click Connect, or double-click a host PC on the
list.
Figure 2-4: Connecting to a host PC using IP
Proxy will connect to the selected PC. Its screen will appear in your Proxy
window, and you’ll be able to control it with your keyboard and mouse.
18 Proxy: Chapter 2
IP Polling
“Polling” refers to Proxy’s process of searching the network for host PCs. When
Proxy searches for IP-based workstations it allows you to select one or more
broadcast addresses in one of the following ways:
<Local Network>— searches your local subnet based on a standard IP
broadcast. This type of poll may only work on a local segment, and
results may vary based on your particular IP stack implementation.
<Local Network> is always available in the broadcast address list. Each
time you bring up the Connect dialog, Proxy automatically performs a
<Local Network> poll (if this feature is set in the Preferences dialog).
IP Broadcast address — searches for a host PC on a specific IP address
in dot notation form a.b.c.d. For example, 198.186.160.55 would search
for a host PC by sending a packet to the address 198.186.160.55 only.
IP Scan address range — searches for a host PC on a range of IP
addresses in dot notation form a.b.c.d(e). For example,
198.186.160.5(99) would scan all addresses starting at 198.186.160.5 for
99 addresses.
Symbolic DNS name — searches for a host PC using a symbolic DNS
name. For example, machine.company.com, would first do a DNS
lookup on the name machine.company.com, then send a packet to its IP
address.
Depending on how much of the network you choose to poll, your search for IP-
based workstations could take anywhere from a couple of seconds to much
longer. A status bar in the Connect dialog shows your polling progress; if need
be, you can choose Stop Poll to stop your search.
Adding a Broadcast Address
To add an address to the Broadcast Address list:
1 Click Insert to bring up the Add/Edit Broadcast Address dialog box,
then click the Broadcast to address button.
2 Enter a valid IP broadcast address or DNS name in the Address field.
3 Enter an optional description string in the Description field.
4 Click OK.
Your address will now appear in the Broadcast address list. If you
entered a DNS name, the Address field will be set to its IP address, and if
you have not entered a Description that field will contain the DNS name.
The Proxy Basics 19
Figure 2-5: Adding an IP broadcast address
Adding a Scan Address Range
To add an address range to the Broadcast Address list:
1 Click Insert to bring up the Add/Edit Broadcast Address dialog box,
then click the Scan address range button.
2 Enter a valid broadcast IP address in the Address field.
3 Enter the number of IP addresses to scan sequentially in the Number of
addresses field.
4 Enter an optional description string in the Description field.
5 Click OK. Your address range will appear in the Broadcast address list
with the number of addresses to scan displayed in parentheses.
Figure 2-6: Adding an IP scan address range
20 Proxy: Chapter 2
Editing a Broadcast or Scan Address
To edit an address in the Broadcast Address list:
1 Select an entry in the list.
2 Click Edit.
3 Switch between the Broadcast to address and Scan address range, if
you wish.
4 Edit the Address and Description fields to your liking.
5 Click OK.
To delete an address in the Broadcast Address list:
1 Select a single entry in the list.
2 Click Delete.
Specifying IP Station Names
In addition to its IP address, each Proxy Host station has a “station name” that is
assigned using the Host Control Panel. When Proxy polls for host PCs, it
displays their station names in a list for you to select.
You can also type an IP address or DNS name directly into the Host
workstation field, then click Connect. Proxy will attempt to establish a
connection to that IP address (or the IP address of the translated DNS name).
To connect across a router to a host PC on a different network segment, you must
provide the IP address or IP subnet mask on which the PC may be found. The IP
address/mask and the station name must be separated by a colon (:).
For example, to connect to a host PC on IP subnet 198.186.160.255 named
“George’s P200,” you’d specify:
198.186.160.255:George's P200
If you’re not sure of the IP address of a Proxy Host, you can find out by running
the Host Control Panel at the host PC; the IP address will be shown.
The Proxy Basics 21
Wildcards in Station Names
Wildcards can be used for pattern matching when specifying a station name to
connect to. Proxy will connect to the first available host PC it finds whose station
name matches the name you specify.
Wildcards are useful when you want to make use of one of several idle host PCs,
but you don’t care exactly which PC you use. For example, you might set up a
bank of several spare PCs, naming them SPARE–1, SPARE–2, SPARE–3, etc.
These hosts might be shared by a number of users needing extra processing
power. By specifying “SPARE–∗” as the station to connect to, a Proxy user can
grab the first spare PC available at that time.
The following special symbols are used for pattern matching:
?matches a single character
∗∗matches the remainder of the station name
\treats the next character literally, even if it is a special symbol
Examples:
Joe's ?86 matches Joe's 386, Joe's 486, Joe's 586, etc.
IBM∗∗matches IBM, IBM PC, IBM PS/2 Model 60, etc.
Star \∗∗PC matches Star ∗∗PC
Passwords
The host PC to which you are connecting may require that you enter a password
for access. If so, the Password dialog will appear; the connection will be
established once you enter the correct password.
Request Permission
The host PC to which you are connecting may require that you explicitly request
permission to connect. If so, a Message from Proxy Host Station dialog will
display on your screen indicating that you must wait for permission to connect.
Your connection will be established, or not, based on the response from the host
PC.
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