Citrix and Terminal Server Support

Electronic signature solutions for wherever business takes you.
Serial signature pads and
Citrix
Serial signature pads and
Terminal Server
Serial signature pads and
Wyse's Serial to USB
converter
Serial signature pads and
Digi's Serial to USB port
server
HID USB ("HSB")
Signature pads and use
on fat client computers
(SigSock)
Serial to ethernet
converter
Citrix and Terminal Server Support
Citrix and Terminal Server are very popular modern computing environments that
allow for centralized processing through the use of client-connected
computers/terminals. Such virtualization and remote access allow for the delivery
of applications and files over a network, where the processing takes place on the
server rather than the client. Topaz offers several options for adding signature
capture to a Citrix or Terminal Server-based environment.
1. 9-pin serial signature pads and Com Port redirection
Topaz serial pads can be plugged into a terminal or fat-client machine, and the com port on the
client mapped via back to a com port on the server. Ultimately, through this mapping, a serial pad
physically connected to the client is virtually plugged directly into the server's com port. Topaz
offers FAQs on the subject for Citrix and one for Terminal Server 2003. Be sure also to review the
SigPlus.ini file requirements, as these INI file requirements do apply to all options below as well.
A big advantage to this approach is that there are no signature pad drivers required on the client
machine, therefore allowing it to be installation-free and maintenance-free.
2. 9-pin serial signature pads in conjunction with an external serial to USB converter
Topaz serial pads can also be used in conjunction with a Citrix- or Terminal Server-rated serial to
USB converter. This would allow the Topaz serial pad to ultimately plug into a USB port on the
client machine, and a "virtual com port" created there to be mapped over to the server's com port.
For example, there is a Wyse serial to USB converter and another example would be the Edgeport
from Digi. These are not the extent of the possibilities, as other Citrix / Terminal Server compliant
serial to USB converters are available on the market as well. Once in place, the com port redirection
as described in #1 above would apply.
821 EUBANKS DRIVE, SUITE H
VACAVILLE, CA 95688
(800) 735-8560 [TEL] (707) 451-6418 [FAX]
WWW.LANDMARKIMAGE.COM
LANDMARK@LANDMARKIMAGE.COM
Call Ray Goodson (ext.301) with any questions
3. Topaz "SigSock" socket interface, for use with "HSB" signature pads and fat client
computers
SigSock is an interface that allows Topaz "HSB" (HID USB) signature pads to be used in a Citrix or
Terminal Server environment. Essentially, a small client utility is copied to the client computer and
run, which collects data streaming from the signature pad. From there, the data is shipped over to
the server (using TCP Ports 47289 and 47290) where SigPlus collects it. You can download the
installation for SigSock at this location. For an installation that includes only the SigSock.exe client
utility (for use on the client machine directly), you will find an install here. There is also a PDF file
that goes along with SigSock to explain how it is implemented and used.
There are a few current requirements for using the SigSock system:
1. The client machines must be full Windows-based fat clients (for example, running 2000, XP or
Vista). As of now, thin client terminals (for example, Wyse terminals running Linux-based thin
operating systems or WinCE) will not work
2. You must copy a small EXE on the client machine and run it, passing command line parameters
to set up the system properly
3. You must be using a SigPlus.ini file geared for use with SigSock, and SigPlus 3.81
4. Topaz "BSB" signature pads
Topaz offer a few signature models with an internal serial to USB converter. The results are very
similar to what you can obtain given the #2 option above, except the converter is built directly into
the signature pad casing. You end up with what appears to be a native USB-connected signature pad
(with all power pulled directly from the USB port), but works in the same manner as a serial pad, in
that it converts the USB port into which it is plugged into a virtual com port. From there, the virtual
com port can be mapped to the server in a fashion as described in #1 above.
Topaz offers the BSB signature pads in the TLBK460-BSB (SigLite LCD1X5) and TLBK462-BSB
(SignatureGem LCD1X5) configurations. The BSB signature pads use a converter from
ftdichip.com, and you can find the virtual com port drivers here. Once installed, and the BSB pad
plugged in, the virtual com port should be available for mapping.
5. Topaz A-ETH1-1 Serial to Ethernet converter
Lastly, Topaz offers a serial to ethernet converter that maps a virtual com port to an IP address. This
allows a Topaz serial signature pad to be plugged into the network, thereby providing any
application running under Citrix or Terminal Server to gain access to the network-connected pad.
This device can be plugged into the network at any point, for example, right next to the client
machine. Once the converter is plugged into the network and the proper drivers installed to the
server, a virtual com port is created right on on the server, which can then simply be chosen as the
COM port assignemnt during the SigPlus install on the server. This option really simply bypasses
the client machine altogether, as the IP-mapped virtual com port simply exists on the server directly.
There is a stipulation: the signature pad and the server must be on the same local network. There is
an A-ETH1-1 User Guide available here that will provide information on connecting and using the
device.
821 EUBANKS DRIVE, SUITE H
VACAVILLE, CA 95688
(800) 735-8560 [TEL] (707) 451-6418 [FAX]
WWW.LANDMARKIMAGE.COM
LANDMARK@LANDMARKIMAGE.COM
Call Ray Goodson (ext.301) with any questions

* Your assessment is very important for improving the work of artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project