AccuTerm 7 Internet Edition Connection
Designer Help
Copyright 2010-2014 Schellenbach & Assoc., Inc.
Table of Contents
Foreword
Part I AccuTerm 7 Internet Edition
9
10
7
8
3
4
1
2
5
6
Index
Contents 3
6
0
11
Copyright 2010-2014 Schellenbach & Assoc., Inc.
3
Top Level Intro
This page is printed before a new top-level chapter starts
Part
I
6 AccuTerm 7 Internet Edition Connection Designer Help
1 AccuTerm 7 Internet Edition
1.1
Description
AccuTerm 7 Internet Edition is designed to allow users to make Telnet, Secure Shell or SSL/Telnet connections to a pre-determined host computer from a browser (web page). AccuTerm 7 Internet
Edition can be set up on a local intranet, deployed over the Internet or even run from a file on a local disk.
AccuTerm 7 Internet Edition consists of two components: the Connection Designer, which is used to create and modify AccuTerm Internet Connection files, which are HTML files which use the AccuTerm
7 Internet Client browser plug-in, and the AccuTerm 7 Internet Client plug-in, which is installed on the client computer and enables the browser to open the connection to the host. The client plug-in is digitally signed for security purposes.
The AccuTerm 7 Internet Client plug-in is compatible with several popular browsers: Internet Explorer,
Firefox, Google Chrome and Apple Safari. The plug-in is a 32 bit Windows program and is compatible with Windows XP (SP2 & SP3), Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Server 2003,
Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2012. Both 32 and 64 bit versions of Windows are supported.
Windows RT, CE and Windows Mobile are not supported.
1.2
Connection Designer
Use the AccuTerm 7 Internet Connection Designer to create and maintain AccuTerm Internet
Connection files. AccuTerm Internet Connection files are HTML files which include an <Object> tag which defines the plug-in and connection details necessary to open an AccuTerm terminal session. The
<Object> parameters contain all the information required to make a connection to the host, including host name (or IP address), connection script, terminal type, screen size, function keys, colors, etc.
Creating, opening and saving session files
Modifying connection settings
Editing the connection script
Editing the connection HTML
Testing the connection
1.3
Internet Client
In order to display a terminal session within a browser, the AccuTerm 7 Internet Client plug-in must be installed on the client PC. The plug-in installer can be downloaded from www.asent.com, or can be posted on your own web site for download by your clients. You can specify the client download URL using the Connection Designer on the Connection Details tab.
When the browser encounters the <Object> tag for the plug-in, if the plug-in has not already been installed, the browser will display the HTML within the <Object> tag, after the last <Param> up to the closing </Object> tag. This HTML is used to inform the user that the plug-in needs to be installed, and includes the URL for downloading the plug-in. The Designer will update this URL when the connection file is saved.
The client plug-in is implemented as both an ActiveX control and as an NPAPI plug-in in a single DLL.
This allows it to work in multiple browsers.
Copyright 2010-2014 Schellenbach & Assoc., Inc.
AccuTerm 7 Internet Edition 7
See also:
Connection Designer
1.4
Deployment
Deploying an AccuTerm 7 Internet Connection on the Internet (or on an intranet) requires two components: a Web Server and the host computer that you want to connect to.
Web Server
After you create an AccuTerm Internet Connection file with the Connection Designer, you upload the file to your web server. Typically, you will create a hyperlink from an existing web page that links to your
AccuTerm Connection file. The web server does not need to be (and usually is not) the same machine as your host. The web server can be located anywhere on the Internet (or intranet), as long as the client
PC can access it. The only function that the web server performs in this arrangement is to deliver the
AccuTerm Internet Connection file to the browser on the client PC. And since the Connection file is standard HTML, no special "mime type" is required on the web server.
Host Connection
The final task required to get everything working is to connect your host to the Internet (or intranet). It is beyond the scope of this document to provide detailed instructions on how to connect your host to the
Internet, but we can offer some general guidelines.
First, your host must be able to accept a Telnet, Secure Shell (ssh) or SSL/Telnet connection from users on the Internet (or intranet). Unix, Linux and AIX hosts support both Telnet and Secure Shell, however most Windows-based hosts only support Telnet. Secure Shell or SSL/Telnet is recommended since they provide a secure encrypted connection, especially if the connection is over the Internet. If your host does not support either Secure Shell or SSL/Telnet, you may be able to use an SSL proxy such as stunnel to provide SSL/Telnet support.
Second, to accept connections from users on the Internet, you will need a permanent Internet connection with a static IP address. You can use a DSL or Cable Modem connection, or some other high-speed link. A static IP address is necessary, because the AccuTerm Internet Connection file contains the IP address or name of the host machine. If your host gets its IP address assigned dynamically, then you would need to update the connection file each time the host's IP address changes. You may be able to use a dynamic IP address in conjunction with a Dynamic DNS service.
Finally, you need to consider security. Often, a router is used between your Internet connection and the local area network which connects to your host machine. The router can be configured to route inbound
Telnet or ssh requests to the IP address of your host on the local network. The outside world (Internet users) sees the IP address of the router, not the IP address of the host. This is the IP address that should be specified in your AccuTerm Internet Connection file. The router may also be able to restrict inbound connections and only allow connections from specific addresses.
1.5
Troubleshooting
Browser compatibility
The AccuTerm 7 Internet Edition Client plug-in has been tested with the following web browsers.
Internet Explorer: 6 - 10
Copyright 2010-2014 Schellenbach & Assoc., Inc.
8 AccuTerm 7 Internet Edition Connection Designer Help
Firefox: 3.5 - 15.0
Google Chrome: 11 - 24
Apple Safari: 5
Other browsers supporting the NPAPI plug-in architecture may work with the AccuTerm 7 client plug-in, but have not been tested.
The plug-in is a 32 bit Windows program. It is compatible with Windows XP (SP2 & SP3), Windows
Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008. Both 32 and 64 bit versions of Windows are supported.
Nailed ports
Because all users accessing a given web page will use the same Connection file, using "nailed ports" is not recommended.
Problems installing the client plug-in
The plug-in can be installed for the current user only (personal install) or for all users of the computer
(normal install). When installed for all users, the installer requires administrator privileges. For servers running Windows Terminal Server or Citrix, the normal install also requires that the server be switched to
"install mode" before installing the plug-in.
1.6
Quick Start
To get started quickly, follow these steps:
1. Create a new connection
Start the AccuTerm 7 Internet Designer from the Start menu. Click the New button or select New from the File menu.
2. Configure the new connection
Click the Modify settings button on the Connection Details tab. Enter your connection settings just as you would for a normal AccuTerm terminal session.
3. Customize your connection script
Click the Edit script button if you want to customize the connection script.
4. Select desired functionality for browser security zones
Click the Browser Security tab and choose the appropriate functionality level required for your connection.
5. Test your connection
Click the Session Preview tab. Select the security zone you wish to test the connection in. Click the
Start button to initiate the connection. If you encounter any problems, adjust your settings or script until it works correctly.
6. Save the connection file
Click the Save button or select Save from the File menu.
7. Deploy your connection
Upload your new AccuTerm 7 Internet Connection file to your web server.
Copyright 2010-2014 Schellenbach & Assoc., Inc.
AccuTerm 7 Internet Edition 9
8. Try it using your favorite browser!
1.7
Upgrading from Previous Versions
The AccuTerm 7 Internet Connection Designer is capable of upgrading your existing session files which were created with an earlier version of AccuTerm Internet Edition. When opening a file created with an older version, select "Old AccuTerm Internet files" from the file type drop-down. Upon opening, you will be given the option to convert the file to the AccuTerm 7 version. When you save the converted file you will need to enter a new file name (the .ats, .atss and .atsn file extensions are not used with
AccuTerm 7 Internet Edition; AccuTerm 7 connection files are standard HTML).
The conversion process preserves all settings and scripts. However, due to changes made in the
AccuTerm 7 Internet Edition, you should review any scripts imported from older versions. The
Disconnect() function is no longer supported (you can leave it in your script, but it will never be executed). Also, you should not use the old "reconnect" message that is displayed in the Disconnected
() script function - the reconnect function is provided automatically if enabled in the connection settings.
1.8
AccuTerm 7 Reference
AccuTerm 7 Reference topics are located in a separate help file. Click here to open.
1.9
Contacting AccuSoft
AccuSoft Enterprises customer service department may be reached by phone, fax, email or the web.
AccuSoft Enterprises
8041 Foothill Blvd.
Sunland, CA 91040
USA
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Web:
1 (818) 951-1891
1 (818) 951-3606 [email protected]
www.asent.com
1.10
Copyright & Trademark
Copyright notices:
This document and the accompanying software are copyright 2010-2013 Schellenbach
& Assoc., Inc. dba AccuSoft Enterprises and J. E. Goldthwaite & Assoc. Portions of the software are copyright 1993-2006 Sax Software / Polar Engineering & Consulting, http://www.kenai.com/vb4tools. The accompanying software uses the Freeimage open source image library. See http://freeimage.sourceforge.net for details. Freeimage is used under the Freeimage Public License version 1.0.
The accompanying software uses the FireBreath open source cross-platform plug-in
Copyright 2010-2014 Schellenbach & Assoc., Inc.
10 AccuTerm 7 Internet Edition Connection Designer Help
framework. See www.firebreath.org for details. FireBreath is used under the New BSD license:
Copyright (c) 2011, Richard Bateman and the FireBreath Development Team. All rights reserved.
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, w ith or w ithout modification, are permitted provided that the follow ing conditions are met:
Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the follow ing disclaimer.
Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the follow ing disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided w ith the distribution.
Neither the name of FireBreath nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this softw are w ithout specific prior w ritten permission.
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND
ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR
ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
(INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF
USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY
OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR
OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF
THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
Trademark notices:
AccuTerm is a trademark of Schellenbach & Assoc., Inc.
DEC, VT52, VT100, VT220, VT320 and VT420 are trademarks of Digital Equipment
Corp.
IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corp.
Microsoft and Microsoft Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
Pick and D3 are trademarks of Tiger Logic Corporation.
Print Wizard is copyright Rasmussen Software, Inc.
Procomm is a trademark of Datastorm Technologies, Inc.
Tektronix 4010/4014/4100 is a trademark of Tektronix, Inc.
UniVerse and UniData are trademarks of Rocket Software, Inc.
Viewpoint is a trademark of Applied Digital Data Systems.
Wyse-50 and Wyse-60 are trademarks of Wyse Technology.
Other trademarks and registered trademarks appearing in this document are the property of their respective owners.
Copyright 2010-2014 Schellenbach & Assoc., Inc.
Index
- . -
.ats file 9
.atsn file 9
.atss file 9
- A -
AccuSoft company information 9
ActiveX 6
Apache 7
- B -
Browser Compatibility 7
Browser support 6
- C -
Cable Modem 7
Citrix 7
Configuration 6
Connection Designer 6
- D -
Deployment 7
Description 6
Digital signature 6
DSL 7
- H -
Host connection 7 hyperlink 7
- I -
IIS 7
Internet client 6
Copyright 2010-2014 Schellenbach & Assoc., Inc.
- N -
Nailed ports 7
NPAPI 6
- P -
plug-in 6
Problems 7
- Q -
Quick Start 8
- R -
Router 7
- S -
Secure Shell 7
SSH 7
SSL 7
Static IP address 7
- T -
Technical support 9
Telnet 7
Terminal Server 7
Troubleshooting 7
- U -
Upgrade 9
Upgrading 9
- W -
Web server 7
Index
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