CoSession Remote 32 (CSR32), a powerful yet easy to use remote computing application,
stands out thanks to its enhanced file transfer features and its flexibility in creating
and maintaining phone book entries. The enhanced file transfer features reduce connection
times, and the phone book capabilities make it easier to connect to machines that are
using different protocols.
Also, CSR32 provides voice chat functionality, which users can access if they work at
multimedia-enabled terminals. Otherwise, users can resort to the product's keyboard chat
functionality. In either case, the product's chat capabilities could allow a pair of users
to create an ad hoc workgroup, since either user's computer could assume control of the
other. (Initially, one computer is designated as the host and the other as the viewer. The
host computer is the one that is being controlled, and the viewer is the one that is doing
the controlling. However, the roles can be reversed.)
A product with such flexiblity has many potential uses. For example, CSR32 could allow
vendors to enhance technical support. That is, the vendor's technical support
representatives could dial directly into a problem PC, take control, and fix whatever the
problem was. Such a capability could cut down on product returns, reduce the need for
on-site service calls, and reduce call times. Basically, CSR32 could make technical
support more effective and, at the same time, less expensive.
INSTALLATION
Installation was as simple as following the Quick Start Wizard. The Wizard prompts the
user make the initial phone book entries which determine which protocols and features
should be used. Users are given the option of inserting a shortcut on the desktop. If this
option is selected, the company database could be no more than a right-click away!
Once the user attempts to connect to a host, a Query Connection box displays the
computers available based on the protocol that is set. For example, if the viewer is
trying to connect to a host over the network, the Query Connection box displays all
computers on the LAN that are ready for connection.
DOCUMENTATION
The written documentation was well organized, well illustrated, and clearly written. It
covered nearly everything we needed to read about. The few items it didn't cover were
available in the online docuentation.
FEATURES
Several features facilitate the transfer of information and ideas between two computers.
In addition, several security features ensure that only authorized persons access the host
computer.
Loading
CSR32 can join the startup group under Windows 95, or it can become a service under
Windows NT. This is an essential feature that allows users to connect to a computer that
may not be logged onto the LAN. If CSR32 is not added in the startup group or as a
service, it will not be loaded until the computer is logged onto the network. This
scenario can easily happen if power on the LAN is temporarily disrupted. Imagine trying to
control a remote computer on the network while on the other end the host computer refuses
to load CSR32 because it's crying out for a network password!
Voice Chat/Keyboard Chat
CSR32's Voice Chat feature seems to be unique among software of this type and really gives
it a competitive edge over such popular applications as Cheyenne's Remotely Possible and
Symantec's PC Anywhere. If a soundcard is not available, users can still communicate with
each other using the Keyboard Chat feature.
File Management
CSR32 does all basic file operations such as drag and drop as well as what Artisoft calls
Intelligent Transfer. To initiate drag and drop, simply open the control panel and
initiate File Transfer Server (since the server is the viewer computer). A window displays
the contents of both computers. From here, transferring files is simply a quick drag and
drop operation. One can even pause the transfer process for any reason.
The idea behind Intelligent Transfer is to move only the parts of the file that have
changed. No one wants to sit around and wait for a large database file to be transferred
when only one new entry has been added. Intelligent Transfer also allows for the recovery
of interrupted or aborted transfers. If a
30 MB database file transfer is somehow interrupted midway, the process does not have
to be repeated from the beginning. All the viewer has to do is reconnect and initiate the
transfer again. This is possible because Intelligent Transfer does not delete the
partially transferred file.
Other file management options include Synchronization and Cloning. When Synchronization
is enabled, selected files and/or folders are updated to the latest version. Cloning is
similar to Synchronization, except that it uses files and/or folders on one computer as
the basis to make copies on the other.
TAPI Support
CSR32's TAPI 2.0 removes the need for custom modem drivers and enables connectivity via
all devices supported under TAPI. These include modems, serial and parallel connections,
ISDN, etc.
Control Panel
The control panel allows users to create or modify phone book entries. Instead of creating
twenty similar entries, a user can create just a few and adjust them as the need arises.
For example, adjusting an entry to use Modem/TAPI as the protocol instead of IP is a snap.
Simply select the phone book entry that needs to be modified and click on the plus sign
icon. Then double-click on the items that need to be added to the phone book entry. In
general, we found the control panel easy to use, but powerful as well. (We did, however,
find bugs in the software during testing that reduced the overall grade slightly.)
OPERATIONAL TESTING
We tested CSR32 on various machines, platforms, and protocols so we could fully evaluate
the product. We first attempted to connect over our LAN and found a list of all computers
currently ready for connection. We selected a host computer then put CSR32 through its
paces.
Viewer Response Time
After about 20 seconds, CSR32 displayed its viewer window, which showed the host
computer's desktop. We usually observed a 0.25- to 1-second delay between what happened on
the host computer and what appeared in the viewer window, which we thought was very good.
We found that the delay increased only marginally (if at all) when the connection was
between modems. This was very impressive. We figured compression was at work here, and we
confirmed that assumption when we spoke to one of Artisoft's technical representatives.
Panning, Scrolling, Scaling
The viewer window doesn't allow the viewer to observe the host's desktop completely
without panning, scrolling, or scaling. The first option, panning, is a little annoying,
but it is probably the best technique. We had to enable panning before we could use it.
Once we did enable panning, we could click and drag to move around and get at every nook
and cranny on the host computer.
The problem is that if the user pans down to an area of interest and wants to drag
something (a window for example) to another area, he or she must first turn off the
panning feature. This takes some practice, and more often than not we found ourselves
trying to drag a window with the pan feature enabled. Of course, this doesn't work. In
fact, the extra step of having to deselect the pan feature annoyed us. But perhaps we
could get used to it with practice.
Simply accessing Windows 95's taskbar could be difficult. On one occasion, we selected
Start/Programs from the Windows 95 taskbar. The program list that popped up could not be
seen completely in the vertical direction. When we attempted to turn on panning, the
information on the start menu disappeared (as it always does when the cursor is clicked
somewhere else on the desktop). We had to carefully move the cursor to the right and
scroll vertically using the scroll bar (the program's submenu did not disappear in this
situation), then view the upper portion of the submenu.
We had a hard time getting use to the second option, which involved scrolling. In many
instances, it was necessary to scroll not only horizontally but also vertically to get at
areas of interest. We sometimes found it difficult to distinguish between the remote
viewer scroll bar and the scroll bar that may be present in the host's application (if one
happens to be open). This made the whole operation a little less transparent than we would
have liked.
The third option, scaling the entire screen to fit the viewer window, works in that one
can truly view the entire window without any scrolling or panning. However, scaling
reduces the resolution of the viewer window. Thus, scaling would be unacceptable if you
needed to run graphics applications where resolution is critical.
It would be nice if there were an option to get rid of the viewer window's interface
altogether. This would allow the viewer to see the entire desktop of the host without
losing resolution.
Incidentally, Cheyenne's Remotely Possible features the ability to hide itself
completely from the user. Also, Remotely Possible features better panning than CSR32.
Remotely Possible is always in panning mode; thus, when you drag and drop items or move
windows, the screen automatically moves with you. In this regard, we found that Remotely
Possible easier to use.
Keyboard Chat/Voice Chat
We thought the Keyboard Chat feature was a nice touch. It could be very helpful if only
one line was available, and if users lacked multimedia equipment. However, if a pair of
computers did have multimedia equipment, the Voice Chat feature would no doubt leave
Keyboard Chat to gather dust.
We wondered whether the extra bandwidth consumption from voice transmission would
affect the remote control functions. We found that it didn't, whether the connection was
through the LAN or the modems.
CSR32 gives the option of half- or full-duplex capabilities. Full-duplex worked well
for us. Again, we point out that Voice Chat is a wonderful feature. We haven't encountered
any other remote computing software with voice transmission capabilities.
Possible Bugs
- Refresh Problem: On a couple of occasions, images refused to refresh in the remote
control viewer. For example, on one occasion, we attempted to open Microsoft Word, only to
have the initial logo continuously displayed in our viewer window. When we checked the
host computer, we found out that the program was completely loaded and ready to go.
Apparently, our viewer window wasn't giving us a current depiction of what was happening
on the host computer. We tricked CSR32 into updating the view by placing an image in front
of the logo, then removing it. When we removed the logo from the host screen, it
disappeared from the viewer, and CSR32 was up to date.
- Page Fault Errors: We also received page fault errors on a few occasions. This may be
due more to bugs in certain video drivers then anything else. On our first trial run, we
found that the wording around icons was choppy and that some letters were simply missing.
Fortunately, Artisoft has already taken preventative measures. It has an option to
eliminate the use of the video driver and use object caching instead. This solved our
problems with choppy images.
- Connecting With Modem/TAPI: We also ran into a bug when trying to connect with the
Modem/TAPI protocol. Unless the connection was made by clicking on the Modem/ TAPI entry
itself, located in the control panel, we received a connection error. We do want to point
out that although Artisoft's technical representatives were unable to duplicate the error
in their own labs, they are currently searching for possible causes and solutions.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
From a design standpoint, we would like the option to view the host computer, in its
entirety, without panning, scrolling, or scaling. Basically, what is needed is an option
to remove the viewer window interface.
Also, as previously stated, we would like CSR32 to have an "automatic"
panning feature, similar to Cheyenne's Remotely Possible. Using an automatic panning
method would be much more fluid than having to manually turn the panning feature on and
off.
Also, Artisoft also needs to eliminate the bugs that we found. We've told them about
our problems, and they seem interested in resolving them, even though they haven't been
able to duplicate the problems themselves. Their technical representative assured us that
they are constantly checking for compatibility problems and will work hard to find and
eliminate any that should arise. They also assured us that they don't think we're crazy
just because they're not having the same problems!
CONCLUSION
CoSession Remote 32 is a powerful yet easy to use software package that delivers great
throughput over anything from the LAN to standard phone lines. It provides flexiblity in
creating and maintaining phone book entries, which simplifies connecting to machines that
use different protocols. Also, the product comes with enhanced file transfer features that
reduce connection times. The security features ensure that only authorized persons obtain
access.
We can't say enough about the Voice Chat feature, and feel that this will probably
become a standard feature for remote computing product, especially since
multimedia-enabled computers are becoming more common. In the meantime, users who lack
multimedia, but who would still like to communicate over one line, can rely on Keyboard
Chat. |
Internet Telephony Magazine
Click here to read latest issue
CUSTOMER 
Cloud Computing Magazine
Click here to read latest issue
IoT EVOLUTION MAGAZINE
