ADVANCED BusinessLink Corporation announces the release of a significant new product to its line of enterprise communications software. Termed BusinessLink/REMOTE-IP internally, this new product provides emulation, automated printing, high speed file transfer and a unique security paradigm.
BusinessLink/REMOTE-IP combines the technology, features and capabilities of BusinessLink/REMOTE with the flexibility and cost savings that the Internet affords.
Positioned as the next step up from basic browser access, BusinessLink/REMOTE-IP is ideal for the heavy user located far away and where long distance charges could become excessive. Daily or weekly printing of large multiple reports can be quickly delivered and easily managed. Large file transfer might also be necessary, and can be delivered automatically with the assurance that the data is safe and intact even if a connection is lost. (If you have down loaded a file from the Internet, you know the frustrations of lost connections and inherent slowness.)
Mission critical users can fall back to dial up access when the local ISP is down or during a brown out of the Internet. In fact, the entire product is service independent, enabling the remote user to use the most convenient medium available, whether that be the Internet, dial up, or even wireless services.
Used in conjunction, BusinessLink products provide the ideal connection paradigm for any remote access user. BusinessLink for Java for the internal user or casual customer that only has a browser, BusinessLink/REMOTE - IP for the branch offices or key distributors that require extensive reports, BusinessLink/REMOTE for the traveling salesforce, and even BusinessLink/AIR for the service department.
FILE TRANSFER
Most remote access solutions provide some form of file transfer-on the Internet it is FTP. However, BusinessLink not only sends files, but sends them unbelievably fast, has automatic crash recovery and guarantees delivery from application to application.
Speed -Typical AS/400 data files, spool files, etc. can be transferred at a rate between 8 to 20 times faster than the theoretical throughput capacity of the modem. For example - a 1MB file sent at 14.4 on a perfect line and no NET latencies would theoretically take 12 minutes (6min. for 28.8) as compared to about 1 minute using BusinessLink.
Fully Automated Crash Recovery - If a connection is lost during a file transfer, all the user needs do is 'Re-Connect' to the site. BusinessLink will automatically work out which file was being transferred, and resume the transfer from the point of disconnection. No need to waste valuable time and money resending the whole file or working out which file was being sent.
Management & Guaranteed Delivery - Conventional file transfers simply send the data between the AS/400 and the remote PC. This leaves you having to deal with ensuring that file transfers have completed, ensuring that the right application finds and processes the right file, ensuring a complete (not a half transferred file) is being processed, as well as protecting against naming convention conflicts.
BusinessLink takes control of the whole process, managing it fully from end to end. This means a remote application can simply create a file and make a single command call to have it directly delivered into the target application on the AS/400 or vice versa. Our unique design ensures that the file is transferred correctly (regardless of line dropouts, noise or other interruptions) and only considers the 'transfer' complete having started the target application and given it the file to be processed.
EMULATION
The design and artificial intelligence(AI) technology developed to enable reliable "like local" response time on 14.4 and slower modems, in addition to dealing with the latencies and lost connections inherent in dial up connections are ideally suited to address the Internet paradigm. Incorporating these technologies along with a few new ones into the product resulted in several powerful features:
Start up time - you'll be keying into your sign-on screen seconds after connection to your site. For comparison purposes, test this on other solutions where delays of 3 to 5 minutes are not uncommon at traditional Internet speeds of 14.4 and 28.8bps.
Response Time -While dependent on the Internet load, AI reduces the lag to a point that the Internet will not affect your work pattern. Close to sub second response time will be a reality for many sites.
Reconnect - If a connection is accidentally lost (a common but frustrating reality on the net), simply reconnect to your site and you are returned to the exact location you were when disconnected. No need to sign on again and negotiate your way back to the location you were at.
PRINTING
The Internet inherently presents a series of roadblocks to remote printing. How do you configure printers that might be on the other side of the world and, what happens if you have hundreds of them scattered all over. Also, how do you make it simple or automated enough for all the computer naïve remote users. The answer to addressing these problems is not just more code but a creative approach.
A unique design - BusinessLink contains a unique infrastructure to manage and distribute AS/400 spooled files. As each remote user is defined on the AS/400, an individual OUTQ is created for them. This OUTQ is 'live' and simply printing anything to it will automatically result in the print being moved at high speed (see file transfer segment) to the remote PC and being printed. No writers or printers need actually be defined on the AS/400, nor is there any need to educate remote users on AS/400 spooled file operations.
Reports produced in an overnight run can be queued for specific remote users even though they are not connected at the time. When next connected, the reports will automatically be sent and printed.
Printer-less Printing - Using our built in viewer as your remote 'printer', your mobile users can enjoy the benefits of carrying around large AS/400 reports with neither paper nor a remote printer. It includes a powerful pick-list search facility, the ability to jump between or directly to any page and the ability to cut and paste to your favorite word processor or spreadsheet.
SECURITY
Absolute Security - in all 3 key areas. Encryption is not enough.
3 key security aspects - Conventional remote access security solutions often have critical weak links because all security aspects are not adequately addressed. Firstly, protecting the AS/400 from external attack, secondly ensuring the confidentiality of data sent and received, and thirdly guaranteeing the identity of the caller. BusinessLink maintains absolute security with a unique and comprehensive strategy for each aspect.
Firewall - The BusinessLink CoProcessor acts as a solid firewall, protecting the AS/400 from unauthorized access.
Encryption - at multiple levels on all data sent and received ensures that the data being transmitted remains totally confidential.
Dynamic Challenge-Response Keys - Guarantee not only the identity of the caller, but also that the client software being used is not an unauthorized duplicate.
Media Contact:
Chris Lategan
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