WinConnect VX is a multi-user RDP client software that enables Linux-based PCs and Thin Client devices to connect to WinConnect Server, Windows® Vista, Windows® 7, Windows® Server 2008, Windows® Server 2008 R2, Windows® 2003 Server, Windows® 2000 Server, Windows® NT 4 Terminal Server or Windows® XP Professional to run Windows® applications over a network or via the Internet. The Thin Client devices include terminals, Internet/Information Appliances and PDAs.

Users establish remote connections to the Linux computer installed with WinConnect VX either through the wired, wireless or VNC (Virtual Network Computing) connection. The Linux computer running WinConnect VX functions as a bridge to the Windows® computer. The remote connections enable users to transparently access data and run Windows® applications from their X-Terminals, Linux-based PCs and Thin Client devices

WinConnect VX Benefits:

•	Remote connection means that you have access to your data and Windows applications wherever you need it.
•	Central processing means that your data is safer, stored on a central server.
•	Central processing means that your desktop computers are less expensive to purchase and less expensive to maintain.
•	A Linux-based client means that you have the low cost and high reliability of Linux, combined with the Windows applications that you need.
•	Recycling old computers as terminals means that you preserve the environment while saving money.

WinConnect VX can be purchased online at http://www.thinsoftinc.com for US $499.95. Each WinConnect VX license allows an unlimited number of users to use the WinConnect VX software on a single Linux computer. Additional licenses are required for additional Linux computers.

WinConnect VX allows an unlimited number of users to use the WinConnect VX software on a single Linux computer. WinConnect is designed to be used by a single user on a Linux computer. If there is only one user on a Linux machine, normally you would use WinConnect.

The minimum memory required to run Linux operating system, X-Windows and WinConnect VX is 16MB, as all Windows applications are executed on the Windows server and displayed on the Linux desktop.

However, more memory may be required depending on the type of Linux-based applications you may be running on the Linux desktop itself.

•	486 or higher
•	Linux operating system with X-Windows® System installed
•	16 megabytes of RAM (depending on supported display resolutions)
•	400 kilobytes of disk space (storage for the program executables and for stored connection profiles)
•	Network/Internet connection
•	Display adapter with Linux driver support

We have tested the following distributions:

•	· Red Hat 6.2 and above
•	· Turbolinux 6.1 and above
•	· Caldera 2.4 and above
•	· Debian 2.2 and above
•	· Mandrake 7.1 and above
•	· Familiar 0.4 and above

Kernel version 2.2 and above
X Windows version 4.0 and above
TCP/IP socket interface
GLIBC version 2.1 and above
GDBM version 1.8
GTK+ version 1.2.10 (enhanced user interface only)
GLIB 1.2.10 (enhanced user interface only)
SoX version 12.17.2 (sound support only)

There are two user interfaces to choose from. These provide the user with the ability to create and manage connection profiles. The first is a basic interface that runs directly on top of X Windows. This interface is designed to run on a 200 x 200 display. The second is an enhanced interface that runs on top of GTK. It is designed for a 640 x 480 display.
We can customize the user interface if required.

We are currently supporting the Intel x86, SPARC, Hitachi SH3, and the StrongARM processor families.

WinConnect VX can be ported to other processors if desired.

Additional users are supported by adding additional Linux desktops running WinConnect VX.

Installation is simple. By following a few steps, it normally takes less than 15 minutes to set up. See the WinConnect VX User Manual for detailed instructions.

It depends on the types of applications you are running. Some applications will provide full read and write privileges to the user who opened or accessed the file first; the other users may then have read only privilege.

It depends on the type of software products you are using. Most software products will allow all users to open and edit different documents at the same time, using the same program. Each user can also use different software products, concurrently.

Users who intend to run the software products concurrently are advised to do the following:
(a) Review the Software Products' End User License Agreement if they are authorized to run multiple instances/sessions, using a single copy of the Software Products, concurrently and/or
(b) Check with the respective companies of the Software Products for such usage and/or similar usage.

The Windows server set-up and configuration will depend on the type of Windows applications being run.

For more information, please visit Microsoft web site here.

Files are stored on the central Windows server, rather than on the local PC hard drive.

If your Windows server is running WinConnect Server XP, Windows 2000 Server or Windows XP Professional, you may store files on your local hard or floppy disk.

Analysts estimate that thin clients reduce your cost of desktop computing by 35-57 percent per year over a typical networked PC (1, 2). Take the 35 percent savings against a low estimate of the fully realized annual cost of operating and managing a networked PC, which is $9,000 (3). (Estimates run as high as $14,000 for this cost.)

$9,000 x .35 = $3,150 savings per year or $ 263 per month

Based on the price that starts as low at $499.95 per license for thin terminals, you can easily implement the thin client solution in your workplace. Since these savings are in terms of reduced maintenance, service and support, without the need for constant hardware upgrades, the terminals can be viewed as best long-term solution.

The recent TCO analysis done by Gartner Group showed that the total annual indirect cost benefit for thin clients is 32 percent for thin client compared with fat managed PCs, and 90 percent for thin clients compared with fat unmanaged PCs (4).

35 percent: Gartner Group, "Microsoft Terminal Server Edition and Thin-Client Computing", 1998, pages 11-12.
57 percent: Zona Research "Desktop Clients: A Cost of Ownership Study" 1996, page 5.
Actually $9,983, Gartner Group Research.
DF-14-2800, P.Lowber, 28 September 2001, Gartner Group, "Thin-Client vs. Fat-Client TCO", pp 2. Download PDF.

Yes. You just need to set-up a Dial-up connection. Ensure that the serial ports and modem have been installed; and supporting Point to Point Protocol.

It depends on the server settings. If idle disconnect feature is enabled, connections will reset after the specified hours of idle time. This means if you haven't used the WinConnect VX software, the session will disappear from your screen, it will become 'disconnected'. It doesn't mean the applications you had opened (e.g. Netscape, Word etc), will be closed. If you reconnect to the server again, they will still be active. You may configure the server settings so that 'Disconnected' sessions stay in that state for certain hours, during which you can reconnect, by simply typing in your password again. If you do not reconnect within the specified hours, the session will be reset and all applications will be closed, at which point, the next time you reconnect, you will have to re-run the applications (e.g. Netscape, Word etc), as you will be starting a new session.

The main difference between a SVGA and a VGA card is the resolutions that it may support. Choose the one that will meet your needs, making sure the one you chose have an associated Linux driver to support the resolutions that you want it to support.

All of your preferences are stored in individual "profiles". Your profile stores all of your preferences, and individual information. It is only accessible by you.

Data is stored in the central Windows server or other file servers. Normally, the server is located in a secured place and is only accessible by IT personnel who has the rights to do so. The data transmitted from your "client", normally, takes a path along a secure network, to the server, so others may not intercept it.

Consider this security against data stored on your PC, in an open office environment, vulnerable to be stolen along with your data (in the thin client environment, they would have stolen a "nearly" worthless box with no data in it).

Yes, you can listen to music and other sounds if you are connected toWinConnect Server XP, Windows 2003 Server or Windows XP Professional host. Windows 2000 servers, however, do not support sound on RDP clients. You can view video, but performance will not be as good as on a standalone Windows machine.

You need to set-up a Dial-up connection. Ensure that the serial ports and modem have been installed; and supporting Point to Point Protocol (PPP). One way to check for serial-port recognition is to use the dmesg program which displays the boot message. Run the dmesg program (piped through the less command) and look for lines in the output describing serial ports similar to these:

# dmesg | less
.......
ttyS00 at 0x03f8 (irq=4) is a 16550A
ttyS01 at 0x02fb (irq=5) is a 16550A
ttyS03 at 0x02e8(irq=3) is a 16550A
.........

To check if PPP exist on the system, use the dmesg command again.

#dmesg | less
........
PPP: version 2.3.7
PPP line discipline registered

Another quick way to check if PPP is installed is to use the rpm command.

# rpm -q ppp
ppp-2.3.11-7

1) To setup the dialer from GNOME desktop panel
i) Click on the Gnome Application "Start" button, "Programs", "Internet Menu" and follow by the "Dialer Configuration Tool".
ii) The tool's window will then appear.
iii) If the symbolic link /dev/modem/ does not exist, click on "Add" and then "Next" to query the modem.
iv) If a modem is found, click on the "Keep this modem" and "Next" buttons to select Devices as "/dev/ttyS0".
v) Next, enter a name for the dialup account, along with the ISP's dialup number.
vi) Click on the "Next" button and enter your assigned username and password.
vii) After clicking on the "Next" button, you will be asked to select your ISP. If your ISP is not listed, just select Normal ISP.
viii) Click "Finish" to save the account.
ix) To start your PPP connection, select Programs, Internet, then click on the "RH PPP dialer" menu.
x) Select the ISP account you created, click OK and start the connection.
xi) In order to connect to Internet successfully, you may need to specify your ISP's DNS servers in your system's /etc/resolv.conf file.

e.g enter the line using this format :
nameserver 165.21.83.88
nameserver 165.21.100.88

2) To setup the dialer from KDE desktop panel
i) Click on the Application "Start" button, select "Internet" and follow by "kppp".
ii) The kppp configuration dialog box will appear when you click on the setup button.
iii) Under the Account tab, click on the "New" button.
iv) Enter the name of your ISP along with the ISP's phone number.
v) Click on the IP tab and select whether it is a dynamic or static IP address assigned to your computer.
vi) Next, click on the DNS tab to enter your ISP's DNS IP address.
vii) Under the Device tab, select the correct modem device and connection speed for your modem.
viii) When finished, click on the Modem tab where you can use the buttons to change the default modem AT commands, to query your modem, or to test your modem by using kppp's built-in terminal program. You can also change the modem's volume by using the slider control in the dialog box.
ix) When finished, click on the PPP tab where you can select or deselect the options according to your preference. If you click "Dock into Panel" on connect, kppp will display satiny modem icon with blinking send and receive lights.
x) When finished, click OK and the kppp windows will appear.
xi) To start your Internet connection, click on the connect button in the kppp window.

It is first necessary to install WinConnect VX and create a "default" connection (marked in the connection profile as being the "default") that is set with the options desired.

On the Linux system, it is necessary to establish a standard user (not root). Once this has been done, this user's home directory will be /home/. In this directory will be a file called bashrc.

Edit the user's .bashrc file and, at the bottom, add two lines:
WinConnect VX -c
logout

Then save the file.

The next time this user logs in, WinConnect VX will establish a connection using the options set by the WinConnect VX default connection profile options. The user will not have the ability to damage the WinConnect VX settings by editing them; the system administrator can log in as "root" to edit them as necessary.

It is first necessary to enable the Remote Desktop functionality. This is done on the "Remote" tab of the System Properties dialog box. See your Windows XP documentation for additional details.
With this enabled, WinConnect VX can connect to the XP computer if you supply its IP address. If you wish the computer to appear in the list of available servers, you must do the following:
1. On the Windows XP computer, select "Run" off of the start menu.
2. The program to open is "Regedit".
3. Find the following key: My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server
4. Add or alter this value: TSAdvertise = 1
5. Exit Regedit and reboot the computer.
This procedure is recommended for experienced computer users only. Regedit is an advanced tool, and it is possible to damage your Windows installation.

The simplest way to change your XP settings for use with WinConnect is to download and import the registry file at EnableRem-Adv-Col.reg

A) To setup a Printer with Redhat 7.2

1) On the Gnome desktop, go to the Main Menu Button (on the panel) -> Programs -> System -> Printer configuration.
2) To add a printer such as one attached to the parallel port or USB port of your computer, click the NEW button in the main printconf windows.
3) Click NEXT to proceed.
4) Enter a unique name for the printer in the Queue Name field, e.g. lp
5) Select local printer from the Queue Type menu and click NEXT.
6) Printconf attempts to detect your printer device. A printer device attached to the parallel port Is usually referred to as /dev/lp0. A printer device attached to the USB port is usually referred to as /dev/usb/lp0. After selecting your printer device, click NEXT.
7) Next, printconf will try to detect what printer is attached to the printer device.
8) After selecting the queue type of the printer, the next step is to select the printer driver. Select the printer driver from the list. The printers are divided by manufacturers. Click the arrow beside the manufacturers for your printer. Find your printer from the expanded list and click the arrow beside the printer name. A list of drivers for your printer will appear. Select one.
9) Click the Apply button in the main windows to save your changes and then print a test page to ensure the configuration is correct.

B) Configure WinConnect VX for local printing

1) Click on the printing tab of the WinConnect VX profile.
2) All existing Linux print queues can be seen by clicking the drop-down arrow. After selecting the desired print queue, associate it with a windows printer driver. For example, if you have a HP DeskJet 970Cxi connected, click on the drop-down arrow of the windows driver and select the HP DeskJet 970Cxi.
3) After connecting to the Windows Terminal Server, you will have a new printer available to Windows applications. Under Windows XP, this printer will be called something like lp (from XXX ) where XXX is the Linux station name. Under Windows 2000 server, it will be called lp/XXX/ Session 2 where XXX is the Linux station name.

A) To setup a Printer with Mandrake 8.1

1) Connect a printer to the computer and power up.
2) Log in as root.
3) Open a terminal session and run the command: printtool
4) Choose Add printer to start the new printer wizard.
5) You will be presented with the list of available connections
6) Choose Local Printer - if you are connecting a printer directly to a parallel / USB port of your computer, in most cases the printer model will be auto-detected.
7) Next you need to provide a name for your printer, to easily identify it if you need to, e.g. lp, and optionally a Printer description and a physical location. Click OK.
8) You are then presented with the list of supported printers. Check whether Printerdrake did the auto-detection of your printer model correctly. Search for the correct model or a compatible one in the list when the cursor is pointing to the wrong model.
9) After that, you are presented with the settings associated with the chosen driver. If the settings are correct, click OK.
10) Set the printer as the default printer and finally test print the printer.
The above printer setup can also be accomplished under KDE -> Control Center -> System -> Printing Manager

B) Configure WinConnect VX for local printing

1) Click on the printing tab of the WinConnect VX profile.
2) All existing Linux print queues can be seen by clicking the drop-down arrow. After selecting the desired print queue, associate it with a windows printer driver. For example, if you have a HP DeskJet 970Cxi connected, click on the drop-down arrow of the windows driver and select the HP DeskJet 970Cxi.
3) After connecting to the Windows Terminal Server, you will have a new printer available to Windows applications. Under Windows XP, this printer will be called something like lp (from XXX ) where XXX is the Linux station name. Under windows 2000 server, it will be called lp/XXX/ Session 2 where XXX is the Linux station name.

To upgrade WinConnect VX from a previous version

1) Log in as root.

2) Download the new version of WinConnect VX

3) Before installing, note the unlock code from the WinConnect VX "Menu>License>Show information" dialog box.

Note: If you are upgrading from versions prior to 1.3, please email support@thinsoftinc.com for assistance.

4) Uninstall the installed version of WinConnect VX. From a terminal session run /usr/local/share/WinConnect VX/uninstall.

5) Install the new version of WinConnect VX following the standard installation instructions.

6) Use the unlock code saved in step 3 to unlock the new version.

The maximum resolution is 1600 x 1200, depending on the video card's resolutions support on the Linux desktop. When connected to an XP or Windows Server 2003 host, WinConnect VX supports 24 bit color. The maximum for a Windows 2000 host is 256 colors.

By default, XP and Windows Server 2003 support a maximum of 16 bit color. You must use REGEDIT to enable 24 bit color.

Use Start/Run and type in the command "regedit" and hit the enter key.

Browse to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp
On the right hand pane, highlight the ColorDepth key and right-click. Select Modify and change the "Value Data" field to 4.