Windows Vista deployment

If you are using BlueZone Web-to-Host to deploy BlueZone to Windows Vista users, you should read this overview. It will help you understand some of the new security features of Windows Vista and how they relate to BlueZone Web-to-Host.

BlueZone has undergone third-party testing to become Microsoft Certified for Windows Vista. This means that BlueZone has passed all the tests to ensure smooth installation and operation, as well as a user experience consistent with the Windows Vista operating system. Some of the hallmarks of Windows Vista include User Access Control, Protected Mode, and the ActiveX Installer Service.

The following outline describes using BlueZone Web-to-Host with Windows Vista:

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ActiveX and Java are subject to certain security limitations to minimize the risk of installing and running malicious code.

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BlueZone web-based deployments use ActiveX or Java technologies to manage and activate the terminal emulation sessions.

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As with Windows XP, standard users cannot download ActiveX controls. However, Java applets can, in many cases, be downloaded and run. You may want to consider using our Java Web-to-Host control module in lieu of the ActiveX Web-to-Host control module. This change can be made using the BlueZone Web-to-Host Wizard. Refer to Switching from the ActiveX control module to the Java control module for more information.

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New with Windows Vista is the ActiveX Installer Service that can be configured to allow standard users to download and run administrator approved controls.

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For anonymous access, or access by users from uncontrolled computers, consider using the BlueZone Access Server and HTML green screen access.

Note

Learn more about the BlueZone Access Server by visiting the BlueZone website: http://www.bluezonesoftware.com/products/server-based-emulation

Web-to-Host version 5.0 and higher

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Applies when User Account Control (UAC) is enabled and the Internet and Intranet Zones have Protected Mode enabled. When UAC is disabled, Vista operates like XP.

Note

For a detailed explanation of User Account Control, refer to the Microsoft website: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/features/user-account-control.aspx

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BlueZone Web-to-Host version 5.0 and higher, has the ability to run with Protected Mode enabled in the browser. This requires a Protected Mode setting in the Web-to-Host Wizard which forces BlueZone (on Vista machines only) to run in the browser’s Protected Mode sandbox, regardless of the browser setting. This is best when deploying BlueZone outside the enterprise to partners, customers, etc.

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If the BlueZone Web-to-Host site is not in Protected Mode, then the BlueZone site must be in a trusted zone. Best when used within the enterprise.

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If the user's browser is in protected mode, but not set to trust the BlueZone Web-to-Host site, they are prompted by the BlueZone Web-to-Host control module to add the BlueZone Web-to-Host site to their trusted zone before proceeding.

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Sites added to the trusted zone must be referenced using a DNS name rather than an IP Address. Internet Explorer does not trust a site accessed using an IP Address.