The mvBase Workstation is a provider and manager for three types of mvBase clients. These are the most commonly used mvBase clients. Because the Workstation functions as an administrative collection of client providers rather than as a client itself, it is described separately from the various mvBase clients that appear in the next topic.
NOTE |
The mvTerm client is the only standard mvBase client not configured or managed by the mvBase Workstation. |
The Workstation contains some core functionality which is common to all clients (indeed, even the mvTerm clients include some of the same core functionality). This provides a transparent connection from a client to mvBase Server and implements the default client class and its behaviors. The Workstation also implements Windows interoperability features in the client's user context (local system, user name, user rights and permissions) as opposed to the Server context (which may be located on a different system to the Workstation(s)).
Like the mvBase Server, the mvBase Workstation may be run as an application or as a Windows service.
When started as an application, the Windows console user must remain logged on to maintain client connections that are being supported by the Workstation component. Logging off terminates all applications started by the user.
When starting the mvBase Workstation as an application, the application window (visible when maximized) displays the current connections being made from that Workstation to various mvBase Servers. This window is scrollable, and the information can be sorted by the contents of any column by clicking on the column header.
When started as a service on Windows , the Workstation runs as a background process. The Windows console user that started the Workstation can log off from Windows without disrupting the connections of other Workstation clients. In addition, as a service, the Workstation can be configured to start automatically with the Windows host operating system, eliminating the need for a user to log on to the console at all.
The configurable aspects of the Workstation include these major categories, located in the Workstation tab of the Administration Utility:
Designation of which Workstation to configure or run (several Workstations may be run simultaneously).
Execution mode (application or service).
Multiple options for COM ports, which connect terminal clients, modems and serial printers. Configurable features for COM ports include but are not limited to:
Quantity of COM port clients and the mvBase line numbers through which they connect to the mvBase Server.
Enabling or disabling the many Windows interoperability functions.
Disconnect on Logoff option.
Disconnect Character option.
On-Demand Connection option, which controls whether the COM port client is to connect to the mvBase Server when the Workstation is started or only on demand when a key is pressed on the keyboard.
Multiple communication settings, including baud rate, data bits, stop bits, parity, flow control, etc.
Multiple options for Windows printers.
mvTelnet Servers, configured via the Telnet Servers tab. mvTelnet defines connections for Telnet clients provided by third parties.
NOTE |
mvTelnet is not a Telnet client but a Telnet Server provider. |
Configurable mvTelnet features include but are not limited to:
The quantity of mvTelnet Servers required
The Server to which each mvTelnet Server is to connect
The TCP port on which each mvTelnet Server will monitor for incoming Telnet connection requests from Telnet clients
The line, or line pool, through which Telnet clients will connect to the mvBase Server for each mvTelnet Server
Enabling or disabling the many Windows interoperability functions
See Also