StarNet Communications Corp, (http://www.starnet.com) a leading publisher of remote Linux desktop solutions today announced the addition of three Secure Remote Desktop modules to its flagship X-Win32 PC X server. The new modules enable X-Win32 to safely tunnel the remote desktops from Linux and Unix servers to the user’s PC over encrypted SSH.
Traditionally, users of PC X servers deploy the XDMCP protocol to display remote desktop environments such as the Gnome and KDE desktops on Linux servers and the CDE environment on Solaris Unix machines. XDMCP is used primarily on company Local Area Networks as it is a both unsecure and does not work over the Internet.
The new Secure Gnome, KDE and CDE Desktop modules in X-Win32 allow the remote desktop to be transmitted securely using the SSH encryption protocol.
While it has always been possible to do this, most end users are not familiar with the needed Linux and Unix commands required to set up such remote desktop access connections. The new modules automate this process. The end user only supplies the login and password of his/her account on the remote server.
“Secure Remote Desktop will open the world of Linux and Unix work spaces to users who don’t want to learn a new programming language just to bring up their Gnome, KDE or CDE desktop,” commented Steven Schoch, co-founder and CEO of StarNet. “Users who are not familiar with Linux or Unix commands can now bring up a Linux or Unix desktop with just a few clicks of the mouse.”
X-Win32 is a traditional (legacy) PC X server solution that enables Windows users to log onto remote Linux and Unix servers to display and operate various applications that are installed on the remote system.
After more than 30 years since the market for PC X servers developed in the early 1980s, this client-only solution continues to be widely used in high-end engineering markets such defense, aerospace, semiconductor design and geological exploration. In the past 10 years, more advanced client-server solutions, such as StarNet’s line of FastX products, have taken over much of the remote X11 visualization market. Client-server solutions offer users the critical ability to reconnect to their remote applications after a network interruption or system crash. They also perform at near LAN speed when connecting over the Internet. Still, on corporate LANs, X-Win32 remains a leading solution.
FastX can be downloaded with a 30-day free evaluation license from StarNet's website. Despite the addition of advanced new capabilities, the FastX list price remains at $295 in single license quantity. Volume, government and educational discounts are available. StarNet offers named-user and floating (concurrent) user licensing options.
StarNet Communications Corp., founded in 1989, develops and markets X Windows Connectivity solutions for Windows, Macintosh and Linux platforms for corporate, educational and government organizations. StarNet's family of products offers cost-effective, best-of-breed remote Linux and Unix display solutions. Based in Sunnyvale, Calif., StarNet is privately held. For more information about our X Windows connectivity solutions, visit http://www.starnet.com