Will Citrix Extranet work with thin-client devices?

[wilsona]

Will Citrix Extranet work with thin-client devices with built in browsers (e.g. Neoware Eon 3000i/5000s, Wyse, etc) or does it need a PC at the client end? Seems to defeat the purpose if it won't work.... Obviously, we use Metaframe primarily to reduce maintenance, but thats stuffed if we have to support full PCs installed in remote workers homes!! If it needs special software at the client end then I suppose thats it. If it will not work, are there any plans to produce any devices with the VPN software built in?

 

[CitrixEngineer]

I have it on good authority that Extranet 2.0 works with the usual list of Citrix clients. The only O/S I noted was missing from the list I was given is EPOC. I haven't implemented this software, but I would imagine that it would ship with compatible clients, if the regular ones don't work with it. IME, I wouldn't think that the latter was true, however.

CE

 

[wilsona]

The thin-terminals I am talking about have no user config stuff at all, no user accessable storage. i.e. you cannot load software on them. Just a basic built-in browser and modem. So you dial up your ISP and then go to a web page. Is this enough?

 

[CitrixEngineer]

Most terminals are flash-configurable and can be updated with a version of CE that includes an ICA client supplied by the manufacturer.

I suppose that there are probably some that don't...

What sort of terminals are they?

CE

 

[wilsona]

The terminals I have in mind all have ICA clients built in, but thats not the point. The idea is to use the public internet to provide secure access into the company network from home. This is what the Citrix Extranet product allegedly does. What I want to know is will a terminal such as Neowares Neoterm 3000i (IE 4 built in) or 5000s (IE 5.5) work with this product without modification. What you would do is use the terminal to connect to the internet using any ISP, then presumably connect to your Citrix Extranet server, where the secure connection will be set up by negotiation with the terminals browser. If this process needs the installation of additional software at the users browser end, then the terminals will NOT EVER work. That is the question...

 

[CitrixEngineer]

I see what you mean.

Have you tried contacting Neoware's technical support? I had a quick look through the docs on their home page, but they're fairly light on actual information. Obviously, if they've included the ICA web plug-in then it will work.

I hope this helps - good luck!

 

[wilsona]

Are you saying that the minimum required is a browser plug-in? These (and most other) terminals do not allow any software config. I am only giving Neoware as an example. Therefore this type of terminal will NOT work. :-(This brings me the second part of the question - does anyone know if any manufacturers thin terminals are recommended by Citrix as working with this product, or of any manufacturers whose terminals are due to be updated with the mods required. :-I

 

[MDonato]

I haven't played with the extranet piece yet, however, I would assume that a java based terminal such as the IBM 2200 (not the 2200w) would be able to run in the extranet environment because it can take the Java ICA client.

I'm totally speculating on this, but I am going to look into it, as it is making me very curious.

-Mike
Michael A. Dontato MCNE, MCSE, CCA
mdonato@site-technologies.com

http://www.site-technologies.com