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1)
What
is the industry called and how is it defined?
2) What
is the definition of application web hosting?
3)
What is a server farm?
4) What
kind of computer do I need to access the Server Farm?
5) What
is the recommended connection speed for good performance?
6) What
other hardware and/or telecommunications equipment is needed?
7) What
is the target market for an application service provider?
8) What
are my company's benefits?
9) What
is the process that my company should expect when setting up their account?
10) I
don't understand anything about Citrix technology. Can you explain it?
11) My
company wants to purchase the solution, but is concerned about security
issues. Can you explain how it works?
What
is the industry called and how is it defined?
At Definition of ASP as defined by
IDC: ASPs are service firms that provide a contractual service - offering
to deploy, host, manage, and lease what is typically packaged application
software from a centrally managed facility.
Application
Service Provider, like Internet Service Providers, ASPs provide connectivity
and Internet access. In addition, ASPs provide actual desktop applications
(and in most cases, actual desktops!), deployed and managed from a central
location. Applications may be browser-based, but many industry standard
desktop applications are supported and used in this environment as well.
top
What
is the definition of application web hosting?
Application web hosting is the terminology typically used for the
hosting or provision of browser-based or web-based applications…
those apps that run from within a browser and are accessible via the Internet.
Alinco IT, Inc. takes this model a step further, by providing an actual
computer DESKTOP environment that the user is familiar with. The desktop
includes icons for launching specific applications, and those applications
may be either standard desktop apps (like MS/Office, etc.) or browser-embedded
apps (Java-based applications, etc.).
top
What
is a server farm?
A server farm is a series of connected servers installed at a single location.
Extremely high performance equipment is placed in a central location and
provided to users on a subscription basis. By accessing our powerful processing
hardware, a small- to mid-size businesses can take advantage of hardware
that would otherwise be cost restrictive.
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What
kind of computer do I need to access the Server Farm?
Virtually any PC (running DOS, OS/2, Linux, Unix, and any version of Windows)
can run the ICA client and connect to our ASP servers. There is also a
Macintosh ICA client, a browser-based plugin for Netscape and Internet
Explorer, and a WindowsCE ICA client. Thin-client devices are also being
shipped with ICA connectivity, and some PDA (personal digital assistant)
units are shipping with ICA clients.
top
What
is the recommended connection speed for good performance?
v.90
analog dial-up for modem connections - TARGET 2 USERS
ISDN BRI interface for connections to 128K - TARGET 5 USERS
up to 56K dedicated frame relay - TARGET 5 USERS
Partial T1 Connections:
128K TARGET 7-13 USERS
256K TARGET 11-17 USERS
384K TARGET 16-20 USERS
512K TARGET 18-25 USERS
FULL T1 (1.5M) TARGET 20+ USERS
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What
other hardware and/or telecommunications equipment is needed?
Single-user dialup: modem & phone line
Multi-user dialup: LAN modem or shareable modem device, network wiring
hub,phone line
Single-user ISDN: ISDN modem & ISDN line
Multi-user ISDN: ISDN LAN modem or ISDN router, hub, and ISDN line
Multi-user frame and/or T1: applicable CSU/DSU (or TSU), router, hub,
circuit
Álinco Computers offers the FATPIPE XTREME connectivity , aggregated
connection for increased performance and redundancy over dual DSL,ISDN,
T1, DS3. Up to 4.5MBs over 3 t1s or DSL.
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What
is the target market for an application service provider?
This model allows any company to gain access to and implement advanced
technologies. Companies small and large can get started with or expand
the use of business technology, share data with remote and multiple sites,
provide simultaneous access to business applications, create dynamic collaborative
workgroups…
top
What
are my company's benefits?
Primary benefits:
Overall reduction in cost of ownership due to:
Reduced hardware and OS platform upgrade requirements (constantly)
Reduced IT personnel requirements
Reduced cost of deployment of new technologies
Enhanced access to company information (remote & mobile users)
Enhanced accuracy of data (server centric - single point access of data)
Redundant Sites for fast recovery
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What
is the process that my company should expect when setting up their account?
This process will vary somewhat when the company has existing networks.
Specific issues relating to connectivity, users, security, data organization,
etc. must be determined prior to actually establishing the profiles on
the system. Upon subscription, an Alinco SE Project Manager will coordinate
the implementation process.
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I
don't understand anything about Citrix technology. Can you explain it?
Citrix ICA (Independent Computing Architecture), in conjunction with Microsoft
NT terminal server, allows us to provide an actual desktop environment
to remote users. When you access these servers, you are connecting to
them and actually launching the equivalent of an NT workstation. It looks
like a Windowsdesktop - with all the normal icons, the start menu, everything.
Only display (screen) information, keyboard input and mouse movements
are passed across the line… no data or programs are up or downloaded
across the wire. Your session (your DESKTOP) is doing all the work…
all the processing, at our server farm. This is why you can use old legacy
PCs i.e. 486 computers (or a Macintosh!) and run the PC 32-bit full version
of MS/Office without a hiccup. The computer you use doesn't matter…
it's simply the device that connects you to the Server Farms.
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My
company wants to purchase the solution, but is concerned about security
issues. Can you explain how it works?
On the server(s), network security prevails. In addition to server and
network security embedded in Microsoft NT server, there is additional
"user profile" security that can be established, allowing (or
not) the access to specific features and functions of the desktop system.
For example, if a company wants to prevent Server Farm data from being
stored on local hard drives, the user profile may not offer any path or
icon to access the C- or A- drives on his/her computer. We can prevent
access to local drives… even completely eliminate"my computer"
from the desktop; or maybe take away the "run" command. There
are a multitude of options available to us to secure and customize the
function of the system for any given company or user. In addition, 128keymethods,
routing and network layer security is in place, and VPN (virtual private
network) connections are available.
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By
taking complete responsibility for our customer's computing infrastructure,
Alinco
IT, Inc. allows its customers to focus on managing business, not
technology. |
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