Default Thin Client

PASSPORT BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

installations

PBS Thin Client Installations

For PBS Versions 11.5 and 11.6

Thin Client Host Install - General Information

Thin Client Windows Host Installation and Configuration

Thin Client UNIX/Linux Host Installation and Configuration

PBS Thin Client Startup

Upgrade Thin Client from 11.4 to 11.5.

**** You must have an AcuConnect Product Code and Product Key in order to activate Thin client on the host server. If you do not have this contact your PBS supplier for instructions.****

December 07, 2007

Thin Client Server Host Requirements

For a host server, you can use either Windows 2000 or 2003, SCO UNIX 5.07or Linux GLIBC 2.3. Thin client is not available for Novell. Thin client for Windows, UNIX and Linux does require a Windows based workstation client installed as well.

Each Thin Client connected PBS user requires up to 5MB of server RAM. This along with the typical base server requirements determine the RAM needed. Multiply the number of simultaneous users by 5MB and add in the O/S base services, about 250MB, and this will give you an approximate amount of RAM needed. Of course, any other server based applications will also have to be accounted for.

Thin Client Workstation

You can install the PBS Client on Windows 98SE, 2000, or XP Home, XP PRO, or Vista.

During the install you will have to specify the IP# and Port # of the Server Host. It is strongly recommended that you install the server host first.

Thin client was developed to be used on a workstation that has minimal power. It performs well when it comes to slower machines. Of course if another application is running on the computer requires a great deal of power, then this application may be more of a deciding factor when determining the computer processing power needed than PBS.

Thin client LAN and Internet Access

Thin client can be configured for VPN, with or without authentication to the AcuConnect host. It can also be behind a firewall with port number translation.

The diagram below is of a typical remote office configuration along with a local network both running the same PBS.

Windows Server

AcuCorp's Acuconnect is the technology that provides thin client. It gets installed as a service and requires TCP/IP networking. The default port is 5632, but you can change this and run multiple server processes on different ports.

UNIX/Linux

On the server the Thin Client acurcl and configuration files are installed in the PBS top-level directory. It requires TCP/IP networking and defaults to port 5632. You can set up multiple ports if needed. Multiple PBS users can access PBS from one port.

The SYSADMIN can optionally install the acurcl startup script in a resource script, rc, for autostart support.

Thin Client Host Installation and Configuration

The thin client technology, AcuConnect, is AcuCorp's product. It is designed for several purposes.

To allow ACUCOBOL-GT® programs, like PBS, running on a UNIX, Linux or Windows server to present a full Windows graphical user interface (GUI) on PCs networked with TCP/IP.
To allow UNIX, Linux and Windows users to enjoy the benefits of centralized application maintenance and to adopt the performance characteristics of a `thin' architecture, reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO). Many applications perform better when deployed in a thin fashion compared to other networking techniques such as remote file access `fat clients' or distributed processing. This is because thin client configurations execute COBOL programs on the server where data access is local. Network traffic is greatly reduced.
Thin client runs within firewalls routers and can be configured to run within a Virtual Private Network. There are different levels of login and access options to provide increased security. It connects directly with only the accounting system and provides more security than browse and run environments such as Remote Desktop.
To allow access via the Internet from remote locations.

Although designed for local and wide-area TCP/IP networks, Acucorp's thin client solution is well-suited to low-bandwidth, high-lag connections like the Internet because it eliminates the file I/O occurring over the network. Even dial-up performance works adequately, as long as the connection is stable.

License Acquisition

The activation of thin client is optional and it may not be part of your installation. On a local network you can run the PBS system without it.

The standard runtime is separate from the host Thin client AcuConnect runtime. The number of users that can access via Thin client can be different than the number of users accessing via the standard runtime. You could run with a single user runtime with a 5, 10, 20 or more Thin client AcuConnect runtime.

In order to use the file utilities, you will need at least the minimum number of standard runtime users; 1 user on Windows and 5 user on Linux or UNIX.

Check with your PBS supplier for more information on acquiring a AcuConnect Thin client license.

AcuConnect Architecture and Security

The server process monitors TCP/IP connections. The thin-client AcuConnect provides an authentication. It has a fully encrypted proprietary protocol and there are no passwords in clear text.

There are three levels of security that you can choose.

No password or by password only
By client PC machine name and password
By client PC machine name, client authenticated user, and password.

See the Acucorp Version 7.2.2 documentation for security implementation details. If you do not have this documentation, it is available upon request from the PSI support department.

In the AcuCorp html document select the following.

AcuConnect User's Guide ->Chapter 3: distributed processing: Preparing the server -> 3.3 Establishing System Security

Windows 2000/2003 Installation

Click on the following link to download the Thin client Windows server host install:

11.5_win_TCServer.zip

PBS Version 11.6 should be installed on the server. You must perform this installation of AcuConnect Thin Client on the host server.

IMPORTANT: Do not install the AcuConnect with a path that has a space in it. For example, do not install Thin client under `Program Files/PSI/PBS' (there is a space between Program and Files). If your current PBS system is installed there, move the PBS directory to where there is no space in the path and install the AcuConnect in that directory.

IMPORTANT: If you are re-installing the AcuConnect for any reason, you must stop the AcuConnect service before doing so.

To access the Thin client Windows Host installations you must be on the CD ROM screen called Version 11.5 Thin Client Installation or Version 11.6 Thin client installation.

Once you have downloaded the Thin client Host Server installation you may start the install. You must have a product code and product key to complete the installation.

During the installation, you will have the following questions and options:

Do you want to Install the Thin Client AcuConnect Server?

Yes	Starts the installation
No	Cancels the installation

Do you have your PBS Thin Client AcuConnect Product Code and Key available now?

You will not be able to complete the installation without the Product Code and Keys.

Yes	Continues the installation
No	Cancels the installation

Locate PBS Version 11

Here is where you specify the location of your installed PBS software. A default location is provided, but if needed, browse to the proper location.

Browse	To find the location where the PBS is installed, click on this button. The `Choose Folder' window will display where you can navigate to the location and select it.
Back	Normally you will not need to select this button.
Next	Once the location of PBS is found, then click on this button.
Cancel	Cancels the installation

Ready to Extract License Information

When you see this message, then the install program found the license in the directory you specified.

OK	Click on OK to continue and the program will extract the license information.

License display information

The license data will display in the window. Review the license to verify that you are installing the AcuConnect Thin Client Host software in the correction location.

Next	If the license is correct, click on this button.
Cancel	If the license does not appear to be correct, cancel the installation and contact your PBS supplier.

Software License Agreement

This displays the software license agreement. Read the agreement.

Yes	Clicking on this will indicate that you agree withe software license agreement.
No	Clicking on this button will cancel the installation.

Enter AcuConnect Service Port Number

Enter the IP port number on which PBS Thin Client AcuConnect Server will run or accept the default. The default port number is 5632.

PBS AcuConnect Server will run on Port:5632

If you entered something other than the default port, then that number will display at the end of this above line.

Yes	To continue the installation
No	Returns back to the previous screen to re-enter the port number

Ready to install PBS AcuConnect Server Service

Have your AcuConnect Product Code and Key ready...

This starts the AcuConnect installation processing.

OK	Click on OK to continue.

Activator Wizard 7.2.2

On the Code: line, enter the product code with no spaces.

On the Key: line, enter the product code with no spaces

More	NEVER SELECT MORE
Finish	To complete the creation of the AcuConnect license
Cancel	To cancel the installation

Creating acurcl.cfg and acurcl.ini files...

These are key configuration files for running the AcuConnect software. They are installed under the top-level PBS directory in the etc directory.

OK	Click on OK to continue.

PBS AcuConnect Server Service Install Completed

There is no turning back now.

OK	Click on OK to continue.

Setup complete

PBS AcuConnect Server installation process is completed.

Finish

Click on Finish to terminate the install program.

On the server you can find the AcuConnect service in

Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services

The host service is listed as AcuConnect 7.2.2 on port 5632 or other port number if you entered a number other than the default. Verify that the service is started. If not, start the service.

To test the service and connection to the host, install the Thin client on a Windows workstation and run PBS from the client. See the next chapter for the Thin Client workstation installation.

Activating the Thin Client License

If you used the Windows server host installation, the license should be properly activated. Therefore you should not have to do this step. If for any reason the licensing step of the installation did not work properly or you need to re-license the Server host, then run the activator.

Thin Client requires a special license. This license is separate from the standard runtime license that gets created when you install PBS.

To activate the thin client license it must be ordered separately. To acquire a Thin client license, contact your PBS supplier. To activate thin client you will need a Product Code and Product Key and follow the instructions below for activation.

Windows License Activation

You must activate the Windows thin client on the server. You must be logged in as an administrative user to do this. Go to the top-level PBS directory and run

Activator.exe

Enter the product code and product key with no spaces. Double check the numbers to verify that they are correct.

Click on the Finish button when you have verified that the codes are correct. NEVER SELECT THE MORE BUTTON. Cancel will exit the screen without activating a license.

Increasing the Number of Thin Client Users

In order to increase the number of users, you must do the following.

1. Locate the "acurcl.acl" file. View it with notepad or any text viewer to verify that it matches the current number of users.

2. Copy the file to "acurcl.acl.old"

3. Run the activator.exe and using the new product code and key recreate the "acurcl.acl". View this file again with your text viewer to verify it has the correct number of users.

4. Stop and re-start the acurcl.exe. This will re-read the license and allow the additional users. As an alternative you can simply re-start the server. This will stop and re-start the thin client access as well.

UNIX/Linux License Activation

The Thin client license is activated during the installation of the AcuConnect host. If you have to activate the license manually run the following:

./activator

You will be prompted to enter the product code. Enter it with no spaces and select the enter key.

Next you will be prompted to enter the product key. Enter it as well with no spaces and select the enter key.

Thin Client AcuConnect Utilities

The AcuConnect Utilities are used for the Thin client host setup and monitoring of users. Following a normal installation on the host, you should not have to change any of the configuration settings for AcuConnect. However, we have provided the following limited instructions if you need to do some tweaking of the settings.

If you change any parameters in the files related to AcuConnect it could result in connection no longer working. Be confident you know what you are doing before you attempt to make changes.

If you need to add another port number access to the host server, re-install the PBS Thin Client Windows server installation and enter a different port number using the same product code and keys. Although you can configure a new port manually, you do not have to so.

Windows Host Server

To access AcuConnect in Windows go to the top-level PBS directory and select the following program.

AcuConnect.exe

You will see a window like the following.

Service Information

You must use a port number on your server. In TCP/IP a port is the end point to the logical (physical) connection.

On the Windows 2000 or Windows 2003 server there must be a service. The service is installed and started with the PBS Thin Client server installation. To access the setup click on the Services tab.

Alias Setup

The Alias is where the connection is defined between Thin client AcuConnect and PBS. The Alias information is pre-configured per the AcuConnect host server installation. This setup provides the configuration so that the client installations find the PBS server installation.

Normally you will not have to alter these Alias settings. If you want to access PBS in a different directory, you can alter the path here.

If you do enter a new path, the AcuConnect files must be in the etc directory in order for it to run properly.

Alias properties

When you select Open, you will see a some files in the etc directory. You must select acurcl.ini.

The default alias name is pbsnoargs. The `noargs' part of the name is short for `no arguments'. Arguments are startup parameters like font name, size and other characteristics. These are all included in the short cut on the Thin Client workstation, hence no arguments are used here.

If you want to alter theses settings or create a new alias, you will need to enter the name, the PBS working directory path and the command line. The Alias name that refers to pbs is recommended. The path is determined by the top-level PBS directory. The Command line is always the same.

-celx cblconfi tc_log --app-host ACUSTART.acu

Here is example of the Alias properties.

Access Tab (Security)

Security and permissions are configured in the AcuAcess file, the default location is pbs\etc\AcuAccess. Under the Access tab you can enter a New, Modify existing and Delete and existing.

We have selected a standard default for security setting. They are the following.

Client Machine name	(*)
Client username	( )
Local username	(same as client)
Password	(none)
Umask	(002)

You can modify the security as needed. Security details are covered in the AcuCorp AcuConnect documentation. Read this documentation for instructions. If you do not have this documentation, contact Passport support or go online to the pass-port.com partner area.

Info tab

On this tab you can select the Query button to determine who is logged onto the server via AcuConnect. The following is a description of the columns in the Info tab window.

Column	Description
Client	The name of the client computer
User	The user login name from the client
PID	The port number that the user logged in on
Start time	The time the user logged in
Working directory	The PBS directory that is being access on the host server.

This tab is useful in determining who is on the PBS system, connected via AcuConnect, when you need to do server or PBS maintenance.

Kill

You can select the user and kill their access via AcuConnect. If you need to do this, make certain that the user is not in the middle of entering a new master file, transaction or is posting transactions. If you kill a process when the user has files open, then the PBS data files could become corrupted.

Start or Stop the Windows Server Thin Client Service

You start an AcuConnect service on the host server in two ways.

You can determine the status of the port in AcuConnect. Run the AcuConnect.exe program from the top-level PBS directory. Then select the Services tab. The services that are running have a green circle next to the port number. The services that are stopped have a red circle. To start the service, highlight the port a click on the Start button. To stop a service that is running, highlight the port and click on the Stop button.

You can also start or stop a service on the server in

Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services

The host service is listed as AcuConnect 7.2.2 on the installed port. Refer to the server instructions, on your server, to start or stop the service.

UNIX/Linux Server Installation

You should have a live version of PBS installed on the server before you can do these steps. If this is a new installation you can upgrade your data before or after the AcuConnect install.

Installing Thin client will have no effect on your current runtime usage if you are running PBS via some terminal emulation package.

Every Thin client user can share the same port, but you can run this installation multiple times if you have a reason to run Thin Client PBS on more than one port.

Click on the following link to download the Thin client UNIX/Linux installation:

Linux Version for 11.5 - glibc 2.2 Distributions

Linux Version for 11.5 - glibc 2.3 Distributions

SCO Openserver for 11.5 - Versions 5.0.7 and 6.0.0

Read each step completely before you do the installation.

1. Log in as root on the UNIX or LINUX console.

2. Create a temporary directory such as /usr/temp.

3. Copy the host sever installation to a temporary directory on your server and un-tar the tar file archive. If needed, refer to any additional download instructions for getting the installation on your host server.

Note: if this is a AcuConnect server upgrade you MUST stop the AcuConnect server before continuing beyond this step. To do so, user the "stop_acuconnect????" command, where ???? is the port number used during the previous AcuConnect server installation. The default port number is 5632. To do this, you normally would log on as "root", move to the PBS top-level directory, and type "./stop_acuconnect????". Remember, this procedure should not be performed while the PBS software is in use, nor should it be performed without a usable backup of the complete PBS installation should a restore be required.

4. To execute the AcuConnect Installation program for Passport Business Solutions? on Linux.

Type

./acurcl_inst

The following example is for Linux, but the SCO Open server install will be similar.

6. Select Y to install Acuconnect. Any other key will exit the install program.

The following will display.

Enter the full path name where the new RW.LIC file is located

(Please Note: the directory and RW.LIC file must exist.....)

Fully qualified pathname:

7. Enter the path to the directory where the RW.LIC is located. This will likely be the same directory where PBS is currently installed. It will be something like the following.

/usr/pbs

Select <Enter>

The PBS license will display.

8. Select C to continue the installation.

RW.LIC location: /usr/pbs

Current location: /usr/tmp/acurcl_inst

Enter the full path name where PBS Version 11.2 is installed

(Please Note: the directory must already exist....)

Fully qualified pathname:

9. Next enter the path of the PBS installation. It will be something like the following.

/usr/pbs

Select <Enter>

10. If you typed the path correctly, then the following additional prompt will display.

An instance of PBS is found in this directory................

Re-enter a new top level directory or press A to add AcuConnect:

11. Select A to add AcuConnect to the installation. The following will display, but the paths may be different.

RW.LIC location: /usr/pbs

Current location: /usr/tmp

PBS Top Level...: /usr/pbs

Enter the port number for AcuConnect to run the service on...

(Note: port number must be > 1024 and < 9999-use 5632 as standard)

Enter port number.......:

12. Enter the standard port 5632 or any other port number in the allowable range; greater than 1024 and less than 9999. Select the <Enter> key and the following will display.

Port Number set to:5632 ESC to quit, any key to continue...

Select any key and the following will display.

Have your AcuConnect Product Code and Key ready....

Ready to run the activator program in the TLD..

ESC to quit...or press any key to continue.........

Top Level Directory: /usr/pbs

Press any key to continue and the following will display.

Running Activator........

Enter your Product code and key below at the prompts...

Enter the product code []:

13. Enter the product code without spaces. Triple-check the code to make sure it is typed correct. Select the <Enter> key and the following line will display.

Enter the product key []:

14. Enter the product key without spaces. Triple-check the product key to verify that it is typed correctly. If you do not enter the codes and keys properly, you will be given another opportunity to enter it. If you entered the code and keys properly, then the following message will display.

Activator license (acurcl.alc) creation successful.......

Press any key to start the AcuConnect server process......

15. Select any key to start the AcuConnect server process and you will be prompted again.

Ready to start AcuConnect(acurcl)....Press any key......

Select any key to start the process on the host and the following prompt will let you know that the process is started.

acurcl server process started.....Press any key..........

Select <Enter> for the documentation referral and select <Enter> again to finish. You have completed the AcuConnect installation.

To test the service, install the thin client on a Windows workstation and run PBS from the client. See the next chapter for the workstation installation.

UNIX/Linux note: The cblconfi file is different than cblconfig. The cblconfi allows users to connect with thin client and cblconfig through telnet. The cblconfi file is for connecting through thin client.

Start or Stop the UNIX/Linux Thin Client Service

The service was started as part of the host thin client AcuConnect installation. You do not need to start the service, unless it failed to start during installation or it was stopped for any reason.

You may need to stop the service for server maintenance. You may need to re-start the service after server maintenance or if you rebooted the server.

When the host thin client components were installed, two scripts for either starting or stopping the service were included as part of the installation.

In order to start or stop the service you will need to know the port number of the service. The standard port number is 5632.

To start the service type the following at the top-level PBS directory.

./start_acuconnect????

The question marks must be substituted with the port number.

To stop the service type the following.

./stop_acuconnect????

The question marks must be substituted with the port number.

When stopping a service, you will be prompted with the number of child processes running on the server host. An existing child process indicates that someone is in PBS at that time. If you stop the service, then that user can not longer use PBS. If that user is posting transactions, entering a master record or new transaction then the files involved could become corrupted.

PBS Thin Client Startup

The Thin Client (T-C) Start Menu items provide access to the PBS system through the AcuConnect Thin Client system. There are three components to this system.

The server based PBS software
The T-C host based portion of the system located on the server
The T-C workstation portion of the system

The Start Menu items invoke the T-C workstation based components which then connects to the T-C host based software and this connects to the PBS accounting system.

You must have the T-C hosting software installed and with a license that is activated on the server. Also PBS should be installed, configured and the service should be running on the server before you do this step. If not, then you will not be able to run PBS to test the connection.

The PBS T-C Setup installs the startup menu selections. It also installs the T-C client components on the workstation. During the installation you will be prompted for either the DNS name or Server IP address and the port number. This provides the address that allows the workstation to make the connection to the T-C hosting software on the server.

The T-C workstation software is configured to only allow access to the accounting system only. There is no option to install Thin client access for the administrative utilities. Therefore you will need to either access the utilities from the server by using batches in Windows, scripts in UNIX and Linux or by being mapped to a network drive in Windows.

In order for this startup to work, you must be able to `ping' the server. You should have administrative privileges when installing the start up.

Click on the following link to download the client install:

11.5_win_TC.zip

Once the download is complete you may start the installation.

During the installation, you will have the following questions and options:

Do you want to install Passport Business Solutions Thin Client Connectivity Suite?

Yes	Starts the installation of the Thin Client Workstation startup and connection to server
No	Cancels the installation

Software License Agreement

Yes	Clicking on Yes indicates that you have read the license agreement and that you agree with it. The installation will then continue.
No	Cancels the installation

Enter the IP# or DNS name of your PBS Server

This is where you specify IP (Internet Protocol) address of your server where PBS is installed. Alternatively, you can also enter the DNS (Domain Name Server) of your server.

This address was determined by the SysAdmin when the T-C hosting software was setup on the server. The SysAdmin is responsible for making sure this address is reachable and is secure.

Back	Return to the Software License Agreement screen.
Next	Once you have entered the IP# or DNS Server click on this button.
Cancel	Cancels the installation

Enter the IP port number of your PBS Think Client Server (default value is displayed below)

Enter the IP Port number of your T-C server. The standard value is 5632 but the value to be entered here must match the value chosen by the SysAdmin when the T-C hosting software was installed on the host server.

Back	To go back to the previous screen to choose a different location
Next	To move to the next install screen.
Cancel	Cancels the installation

PBS Server and Port Number (message)

This is a message to verify your IP# or DNS Server host name and the port number. You have these options.

Yes	Accepts the entry of the serve and port number
No	Returns you back to the step where you enter the IP# or DNS name of your PBS Server

Specify the location of your PBS-AcuCorp Thin Client Software...

This is the location on your workstation hard-drive where the T-C connectivity software will be installed. A default location is provided and for most situations this should not be changed.

Browse	Browse to a non-default location for installation of the Thin Client Workstation components
Back	To go back to the PBS Server and Port Number message to verify the entry
Next	To go to the next step
Cancel	Cancels the installation

Select Program Folder

Select the Next button to accept the default. or choose one of the other options

Back	To go back to the previous screen to choose a different location
Next	To go to the next step
Cancel	Cancels the installation

Ready to install PBS Thin Client & Start Menu Items

Select the Next button to accept the default. This is a way-point to allow you to step backwards before the install starts.

Back	To go back to the previous step
Next	To install the Thin Client and start menu items.
Cancel	Cancels the installation

Setup complete

Finish

This will complete the installation.

To test the connection from the client to the server host, click on the following.

Start > Programs > Passport Business Solutions > PBS-TC-x

Choose any of the start menu lines. PBS will start.

If you get a window with the following message.

Connection failed.

Connection to server refused.

Then this could happen for the following reasons.

The AcuConnect host service has not been installed, has not been started or was stopped. Go the server to verify that the service is installed and running.
You entered the wrong host address or the wrong host port number. Right click on the start menu icon and select properties. On the target line you can view the view the host address and port number. Verify that it is correct. if not correct, modify it manually or un-install and re-install the client.
You are unable to ping the server from the client. Have your system administrator help you with this test.

Font Options

There are several start options that relate to the PBS font and the workstation Display properties, Screen area. These options are tunable and this is explained later in the Font Display Options section of the third chapter of the PBS Administration manual found in the PBS psidocs directory of your PBS CD ROM.

Uninstall the PBS Thin Client Start Menu

To uninstall the PBS Start Menu Items use the Control Panel Add/Remove Programs on the workstation. On the workstation select

Start > Settings > Control Panel

Then select

Add/Remove Programs

Find the Passport Software Thin Client selection. It is usually in alphabetical order. Click on it to highlight it and then select Change/Remove. You will get the question.

Are you sure you want to completely remove `Passport Software Thin Client' and all its components?

Select Yes to uninstall the Thin Client Workstation Components and the PBS Fonts. Select No keep the Start menu items.

Yes	Uninstalls the Start Menu Items and PBS Fonts
No	Retains the installed items

You will get the message "Uninstall successfully complete" Click on the OK button and close the Add/Remove Programs window.

Uninstalling the Start Menu Items will not remove the PBS server data or programs but only the connectivity software from this workstation.