Hang On To Your Seat With Symantec’s pcAnywhere 11

Mobile computing can be a liberating experience. But you can't have your freedom if your work is tethered to grounded information assets--unless you're using Symantec's latest version of pcAnywhere, an invaluable time, travel and human-resource saver.

More than ever, pcAnywhere 11, Symantec's remote-access software, puts mobile workers in front of immobile resources--such as servers and workstations--as if they were physically located at those very machines. (My laptop connected from an 802.11g WLAN to a box on an Ethernet connection, no problem.) Support calls generate an immediate response from technical staff.

Furthermore, huge file transfers are effortless. I sent a 60-MB file from a workstation to a wireless laptop in about 30 seconds. In addition, the new Command Queue utility lets you queue multiple transfers smoothly without affecting the progress of your work.

With pcAnywhere, resources are manipulated seamlessly as you view the host desktop on your display. Version 11 enhances the user experience with a more streamlined, intuitive and inviting graphical interface. Point-and-click features are predominant except for setup and remote-management tools. You'll also notice a similarity between Version 11's side-panel icons, menu items and the look and feel with that of Windows XP, older Windows operating systems and Java-based programs, respectively.

The full install includes pcAnywhere Manager, a Host Administrator for managing multiple hosts (not tested here) and LiveUpdate. In the pcAnywhere Manager, you open the Host Setup Wizard by selecting hosts. Select "Add," then choose a connection and other options as prompted. Add connections and you're done.

Remote configuration needs similar but fewer selections. Connection types are expanded to include COM ports, dial-up modems, SPX, NetBIOS, TCP/IP and ISDN. Connections can be facilitated using serial and parallel ports, and cable and DSL modems as well. With the Quick Connect feature, you can establish connections by entering the host computer name, IP address or phone number.

Even on a closed network, you can access systems, files and programs more securely than by using Windows shares. Compatibility with firewalls and routers--together with built-in encryption modes--mitigates your clients' information liabilities. Encryption types include PKI, symmetric and pcAnywhere encoding. The number of authentication types has also grown, spanning Active Directory, FTP, HTTP, HTTPS and LDAP.

Remote Management
Moving on, chat, clipboard transfer and session-logging enable remote work sessions. Above all, you can do most anything remotely that you can do at the host (except, of course, beat on it when it doesn't cooperate).

Also impressive, you can manage remote hosts quickly, with delays of mere milliseconds, using tools new to version 11 including a command prompt. Administrators accustomed to simple, direct command-line operations will be pleased.

Another tool, a task manager, is similar to that of Windows XP. Although it's limited to controlling applications and processes, tasks can be created, prioritized and terminated.

A registry editor enables maintenance and chores. A system file editor facilitates system support. The Change Computer State feature lets you lock, log off, restart or shut down the host and nicely rounds out the list. All tools fit seamlessly into the interface and use input/output data transfer for swift command communication. These tools perform with the same speed and finesse as other features.

The new Command Queue enables 11 options for DOS commands and multiple file transfers, including pause, save, cancel and prioritization. This "single file" approach to "lining up" transfers helps maintain an optimal level of available resources.

One nice surprise (albeit for an additional license of $100) is the thin-host software, which can be e-mailed or forwarded across a network and installed using the Quick Connect and Deploy feature. Now you can connect to hosts not running pcAnywhere.

Also of note, the searchable knowledge base and message boards are exemplary troubleshooting resources. The documents I read were clear, direct and helpful; the free message boards enable you to post questions that generate replies from Symantec support staff. One caveat: Forget about the costly phone support offering--$30 per incident or $3 per minute--unless you have money to burn.

I'd be remiss not to mention one misgiving I have about this latest version of pcAnywhere: the lack of a browser-based connection. It's so intuitive that one has to wonder why Symantec seemingly went out of its way to leave that out. With competitor GoToMyPC popularized by this option, you'd think Symantec wouldn't take the risk of losing market share.

Despite that exclusion, this package covers all the fundamental bases that a valuable remote connection application should include: security, utility, speed and ease-of-use. If your clients are looking for a product (or an upgrade at half the price) with ample connection and management options, you should examine this offering.

David Geer (geercom@alltel.net) is a freelance writer based in Ashtabula, Ohio.