Copyright notice No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any human or computer language, in any form or by any means, without the express written permission of LapLink, Inc., 18912 North Creek Parkway, Bothell, Washington, 98011, U.S.A. Trademarks LapLink, the LapLink logo, and SpeedSync are trademarks or registered trademarks of LapLink, Inc. Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Patents SpeedSync® U.S. Patent Number 5,446,888 LapLink® Remote Network Accelerator © 1998-2002 LapLink, Inc. All rights reserved 18912 North Creek Parkway Bothell, WA 98011 U.S.A. LapLink® Remote Network Accelerators Administrator's Guide © 1998-2002 LapLink, Inc. 1 Contents What is LapLink Remote Network Accelerator (RNA)? How does LapLink RNA work? Before installing LapLink RNA Overview of acceleration settings Providing acceleration Changing the LapLink RNA Server user account Overview of managing users Managing connections Understanding statistics Administering client settings Introduction to troubleshooting Troubleshooting LapLink RNA Server General concerns Problems with incoming connections Problems with the user account Troubleshooting LapLink RNA clients General concerns Problems connecting to a server Client performance concerns Cache concerns Server events Client events 4 6 7 9 10 11 14 15 17 19 22 22 22 22 23 25 25 26 27 28 29 31 2 1 Introducing Remote Network Accelerator In This Chapter What is LapLink RNA? How does LapLink RNA work? Before installing LapLink RNA 4 6 7 What is LapLink Remote Network Accelerator (RNA)? What is LapLink Remote Network Accelerator (RNA)? LapLink RNA is client/server software that speeds up remote access to an office network without altering the way users work. Whether users connect over virtual private network (VPN) connections or remote access servers (RAS), use a wired or wireless (802.11 or GPRS) network, LapLink RNA enhances performance by reducing the amount of information transmitted over the connection. LapLink RNA is compatible with a variety of VPN solutions as well as remote access software and hardware. Accelerates remote access More and more business people need to work away from their offices-- whether from home or such remote locations as branch offices and hotels. Many businesses are responding to these needs by offering their employees VPN access over the Internet so that they can connect to the office network and work much as they would over a direct network connection in the office. Unfortunately VPN access connections typically are so slow that they reduce productivity and may incur unnecessary costs. As a remote access accelerator, LapLink RNA uses sophisticated technologies to minimize the data transmitted between the network and the remote computer. The result is faster and more efficient remote access. LapLink RNA supports TCP/IP and IPX protocols. LapLink RNA works independently of the medium of communication. It enhances performance over VPN connections as well as analog and ISDN connections. It can improve even direct network connections, though less dramatically. Works in the background LapLink RNA improves remote access without changing or adding new interface. Users don't have to change the way they are used to working. Except for improved performance, they aren't even aware that LapLink RNA is running. A client/server software solution LapLink RNA consists of two services: · · LapLink RNA Server LapLink RNA (the client service) LapLink RNA Server can be installed on a Windows NT 4.0/Windows 2000 Server or Workstation, or Windows XP. The computer can be a dedicated network server, or a workstation. The client can be installed on a computer running Windows 98 or Windows NT 4.0/Windows 2000 Workstation or Windows XP. Using the LapLink RNA CD, you can distribute client installations via a 4 What is LapLink Remote Network Accelerator (RNA)? network. You can also customize installations by editing a Setup script file named Script.txt. LapLink RNA is entirely a software solution; there's no need to buy new equipment. And it works with a variety of third-party remote access products, including software (Windows 2000 RAS, for example) and hardware (such as Cisco 3000). 5 How does LapLink RNA work? How does LapLink RNA work? LapLink RNA speeds up network access by caching network files on the client computer, compressing data and transmitting it more efficiently, and sending only changes during file updates. LapLink RNA speeds up network access to your office network through a combination of technologies: · · · Local caching of network files Incremental updates using SpeedSync Better compression of data and more efficient transfer As a result of these technologies, less data is transmitted, data is transmitted more efficiently, and network access is faster. How caching works On a client computer, LapLink RNA maintains a cache of recently accessed network files. This cache is maintained from session to session and updated when necessary. While working on a file, the user works from the cached copy. When the user saves the file, both copies--cache and network--are updated. When the user opens the file again, LapLink RNA compares the network copy with the cached copy and opens the cached copy whenever they are identical. When the files are not identical, the cache is updated and then opened. How SpeedSync works When files are updated, SpeedSync shortens transfer times by sending only the parts of the files that have changed since the last update. SpeedSync works with a user's local cache to reduce the amount of data transferred over the connection. When a user saves a network file, for example, only the most recent changes are sent back to the network, not the entire file. A similar thing happens when a user reopens a network file that has been changed since the last time the user accessed it; only the changes are transmitted. How transmissions are shortened Compression speeds the transmission of data by "shrinking" files before they are sent and restoring them to their original sizes on arrival. For even greater efficiency, it also groups and compresses requests for data from the other computer. 6 Before installing LapLink RNA Before installing LapLink RNA Before you begin setting up LapLink RNA, make sure that your network and the server and client computers meet the hardware and software requirements necessary to run the program. Install the LapLink RNA client service on each computer that connects to your office network by remote access. Install LapLink RNA Server on a network server or a networked workstation that you can control and make available for acceleration at all times. General system requirements The office network must meet these requirements: · · A Microsoft or Novell NetWare network A computer running Microsoft Windows NT 4.0/Windows 2000 Server or Workstation, or Windows XP on which LapLink RNA Server is installed A VPN connection over the Internet or a remote access server (such as those available from Microsoft and Cisco). · Requirements for LapLink RNA Servers The computer on which you install and run LapLink RNA Server must meet these requirements: · · · · Microsoft Windows NT 4.0/Windows 2000 Server or Workstation, or Windows XP Intel or Intel-compatible processor that meets the requirements of your Windows operating system 16 MB RAM plus the RAM that meets the requirements of your Windows operating system 5 MB disk space free for the program files Our testing shows that Windows 2000 Server provides the best performance, and Windows NT Workstation provides the worst. !TIP Requirements for LapLink RNA clients A computer on which LapLink RNA client is installed must meet these requirements: · · · · Microsoft Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0/Windows 2000 Workstation, or Windows XP Intel or Intel-compatible processor that meets the requirements of your Windows operating system 8 MB RAM plus the RAM that meets the requirements of your Windows operating system 5 MB disk space free for the program files and at least 5 MB disk space free for the cache 7 Server 2 Configuring Remote Network Accelerator In This Chapter: Overview of acceleration settings Providing acceleration Changing the LapLink RNA Server user account 9 10 11 Overview of acceleration settings Overview of acceleration settings Customize network acceleration by changing the acceleration settings. Manage acceleration, view statistics, change logging settings, and set the account password in the LapLink RNA Server Properties dialog box. Access the properties by double-clicking the LapLink RNA Server service in the LapLink RNA Service Manager. LapLink RNA settings determine how to provide network acceleration for remote computers. They let you control incoming connections and specify how to log acceleration activity. Accessing the LapLink RNA Server Properties dialog box View and change LapLink RNA settings in the LapLink RNA Server Properties dialog box. This dialog box runs independently of the LapLink RNA Service Manager. You can keep it open even after you close the LapLink RNA Service Manager, and you can work in the LapLink RNA Service Manager without closing the dialog box. To access the LapLink RNA Server Properties dialog box: 1 To close the LapLink RNA Server Properties dialog box without applying changes, click the Cancel button. 2 · · · · Open the LapLink RNA Service Manager by double-clicking its icon on the Windows taskbar. Do one of the following: Double-click LapLink RNA Server. Click LapLink RNA Server and click the Properties button. Click LapLink RNA Server and click Properties on the Service menu. Right-click LapLink RNA Server and click Properties on the shortcut menu. Accessing different types of properties The LapLink RNA Server Properties dialog box is made up of four tabs: General, Statistics, Logging, and Advanced. Each tab contains different information about the LapLink RNA Server service. For information about logging, see the LapLink RNA Installation and Quick Start Guide. The buttons at the bottom of the dialog box affect the entire dialog box, not just the current tab. For example, if you click the Apply button when the Logging tab is active, you apply any changes you made on the Advanced tab as well. To access different types of properties: · Click the tabs at the top of the LapLink RNA Server Properties dialog box. 9 Providing acceleration Providing acceleration LapLink RNA automatically makes the server available for incoming connections. However, you can also manually stop and restart LapLink RNA Server for testing or special circumstances. Stop acceleration service and disconnect all users by clicking the Disable button in the LapLink RNA Server Properties dialog box. Restart acceleration service by clicking the Enable button. Once you install LapLink RNA Server, the server computer is available to provide acceleration service. It can accept incoming connections and act as a proxy between remote computers and the network. LapLink RNA automatically starts and enables LapLink RNA Server when Windows starts. There is no need to enable the service yourself. As long as LapLink RNA Server remains enabled, it is available for incoming connections. Stopping network acceleration Disabling removes much of LapLink RNA Server from memory. You can clear most of LapLink RNA from memory by clicking Suspend All Services on the Service Menu. For testing purposes and in special circumstances, you can disable LapLink RNA Server. When you disable the service you disconnect all connected users. For information about disconnecting users, see page 20. To stop network acceleration: 1 2 3 Open the LapLink RNA Service Manager by double-clicking its icon on the Windows taskbar. Highlight the LapLink RNA Server. Click the Disable button. Restarting network acceleration Enable LapLink RNA Server to restart network acceleration when your testing is complete. Enabling does not reconnect previously connected users to the server computer. However, it does make the computer available for incoming connections again. You can also enable and disable LapLink RNA Server from the LapLink RNA Service Manager. Click the Enable or Disable button on the toolbar. To restart network acceleration: · · · Open the LapLink RNA Service Manager by double-clicking its icon on the Windows taskbar. Double-click LapLink RNA Server. Click the Enable button. 10 Changing the LapLink RNA Server user account Changing the LapLink RNA Server user account LapLink RNA Server creates a user account in Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows XP. This account allows LapLink RNA Server to service incoming connections. If the account is changed or removed in the Windows Computer Management (or User Manager in Windows NT), it must be changed or replaced from the LapLink RNA S ...