PCShare UB2 User manual (Version 5.0.0)  
 

2 An introduction to HELIOS PCShare

PCShare allows easy integration of powerful servers into Windows networks. It provides an extremely fast, reliable, feature-rich Windows compatible file and print server to unlock UNIX performance for Windows clients.

Note:

HELIOS PCShare runs on top of the foundation provided by HELIOS Base. Please read the Base manual for installation instructions and other important details.

The TCP/IP protocol stack

The TCP/IP protocol stack forms the backbone for the PCShare services. It is responsible for basic TCP/IP network functions, including those of network routing. PCShare supplies additional service protocol routing for WINS, Browsing, and DHCP services. This permits PCShare to be used to interconnect several physically separate TCP/IP network interfaces, and transparently pass information between them as required.

File server

Windows 2003 SMB/CIFS support ensures full compatibility with standard Windows programs, including multi-user applications. Sharing files and printers is simple and straightforward because there is no additional software necessary for Windows clients. Windows NTFS Unicode and file streams support ensures compatibility with modern Windows applications. Mac metadata is accessible via SFM compatible streams. UNIX permissions and quota are fully supported. A PCShare exclusive Explorer extension allows managing UNIX file and folder permissions from the client.

To network your host and thus your Windows computers with Mac computers use EtherShare. To provide real-time remote file access for web clients, use WebShare (see C “Glossary”).

HELIOS Admin server and HELIOS Admin

The cross-platform program HELIOS Admin is an administration tool which can be used to configure PCShare from any of the connected client workstations. It can also be used by regular users to check the configuration. However, they are prevented from making any changes.

HELIOS Admin communicates with PCShare through the HELIOS Admin server, which runs on the host while HELIOS Admin needs to run on a Java capable host or client workstation. The communication between these two programs takes place through a TCP/IP connection which allows managing multiple servers remotely and supporting concurrent TCP/IP connections (see “Logging on to the HELIOS Admin server” in the HELIOS Base manual).

WINS

PCShare can act as a WINS (Windows Internet Name Server), which is used on a PC network to map names to IP addresses. It can provide name, TCP/IP addresses, etc. when asked by Windows clients.

PCShare 2.5 client compatibility

There is a HELIOS service called “pcsdossrv”, which is meant for Windows 3.1 and DOS client compatibility. In earlier PCShare product versions these so-called “PCShare native” clients were serviced by “pcshare”.

Note:

If you install PCShare 2.5 client compatibility, please refer to the “ps20-eng.pdf” and “ps25-ad.pdf” manuals on your HELIOS installation CD for more details.

2.1 New PCShare features

For new features in the PCShare software see the HELIOS website:
www.helios.de Go to What is new in UB2.

For HELIOS Base, the foundation used by all HELIOS products, see the HELIOS Base product web page:
www.helios.de Go to Products > HELIOS Base.


HELIOS Website © 2011 HELIOS Software GmbH  
HELIOS Manuals October 6, 2011