Chapter 13

Client Issues


CONTENTS

While contemplating the necessary decisions regarding your server or servers, including what connections to set up for your machines, keep in mind what clients you will connect to the intranet. This chapter will help you develop the basis for your current client infrastructure, and, if you already have client applications in place, it should help you narrow down your shopping list of upgrades. The client hardware currently in use (or that will be used) likely will dictate what server hardware and software you choose. This chapter discusses various client hardware and software options and shows how these options influence server and connectivity applications. Becoming knowledgeable about the myriad options available to build an intranet will determine your intranet's functions and ultimate purpose.

Costs

The largest cost of building your intranet probably will be for client hardware, software, and upgrades. The types of server hardware and software, as well as the functions you include on your intranet, will likely be based on the client hardware on hand.

For users working on a contained LAN or WAN only, this assessment means a simple inventory. There will be more considerations for users who are planning to open their LAN or WAN to remote users and for users who are building an intranet specifically for remote users. Whatever the case, the client hardware will require one or possibly several definite minimum levels of compatibility with the server software. All users should be able to access and understand the functions at the basic level. An additional, more advanced level is recommended for more advanced users to utilize the intranet more fully.

Hardware Costs

As you build the foundation for your intranet with upgrades and purchases, carefully consider the display, processor speed, memory, storage (hard drive space), and peripherals, because these factors determine how complex and functional your server software will be. As you choose your framework, keep upward compatibility in mind. For example, a 386 or 486 computer with a slow processor usually doesn't require more than 12 to 20 MB of RAM (memory). More memory after that won't make the system as fast as upgrading to a faster processor would. As a client machine, a 486 or slower processor should have at least 4 MB of RAM to perform any of the applications discussed here. A 486 or slower processor is most effective with 12 to 20 MB. At the other end of the speed spectrum, a faster processor, such as a Pentium, will operate with 8 MB but would be more effective with 16 to 24 MB.

If you're working in a Macintosh environment, consider that a Performa or Quattra with 6 to 16 MB of RAM is roughly equivalent to the minimum PC machine just discussed. A PowerMac or clone should have at least 16 MB of RAM for optimal performance.

Likewise, when you're considering multimedia applications to add to your intranet, client costs will play a significant role. For example, even though installing server software that incorporates sound and/or video into your intranet can be relatively inexpensive, equipping all the client machines with multimedia peripherals can be very expensive. Although some personal computers sold within the last two years have sound and video capabilities, many do not. Also, Internet-based phone conferencing requires a high-quality microphone and speakers. Additionally, video conferencing requires a high-quality video card and a fast processor. Client machines expected to handle video conferencing should have Pentium or faster processors, as well as video cards with at least 1 MB of video RAM. The cost of preparing and maintaining a user base of qualified machines is a primary factor to consider when you're building your intranet.

Software Costs

Client-side software costs will vary widely, depending on the functions you want to perform on the intranet. Most new operating systems come prepackaged with several TCP/IP clients. Windows 95 comes with a Telnet client, a command-line FTP client, a mail client, and a Web browser. OS/2, MacOS, and Windows NT also come with various clients.

Also, many TCP/IP clients are available on the Internet for free or for less than $50 per license. Some cost as little as $10 or $15. These applications-known as freeware or shareware-typically aren't quite ready for commercial sale, either because they don't have as many features as commercially available software, or because they aren't as visually attractive (but still are acceptable clients for many users). The availability and cost of these clients are neither steady nor consistent. Intranet administrators might find that some users will want to use different clients, depending on the users' own preferences, skills, and job functions. Therefore, allowing users to utilize a basic freeware client and then find and install their own personal favorites might be a good option. Typically, no technical support is available for freeware or shareware.

Of course, if you want to purchase a full suite of products for your users, many such suites are available. Netcom, SPRY, Chameleon, FTP Software, and many other large Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and software makers offer such suites, as well as the suites available with operating systems such as Windows 95, Windows NT, OS/2, and Linux. This will probably reduce your technical support and training costs but will increase your up-front software costs. These suites can run as much as $150 to $350 per license, but they come with free or inexpensive technical support. In fact, with some of these suites, you wouldn't need a full-time systems administrator. Figure 13.1 shows an example of a suite of products.

Figure 13.1: Chameleon's suite of products.

The following is a list of a few suites and their contact information:

Distinct

12901 Saratoga Ave.
P.O. Box 3410
Saratoga, CA 95070
Telephone: (408) 366-8933
Fax: (408) 366-0153
ftp.distinct.com
www.distinct.com

EveryWare Development Corp.

7145 West Credit Ave.
Building 1, Suite 2
Mississauga, Ontario L5N 6J7
Canada
Telephone: (905) 819-1173
Fax: (905) 819-1172
info@everyware.com

FTP Software, Inc.

100 Brickstone Square
Andover, MA 01810
Telephone: (508) 685-4000
Fax: (508) 794-4488
ftp.ftp.com
gopher.ftp.com
www.ftp.com

NETCOM On-line Communications, Inc.

3031 Tisch Way
San Jose, CA 95128
Telephone: (408) 983-5950 or (800) 353-6600
Fax: (408) 241-9145
info@netcom.com
www.netcom.com/support

NetManage, Inc.

10725 North De Anza Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
Telephone: (408) 973-7171
Fax: (408) 257-6405
sales@netmanage.com
ftp.netmanage.com
gopher.netmanage.com

SPRY

CompuServe Internet Division
3535 128th Avenue SE
Bellevue, WA 98006
Telephone: (206) 957-8000
Fax: (206) 957-6000

Spyglass, Inc.

1240 E. Diehl Road
Naperville, IL 60563
Telephone: (708) 505-1010
Fax: (708) 505-4944
www.spyglass.com

Upgrade Considerations and Costs

When you're adding new functions to your intranet, an important consideration is the cost of upgrading your client hardware and software. Keep in mind the lowest common denominator-the least technologically savvy machine that will utilize the new functions and the cost of running the application on this machine. Consider the cost of the software, whether the client will require new hardware such as speakers or a new video card, and how much it will cost to install any hardware. Also, consider other hardware upgrade requirements, such as memory, hard drive storage space, and a faster processor. Is an operating system upgrade or replacement necessary? If so, how will a new or upgraded operating system affect other uses for the client machine? For example, some TCP/IP software isn't made for Windows 3.1 anymore, and some Windows 3.1 products don't run well or at all on Windows 95. Upgrading your operating system to lower costs for TCP/IP solutions might increase your costs if you need to upgrade a whole range of other products in order to be compatible with the new operating system.

Maintenance Costs

Finally, don't forget the necessary evil: How much will it cost to maintain this new hardware and software? Who will provide technical support for the hardware and software? Do you have the infrastructure in place to handle calls from remote users who are having problems? Keep in mind that there are companies that provide technical support on a contract basis.

Hardware

Although it's likely that the biggest factor in the client arena is software applications, it might make sense, especially if an infrastructure doesn't exist, to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of the different hardware platforms at the same time. One of the most challenging tasks in building an intranet can be connecting clients, but hardware and operating system choices can be important factors in easing that challenge.

MCKEON & JEFFRIES
McKeon & Jeffries runs a Windows for Workgroups operating system almost exclusively. In deciding which client software to incorporate, one of the biggest issues was cost. This company intends to eventually upgrade to Windows 95, so free or cheap clients that work well on Windows 3.1 are a good short-term answer because of the expected use of Microsoft Explorer, which comes free with Windows 95.

The accounting firm wanted a feature-rich but inexpensive browser. The answer seemed to be NCSA's Mosaic. For 150 users, the cost of equipping each machine with Mosaic saved thousands of dollars over Netscape's price and didn't lose a lot of features. Of course, users at home were encouraged to use whatever browser they wanted to purchase or download. NCSA Mosaic was very easy to install, and it left a very light footprint on the client machines, so memory upgrades weren't necessary. (A footprint is the amount of system resources, such as memory and processing power, that a program takes up on your computer.)

For some time, McKeon & Jeffries had been using Groupwise mail for internal e-mail, and with an inexpensive add-on, they could continue to use it with the new intranet.

The firm decided to use the freeware of CuteFTP to transfer files to and from the server. A feature-rich FTP program, CuteFTP lets users configure multiple hosts, meaning that they can easily put files in their own space on the server, in public space, or in a specific area with just a click of the mouse.

Macintosh

Although the Macintosh enjoys much less popularity in the business environment, it's much more popular in educational institutions, where the basis of TCP/IP and client/server applications originated. Many of the best and most user-friendly client applications were made originally or exclusively for the Macintosh environment. The MacOS 7.0 and upgrade versions come with an easy-to-use and stable TCP/IP stack that gives the user almost plug-and-play connectivity that is far superior to IBM-compatible PCs. As an example, when I was preparing a demonstration for a conference, I set up 12 Macs in a TCP/IP network with fully functioning clients in two hours. The following weekend, when I set up a two-computer LAN in my home, it took me more than 20 hours to get the network up and running. Macintoshes are currently a little more expensive than PCs, but prices have been getting closer to PC standards over the past year as a result of Apple's trying to increase its position in the home PC market.

The Macintosh is no doubt the simplest computer system to connect to the Internet or an intranet, because most models come with network and modem ports. Users can merely plug in a modem or a network cable, follow some simple instructions, and be networked in no time. The Macintosh makes it relatively easy to add hardware such as modems, additional hard drives, SCSI devices, speakers, and microphones-as long as that hardware is external. However, adding internal memory or additional video or sound cards internally is more difficult than with the average PC. Macintoshes offered sound capability long before PCs, and they seem to have a better grasp of how to integrate sound and video into the operating system. However, Macintosh sound and video quality is no better than on high-end PCs.

One drawback of choosing a Macintosh system is the limited availability of commercial software. At most computer superstores, the Macintosh section is relegated to a remote corner. Also, Macintosh's parent company, Apple Computers, has experienced financial and management problems lately, and its future remains uncertain. One good sign is that Apple has finally licensed its operating system and chip set to clone makers. Now users don't have to rely on a single source for OS and hardware upgrades, or even new machines. It's unlikely that the Macintosh will go away anytime soon, but finding software applications won't get any easier. Macintoshes have been able to create a Windows environment and run Windows programs with limited success.

MacOS is a very stable operating system, and System 7.0 runs well on 8 MB of RAM. A Macintosh Powerbook that I use with increasing frequency has 8 MB of RAM, but I wouldn't dare try that on a Windows 95 machine. It does allow for multitasking, meaning that users can perform several operations at once. Its multitasking is much better than that of Windows 3.1, and a little better than Windows 95, but not quite as good as Linux or Windows NT.

IBM Compatibles

IBM compatibles, commonly referred to as PCs, are by far the most common business environment in existing computer infrastructures and are probably the most common hardware platforms of remote clients. This is because a number of operating systems are available for IBM compatibles-all with some form of TCP/IP compatibility. However, they aren't without disadvantages. Until about a year ago, it was unusual for PCs to be sold with sound capabilities, and it's still possible that many remote users won't have sound or high-quality video capabilities. Also, it's much more difficult to set up a network socket with a modem, although some operating systems provide for much easier local network connections (on a LAN). Plan to spend some serious time supporting remote users who attempt to connect using a Windows 3.1 or Windows 95 client and a modem. Troubleshooting network sockets on these two operating systems is difficult. Dozens of factors, including hardware, network software, extraneous software, and operating system configurations, can get in the way of setting up a remote network connection.

When it comes to internal upgrades, including internal hard drives, video cards, and memory, IBMs are much easier to upgrade than Macintoshes. However, upgrading with SCSI devices, sound, and incoming video is more difficult on the PC. Keen competition for hardware, accessories, and software in the PC market keeps prices lower and the selection fatter than for similar products for the Macintosh.

Operating Systems

There are many operating systems for use with IBM-compatible machines. Some are more limited than others, and some have specific strengths regarding TCP/IP applications. Depending on what applications will be used, it's possible for certain users to work on one operating system while others utilize another. For example, someone who is administering an intranet might want to use Linux, while a casual user who requires a suite of other products might want to use Windows 3.1 or Windows 95. For instance, a user whose primary occupation is accounting or word processing might want to use Windows, MacOS, or OS/2 because of the strong applications for those uses. However, a user who spends most of her time using intranet or Internet applications might choose Linux because of its flexibility and stability, even though the word processing and spreadsheet applications aren't as rich.

Windows 3.1

Although Windows 3.1 (shown in Figure 13.2) is without a doubt the most widely used operating system in the corporate environment, it's relatively archaic by modern software standards, especially given the difficulty it has creating network connections through modems and LANs. However, much software and many support services are available for Windows 3.1. Although it's a relatively unstable platform (it's been known to freeze up when confused, as anyone who is familiar with General Protection Faults will tell you), Windows 3.1 runs well on 386 or 486 machines with 4 MB of RAM. It is a 16-bit operating system that doesn't offer true multitasking, meaning that you can't perform more than one operation at once effectively.

Figure 13.2: A Windows 3.1 desktop.

Windows NT

Windows NT, shown in Figure 13.3, is used primarily by high-end users on high-end machines. It's a 32-bit operating system that requires a minimum of 16 MB of RAM to run efficiently. It's been around since 1993 and is the parent of Windows 95. It has exceptional multitasking capabilities, and it can run most Windows 95 software. Some of its drawbacks, however, include its difficulty in configuring for networking and its lack of technical support, except for expensive support packages. It's very expensive, and it requires a proficient systems administrator to maintain. NT is currently a favorite of network administrators and high-powered users with high-end machines. Microsoft seems intent on supplanting Windows 95 with Windows NT. In fact, NT 4.0, released in August 1996, uses Windows 95's interface and NT's features.

Figure 13.3: A Windows NT desktop.

Windows 95

Windows 95, shown in Figure 13.4, is probably the most prevalent operating system for current TCP/IP network clients. By the time you read this book, there probably will be more clients that work on Windows 95 platforms than on all the other platforms combined. Windows 95, a 32-bit operating system, has reasonable multitasking and connects fairly well to TCP/IP networks on a LAN. It's a little more difficult to configure Windows 95 for dial-up networking than for direct networking. In fact, many Internet Service Providers have complained that Windows 95 makes it difficult for users to configure modem connections for networks other than the Microsoft Network. Although Microsoft claims it can run well with 8 MB of RAM, I have found that it's unbearably slow with less than 12. Windows 95 probably will be the prevalent operating system for the next five to 10 years.

Figure 13.4: A Windows 95 desktop.

OS/2

IBM's OS/2 is a little-used but versatile operating system. It's 32-bit, runs well on 8 MB of RAM, and has excellent multitasking capabilities. It's difficult to configure, but it comes with a stable TCP/IP stack that works with many ISPs when configured correctly. OS/2 has its own mail, FTP, Telnet, and Web browser client, and many Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 clients work well (although slowly). This operating system lacks supporting software applications, which is why it's not widely used. However, for those who would rather line the pockets of Big Blue than Bill Gates, OS/2 is an acceptable alternative.

Linux

Linux is a versatile noncommercial operating system created mainly by Internet users, who are constantly upgrading it. It runs efficiently on a 486 with 8 MB of RAM. It's a true 32-bit multitasking OS, and it's the most popular graphical interface for UNIX currently in use. It's available on the Internet for free (even though some publishers have packaged it with books). Linux is supported by a vast network of users on Usenet newsgroups. Although non-UNIX experts find Linux difficult to configure, it's the operating system of choice for many programmers and systems administrators. For people who know what they're doing, Linux is the fastest and most easily customized operating system available. You can find Linux itself, along with useful installation information, at the Linux Home Page, located at http://www.linux.org.

Note
Linux was originally developed several years ago by Linus Torvalds, who was looking for a version of UNIX that could be more easily configured, that was able to run on x86 machines, and, most of all, that was free. Linux was built with UNIX in mind. In fact, many users would be hard pressed to tell the difference. This UNIX system has been developed and debugged as a group effort by volunteers-no single organization is responsible. Anyone with a new convention can send it to Torvalds, who will test it and possibly include it in the next version. Here is his contact information:

Home address:

Linus Torvalds
Pretarinkatu 2 A 2
00140 Helsinki:
Finland

Work address:

PL 26 (Teollisuuskatu 24)
00014 Helsingin yliopisto
Finland

Telephone number:

+3580 70844265
Home e-mail address:
torvalds@kruuna.helsinki.fi
Work e-mail address:
Linus Torvalds@helsinki.fi

Other Operating Systems

A whole host of other operating systems are options for intranet clients, from archaic Amiga machines to Sun Sparc stations and Silicon Graphics workstations. Client machines range in price from less than $1,000 per workstation to more than $20,000 per workstation. However, unless a systems administrator has extensive knowledge of the hardware and software being considered, it's probably not wise to choose an operating system or hardware configuration that isn't widely used. Although I know that there is an extensive and fiercely loyal network of Amiga users on the Internet, they probably don't use their machines for the reliable transmission of important corporate data.

THE SPORTING GOODS AND APPAREL ASSOCIATION
The SGAA had very little decision-making authority over what client hardware and software their users would implement to access the intranet. The ISP with whom the SGAA coordinated to provide access to members who needed it also provided a rudimentary suite of TCP/IP applications. Basic Telnet, FTP, Web browser, and mail clients were included. However, it was recommended that-due to the additional features that are available in these applications-users purchase Netscape as a Web browser, Eudora for mail, and WSFTP for PC users and Fetch for Mac users as the FTP client.

The differences between the applications that come in the rudimentary suite and the other applications can be likened to the differences between Microsoft WordPad and Microsoft Word. Although WordPad is a capable word processor, it doesn't have the full features of Word, which means that the user just doesn't get much out of it. For example, with the basic Web browser, users can't view pages in the same style in which Netscape lets them view pages. With FTP, you can do preconfigurations with WSFTP that you can't do with rudimentary FTP. And, with Eudora, users get an easier and more efficient mail program than those that come with basic packages, which mainly tout their functional attributes. Also, because the SGAA's users work on many platforms, the company wanted applications that were available on both Windows and Macintosh operating systems

Software

As soon as you've chosen client hardware and a network connection, it's time to consider client software needs. Client software is what interacts with the server to complete a TCP/IP transaction. All the software packages discussed here translate requests or input into a language the server can understand and communicate with the server via TCP/IP protocol.

Browsers

If your intranet will host a Web server, users will need a Web browser client. The Web browser's function is to send file requests to the Web server and display the information to the client. Browsers typically show text and images. Some can transfer sound, video, and other files to the client machine. Many browsers also can send information back to the server using embedded forms. Users also can utilize a browser by typing data into online forms to transmit to the server. New browsers can even run certain applications, such as Java or ActiveX.

Netscape

Netscape (shown in Figure 13.5) has been, and probably will be for some time, the single most popular TCP/IP application available. It's available for MacOS, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows NT, and most UNIX platforms, including Linux. It runs well on 8 MB of RAM, and because it incorporates FTP, e-mail, and a newsreader into the browser, it requires fewer applications to run simultaneously when performing several functions. Netscape costs about $50 per user and can be downloaded from the Internet. Beta versions typically are available for free downloads, although these beta versions expire occasionally, leaving thousands of users scrambling to get on the server to download the latest version.

Figure 13.5: Netscape's home page.

Netscape incorporates Sun's Java language into its browser so that Java applications (or applets) may run inside the browser, which means that regardless of what operating system the client is using, an applet can be written to work equally well. Java is like running an application using Netscape as the operating system.

Explorer

Explorer, shown in Figure 13.6, is Microsoft's answer to Netscape. It has many of Netscape's features (see Chapter 19, "Browsers: Viewing Corporate Information with HTML"). It is free with Windows 95, and it runs efficiently on 12 MB of RAM. There is little argument that Netscape is the better browser by almost any standard. It's fast, it has many features, and it offers more flexibility to Web content providers. However, Explorer is catching up. The Web world is still watching to see which application will dominate the market. Although Explorer has all the power of Microsoft behind it, some users think it will go the way of eight-track tapes.

Figure 13.6: Explorer's home page.

OS/2

The OS/2 browser is free with OS/2 and runs efficiently on 8 MB of RAM. It's primitive compared to Netscape and Explorer (see Figure 13.7), but it's the only browser to run natively on OS/2.

Figure 13.7: OS/2's home page.

Mosaic

The National Center for Supercomputing Applications' (NCSA) Mosaic is a relatively full-featured low-end browser (see Figure 13.8). It's rich enough to cover all the basics, and it runs well on 4 MB of RAM. Mosaic is the basis for many browsers that come with commercial TCP/IP stacks. It's available on the Internet and costs about half as much as Netscape. Comparing Netscape to Mosaic is like comparing Microsoft Word to Microsoft Works: Although Netscape offers more features and extras, some users just don't need them, and therefore will find Mosaic suitable.

Figure 13.8: Mosaic's home page.

E-Mail Software

Probably the most important piece of client software is the e-mail client. E-mail, used to exchange messages and files, already has established itself as a commonplace application in many work environments. The differences among e-mail packages are mainly in their interface capabilities. All Internet mail is exchanged via Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), a common format for sending mail messages and files. Most e-mail software uses little of a system's resources, and some e-mail programs run on the server computer. Applications running on the client computer download the mail onto the client computer and allow the user to compose mail locally and then send it to the server. The current standard for mail servers is Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3), a mail server that holds mail in an inbox spool on the server to be either downloaded to the client machine or read by a server mail tool such as Pine. Pine is an application that resides on the server and that can be accessed using Telnet.

The next standard for mail, which is still relatively new, is Interactive Mail Access Protocol (IMAP). IMAP allows a remote client to manipulate mail messages in remote folders on the server. Currently, using POP3, only the inbox on the server can be accessed by the remote client. IMAP is more useful than POP3 because it lets remote users manipulate their mail on the server in a graphical environment using cut-and-paste features on any client while storing mail on the server instead of on a single client machine.

Eudora

Eudora, shown in Figure 13.9, is the most popular TCP/IP e-mail package on the market. It's feature-rich and flexible. (See Chapter 30, "E-Mail: The Basic Model.") A freeware version of Eudora is available, but to access most of the advanced features, you must purchase the software. Eudora is available for both the Macintosh and various Windows environments.

Figure 13.9: Eudora's mail package.

Netscape

Netscape's Web browser comes with a mail reader included at no extra charge. It isn't as feature-rich as Eudora, but it does provide the basics, such as message composition and storage, address books, message sorting, and mailbox compression (see Figure 13.10). Netscape's plus is its savings in system resources, especially if the user plans to utilize mail and Web browser applications concurrently. Netscape's Web browser is available for the various Windows operating systems, the Mac, and most UNIX operating systems.

Figure 13.10: Netscape Mail.

Groupwise

Groupwise, shown in Figure 13.11, is a popular LAN e-mail system that has a simple add-on for Internet mail. For offices currently using Groupwise mail, it's easy and relatively inexpensive to incorporate Internet mail into LAN mail. Groupwise isn't recommended for offices without established Internet e-mail because of its lack of features and its inability to conform to new standards as they evolve. Currently, it's available only for Windows 3.1 and Macintosh systems.

Figure 13.11: Groupwise mail.

SPRY Mail

SPRY Mail, shown in Figure 13.12, is the mail client that comes with the popular Internet in a Box software. It is a fairly good mail client, boasting speed and ease of configuration. It has many of the same features as Eudora but works only with the Internet in a Box TCP/IP stack. One of its strongest features is its capability to view the inbox remotely, meaning that you can delete unwanted messages without downloading them. I recommend SPRY Mail for organizations that purchase a full suite of TCP/IP applications for users. SPRY Mail is available only for Windows 3.1 and Windows 95.

Figure 13.12: SPRY Mail.

Pine

Pine, shown in Figure 13.13, isn't really a mail client. It's actually a program that resides on the server and is standard with many UNIX-based servers. It gives users the ability to read and send mail from almost any Internet connection. The mail remains on the server and can be saved in folders. Pine has many of the same features as the popular client-side mail tools, such as address books, search tools, and the ability to attach documents, and it has the added bonuses of being free and allowing users access to their mail from almost anywhere.

Figure 13.13: Pine.

FTP

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a method of transferring files from a client to a server or vice versa. As with e-mail, files are transferred over the Internet using TCP/IP protocol. The only difference between graphical FTP clients and command-line FTP is the point-and-click features. Additionally, FTP clients use few system resources.

CuteFTP

CuteFTP, shown in Figure 13.14, is a shareware/freeware program available on the Internet. It has many features and is used widely. CuteFTP provides an interface that looks much like a standard file manager, with the remote file system on one side of the window and the local file system on the other. Users can simply drag and drop files from the server to their machine or from their machine to the server. CuteFTP is available for Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 systems, but it isn't yet available for the Macintosh.

Figure 13.14: CuteFTP.

Fetch

Fetch, shown in Figure 13.15, probably is the most popular FTP client available. It's available only for the Mac, and it has many features. Although PC users have a wide variety of FTP clients available to them that offer comparable applications and features, Fetch currently is the best FTP client available for the Macintosh. I don't know of anyone using another FTP client on a Mac. Fetch has a premium freeware version available on the Internet. Like CuteFTP, Fetch works much like a typical file manager, showing the remote file system and letting users browse their local drives for files and/or directories. One notable feature of Fetch is that it lets you upload and download entire directory trees.

Figure 13.15: Fetch.

Command-Line FTP

Windows 95, Windows NT, and all UNIX operating systems come with a command-line FTP client. Because it doesn't have a graphical interface, the user must know arcane commands. See Figure 13.16.

Figure 13.16: Command-line FTP.

Telnet

Telnet clients are used to directly access the server. Users need a UNIX account on the server to access Telnet. Telnet lets users edit files and run applications on the server but demands few system resources. Dozens of Telnet applications (also called terminal applications) are available on the Web as freeware and shareware. I'll discuss the two most common Telnet applications-Windows 95 Telnet and NCSA Telnet.

Windows 95 Telnet

This Telnet comes with Windows 95 and Windows NT. It's free but has few features (see Figure 13.17). (See Chapter 29, "Telnet: Direct Access," for reviews of popular terminal applications.)

Figure 13.17: Windows Telnet.

NCSA Telnet

NCSA Telnet, shown in Figure 13.18, is freeware and is a universally popular Macintosh Telnet client. It is feature-rich and uses almost no system resources.

Figure 13.18: NCSA Telnet.

Internet Phone and Chat

A couple of the most exciting new applications on the Web are Internet Phone, which lets users talk, real-time and free of long distance charges, over the Internet, and Chat, which lets users carry on conversations real-time by typing messages back and forth (like chat rooms on America Online or forums on CompuServe). New clients are arriving on the market on a daily basis to perform both Internet Phone and Chat functions. Netscape is currently developing both an Internet phone plug-in in conjunction with InSoft, Inc. and Chat functions for use with its browser. (See Figures 13.19 and 13.20.) IBM and Microsoft likely will follow suit.

Figure 13.19: Netscape Chat.

Figure 13.20: Netscape's CoolTalk plug-in.

Summary

Now that you know which materials you need for a solid server, client, and connectivity foundation, you should have a better grasp of how you will begin to build your intranet foundation. Because it's much more expensive and time-consuming to upgrade client software and hardware than server software and hardware, many of your decisions probably will be based on an assessment of your current infrastructure. At this point, you might want to take an inventory of your current infrastructure or, in the case of remote users, attempt to gain insight into how technologically savvy your users are. Keeping in mind the current state of your infrastructure will help you make decisions as you continue through this book.