Download an Evaluation Copy

HOBLink JWT for Mac brochure (PDF)

HOBLink JWT for Mac - Highlights (PDF)

Answers to JWT-FAQ's!

Attention! HOBLink JWT has reached EOL for Mac OS 9 and older, and is no longer supported for these systems.

Access Windows Applications from your Apple Macintosh OS X – Fast and Easy

"If you require cross-platform remote access to a Win2K server, HOBLink JWT is an excellent solution that is considerably less expensive than a full blown MetaFrame environment. The product's server-based, clientless architecture let's you easily connect your users to a Win2K terminal server."
Johnathan Chau

Windows 2000 Magazine

Why should I be interested in HOBLink JWT? 

• If you have a Macintosh OS X (HOBLink JWT is no longer supported for OS 9 or older) and would like to have access to Windows applications. 

• If you are a Mac business user and planning to use or already using tools like Dave, VNC, Timbuk2, Virtual PC or CITRIX MetaFrame. 

• If you are a Mac home user and would like to use Windows applications. 

• If you need remote administration of your Windows 2000 Server from your Apple Mac. 

• If you are an ASP and would like to give your customers using Apple Macintosh access to Windows applications. 

• If you have home offices with an Apple Mac that should also use Windows applications 

• If you are using an iBook/PowerBook and want to use Windows applications “on the road." 

• If you have a cross-platform environment including Apple Mac and other platforms, and everyone needs to work with the same Windows applications for a better compatibility. 

• If you are using Microsoft Project on Windows as well as on your Mac and you would like to give your users access to the same project. 

• If you want to have “Strong Encryption” for your Mac-to-Windows communication. 

• If you are thinking about a server-based computing environment for your Apple Macintosh users. 

• If you want to have a fast and easy-to-setup solution to access Windows applications. 

• If time and money count.

Then HOBLink JWT will interest you!

Overview - Positioning - Technical Requirements - Connectivity - HOB Enhanced Terminal Services - Business Benefits - Buy It!

The Ultimate Software Solution for Apple Macintosh OS X to Access Centralized Windows Applications

HOBLink JWT is the time saving, cost-efficient and web-based answer for fast, multi-user access to centrally located Windows applications and data on Windows Terminal Servers from Apple Macintosh's OS X. Apple Macintosh users will find that HOBLink JWT is a fast and easy way to access Windows applications and data by using just a browser. HOBLink JWT benefits the system administrator by allowing broad-based control over user settings and modifications, reducing administration workload and increasing user productivity.

• On-demand, multi-user access to centralized Windows applications.

• No local installation required, it is easy and fast to set-up on a web server and requires only a web browser on the Mac.

• Flexible load balancing and easy-to-use application publishing to streamline application delivery.

• HOBLink Secure to prevent unauthorized access to your Terminal Server/Terminal Server farm.

• Easy Print capability with only two printer drivers and universal printer support, HOBLink JWT eliminates print hassles and workflow clogs.

• A software solution that fits your budget!

Technical Perspective:

HOBLink JWT is written in 100 % Pure Java and is optimized for browser-based access from Apple Macintosh OS X to Windows applications running on:

• Microsoft Windows NT 4 Server - Terminal Server Edition and

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Family

  • Windows 2000 Server (Terminal Services)

  • Windows 2000 Advanced Server (Terminal Services)

  • Windows 2000 Data Center Server (Terminal Services)

• Windows XP Server (Terminal Services)

• Windows XP Professional

• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 

Positioning 
(Windows Anywhere)

HOBLink JWT enables fast and easy access to centralized Windows applications from Apple Macintosh OS X.

The main advantages are:

Windows Anywhere

HOBLink JWT opens the world of Windows applications to Apple Macintosh users: in the Intranet, on the Internet, and in other LANs and WANs.

Nearly any hardware device loaded with an Apple Macintosh OS X and supporting Java can work with HOBLink JWT. No additional client soft- or hardware is necessary. Just use your existing environment to get connected and participate from this server-based solution.

When you use the Microsoft Windows Terminal Services Architecture, all Windows applications are run and managed centrally, on the server. To complete this centralized architecture, top it off with HOBLink JWT, the server-based solution for Windows Terminal Server connectivity.

Because of the central installation, support costs can be greatly reduced. There is absolutely no support necessary on the client side.

HOBLink JWT's server-based architecture helps to reduce the Total Cost of Ownership and the Total Cost of Application down to the bare minimum.

Technical Requirements
(Web browser – Web server – Windows 2000 Server or Windows XP Professional – Ready to Go)

Java

HOBLink JWT supports any Java-capable platform from JDK v. 1.1 (Java Development Kit) and up. Since all web browsers are now equipped with a Java Virtual Machine (JVM), 99.9% of all platforms are already prepared to use HOBLink JWT.

We recommend using the latest versions of

• Apple Safari, the Mac OS X default Web browser or

• Microsoft Internet Explorer (min. v. 4.0 with the latest Java Virtual Machine) or

• Netscape Navigator/Communicator (min. v. 4.75).

We recommend using always the latest Java Virtual Machine. For Mac OS X, we strongly recommend using the Safari browser.

Web Server

HOBLink JWT can be installed either locally on a client or centralized on a web server. HOBLink JWT supports all known web servers on the market. As it works equally well on all of them, we make no special recommendation regarding which one to use.

HOBLink JWT communicates with Microsoft Windows Terminal Servers/Terminal Services supported by:

• Microsoft Windows NT 4 Server – Terminal Server Edition and

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Family

  • Windows 2000 Server

  • Windows 2000 Advanced Server

  • Windows 2000 Data Center Server

• Microsoft Windows XP Professional

• Microsoft Windows XP Server (or .NET, when available)

The Connectivity 
(How does it work?)

HOBLink JWT enables communication between the Apple Macintosh (see also: FAQs) and the Windows 2000 Server based on the Microsoft RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) over TCP/IP. HOBLink JWT can be installed as a local Java application, or as a Java applet that is downloaded from a web server. This solution works in the Intranet and over the Internet, as well as in other LANs and WANs.

HOBLink JWT installed locally on the client

HOBLink JWT installed centrally on a web server

HOBLink JWT can be configured locally with a local installation, or centrally when installed on a web server.

HOB Enhanced Terminal Services (More Power for your Windows Server)

The HOB Enhanced Terminal Services (HOB ETS) are additional software components for the Windows 2000 Server to extend the possibilities of communication between the Apple Macintosh and the Windows 2000 Server. The HOB ETS include:

Load Balancing

Broadcast: If you are planning to have, or already have a Windows 2000 Terminal Server farm, configure "Broadcast" and Load Balancing will distribute the load over the Windows Terminal Server farm. "Broadcast" is based on UDP. When a client connects to a Windows Terminal Server farm, either a connection will be established
a) to the first responding Windows 2000 Server or 
b) to the server with least load, or 
c) a list of all available servers will be displayed to the client, who then chooses one from the list. The administrator decides whether "Broadcast" uses a, b or c. If "Broadcast" is your load-balancing decision, you will have to have all your applications installed on all your Windows 2000 servers.

Use server list: This is your load-balancing configuration when you have different network segments connected by routers or if your Windows 2000 servers in your Terminal Server farm do not all have the same applications installed. "List of Servers" is based on TCP/IP (not UDP) and allows you to group servers for different departments/users in your company. An administrator groups Windows 2000 servers in the windows terminal server farm and saves these groups in a list file. When a client connects to a Windows Terminal Server farm, either a connection will be established
a) to the first responding Windows 2000 Server from a list or
b) to the server with least load from a list, or
c) a list of all available servers will be displayed to the client, who then chooses one from the list.
The administrator decides whether "Use server list" uses a, b or c. If "Use server list" is your load-balancing decision, you will not have to have all your applications installed on all your Windows 2000 Servers.

Connect via WebSecureProxy: This is your configuration if you need to protect your Windows Terminal Server farm from unauthorized web access. The WebSecureProxy is a component of an optional add-on product, HOBLink Secure. HOBLink Secure also supports "Strong Encryption" between your Apple Macintosh and the Windows 2000 Server, as depicted in the following illustration:

HOBLink Secure Solution

Important:
If you want to use load balancing, you will have to install the HOB Load Balancing component (included with HOBLink JWT) on each of your Windows Terminal Servers.

Security Options

Asymmetric Algorithms
- RSH (Rivest, Shamir and Adleman)
- DH (Diffie-Hellmann

Symmetric Algorithms
- RC2 – up to 40-bit data encryption
- RC4 – up to 128-bit data encryption
- DES – up to 56-bit data encryption
- 3DES – up to 112-bit data encryption
- AES – up to 256-bit data encryption

Message Digests
- SHA-1
- MD5

Application Publishing

HOBLink JWT supports Application Publishing to "distribute" Windows applications from a Windows 2000 Server (Terminal Server) to Macintosh clients.

Business Benefits
(100% Web-Based – No Local Installation – Fast and Easy to Set Up – Easy-to-Use)

• 100% web-based access for Macintosh users to Windows applications running on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Server - Terminal Server Edition or Windows 2000 Server (Terminal Services).

• No local installation necessary (but possible); just use your web browser on the Mac.

• Fast and easy to set up; runs within minutes in your whole company.

• Eliminates the burden of complex server components and administration.

• HOB Enhanced Terminal Services with flexible Load Balancing and easy-to-use Application Publishing streamline application delivery.

• Easy Print and Universal Printer Support eliminate print hassles and workflow clogs.

Further Information About Using HOBLink JWT

Expanding the Value of the Windows Terminal Server Investment (White Paper) (PDF, 10 p., 198 KB)

General Information on Windows Terminal Services/Windows 2000

General Information on Windows Terminal Services/Windows NT Server 4.0

Technical Information / Administration Guidelines

Download User Manual

Recommendations and Known Limitations

FAQ's

Service Packs for HOBLink JWT (Requires User ID and password. For more information, please contact Support@hobsoft.com)

Review of HOBLink JWT in Windows 2000 Magazine

Further Information / How to Purchase

  Download User Manual

You can get further information on HOB products, or purchase them, from any of our international offices or from HOB International Distributors & Resellers.

Buy HOBLink Products online at our WebShop and download them immediately!

For technical information please contact our support department.

webmaster@hobsoft.com, Last Updated: 07-Nov-07