Access X Hosts from home or in the field

Exceed/Xpress, available for the Microsoft Windows, Windows NT, Windows 95 and IBM OS/2 environments, is a 32-bit PC X server that provides PC, laptop, and notebook users high speed access to X-Window System applications on UNIX and VMS hosts either over standard telephone lines, using a modem, or directly via an RS-232C serial connection. Offering access to multiple applications running on multiple hosts from a remote site, Exceed/Xpress is ideal for those working from home or in the field, providing users outstanding interactive text and graphics performance.

Highlights

• High performance dial-up access to X
• Includes 32-bit PC X server: Exceed 5 for Windows, Windows 95, Windows NT and Exceed for OS/2
• Exceed 5 supports IP enabling Xpress to run over TCP/IP, SLIP or PPP
• Exceed 5 supports modem compression to maximize performance
• Includes custom scripting feature to automate dialing, login, and call-back procedures
• Remote file transfer and printing of UNIX files on local PC printers
• Available for Windows, Windows 95, Windows NT, and OS/2 platforms

Functionality

High Performance

Exceed/Xpress has been designed specifically to manage the increased bandwidth requirements of remote connections to X-Window System networks and hosts. As a result of system overhead reduction and a combination of compression and decompression techniques used, its performance far surpasses that of traditional methods, such as SLIP and PPP.

Compression Techniques Used by Xpress

The first type of compression takes specific X requests and reduces the amount of data they would otherwise require. The overhead in transmitting X-Window text requests is greatly reduced using X specific compression methods. The second type of compression uses algorithms to reduce the amount of data to be transmitted. Using this method, only the differences between messages and a reference to the compressed message are transmitted. The third type of compression uses a generic UNIX compression algorithm to further reduce the amount of data to be transmitted. In addition, for users whose modems support compression, an option exists to activate powerful modem compression techniques. This facility maximizes bandwidth allowing better throughput by allocation of some of the work to the modem. Using the above methods it is common for a 64 byte packet to be compressed into 4 bytes or less. Once compressed, the X-Window data is transmitted over the serial line using an extremely efficient protocol.

Implementation of the World's Number 1 PC X Server Software

Exceed/Xpress is a stand alone implementation of Hummingbird's popular Exceed PC X servers for the Windows, Windows NT Windows 95 and OS/2 platforms. However, the LAN network support has been replaced with the serial connectivity support. PC X server functionality includes such features as; X11 R6 compliance, 32-bit operation, two windowing modes, copy and paste of text and images, Exceed Basic scripting capabilities, Hummingbird's Remote Program Starter (hRPS) which permits the startup of clients over serial lines by simply double clicking on an icon, and much more. (For detailed X server functionality, please see the specific Hummingbird brochure.)

Specific Xpress Functionality

• For maximum performance, Exceed/Xpress can run over an IP stack such as TCP/IP, SLIP or PPP, as well as over its own protocol
• PCs without LAN support can access hosts remotely
• Provides access to multiple applications running on multiple hosts from a remote site concurrently
• Provides connection to host(s) over a local network and over serial lines simultaneously. X clients from both the local network and the serial connections can be concurrently displayed on the PC
• Custom scripting feature for automatic dialing, login and call-back

Compatibility

• Exceed/Xpress supports all terminal servers, multi-plexers, routers, and modem pools that are configured for an 8-bit data path
• The software is compatible with direct RS232C serial connections and modems (Min. req. 9600 baud. 14.4 Kbps & higher is recommended.)

Host Specific Software

Operation of Exceed/Xpress requires that the connecting host be installed with specific serial link software. Xpress/Host is host-based software supplied as a separate product in binary format for specific host operating systems:

Supported Hosts