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REVIEWS
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1991-07-15
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Subject: Re: Reviewer needed: netware
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 91 13:53:17 PDT
From: favor@ecst.csuchico.edu
NetLock is a utility for use with Novell NetWare which can reduce the
risk of legal liability for violation of software license agreements.
NetLock can keep track of how many people are currently using a
specific application, and deny further access to the application if the
maximum number of simultaneous users has been reached. This could also
restrict "network-blind" applications to a single user. NetLock will
also record the date and time an application was started along with the
current number of users, which could help indicate when additional
licenses are needed.
NetLock also has a couple of other interesting features, such as
allowing password protection of specific programs, and sending a
Netware message to a supervisor or other user whenever a specified
application is started.
Documentation is embedded in the single relatively small NETLOCK.EXE
file, and can be re-directed to a file. The source code and a couple
of other small related utilities are available to registered users.
The author, Julian Byrne, can be reached at: julian.byrne@monash.edu.au
or by airmail: Normanby House, Monash University, Clayton, 3168 Australia
[Soapbox On]
This program provides a collection of features that are already
available, for the most part, in slightly different forms. From a
technical viewpoint, a "secure ethernet" is an oxymoron, and NetLock
can not change that. The password protection built into Netware is
probably adequate in most cases. Many applications which are licensed
for a specific number of simultaneous users already provide their own
mechanisms for limiting access. And simple batch files can simulate
many of the NetLock logging features. I should mention there is
evidence that tracking employee computer use in order to monitor job
performance can have a strong negative effect on staff morale.
Overall, NetLock has some interesting features, but the only really
useful one seems to be to limit legal liability for software license
violations.
michael.
favor@cscihp.ecst.csuchico.edu
------------------------------
Subject: Re: Reviewer needed: netware
Date: Tue, 9 Jul 91 22:11:28 EDT
From: marcus@bart.cs.mcgill.ca
Hi -
I haven't had time to thorughly examine 'netlock', but I looked at it
today and was very impressed. The few things I noticed included:
- If the launch was unsuccessfull, the notified person is still
sent a message (can this be turned off? IE Only send message
if app *was* launched.
- Attempts made with bad passwords are not recorded in the log.
A 'bad password' notifier in the log file would be nice.
Other than that, I'm very impressed. Thanks for sending me a
copy. I would certainly register it.
- Mark
--
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Mark Freedman "The large print giveth, and
marcus@bart.cs.mcgill.ca the small print taketh away"
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
------------------------------
Subject: no subject (file transmission)
Date: Thu, 11 Jul 91 16:10:35 EDT
From: ckirie@csg.uwaterloo.ca
Bill,
Here is something resembling a review for the NETLOCK program you sent
me. Or course feel free to cut and paste this message as you see fit.
Test Setup: NetWare 2.12A network, with IBM AT and IBM PS2/70 workstations.
What Is It?
-----------
NETLOCK 1.00 by Julian Byrne: a utility that allows a Novell network
administrator to do the following:
- Set a limit on the number of users who may simultaneously
run a program
- Protect applications with a password (user must repeat the
password before the program will run)
- Monitor program usage (a network user can receive a message
when a given application starts).
The utility is run from the DOS command line. It operates on DOS applications
only (no Windows applications, although the documentation says that this
feature is in the works). There is a further restriction that the
application must be an EXE file (COM files can be converted using COM2EXE
or similar), and the file must not have any internal overlays. NETCHECK
looks for internal overlays and warns you.
What Do I Think?
----------------
It worked. It _does_ increase the size of the application by about 2k,
but this was expected, and is no real hardship. There are only two
problems I have with it:
- NETLOCK can set the attributes on an EXE for "execute only". Under
NetWare, anyone with supervisor equivalent security should be able
to set the bit. NETLOCK demands you be logged in as SUPERVISOR.
This is an unnecessary restriction, really.
- The documentation has a high fog index. It appears to be notes
that the developer wrote himself rather than a users' guide. Some
passages left me confused and sullen (and I am a NetWare developer
too).
Overall, it works like you'd expect, and has no nasty surprises.
-- Chris Irie (ckirie@csg.uwaterloo.ca)