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Local vs. shared e/pop client installations
Technote: Q00008
Last Reviewed:
April 30, 2002
The information in this article applies to:
e/pop Professional Client 3.0
e/pop Basic Client 3.0
SUMMARY
This technote covers the differences, advantages and disadvantages of installing the e/pop client locally on a computer or shared on a file server. The e/pop client contains both client application files and personal user data files. A local installation keeps all of the various files together and a shared installation separates the application from the data.
Local installations
A local installation places the e/pop client application and the user personal data files in the same directory. Therefore it must be installed locally on the hard drive where only one user can execute the program. You should select a local installation if your network does not have a shared file server.
NOTE: Local installations have a distinct advantage of being able to operate even when other network resources such as the file server are not operational. WiredRed recommends local installations if you have already implemented a software deployment product such as Microsoft SMS or Tivoli and can easily distribute e/pop client product updates.
Shared installations
Shared installations use a common e/pop client application in a directory on a file server. Additionally, each user has their own set of personal data files that are created in a unique location that you define when you install the shared e/pop client.
When installing a shared client, you must specify a unique location for user personal data files. Once specified, the e/pop client application will take care of all the effort of creating a directory, making the user personal data files for new users and the individual user's account and identity when they execute the shared e/pop client application for the first time.
Selecting a unique location
The following describe the operation of the various user personal data file selections available. WiredRed recommends using the Program Files selection if you are unsure which selection is appropriate.
C:\Program Files\WiredRed\EPop
By selecting the Program Files directory, the e/pop client will automatically store the user data files in the Program Files directory on the default drive. Each user who runs e/pop on this computer will share the same user data files for e/pop. This setting is useful if multiple people use the same computer throughout the course of a day and you want those users to appear as the same e/pop user in the directory.
Documents and Settings
By selecting the Documents and Settings directory, the e/pop client will automatically store the user personal data files in the Documents and Settings\Local Settings\Application Data folder. This setting is useful if multiple people use the same computer and you want each one to appear as a unique user in the e/pop directory. Windows automatically handles which user personal data files are used based upon the Windows logon user.
NOTE: The Documents and Settings selection only works on all newer operating systems such as Windows 2000, XP where logon is required.
Windows Profile
By selecting the Windows Profile, the e/pop client will automatically store the user personal data files in the Windows Profiles directory. This could be the Documents and Settings\Application Data folder, WinNT\Profiles or Windows\Profiles directory depending upon the operating system you are using. Depending upon how the administrator of your network has configured the Windows Profiles feature, this could be local to the default drive or a roaming directory that is maintained on the file server on the network. This setting is useful if you want users to be able to roam while using e/pop (access their individual e/pop user personal data files regardless of which computer they logon to on the network).
NOTE: The Windows Profile selection works on all newer operating systems such as Windows 2000, XP or any previous version of Windows that is service patched and contains the updated Shell components of Internet Explorer 4.01 or later. Most Windows desktops have these pieces as they are required by most newer applications.
Specify location
By specifying a location, the e/pop client will automatically store the user personal data files in the specified directory location.
NOTE: Specified directories support environmental variables such as %USERNAME% and Universal Naming Convention paths such as \\Server\Share\.
Sharing the MyLocations file
The MyLocations file contains the default TCP/IP address of the e/pop server and various other connection related settings. This file can be either with the user's personal data files, or shared in the e/pop client application directory. The e/pop connection wizard defaults the MyLocations file to the shared e/pop client application directory for shared installations. You can modify this setting using the e/pop control panel.
Citrix and Terminal Services
The e/pop client shared installation procedure supports Citrix and Terminal Services environments.
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