DeskLink (HPOpenDesk FSC SMTP/MIME E-mail Gateway)
for HP3000sDeskLink (HPOpenDesk FSC SMTP/MIME E-mail Gateway)
for HP3000s
Designed from the beginning around Internet mail standards to operate in a mixed environment, and adopting the most common electronic mail protocols in existence, DeskLink provides a solution for companies ranging from single-system HP 3000 based environments, to large heterogeneous environments with hundreds of hardware platforms and dozens of existing electronic mail systems. Priced independent of hardware platform and licensed with an unlimited number of mailboxes per system, DeskLink truly provides an electronic communications solution that can grow with any organization.
The DeskLink HPDesk FSC (Foreign Service Connection) Gateway can function as a standalone gateway for HPDesk users, or in addition to the NetMail/3000 user interface (along with HPDesk users). The gateway provides a bi-directional link between HPDesk and any other SMTP compliant electronic mail systems. The DeskLink HPDesk FSC Gateway is composed entirely of software (no special hardware is required) and resides entirely on the HP 3000. DeskLink's MIME compatibility also allows the transfer of multimedia attachments; DeskLink will automatically MIME encode outgoing binary attachments on HPDesk messages, and decode MIME (or UUENCODED or BINHEXed or HP OpenMail's proprietary 'shar' format) attachments to incoming messages and make the files available to the HPDesk user as attached files. The administrator can even configure outgoing message attachments to be encoded using the older "uuencode" or "binhex" formats for compatibility with non-MIME compatible mail systems.
The DeskLink FSC gateway operates in real time, catching incoming messages and processing outgoing messages immediately. Still, it's interrupt driven structure means the CPU load is minimal and throughput is high even on smaller CPUs. The gateway handles any number and size of messages and attachments, and automatically disassembles and reassembles any HP 3000 originated file so HPDesk users can attach NMPRG, VFORM, or any other HP 3000 file to a mail message, and the recipient will have the files available when reading the message, completely reassembled in their original form. The gateway even recognizes the priority of messages, preserving normal or urgent messages. HPDesk messages to other DeskLink or NetMail/3000 systems also support read and delivery receipts.
DeskLink is a "SMART" mail server - meaning it fully supports all DNS (nameserver) lookups itself - it doesn't require that you pipe all your organizations e-mail through an Internet providers (or someone else's) mail server for final delivery. This eliminates one more possible point of failure during Internet mail delivery.
The gateway runs on any HP 3000 system (MPE/V or MPE/iX). For MPE/iX 5.0 and later there is no extra hardware or software required. For MPE/V and MPE/iX 4.0 or earlier systems it requires the Lanlink software to communicate with other SMTP compatible mail systems (Lanlink comes from HP - it is included with NS/3000 or Arpa services; or can be ordered separately). It must reside on a system with HPDesk (to use the HPDesk gateway) though only one DeskLink HPDesk gateway is required per network, as long as all your HPDesk systems can already communicate. No special hardware is required; the gateway will utilize your HP 3000s network connection for communication with other SMTP (Internet mail) compatible systems. DeskLink is compatible with HPDeskManager or HP OpenDesk systems (all supported versions).
HPDesk users can address messages to users on "foreign" systems by setting up foreign aliases and using normal HPDesk addresses, or by simply entering the name of the DeskLink gateway location and providing a regular Internet format address in parenthesis. Incoming messages from other SMTP systems appear in HPDesk like any other message, and are "reply"able like any other message. Attachments to messages are all made available as well.
Internet (or any SMTP compatible mail system) can address messages to HPDesk users by using the HPDesk address ("deskname/location/sublocation") and specifying the Internet name of the host running the gateway (the location and sub location are in fact optional as long as the HPDesk name is unique or identifiable by HPDesk's name resolver). DeskLink also allows addresses to be entered in the format used by Wollongong's MPE/V HPDesk gateway, "name%sublocation%location@nodename"; it will accept either form.
The DeskLink HPDesk FSC gateway process installs like all other 3k products as part of the standard installation job. One job stream installs or updates all 3k products automatically. You need only specify a few run-time parameters in the administration program (netmaint.pub.threek) such as the name of the system, HPDesk location you wish to use, address format for outgoing messages, and default encoding. In HPDesk, installation is equally straightforward, and complete step-by-step instructions are provided.
In addition, 3k provides regular updates and bug fixes via our Internet www and ftp sites. Customers can download and install product updates at their convenience 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world.
3k Associates (and our network of distributors around the globe) provide technical support via e-mail, fax, and telephone (toll-free in the U.S.).
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