Engineering Systems Programs, Dongles and Networks

Program installations are protected by dongles (hardlock keys) which prevent the unauthorized use of the program. There are three types of installation. 1. A single user dongle, which plugs into the back of the users computer, this typically is the fastest type of installation. The program may be installed on any computer but it only works when the dongle is plugged into the computer to be used. Data and library files may be on another computer on a network but this may slow the speed of the program. 2. A network dongle, this may have several users licensed to the same dongle. The dongle may be on another computer on the network or on a server. Best performance is when the program, data files, libraries and temporary files are on the local computer. Alternatively the dongle can be on the server or another PC and the program, temporary and data files on the local computer. Alternatively all can be on the server but as ES programs are computationally intensive this arrangement can be slow. The program must be able to see the dongle on the network at all times, there is a management program so that the Administrator can see who is using the program at any time. 3. A network dongle with a Citrix box or terminal server adapter. In this arrangement typically the program and files are on a specially set-up server with only the screen display and keystrokes going over the network. The server is typically of the multi processor type. This is suitable for large networks or where low specification local computers are used. Dongles can be loaned to customers in the UK so that alternative arrangements can be tried out.

Engineering Systems Ltd July 2006