Thin Client Installation

There are two sides to the Thin Client Installation, the server side and the client side. In the following description, the CIS demonstration package provided by DAC will be used as an installation example. DAC has already installed the server side software so you may skip to the client side description.

Server Side Installation:

  1. A brief description of server directories and files follows:

    Server Files for DataAspects CIS Demonstration
    Directory
    Files
    /usr2/trim/prod/ CIS Application: dacdemo.gap
    /usr2/trim/bin/ TRIM executable files
    /usr2/trim/cis/ CIS Run File: dacdemo.run
    CIS Reference Files: merckwr.txt, pdrwr.txt, usermsg.txt
    /usr2/trim/fnc/ DAC & TRIM Functions
    /usr2/trim/lib/ TRIM library files, dac_demo_server.ini
    /usr2/trim/pamc/ Stores structure lists, sample lists & queries created by user
    /usr2/trim/rpc/ Daylight Remote Procedure Calls
    /usr2/trim/term/ pc_color.key
    /usr2/trim/widgets/ rtarrowb.gif, uparrowb.gif, dnarrow.gif, leftarrow.gif, pound.gif, dnarrowb.gif, leftarrowb.gif, rtarrow.gif, uparrow.gif

  2. The DAC_DEMO_SERVER.INI file is shown below. It manages all of the environmental variables that are common to all of the thin client users. 
    # DAC_DEMO_SERVER.INI lists the env variables on the CIS server that are used by 
# all clients.  Note that spaces (not tabs) are used as delimiters between 
# env vars and their values and that comments begin with #.

# Server OS
server_os 1                         #nt=0, unix=1, vms=2
image_os  1                         #nt=0, unix=1, vms=2

#DAYLIGHT PARAMETERS
day_parms  &datatype=SMI&dbname=cis&dbpw=cheminfo&uname=dayuser&upw=mck625c

#HELPER APPLICATIONS
grins    http://192.0.2.16/dayhtml/java/Grins.html      #Java_GRINS Inside firewall

#HTML help 
chemnet    http://www.dataaspects.com/chemnet.html                  # URL to Chemistry URLs
chemfinder http://chemfinder.camsoft.com/
da_help    http://www.dataaspects.com/support.html                  # URL to DAC functions
GettingStarted http://www.dataaspects.com/GettingStarted.html       # URL to DAC GettingStarted
nci_db     http://165.112.92.33/ncidb/nci.html
oakwood    http://www.oakwoodchemical.com/
ras_manual http://www.umass.edu/microbio/rasmol/distrib/rasman.htm  #URL to Rasmol manual
sigma      http://www.sigma-aldrich.com/
trim_help  http://www.trifox.com/trimpl/index.html                  # URL to Trim functions

#DIRECTORIES
cis_dir         /usr2/trim/cis/       # path to application run files
help_dir        /usr2/trim/help/      # path HTML help on applications
mass_dir        /usr2/trim/massspec/
user_server_dir /usr2/trim/           # user hit lists; username appended in main.trg
widgets_dir     /usr2/trim/widgets/

# APPSERVER
cisserver net:user/passwd@1958:216.49.57.55!/usr/local/bin/vtxhost.net@@1958:192.0.2.51!VTX0,ORACLE_HOME=/export/home/oracle/app/oracle/product/8.1.5,ORACLE_SID=oracle

#IMAGESERVER
imageserver  net:dataaspects@1958:216.49.57.55!/usr/local/bin/vtxhost.net@@1958:192.0.2.20(pamc/rrflat)!/usr2/trim/bin/vtxfcp

#THORSERVER
thorserver   net:chemcop@1958:216.49.57.52(user/passwd)!VTX17,TRIM_HOME=/usr2/trim

# __________DayCGI__________
chemserver    http://216.49.57.52/
chemservern   http://216.49.57.52/

    Client Side Installation

    1. Thin Client files can be downloaded using an anonymous login to ftp.dataaspects.com and cd pub/outgoing. Remember that '.exe' files are binary files while '.ini' and '.vgd' files are ASCII files. Distribute these files into the following directories on the Windows client.

      Thin Client Files for DataAspects CIS Demonstration
      Directory
      Files
      c:\DAspects\bin\ dvslave.exe
      c:\DAspects\cache\ Empty dir (stores temporary files downloaded from server)
      c:\DAspects\lib\ dac_demo_slave.ini, dac_demo_client.ini
      800x600_Win98.vgd, 1024x768_Win98.vgd, 800x600_WinNT.vgd, 1024x768_WinNT.vgd
      c:\DAspects\myfiles\ Empty dir (stores tab delimited 'xls' files created by user)

    2. The GUIapp Icon properties for Win NT/95/98/NT Create a short cut to dvslave and set the following icon properties:
      • Target C:\daspects\bin\dvslave.exe -iC:\daspects\lib\dac_demo_slave.ini
      • C:\daspects\bin

    3. Configuring the 'dac_demo_slave.ini' file: When the Target Command is executed, dvslave.exe reads the client's dac_demo_slave.ini file to get the environmental variables required to connect to the server. An example of an dac_demo_slave.ini follows. 

      rem ---------- Trifox Virtual GUI specifics --- Pat McGreevy, 26 May 00
rem ---------- Icon Short Cut: C:\trifox\bin\dvslave.exe -iC:\daspects\lib\dac_demo_slave.ini
rem ---------- Icon Start in:  C:\daspects\bin
auto_start     yes
env_vars       TRIM_HOME=/usr2/trim/,DAC_DEMO.INI=/usr2/trim/lib/dac_demo_server.ini

hostname       216.49.57.52
working_directory /usr2/trim/run/
program        dvrun
parameters     dacdemo
packetsize     4096                         -- network packet size (send/recv)
port           1959                         -- port (overrides /etc/services)

default_file       c:\daspects\lib\1024x768_Win98.vgd --file for default fonts

    4. Display: The last variable in the above file, which is called 'default_file', must be set to match the client's display settings found in 'control panel / Display / Display Properties / Settings'. DAC provides four display Font files (1024x768_WinNT, 800x600_WinNT, 1024x768_Win98, 800x600_Win98). Note that the CIS has large Windows to present a large amounts of data and that display resolutions of 1024 by 768 pixels look the best.

    5. Configuring the 'dac_demo_client.ini' file After connecting to the server, the CIS application, dacdemo, is run and it reads the 'dac_demo_client.ini' file to get the local environmental variables shown below. This file lists the paths to the local helper applications used by the CIS and it must be configured for each Windows client.

      # DAC_DEMO_CLIENT.INI for thin client PAMC running Win98.
# Note that spaces (not tabs) are used as delimiters between 
# env vars and their values and that comments begin with #.
# You must edit the ip addresses, paths, filenames, usernames
# and passwords to fit the configuration of your client.
#   Pat McGreevy, 15 May 00

# CLIENT CONFIGURATION
client_os 0                         #nt/95/98=0, un=1, s8=3; 3.1=9
trim_config 1                       #fat=0, thin=1, java=2
location  1                         #WR Firewall: inside= 0, outside= 1

# HELPER APPLICATIONS
acrobat    c:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 4.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe
browser    c:\Program Files\NETSCAPE\Communicator\PROGRAM\netscape.exe 
chemdraw   c:\chemoffice\chemdraw\chemdraw.exe   #Delete path if not installed
excel      c:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\EXCEL.EXE
raswin_dir c:\raswin\
jcampvw    c:\jcampvw\jcampvw.exe

# DIRECTORIES
cache_dir    gui!c:\daspects\cache\              # save pdf, html & pdb files on client
path         c:\daspects\cache\                  # same as cache_dir, but w/o 'gui!'
ship_dir     gui!c:\trifox\ship\
raswin_dir   c:\raswin\
user_dir     gui!c:\daspects\myfiles\

    6. Try it: Double click on your 'GUI' icon. There will be a short delay of a few seconds before the connect window appears. The 'username/password' have been hard coded so just hit OK to display the Start window. Open 'menu bar / demo' for an HTML document that will guide you through the demo.
        Updated 1 June 00. Copyright DataAspects Corporation 1998.