Netscape and MSIE administration kits -- any info?

[Chuck Bearden]

--- On Mon, 23 Sep 1996 15:31:17 -0700  Andre Backs <backs at pbczh.nl> wrote:

>Walter W. Giesbrecht wrote:
>> 
>> Does anyone out there have experience with either of these packages?
>> Both of them *seem* to have the ability to create kiosk-like versions
>> of their respective products, but the available information on them
>> is frustratingly incomplete. Requests for more information from
>> either Netscape or Microsoft have been met with copies of their press
>> releases only. I am reluctant to part with $795 for Netscape's admin
>> kit, and we can't (yet) run the latest version of MSIE, since we are
>> still using Windows 3.11 here.
>Although I'm not familiar with the package it seems to be about the same
>as the Netscape administration kit. It does little more than personalise
>the browser to the companies whishes as fas as logo's and helpfiles go.
>It doesn't add any extra security features like the ones most of us here
>would like to seen in a public access web browser.

The press release at Microsoft seems to promise a bit more.  It isn't very 
specific, however, so it's difficult to know how much it delivers.  At $20 
for the CD, it's not very expensive to try.

"The IEAK Wizard offers a simple, intuitive interface for creating customized 
browser and distribution packages for hands-free installation. And the IEAK 
gives IS managers the ability to easily preconfigure and lock user options 
such as security, ratings and proxy settings, and manage those settings from 
a central location." 

"Preconfiguration of user options. It's easy to preconfigure proxy server and 
NetMeeting user location server settings, determine whether users should have 
access to software components such as Java, ActiveX Controls or scripting, 
as well as other user options providing increased control and security." 

>I have some plans to write a small shell program that uses OLE or DDE to
>embed Netscape or MSIE in the kiosk mode. Somewhat similar like using
>Excel to start Netscape to display a internet link.
>This shell program then would feature only the things I feel are safe
>for the public to use.
>(Safe in the sence that public can't prowl on my PC but do most anything
>on the Internet)

Do keep us posted!  

>Also I tend to use Borland's Workshop to remove some buttons and menu
>options from programs like Dialers and such. Only problem I see at the
>moment with that is the use of the righthand mouse button, wich gives a
>popup menu with nasty options in it. If anyone here has a method of
>getting rid of that (other than disconnecting the button) I would be
>much abliged.

Aye, there's the rub!  That right-click.  I know of no success at getting 
rid of that menu.  Anyone gotten rid of it in some way?

Do you have any solutions in mind for making FTP of files to floppy for 
users available?  Any thoughts on security at that end?  Is anyone out 
there offering FTP access to patrons?  

Best wishes,

Chuck

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Chuck Bearden			email: cbearden at hpl.lib.tx.us
Catalog Department		voice: 713/247-3499
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