White paper en

White Paper
version 5.0
FRACTALIA Software

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A. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................................................... 4
B. TOOLS ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 5
1. ADMINISTRATION ................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
2. PROTECTION OF THE HARD DISK ................................................................................................................................................................. 5
3. MASSIVE DISTRIBUTION OF SOFTWARE P2P ................................................................................................................................................ 5
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4. DETECTION OF PATCHES ........................................................................................................................................................................... 6
5. INVENTORY, EVENTS AND ALARMS .............................................................................................................................................................. 6
6. ACCESS CONTROL AND SECURITY POLICIES .................................................................................................................................................. 7
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7. REMOTE CONTROL ................................................................................................................................................................................. 7
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8. BAND WIDTH ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
9. VPRO ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
10. INSTANTANEOUS OPERATIONS .................................................................................................................................................................. 9
11. LICENCES .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 9
12. PATCH MANAGEMENT ............................................................................................................................................................................ 9
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13. REPORT SERVER ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 9
14. ANTIFRAUD PROTECTION ......................................................................................................................................................................... 9
15. FRACTALIA BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE ............................................................................................................................................................ 9
16. FRACTALIA REMOTE ASSISTANCE ............................................................................................................................................................. 10
C. FRACTALIA MANAGER (FM) ..................................................................................................................................................... 11
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1. ARCHITECTURE ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 11
2. SERVER ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
3. AGENT ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
1. Layer of Fractalia Manager ........................................................................................................................................................ 12
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2. Layer IriScene Recovery System .................................................................................................................................................. 13
4. CHARACTERISTIC’S ................................................................................................................................................................................ 14
1. Total management from a single consol .................................................................................................................................... 14
2. Instant Recovery System (IRS) ..................................................................................................................................................... 15
3. Distribution of software .............................................................................................................................................................. 15
4. Hardware and software inventory .............................................................................................................................................. 16
5. Events report ............................................................................................................................................................................... 16
6. Remote Control ........................................................................................................................................................................... 17
7. Dynamic Groups .......................................................................................................................................................................... 18
D. REQUISITES OF THE SYSTEM ..................................................................................................................................................... 20
5. AS REGARDS THE SERVER ........................................................................................................................................................................ 20
1. Hardware Requisites ................................................................................................................................................................... 20
2. Software Requisites .................................................................................................................................................................... 20
6. AS REGARDS THE CLIENT ......................................................................................................................................................................... 21
1. Hardware Requisites ................................................................................................................................................................... 21
2. Software Requisites .................................................................................................................................................................... 21
7. NETWORK CONNECTIVITY ....................................................................................................................................................................... 21
1. Typology of the connectivity ....................................................................................................................................................... 21
2. Band width required ................................................................................................................................................................... 22
E. INSTALLATION PROCEDURE ..................................................................................................................................................... 24
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1. ANALYSIS AND/OR DEFINITION OF THE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK .............................................................................................................. 24
2. POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE INSTALLATIONS IN CLIENT COMPUTERS ....................................................................................................................... 24
3. IMPLEMENTATION ................................................................................................................................................................................ 25
F. CONCLUSIONS.......................................................................................................................................................................... 27

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Fractalia Remote Systems, S.L. Registered in the Mercantile Registry of Madrid Volume 14,699 Section 8 Sheet 223, Page M-243866 Tax No. B-82513425

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About Fractalia Software
Fractalia Software is an Information Technology Research & Development Company, a
leader in the development of robust and effective solutions for the management and control
of large computer networks. Development and innovation is our aim. We have developed the
most advanced system of large PC networks, Fractalia Manager, a vanguard solution which
guarantees the maximum level of operation. Large companies and organisations have placed
their trust in our solution, which provides their business with a new concept of remote
management of computer networks.

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A. Introduction
Fractalia Manager (FM) is an innovative solution which joins all the tools required for effective
management of your computing area in a single interface.

Administration: “Master Admin” profile in the server for easy management of multi-client
environments.

Protection of the hard disk: this guarantees the maximum operability of your PCs

Massive distribution of P2P software: this keeps your PCs always updated and
personalised.

Detection of patches: this is always updated automatically.

Inventory, events and alarms: this knows the state of your network in detail and in real
time, and improves the backup services

Access control and Security Policies: this controls the applications which are executed
in your PCs, it monitors processes and URLs accessed and blocks the devices you wish to
be blocked.

Remote Control: this obtains the maximum response speed in the event of incidences

Measurement of broadband: this permits the diagnosis of the network flow.

VPro: Intel technology integrated into Fractalia Manager.

Instantaneous operations: this executes instantaneous operations in terminals which are
in networks protected by a proxy.

Licences: this makes it possible to assign a number of licences for terminals to a
determined company which uses the tool.

Patch Management: management of patches and updates, integrated with Microsoft
WSUS.

Report Server: a new server that offers reports via the web to final users. Predefined
reports for Inventory, Distribution of SW and application use.

Antifraud Protection: helps the operator combat user abuses when employing the
terminals.

Fractalia Business Intelligence: provides a platform for the automation of data mining.
The results of the analysis of such data, operational and functional in character, will
provide valuable information to support more effective business intelligence processes.

Fractalia Remote Assistance: a system of remote assistance on user request.

Regardless of the type of network of your computer resources, it reduces costs, increases their
functioning time and saves in costly technical visits. It is the fastest, simplest and most secure
solution for managing, controlling and backing up your PC network.

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B. Tools

1. Administration
“Master Admin” profile in the server for easy management of multi-client environments.

Single user to “replace” company administrator users, permits a user to enter remotely to
share the same environment and verify the correct operation of a company from the client’s
point of view.

Creation of update packets is available to all companies.

2. Protection of the hard disk
The Instant Recovery System (IRS) technology is particular to FM and working at a very low
level (at sector level) it enables us to establish the recovery points of the hard disk and to
return to a previous known state. Both actions establish and recover a known state, and this
can be done locally or remotely, individually or massively to a group of terminals.

The process for establishing a recovery point only takes a few moments and there is no
interference with the user, it also consumes very few hard disk resources as it does not make
a total copy of the hard disk.

Multiple recovery points can be established. This technology enables us to have total control
over the state of the terminals distributed as we always have the possibility of returning to a
known recovery point at which the equipment functions correctly.

3. Massive Distribution of software P2P
It is a fundamental module in a solution for remote management of terminals. It allows us to
install applications, updates, patches, hot fixes in short, any software package in a massive
and unattended way.

It uses Peer-to-Peer (P2P) technology that segments each software packet into fragments
that are shared among the terminals that form part of the PC fleet (peers).

The certification at shared fragment level guarantees security in the download and can make
massive distribution more efficient.

FM is a highly scalable solution with this technology, as the bottleneck that downloading
packets from a server or a middleware network supposed is no longer critical.

This module interacts with the hard disk protection module (IRS) offering a combination of
high availability and up-to-dateness for a distributed PC fleet.

All the communications protocol is encapsulated in HTTP (transparent for firewalls), supports
proxies, so that the solution is versatile, and performs correctly in very heterogeneous
networks.

Generation of packets and update groups at server and not only at company level.

It allows the generation of packets at server level to offer to multiple companies with the
advantage of only one publication. Companies can use these packets and update groups

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without the possibility of modification. This facilitates the distribution of common packages
without a specific licence (utilities, “acrobat reader”, etc...) to all the clients of MSP.

Software Self-Service

Utility that lets the users themselves select applications and install them in their equipment.
Totally integrated with FM, the administrator selects the applications that will be public and
visible for each PC and the user selects those that they consider opportune.

When the selection is made, these applications are assigned by the platform to the PCs and
are downloaded, installed, etc like any other package and incorporated into reports, events,
etc.

SET (“Secure Evolution Technology”)

This allows a comfortable management and technological evolution of the distribution of SW,
packages and applications.

Installation and uninstallation of the applications is automatic, on assigning and unassigning
these packages to the terminals.

It allows the configuration of profiles and groups, installation and uninstallation of applications
when a profile or group is changed.

Reinstallation of applications after an uninstallation by the user: this forces the content of the
affected profile.

4. Detection of patches
The terminals are catalogued by their hardware and software, and automatically receive the
relevant updates of Windows, Office, Acrobat, depending on the group they belong to.

The detection of patches uses all the power and technology of the massive distribution of
software.

5. Inventory, events and alarms
This is an extremely complete tool which provides very precise information on the hardware
components of the equipment, as well as on the applications installed.

It is a detailed, high resolution inventory which provides reports and filtered material so that
we select terminals which comply with certain requisites in order to operate on these
(establish a recovery point, distribute software, etc.).

It notifies the changes which have taken place as regards software and hardware and, at any
time, we know the state of the terminal resources.

Alarms can be programmed in accordance with defined conditions and a set of software tools
for development (SDK) are placed at the disposal of the client in order to obtain specific
information from the terminals and integrate this with other solutions.

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6. Access Control and Security Policies
This supervises the state of the terminals, deploys critical security actions and generates
events and alarms. It can interact with the protection module of the hard disk (IRS) in order to
return to a known point if this is necessary.

This controls and manages the access of groups of users to determined Web Sites as well as
the execution of certain applications. Moreover, it permits the restriction of the execution of
the black and white lists of applications at kernel level.

It permits the filtering of the access of families of external peripherals to the computer devices
and entry and exit points.

7. Remote Control
This permits remote access to the terminals and interaction with the desktop, it is totally
integrated with the solution and bases its technology on the ‘Ultra Virtual Network Computing’
(UVNC) protocol.

The remote control can be initiated by the administrator of the network or at the request of a
user with problems in his terminal.

This tool makes it possible to enable the need for access permits, automatic access without
acceptance from the user, as well as the collection of logs of operations in order to guarantee
their correct use.

As an additional advantage, the FM system makes it possible to remotely control this
equipment with no need to open entrance ports in the final components of the networks:
Routers, firewalls, etc.

It also permits the establishment of remote connections with terminals protected by an HTTP
proxy.

8. Band width
This tool makes it possible to diagnose the network flow of a group of terminals through the
downloading of a resource by the terminals registered in this group.

9. VPro
This takes the inventory of the PCs, and diagnoses and repairs the systems from a remote
centre, therefore, it reduces costly visits to the work posts.

This keeps the security patches updated or adds new security layers to all the PCs in its
organisation even though the environment of the user is not available.

The PCs with Intel VPro and Centrino Pro processing technology for laptops provide
exceptional performance as regards the demanding computer tasks, and are ideal for
professional environments, in a low energy consumption encapsulation, together with the
virtualisation system, the AMT (Active Management Technology) technology and the graphic
double nucleus integrated processor.

The main functionalities of VPro with Fractalia Manager are the following:

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Remote control of the BIOS.

This makes it possible to redirect the start-up of the PC to a disk image, or an extractable
floppy type device or a CD/DVD, which permits a hardware diagnosis in order to identify
possible problems in the client equipment, using the VT100 or ANSI emulation and several
translations of keys.

The possibility to remotely block certain peripherals of the PC client and even the
execution of scripts.

Direct connection with the mapping of ports or as a repeater to access from the exterior
with no need to map ports. To do this, at least one of the pieces of equipment must be ON,
and with this it is possible to control and send orders to the rest of the network equipment,
such as executing the action switching this on at a determined time or carrying out the
specific action involved in forcing the hardware inventory, having the configuration and the
state updated through the AMTService.

Access by remote control to the Instant Recovery System consol, with the possibility of
restoring a PC which does not start up, with no need for visits or interaction by the user,
recovering the equipment in a minimum time so that it becomes operative again.

To obtain the list of Recovery Points, even when the equipment is turned off.

Enterprise Mode: integration with Active Directory and encrypted connections.

It remotely updates the BIOS/fFMware.

It keeps the equipment updated, for example, by sending an order to turn on during the
night and thus updating the software so that the user always has his equipment updated
the following day, reducing the time of activity to the maximum.

It detects the need for critical patches and installs these through vPro.

It detects network problems and their alerts problems and it can even cut off the network
traffic if this is wished and if the patterns found are dangerous, thus avoiding the intrusion
of viruses and worms in the organisation.

The possibility of writing the software inventory in a non-volatile memory.

Notification and filtering in the Fractalia Manager system of own or vPro SNMP (Simple
Network Management Protocol) or those defined within the Fractalia Manager system.

To carry out vPro operations instantaneously through remoting technology (Genuine
Channels).

To execute operations on groups of terminals.

The possibility to change the user and password which are initially entered in the BIOS of
the AMT.

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10. Instantaneous Operations
This tool makes it possible to assign operations to the terminals and have these carried out
immediately.

11. Licences
This tool is very useful for companies which are in charge of distributing the Fractalia
Manager tool to other companies as it makes it possible to create licences of use for each of
the companies which are registered in the system.

12. Patch Management
Patch and update management is integrated with Microsoft WSUS. This allows the
integration of WSUS update packages with P2P software distribution and SET “Secure
evolution Technology” management.

13. Report Server
A new server to offer reports to final users via the web. Predefined reports on Inventory, SW
Distribution and use of applications. This allows direct reports to be offered to clients without
using the operator management tool.

Total terminals managed
Global list of terminals
Detailed SW and HW inventory related to the above

SW packages distributed
List of SW packages distributed to terminals
Number of terminals assigned to each package
Number and list of packages for each terminal

Application Usage
List of applications installed and used by users in the client’s network

14. Antifraud Protection
Assures the normal activity of the Fractalia Manager agent and thus guarantees its correct
operation in the managed terminal. In case any user seeks to misuse a terminal and
interrupts the communication between the Fractalia Manager agent and its server to do so
(for example, by using the terminal exclusively off line), Poison Pill will block the terminal so
that it will only be operative again after the intervention of the Fractalia Manager operator.

In the same way, Poison Pill guarantees the operator the possibility of blocking any given
terminal in any given moment; then, as in the previous scenario, the terminal can only be
freed by the intervention of the operator.

15. Fractalia Business Intelligence
Search big terminal networks for patterns to be used as input to take a chain of decisions
whether they are of a technical or strategic nature.

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16. Fractalia Remote Assistance
In this system of remote assistance, a terminal user can request online support by connecting
an operator to their terminal to give them the necessary help. The use of Fractalia Remote
Assistance is advantageous in comparison with other systems such as assistance by phone
or remote control (VNC and similar):

The assistance session is carried out inside a safe virtual network that assures direct IP
visibility.

The operator interface of Fractalia Remote Assistance facilitates operator support allowing
them to run solutions to concrete problems in the terminal being assisted, reduce the time
necessary to perform the support tasks and the experience necessary for an operator to be
effective.

Fractalia Remote Assistance registers all actions carried out by a support operator for their
later audit.

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C. Fractalia Manager (FM)

1. Architecture

Fractalia Manager (FM) functions on any network architecture, both for fixed terminals behind
any type of network (including private networks, Internet, fixed IPs, dynamic IPs, etc.) as
itinerant terminals. On condition that the Terminal has Internet, it will have 100% of the
functionalities of FM, even in the case that it crosses intermediate components (firewall,
Proxy). The peer2peer distribution system provides an efficient use of the network resources
(both at LAN and WAN levels).

Figure 1. Architecture of the Fractalia Manager

The FM consol uses smart client technology, therefore, it takes advantage of the client-server
development, but it avoids the associated problems concerning usability and quality of use
similar to a consol which can be executed locally. In addition, it keeps its own directory but it
can be synchronised with directory systems on the market, and can even work with dynamic
groups established depending on specific consultations.

FM functions with Microsoft clients. The deployment of FM is very simple and permits
massive implementations practically automatically. The simplicity and usability with which it is

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designed makes it possible to obtain yield from its functionalities from day 1 of its
implementation. Its use reduces the total cost of the use of a PC by between 30% and 40%
throughout its lifetime.

The FM server has the following logical machines: a database server and a Web server.
These machines can be mounted on Windows (SQL and IIS) architectures respectively. The
open architecture permits easy integration with other systems and the execution of specific
reports.

2. Server
The FM server controls and manages work stations through the Internet. The access to the
system is via the Web so that the administrator can access by using a Web navigator and an
Internet connection, and in the cases where it is necessary, security credentials.

3. Agent

Figure 2. Details of layers

1. Layer of Fractalia Manager
In the client part, the FM layer is in charge of ensuring the correct downloading of the content
and the execution of actions which are ordered from the server.

The technology based on the Peer-to-Peer protocol reduces the consumption of band width
to a minimum as the large packs are distributed to multiple users with no re-configurations for
the hardware or the router. It uses the local band width in order to access the packs
previously handed over to a specific sub-network and the efficacy of the distribution of the
software can be improved by configuring the functioning mode depending on the network
architecture.

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2. Layer IriScene Recovery System
The capacity to protect and recover the information and the system, which is a key, tactical
point of all organisations. Instant Recovery System completely recovers all the partition of a
hard disk and discards all types of changes made to it by the user (installation of software,
changes of the configuration, damage due to viruses, files or directories eliminated, changes
in the register of Windows, etc.).

Functionality:

One or more protected partitions.

Once the system of the Terminal has been recovered, any subsequent change will be
undone.

Instantaneous Recovery Points of the hard disk.

Instant Recovery System increases the availability and reduces the probabilities of losing
information.

The recovery process takes a few seconds and is carried out when the Terminal reinitiates
the system or as a programmed task. This uses approximately 5% of the capacity of the
hard disk.

Instant Recovery System has a local application in the event that the corporate policies
permit the users to take their own Recovery Points in order to return to previous recovery
points.

The protected partition is only an area of the hard disk which is protected de facto by the
Instant Recovery System module, and any type of change will be automatically discarded
during the reinitiating of the equipment when the functioning mode instructs this.

The partition of common files (data) of the user is not protected between changes and a
maximum of 105 of its capacity for storing the Recovery Point is used. The protection of all
the changes must not be lost after reinitiating.

The partition of data will not be necessary, but is recommendable for offices or corporation
work stations, where the user requires space for storage.

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Figure 3. Instant Recovery System

4. Characteristic’s

1. Total management from a single consol

The graphic interface implemented for the management of FM uses smart client technology,
which facilitates the administration thanks to its intuitive interface and all the functionalities of
a network administrator.

Some of the benefits of the new interface are: the management of an extensive network of
PCs becomes more simple, productivity increases and the control of the network is improved.

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Figure 4. Management consol based on Smart Client Web

2. Instant Recovery System (IRS)
The capacity to protect and recover the information and the system , which is a key, tactical
point of all organisations. IRS completely recovers all the partition of a hard disk and discards
all types of changes made to it by the user (installation of software, changes of the
configuration, damage due to viruses, files or directories eliminated, changes in the register
of Windows, etc.).

3. Distribution of software
The software distribution module software makes it possible to remotely update and install
the software of a work station or of a determined group with no need to use additional
resources of network equipment, and is based on the peer-to-peer protocol. The connection
between this system and the IRS recovery system has substantial scalability for the work
stations and makes it possible to apply evolutionary changes to the solution.

P2P in LAN. The Terminal is not directly connected to the server, it requires another
Terminal which is in the “Act as Proxy for other peers” mode so that this one
communicates with the server and subsequently sends it the pack requested.

Direct to the Server. The Terminal communicates directly with the server, and does not
require an intermediate Terminal to receive updating packs.

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Acting as Proxy for other peers. This carries out the “mirror” action when it sees that a
Terminal in “P2P in LAN” mode is requesting an Update, it makes the request to the server
and then it is sent to the Terminal which was requesting.

Figure 5. Distribution of software

4. Hardware and software inventory

The inventory module manually or automatically detects and deep saves the register of all the
versions of software installed in a work station, as well as the hardware components hand the
devices of the terminals distributed in the company network, which avoids the unnecessary
movement of technical personnel in order to resolve the problem.

5. Events report

The events report shows the logs of the actions taken by the server or by the agent of the
client.

The types of events we can receive are as follows:

Generic: information is received on the turning on of the machine.

Inventory: information is received on the actions of the IRS assigned to a Terminal.

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Instant Recovery System: information is received on the actions of the IRS.

Remote updating: information is received on the state of the updates.

Remote control: information is received on the remote control actions.

6. Remote Control
This module is used for the remote control and management of any work station in the
network in an efficient, organised and exhaustive manner. It is used with for the purposes of
technical backup and on line support for users. It makes it possible to take control of the
screen, the keyboard and the mouse of a remote user through a VNC session in order to
solve the problem or teach the user how something specific functions. There are three modes
for taking remote control depending on the configuration of the network, the existence of a
firewall, nats, proxies or another type of restriction which the network of the user or the
administrator of the network might have.

Direct: this is used in order to connect with terminals which are within the same LAN as the
server or in different networks on condition that there is proper mapping of public IPs: a public
port to a private IP, a private port in the network components.

The clients have a VNC server listening in a port. When remote control is executed on the
other Terminal from a computer with access to the FM system, a direct connection is made
between both.

The case may arise that there is a router between the “viewer” equipment and the “controlled”
equipment. In this case, in order to make a direct connection, we must map the ports of the
router. In this situation, it is not recommendable to use the connection in the direct mode.

Figure 6. Direct Mode

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Normal: this is used in cases in which it is not possible to map any type of inlet port or the
terminals do not have fixed IPs.

The clients have a VNC server listening in a port, but they also have the capacity to send a
“VNC video” as an outlet connection to any machine, prepared to receive it.

Additionally, a machine is located in a network which has no restrictions for the mapping of
ports. This machine will have two applications:

Remoting. The Remoting application is responsible for placing the request for remote control
in touch with the proper client. The following open a permanent outlet TCP socket, with the
Remoting port of this machine. The requests for remote control from the FM system arrive at
this same port.

When the machine over which remote control is being attempted is decided, the application
gives instructions to send a “VNC video” to this machine through the “Server” port.

Repeater. This application only places the “VNC video” which it receives through the “Server”
from the client in touch with the “Viewer” port, which is where the viewer of the COM operator
attacks.

Figure 7. Normal Mode

7. Dynamic Groups

The dynamic groups are mainly intended for the situations in which it is intended to work with
certain groups or terminals for certain temporary periods. By dragging a group and/or one or
more terminals to the window specified for this purpose, we generate a dynamic group which
can subsequently be assigned update packs or work in a similar fashion to how work was
done with the permanent groups and terminals.

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Figure 8. Dynamic Groups

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D. Requisites of the system

Each software instance of Fractalia Manager which is installed, is capable of working with
small networks with less than 100 PCs up to large corporate networks with up to a 100,000
PCs.

In the following sections we show the hardware and software requisites needed for the
implementation of the solution.

5. As regards the server

1. Hardware Requisites

Minimum* < 10 000 terminals Between 10000 and 25000 Between 25000 y
terminals 100000 terminals
**
WEB (x1) (x1) (x1) (x2)
Applications
Servers
Processor Pentium IV Pentium III Xeon Pentium III Xeon Pentium III Xeon
2.0 GHz
RAM Memory 256 MB 2 GB RAM 4 GB RAM 4 GB RAM
Hard Disk 20 GB 120 GB 120 GB 120 GB
Database (x1) (x1) (x1) (x2)
Servers
Processor Pentium IV Pentium III Xeon Pentium III Xeon Pentium III Xeon
2.0 GHz
RAM Memory 256 MB 2 GB RAM 4 GB RAM 4 GB RAM
Hard Disk 20 GB RAID 1 SCSI RAID 1 SCSI with RAID 1 SCSI with
with 2 Disks of 2 Disks of 120 3 Disks of 120 GB
120 GB GB

* This configuration is the machine for making the system function with a reduced number of
PCs. In this, the Web applications server and the database server can be the same physical
machine.

** The Webb servers are mounted as farms, while the database servers are mounted in
clusters in order to balance requests.

2. Software Requisites
The Web Server(s) require the following basic software:

Windows 2000 Server Standard Edition or higher.
Microsoft .NET Frameworks 2.0 installed.
Internet Information Server 6.0 installed.
Adobe Flash Player

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The database server(s) will need the following basic software:

Windows 2000 Sever Standard Edition or higher.
Microsoft .NET Frameworks 2.0 installed
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 (depending on whether a farm of servers is mounted or not,
one or two SQL Server licences will be required).

6. As regards the client

1. Hardware Requisites
The minimum hardware configuration of equipment in order to execute the Fractalia Manager
is as follows:

Processor: Celaron D at 1.8 GHz
RAM: 256 MB (recommended 512 MB)
Hard Disk: 40 GB
Graphic card with minimum resolution of 1024x768
Network card (Ethernet or WIFI)

2. Software Requisites

Windows Operative System 2000 (SP4) or superior.
Microsoft .NET Frameworks 2.0 installed.
Internet Explorer 6.0 or superior installed.

7. Network Connectivity

1. Typology of the connectivity
From the point of view of connectivity, two interfaces must be differentiated, the connection
between server and clients, and the connection between clients as regards P2P sharing of
content.

Connection between server and client
The network connection between the server and clients is supported by any type of network
which has http protocol on TCP/IP. The connectivity between the server and clients can
generally be established through:

Internet.
Extranet.
Local Area Network.
Virtual Private Network.

Connection between clients
In order to use all the Peer to Peer distribution power between clients when downloading
content, it is necessary for these to see each other directly. Therefore, there are the following
networks:

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Local area networks.
Virtual private network
These networks must permit http communications on TCP/IP

The topology connection between these (star, bus, ring) this does not matter as long as the
previous conditions are ensured.

2. Band width required

Connection between server and client
The following table shows a scaling of the speed required in a server in order to download
content:

In order to calculate the speed required in a server, the following premises have been fixed:

An average of 10MB of the content to be downloaded.
The content is updated daily overnight (with the network completely downloaded).
The centres have a connection with the server with, at least, 1 Mbps. This connection is
more than sufficient to download 10MB in a night time schedule of 8 hours.

ESTIMATION OF BAND WIDTH FOR DOWNLOADING IN MULTIPLE CENTRES

Size of content (MB) 10
No. of Centres 200 500 1000 5000 10000

Total size of the Server Downloading (MB) 2000 5000 10000 50000 10000
0
Downloading time (night time schedule) 8 8 8 8 8
(hours)
ADSL speed at centres (Mbps) 1 1 1 1 1

Speed required in server (Mbps): 0.6 1.4 2.8 13.9 27.8

It can be seen that with a greater number of centres, there must be a greater width of band
on the server side. However, with a reasonable number of centres, the band width required
on the server side is easily assumed through an assigned hosting.

Connection between clients
The following table shows the costs of Peer to Peer sharing between the clients of a local
area network at a centre.

We assume the following hypothesis:
The equipment has network 10/100 Base T cards
The intermediary components of the local network (SWITCH, Bridges, etc.) limit the switching
capacity of the network to 20 Gbps
We suppose that there are 500 computers per centre.

The objective of the calculation is to determine how long it would take to obtain a content of
10MB (regardless of the source) for each of the computers in the network, supposing
exclusive dedication of the network.

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ESTIMATION OF DOWNLOADING TIME ON A LOCAL AREA NETWORK

Limit of the Local Network (Gbps) 20
Size of content (MB) 10
Real speed of downloading Equipment (Mbps) 100
No. of pieces of equipment 500

Theoretical downloading speed (Mbps) 40.0

Downloading times (seconds) 2.0

It can be seen that starting from a non-demanding network configuration, the P2P distribution
does not lead to substantial disruptions in the network.

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E. Installation procedure

Despite the complexity entailed by the implementation of a new software solution in a
corporate environment, the installation of the Irisene Remote Manager solution is not invasive
and is easily adaptable to any environment.

Fractalia Remote Systems recommends that the installation steps be followed.

1. Analysis and/or definition of the communications network
Before the installation of the solution, it is necessary to ensure that the communications
network complies with the minimum characteristics described up to now
:

Connection speeds in client and server.
To enable the exchange of information through http on TCP/IP. Therefore, it is necessary
to permit connectivity by the 80 port in all the network.
Depending on the needs of the company, to analyse whether a single central server which
controls all the centres is required or a server which controls one or several centres s.

2. Possible alternative installations in client computers
The installation of the FM solution has two differentiated parts:

Installation of the remote management system in the central server(s).

Installation of the FM agent in the client computers. This agent is responsible for periodically
interrogating the server in order to download new content and reproduce these once the
period of activity of the system is exceeded.

As regards the implementation in a corporation, the critical point is precisely the installation of
the software in all the client computers rapidly and efficiently. Below e provide the possible
alternatives for installing the FM agent.

Through remote software distribution tools
The following options facilitate the remote unattended installation with no need for an
operator to interact with the equipment at the time of the installation.

Active Directory

If the terminals are integrated into a directory such as the Active Directory of Microsoft, the
facilities of these types of tools can be used to distribute and install the software

Software installation tools of the company itself

If the company has a software distribution tool, SMS, Tivoli, etc. It can choose to distribute
the installable of the FM Agent with these tools.

Fractalia Lan Installer

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Fractalia Remote Systems can provide the company with its own massive software
installation tool.
This tool can describe PCs within a range of PCs provided and, knowing the login and
password of the administrator of each piece of equipment, remotely install any type of
software.

This is only valid for LAN (including on VPN) environments.

With no remote software distribution tools
The following options are validated for those companies which do not have remote software
distribution tools and do not wish to incur the cost of acquisition.

These require a person to manually execute the installation programme in each PC.

Manual installation

One possibility is to copy and install the executable of the FM agent PC by PC.

Distribution via e-mail

Using e-mail, there are two fast methods for distributing the software to all the organisation.

Attached application: an e-mail can be distributed with an executable attached and the
receivers are requested to install this.

Web download application: The e-mail can include only a link to a web address with the
executable, this link must be accessed and the user clicks on “Run” in the Windows dialogue
box.

3. Implementation

Definition of technical objectives
Before starting the massive installation, a number of indicators regarding this massive
installation must be defined, and this makes it possible to forecast:

The estimated installation times
The percentage of the use of the communications networks involved in the system
The speed of the updating of content.
The effectiveness of the installation selected. Possible improvements.
To determine the most effective communications backup to be shown through ICS (HTML,
flash, pdf, powerpoint, video…)

Implementation in a pilot project
Before carrying out a massive installation, it is advisable to carry out a pilot project from
which the indicators described above can be obtained and to tune the installation process
selected.

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It is useful to carry out the pilot project in a simple environment with no complications and
progressively increase the complexity in successive pilot projects as confidence is gained
with the installation procedures designed.

Evaluation of the achievement of objectives
After the pilot project, all the results obtained must be analysed in order to re-plan the
massive installation depending on the experience obtained.

Massive implementation
Once a pilot project which provides sufficient security for the implementation has been carried
out, the massive implementation of the solution will be carried out, centre by centre, and the
indicators described above will be constantly monitored.

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F. Conclusions
Fractalia Manager is a system for the administration, control and remotely controlled
maintenance of the micro-computing systems distributed.

It ensures the stability of the equipment as well as the availability of the applications at all
times.

It guarantees the correct use of the applications installed in the equipment.

It keeps the Hardware and Software inventories continually updated.

It increases the productivity of both terminals and users, substantially reducing the time out.

It reduces the complexity of administrating and managing the terminals of the network.

It makes direct assistance in the event of incidences practically unnecessary.

It optimises the “helpdesk” resources and reduces the costs associated to the maintenance of
the information technology.

It enables the simultaneous control of several companies, the possibility to generate several
types of permits, at reading and writing level and at modular level, as well as the option to
create dynamic groups. It also has other outstanding implementations such as the knowledge
of the state of the updates, whether they are being downloaded, being installed or whether
the installation has been completed and the remote control.

It permits the control of the band width in order to avoid the use of all the resources of the
network when downloading commences within a Terminal.

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