Netviewer
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| Basic data
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| developer | Netviewer AG (Karlsruhe) |
| Publishing year | 2001 |
| Current version | 6.3 (June 2011) |
| operating system | Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7, Server 2000, Server 2003, Server 2008, 32- and 64-bit , macOS , Linux , iOS , Android |
| category | Remote maintenance , web conference |
| License | Proprietary |
| German speaking | Yes |
| www.netviewer.com | |
Netviewer is software for video conferencing and screen sharing for corporate use. The manufacturer is the company Netviewer AG from Karlsruhe . In April 2011 the software was discontinued; the company only wants to offer the Citrix products GoToMeeting and GoToAssist .
history
The software first appeared in 2001 and is offered in different versions for Windows operating systems. In more than 16,000 companies and authorities worldwide, the software was used for the online support of their own employees and communication with customers. Netviewer was the market leader in Europe in the field of web conferencing . Netviewer is also offered as a web-based service ( software as a service ). Netviewer was taken over by Citrix Online on February 15, 2011 .
Netviewer products
The Netviewer product portfolio comprised five products.
Netviewer Meet
Netviewer Meet is a software solution for online meetings, web conferences and online training. Up to 100 participants can take part in a session at the same time. The moderator of the meeting can show his screen content or selected programs to the other participants and thus, for example, make presentations. Participants can communicate with each other via video, VoIP and chat . The program is offered both as freeware for private use and as a licensing model (individual and team license) for commercial use.
Netviewer support
Netviewer Support is a software solution for online support and remote maintenance of PCs. The supporter (initiator of the session) and one participant can participate in a session. The supporter has the opportunity to look at the participant's PC and, after their consent, to take over remote control. The session partners can communicate with each other via video, VoIP and chat. The program is offered for commercial use via a license model (individual and team license).
Netviewer Admin
Netviewer Admin enables remote maintenance of PCs, servers and other computer-controlled machines. The host program is installed on the target computer and the administrator accesses this computer with the help of the master program, depending on the settings after confirmation by the user or without anyone having to confirm the access. The program also offers u. a. a host administration and a system diagnostic tool.
Netviewer Present
Netviewer Present is used for online events, congresses and webinars . With the browser-based software, events can be broadcast live on the Internet and integrated directly into websites. The chat function allows viewers to send questions or comments directly to the moderator.
Netviewer Server
The in-house Netviewer server offers an alternative to the SaaS model and enables Netviewer clients to be operated via the company's own network and can handle both internal and external sessions via the Internet. Companies that opt for this solution often have special security requirements and want to have all software components of the communication channel in their hands.
technology
Netviewer technology, which enables a session between two or more computers, is based on the user-controlled exchange of system, image and sound data between the participating computers. This data exchange takes place with the help of the Netviewer clients via the Netviewer server .
The Netviewer client applications each consist of two programs. One is started on the computer of the initiator of the session and the second on the computers of the session participants. These programs contact the Netviewer server. In the case of Netviewer Admin, the second program is installed on the computer to be administered and is in constant contact with the Netviewer servers. The Netviewer servers authenticate the client programs and connect them to one another using a random, unique nine-digit session number or, in the case of Netviewer Admin, using a key set of at least eight digits. As soon as the connection has been established and the clients are communicating with each other, depending on the product variant, the session participants can jointly view a selected screen and edit documents, exchange text messages and files, remote control other computers and manage file systems, etc.
safety
Netviewer guarantees the security of the communication channels and the transmitted data through different encryption methods and security mechanisms.
Encryption method using the example of Netviewer Meet and Support
The establishment of a connection between the clients via the Netviewer server is protected by SSL / TLS or ECC encryption, meaning that login data such as user name, password, session number and session password are not visible to outsiders.
Netviewer Meet security mechanisms
Netviewer also offers various technology and process-based security mechanisms:
- The user can check the authenticity of the Netviewer software before establishing a session. The software is signed with a certificate issued by the independent certification authority VeriSign .
- When starting the moderator program, the moderator must authenticate himself with his e-mail address and his self-chosen password. After successful authentication , a unique nine-digit session number is generated by the Netviewer server and transmitted to the moderator program. This number is sent to the participants by phone or email.
- A session password can be used. This means that only initiated participants come to the meeting.
- The moderator can remove individual participants from the session.
- The moderator can block the session for other participants.
Protection of privacy
The privacy of the session partners and the protection of personal data are protected by various functions and settings during a Netviewer session:
- It is not possible for a session participant to obtain remote control rights for a session partner's computer without their consent.
- The session partners must explicitly allow any change in the status of their computer (change of viewing direction, remote control, file transfer). Only after the release is another session partner able to control the computer remotely or to carry out other actions.
- Applications or files that should not be transferred to the session partners can be selected explicitly. For example, it is possible to hide the desktop or the taskbar. Applications and screen elements that have not been approved cannot be operated via the remote control.
- The session partner showing his screen can interrupt the screen transfer and transfer a still image in order to edit confidential data or applications during the session (pause function of the monitor drawer).
- With the security key (by default F11), the session partner is withdrawn from remote control with immediate effect.
Software as a service or your own server operation
Basically, Netviewer offers two options for operating the software: using the Software as a Service (SaaS) model or operating the software via your own Netviewer server.
SaaS
The Netviewer client programs are distributed within an organization. In order to set up a Netviewer session, the client programs contact the Netviewer AG web collaboration server via the Internet, which takes on all other functions. The advantage of SaaS over your own server is clearly the minimal initial effort and that the initial investment can be kept low. The disadvantage of SaaS is the dependence on an external infrastructure.
Own server
An in-house Netviewer server is placed in the company's own network. The Netviewer clients then no longer contact the Netviewer AG web collaboration server via the Internet, but rather the company's own Netviewer server in its own company network.
An in-house server is suitable for companies with high security requirements, special integration requirements, high Netviewer license numbers and the desire for an in-house server solution for internal communication or for companies that are obliged to introduce this model due to the security regulations of their organization.
A dedicated server saves the company Internet bandwidth and brings the issue of security into its own area of responsibility, as all data traffic that occurs within the network does not leave the company's IT infrastructure.
In the case of a redundant Netviewer server infrastructure, there are further advantages: reliability, load distribution and the possibility of configuring the Netviewer clients according to their own requirements and implementing integrations.
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ Netviewer remote maintenance software no longer for new customers | heise online
- ↑ Customer list on the company website ( Memento from January 22, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
- ^ European Web Conferencing Software and Services Markets. Frost & Sullivan, 09/2007.
- ↑ Magic Quadrant for Web Conferencing. Gartner Group, 07/2008.
- ↑ adopted by Citrix ( Memento of the original from May 16, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Chip.de ( Memento from April 12, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Netviewer Support license models ( Memento of the original from September 9, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Netviewer Security Flyer
- ↑ Computer Week
- ↑ PC world
