Launch map

Launch map is a function for managing multiple PCs on which Desktop On-Call is installed.

When your are controlling multiple PCs using Desktop On-Call, it's not convenient to enter the URL or IP address of the host PC every time. Adding the address to the browser's bookmark list makes it easier, but this technique can be used only for your PC. Please think about the case in which you borrow a PC while you are on a business trip. You must remember the URLs of all the PC you may want to access. In this case the launch map function is very useful.

This figure shows an example. You've installed Desktop On-Call onto three PCs and maintain them by remote control. "My Main PC" is your primary PC. You've prepared the launch map on this PC and selected the launch map option on the Desktop On-Call property panel. Every time you access the primary PC, the launch map is shown on the browser.

You can click any PC's URL on the map to start the remote control. All you have to remember is the primary PC's URL.

Adding a PC to the launch map

  1. Select "Start" - "Programs" - "Desktop On-Call" - "Desktop On-Call." The main panel of Desktop On-Call is shown.
  2. Push the "Properties" button.
  3. Select the "Launch map" tab.
  4. Select the "Launch map" option of "Host PC's action".
  5. Select the "Add" button.
  6. Enter the host name and URL, then push the "OK" button.

The host PC you selected on the launch map is shown below the launch map with a picture.

Registered PCs are shown with pictures in the launch map list.

Auto-launch map

This function is an enhanced version of the launch map. Desktop On-Call broadcasts a query request in the sub-net and makes a list of all PCs on which Desktop On-Call is installed. Any sub-net can be included as a broadcast target.

Using the auto-launch map

  1. Select "Start" - "Programs" - "Desktop On-Call" - "Desktop On-Call." The main panel of Desktop On-Call is shown.
  2. Push the "Properties" button.
  3. Select the "Launch map" tab.
  4. Select the "Auto launch map" option of "Host PC's action".
  5. Push the "OK" button.

Adding broadcast sub-net

Calculating broadcast address

The broadcast address of the sub-net used by the auto-launch map can be calculated as follows:

[broadcast address]
= [sub-net address] OR [broadcast host address]
[sub-net address]
= [host PC's IP address] AND [host PC's sub-net mask]
[broadcast host address]
= [host address of all '1' bits]
= NOT [host PC's sub-net mask]

Note: OR, AND, NOT mean logical OR, AND, NOT operations.

The following is an example of the case in which the host PC's IP address is 192.168.3.16 and the sub-net mask is 255.255.254.0.

[sub-net address]
= 192.168.2.16 AND 255.255.254.0
= 192.168.2.0
[broadcast host address]
= NOT 255.255.254.0
= 0.0.1.255
[broadcast address]
= 192.168.2.0 OR 0.0.1.255
= 192.168.3.255

Original launch map

As the launch map, you can use any HTML file that shows the actual office layout or class room.

Desktop On-Call has a sample set of original launch map HTML files. You can see them by following these steps.

  1. Select - "Programs" - "Desktop On-Call" - "Desktop On-Call." The main panel of Desktop On-Call is shown.
  2. Push the "Properties" button.
  3. Select the "Launch map" tab.

  4. Select the "Original launch map" option of "Host PC's action."
  5. Pres the "Select" button.
  6. Enter "samples\mapsamp.htm" in the file name field and press the "OK" button.

  7. Press the "OK" button.

Access the host PC from any browser. You will see the following page:

In this example, the user selects the classroom or office shown on the map, and then select any PC the that location.

Select "Classroom." You will see a sample classroom.

Select any PC in the sample by clicking the mouse button. The applet will be downloaded and start the remote control. (In this sample, all the PCs in the figure point to the host PC itself.)

Click "Main map," which is located at the bottom of the figure, to return to the main launch map, and then click "Office."

A sample office layout is shown. Any PC in this figure is clickable. (All PCs in the figure also point to the host PC itself.)

Click "Main map," which is located at the bottom of the figure, to return to the main launch map, and then click "Organization chart."


This is a sample organization chart. (All PCs in the figure point to the host PC itself.)

These samples show how the customized HTML launch map can help you to specify any of the PCs that you have to manage.

To change the links of PCs in these samples, modify the lines in the source HTML files as follows:

original sample :
<AREA shape="rect" coords="109,119,163,184" href="/index.htm">

--->

actual case :
<AREA shape="rect" coords="109,119,163,184" href="http://2ndpc.dtoc.vvv.com">

"index.htm" in the original sample means starting the remote control of the host PC itself. This part must be changed to the actual PC's URL.

Using a newly created HTML file as the launch map

Create an original HTML file reflecting your actual environment by using HTML file editor. Then specify it as the launch map by following the steps.

  1. Copy all files you created to the directory in which Desktop On-Call is installed. (C:\program files\IBM\Desktop On-Call is default.) You can create a sub-directory if necessary.
  2. Select "Start" - "Programs" - "Desktop On-Call" - "Desktop On-Call". The main panel of Desktop On-Call is shown.
  3. Press the "Properties" button.
  4. Select the "Launch map" tab.
  5. Select the "Original launch map" option of "Host PC's action."
  6. Press the"Select" button.
  7. Enter the path of the root HTML file and push the"OK" button.
  8. Press the "OK" button.