NETSCAPE COMMUNICATOR
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
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CONTENTS

Hardware Support

Topology and Access Methodology

Architecture and Operating Systems Supported

Protocols Used

Host Connectivity Support to Legacy Systems

HARDWARE SUPPORT
Netscape Communicator is an integrated suite of tools that helps users be more productive in their everyday work, enabling them to effectively communicate, access, and share information on the Internet or an intranet. Designed for ease of use, Communicator speeds up the learning and training curve by employing a consistent user interface across all components. Its powerful features are coupled with the advantage of Internet open standards for the utmost in flexibility and interoperability both inside and outside the organization. Communicator also meets customer needs and corporate challenges by delivering superior benefits in communication, content, casting, cost of ownership and cross-platform solutions.

Netscape Communicator supports most all types of hardware available today. A product version chart of Netscape server and browser software available for different platforms are list at the link below.
http://home.netscape.com/products/platform/index.html

Integration of Netscape Communicator and Netscape Servers
Netscape Communicator integrates tightly with Netscape servers to provide a complete family of intranet technology, from front desk to back office. Together, the Netscape family of clients and servers delivers the most cost-effective and complete solution for a full-service intranet.

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TOPOLOGY AND ACCESS METHODOLOGY
Netscape Communicator is topology and medium access control (MAC) independent due to its open system architecture. Topology and MAC are terms relating to hardware configuration in a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN). Since Netscape is Internet based, it's Communicator program can work from any Internet capable computer, once the software has been installed and working.

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ARCHITECTURE AND OPERATING SYSTEMS SUPPORTED
Open-standards support allows for interoperability, lowering the overall cost of ownership when deployed throughout the enterprise. Supports a single, open-standards architecture based on IMAP4, POP3, SMTP, LDAP, and HTML

SUPPORTED PLATFORMS & SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Source: http://home.netscape.com/communicator/v4.0/datasheet/professional.html

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PROTOCOLS USED
Netscape Communicator supports TCP/IP protocol suite for internet and intranet connectivity.

PROTECTED, STANDARDS-BASED SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION
Software components can be digitally signed, using corporate or organizational digital certificates, and compressed for network distribution. Netscape Communicator supports the standards-based distribution format JAR (Java Archive). Third parties and corporate developers can use JAR across multiple platforms and incorporate JavaScript Installers.

CENTRALLY MANAGE AND ADMINISTER
Using Netscape Mission Control Desktop, IS professionals can centrally manage and administer Netcaster channel preferences throughout the enterprise. This also allows IS managers to minimize training and support costs by creating and deploying a default webtop across all platforms throughout the enterprise.

CENTRALLY MANAGE CLIENT CONFIGURATIONS
Using the Configuration Editor in Netscape Mission Control Desktop, administrators can centrally manage more than 200 client preferences and user interface elements, such as email server addresses, default home pages, help menu items, and proxy settings. IS managers can store configuration settings on a web server or in the Netscape Directory Server to aid in the central management of client preferences for individuals or groups.

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HOST CONNECTIVITY SUPPORT TO LEGACY SYSTEMS
Netscape IBM Host On-Demand is an integrated Java application that provides fast and easy access to IBM host information from an intranet or the Internet.

FEATURES OVERVIEW
Easy-to-use TN3270 host emulation with only two choices needed to get running: the server to
connect to and the port name

Multiple persistent sessions so that more than one 3270 application session can be run at one time

Resizable session windows with dynamically adjustable fonts

Mapped 3270 keyboard function keys

Full HTML help

VIEW IN A SEPARATE WINDOW OR INTEGRATE INTO A WEB PAGE
Netscape IBM Host On-Demand incorporates the industry-standard 3270 (TN3270) telnet protocol, and its
easy-to-use interface is fully integrated with the Communicatorenvironment. It can be launched in a separate window
or integrated into a standard HTML page.

LOW-COST HOST ACCESS SOLUTION
User connections are straightforward: Only two options are needed. When Host On-Demand is used with the AutoAdmin component of Netscape Communicator Professional Edition, these options can be preset so that connecting is even easier. Host systems information access is now much less expensive, because the cost to own and support the connectivity application has been reduced, and no customer programming or additional hardware is required.

NETSCAPE AND IBM PARTNERSHIP
Host On-Demand users benefit from the Netscape and IBM partnership. In the event of connectivity issues or the need for support, customers can contact IBM seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

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