The Corporate Intranet Gilbert Held

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1 The Corporate Intranet Gilbert Held Payoff The growth in the popularity of the Internet has significantly influenced software product development users today can access search tools and browsers that incorporate audio and video capability. Businesses that harness the power of the Internet within their organizations by constructing their own tailor-made Internets, or intranets, can run a range of new and legacy applications from PCs economically. Problems Addressed The term intranet commonly refers to the application of Internet technologies within an organization. Using off-the-shelf Internet-related hardware and software, organizations obtain access to thousands of products developed for the Internet. Because of the sizable market for Internet applications, intranet products are usually more economical than products developed for use in a specific mainframe environment. Thus, the use of Internet technologies within a corporate environment allows organizations to access a wide range of client/server computing products at an economical cost, often considerably below that of equivalent products developed for a proprietary mainframebased network. This article explains the basics of how to construct an intranet. Intranet Overview Unlike the Internet, which is capable of supporting more than 50 Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) applications, a corporate intranet can be tailored to the specific requirements of an organization. For example, if users need to transfer files, a File transfer protocol (FTP) application must be obtained. Similarly, the ability to provide direct point- to-point communications between individuals or groups of employees can be satisfied through the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) application, and the ability to access computer systems remotely would be satisfied through the use of a terminal emulator such as Telnet or TN3270 for access to an IBM mainframe. An intranet represents much more than installing a browser and letting users access a Web server connected to the corporate network. Although Web browsers and Web servers can play an important role in a corporate intranet, they represent just two of the many technologies that can be used on a TCP/IP network. Although an intranet represents the application of Internet technology to an internal communications network, that enterprise network can also support other non-internet applications, such as transferring legacy SNA traffic from PCs using emulation boards or TCP/IP traffic from PCs connected to LANs. Why Create an Intranet? The rationale for creating an intranet is based on some of the same goals associated with the Internet universal communications, reliability, standardization, increased productivity, and reduced cost. Through the use of TCP/IP, any employee on a corporate intranet can interact with any other employee. In addition, if the intranet is connected to the Internet,

2 employees can use one set of applications for internal and external communications, thereby eliminating the necessity for employees to learn two sets of application programs. Most Internet applications have been rigorously tested in the commercial marketplace. Thus, the use of this technology in a corporate intranet provides organizations with access to highly reliable products. In comparison, proprietary products are usually not tested to the degree that Internet products are, nor do developers of proprietary communications products receive the degree of user feedback developers of Internet products do. Thus, the use of Internet technology in a corporate intranet environment results in a highly robust and more reliable product. Intranet Construction Internet applications are standardized using Request for Comment (RFC)documents that are placed in the public domain. By allowing an RFC, vendors can develop products that provide an interoperability capability, facilitate competition, and allow organizations to select required hardware and software products from a large base of existing and developing products. Standardization provides the mechanism that allows an intranet infrastructure to be constructed, restructured, and enhanced to satisfy changing organizational requirements. Because intranets represent the application of Internet technology to internal corporate networks, they can be considered TCP/IP networks. The key difference between the TCP/IP- based Internet and a corporate intranet is that the latter does not need to support all TCP/IP applications, nor does it have to exclusively transmit TCP/IP (see Exhibit 1). The TCP/IP Protocol Suite Protocol Stacks The TCP/IP protocol suite is endowed with a large number of application services that provide such functions as file transfer, remote terminal access, electronic mail, Web browser access, a name service that translates domain names to IP addresses, and network management. TCP/IP can be implemented using a TCP/IP protocol stack on almost every type of computer. Although computer users had to purchase third-party TCP/IP stacks to use with Windows 3.1 and early Macintosh operating systems, both Microsoft and Apple Computer now include the core TCP/IP stack in their new operating system releases. Users of Windows '95 and Apple Macintosh System 7.5 have a built-in access capability for connecting to a TCP/IP network. Although Internet applications must run on top of the TCP/IP protocol stack, the transmission facilities used to construct an enterprise intranet can carry a mixture of protocols. In fact, certain applications that are currently impractical for use on the Internet can be implemented on top of TCP/IP or another protocol stack and effectively carried on an enterprise intranet. For example, a live videoconference could be accommodated on an intranet, whereas the transmission of a videoconference on the Internet could encounter severe time distortion of frames if other traffic on backbone circuits interfered with the timely delivery of frames. Although a TCP/IP protocol stack is essential for Internet and intranet communications, by itself it is useless for providing employees with the ability to perform desired operations. To use a browser, transfer a file, send and receive electronic mail, create

3 personal Web pages, or convert a departmental PC into a Web server to provide information associated with a help desk, or a form distribution facility, employees need access to applications operating above the TCP/IP protocol stack. Using and Integrated Application Suite One of the most popular and comprehensive TCP/IP application suites is the NetManage Chameleon program package. Originally developed to provide a group of Internet-related applications for individual users, Chameleon's release 4.6 includes more than 50 applications and a TCP/IP protocol stack. Chameleon provides a comprehensive set of applications that can either supplement or complement Netscape and Mosaic and is marketed as both an Internet and intranet tool for Intel PC and Macintosh platforms. Other vendors, such as File Transfer Protocol, Frontier, and Spry, market TCP/IP application suites that can also be used for both Internet and intranet applications. Internet Access Using Chameleon Chameleon's Automatic Internet icon provides a script facility that permits users to sign up for accounts with an Internet service provider such as InterRamp, IBM Internet, AlterNet, CERFnet, or NETCOM. This application allows individuals and organizations with minimal requirements for Internet access to use Integrated Services Digital Network or modems to communicate. Because Chameleon includes a TCP/IP protocol stack that supports LAN applications, its intranet operations would actually bypass the Automatic Internet application, yet still let users access applications such as Internet Relay Chat, NEWTNews (which provides access to a news reader application), and NEWTSound and NEWTView (which enable audio and image files associated with news reader or other Internet applications to be heard and viewed). Support for Audio and Image Files NEWTView supports BMP, DCX, DIB, GIF, PCT, PCX, TIF, and Joint Photographic Experts Group file formats, providing users with a tool for retrieving, displaying, and printing popular bit-mapped graphics files produced by many applications that may be received as attachments to , news, or downloaded from Archie or Gopher sessions. In comparison, NEWTSound supports audio encoded in WAV files using a sound board. Although many standalone applications are available from different vendors to provide a similar capability, if audio and image files are going to be supported on the corporate intranet, the use of an integrated application suite can be more cost effective than obtaining separate programs from different vendors. Thus, network managers should consider FTP, Frontier, and NetManage because these vendors offer a comprehensive suite of Internet applications that can be used for an enterprise intranet. Performing Searches To do Archie searches, the user usually must know and enter a server address location as well as master the commands associated with Archie retrievals. When used on a corporate intranet that contains several Archie servers, the Chameleon Archie client can be preconfigured with server addresses as well as different search criteria supported by the organization's servers. Thus, the use of pre-configured Archie clients can significantly

4 enhance the productivity among organizational employees that need to perform Archie searches. Unlike most Archie client applications that require a user to initiate commandbased searches from within a Graphical user interface interface, the client included with Chameleon includes most of the search variables within pull-down menus that make the selection of a query, Archie server, and search criteria extremely easy. Web Page Creation Chameleon's WebSpider is not actually a TCP/IP application, however, it is integrated with Chameleon's Web browser that uses the TCP/IP protocol stack. WebSpider is a HyperText Markup Language authoring program for creating Web documents. WebSpider lets users format individual characters or paragraphs, insert images, define Uniform Resource Locator links to other Web pages, and perform other Web page format operations. The link to the Chameleon browser allows users to toggle back and forth between the HTML authoring program and the browser to view changes made to a document. Although WebSpider is satisfactory for creating most Web documents, users may consider other authoring packages, such as HotMetal and Frontpage, that are sold as specialized authoring tools instead of representing a program within an application suite of programs. Host Support The Chameleon Host Access icon group allows users to launch three terminal emulator programs including Telnet TN3270 for accessing IBM mainframes and TN5250 for accessing IBM minicomputers such as System 3/X and AS400. One of the problems facing many organizations is the support required to run dual protocols, such as System Network Architecture(SNA) and TCP/IP, on an intranet. Through the use of TN3270and TN5250 applications and an IBM 3172 or equivalent TCP/IP gateway, users can convert coaxial cabled PCs to LAN-based PCs that maintain access to mainframes and minicomputers using TCP/IP. Users can convert legacy mainframe access to a TCP/IP environment, which can significantly reduce the level of support necessary for operating multiple protocols on an enterprise intranet. Exhibit 2 illustrates the Chameleon TN3270 application configured for obtaining a TCP/IP connection to an IBM mainframe located at IP address In addition to supporting a TN3270 connection, the Chameleon 3270 terminal emulator also supports NetWare SAS, Coaxial, Windows NT, and IEEE LAN connections. The program can be installed on PCs directly cabled to controllers to familiarize employees with the program before migrating them to access via TCP/IP. Configuring a Connection to a Mainframe via TCP/IP Recommended Course of Action Organizations should consider seven issues before an intranet is constructed: User requirements. What type of tools are needed? What type of Internet access Organizational requirements. What are the technical requirements?what are the financial restraints? What type of security is needed?

5 Design. What type of architecture is needed? Is a migration strategy required? How should the Intranet be implemented? Training. Should training be hands-on? Should vendor courses be available? Promotion. Do employees understand the technology? Support. Is troubleshooting being performed? Is a help desk necessary? Management. What management tools are necessary? When determining user requirements, communications managers should ascertain what applications they anticipate using on both the intranet and Internet. This information is essential in determining the type of tools that may be required to support their user community. Once the technical requirements are determined, they should be compared against economic constraints. For example, if the cost associated with separate Web servers for marketing and sales departments exceeds the budget, then the technical requirements might be modified for a common server. Because of the importance of including firewalls, proxy servers, and authentication schemes for security, they should be given careful consideration as a separate entity. While training, promotion, support, and management are often overlooked, they are necessary issues and extremely important for ensuring the effective operation of an intranet. By training employees, making them aware of the enterprise intranet and its capabilities, providing user support, and planning the effective management and control of the enterprise intranet, its success can be ensured. Author Biographies Gilbert Held Gilbert Held is director of 4-Degree Consulting, a Macon GA-based high-tech consulting group. He is an internationally recognized author and lecturer, having written more than 40 books and 300 technical articles. He earned a BSEE from Pennsylvania Military College, an MSEE from New York University, and MBA and MSTM degrees from The American University. He has been selected to represent the US at technical conferences in Moscow and Jerusalem and has received numerous awards for excellence in technical writing.

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