PTC MKS Toolkit Product FAQs

PTC MKS Toolkit 10.2



MKS X/Server Product FAQs

General

Licensing Additional Resources



General

How can I get an evaluation copy of MKS X/Server?

    You can request a trial copy of the MKS X/Server products from our Evaluation Request page. Alternatively, contact your sales representative for more information. In the US and Canada, call MKS at (800) 637-8034 or (703) 803-3343 or send us a query on the web. Worldwide, a network of resellers sells MKS Toolkit products. The list of resellers is on our web site. If you do not see a distributor for your country, or have other questions, call MKS at +1-703-803-3343.


What is the MKS X/Server?

    MKS X/Server is a high-performance, transparent PC X Server that delivers seamless integration between the Windows desktop and the UNIX/Linux server. The ideal solution for interoperability of PCs and UNIX/Linux systems, it provides the usability and flexibility that users as well as enterprise system administrators require. MKS X/Server is a full 32-bit X server that operates on the Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 platforms and a native Extended Architecture 64 bit X Server on Windows Vista x64 Edition, Windows 2003 x64 Edition and Windows XP x64 Edition.


What standards does MKS X/Server support?

    MKS X/Server supports the following standards:
    • Full X11R6.3 compliance
    • Native Windows (32 bit and 64 bit) client
    • Winsock 1.1 compatible
    • IPV4
    • IPV6
    • AF_UNIX support with MKS NuTCRACKER Platform


Does MKS X/Server include any X-Windows porting and integration features?

    No, MKS X/Server does not directly include porting and migration functionality, however, MKS Toolkit for Enterprise Developers allows you to port X11 applications to Windows and the MKS X/Server is available both as part of this product and for redistribution with ported applications. Such applications communicate with MKS X/Server using a fast local transport (AF_UNIX) for added performance. Of course the application can remain on UNIX/Linux and be rendered using IPV4 or IPV6 TCP connections.


Is MKS X/Server hard to install?

    No, MKS X/Server provides an error-free installation! MKS X/Server uses Windows Installer technology to ensure secure, bulletproof, compliant installs that work every time. Windows Installer technology implies the ability to do silent, administrative, and customized installations on one or all machines on your network with familiar ease.

    The installer will detect and allow you to configure the Windows firewall to allow incoming X11 connections. Minor updates and fixes are delivered in Windows Installer patch format and can be applied to admin images or delivered in an automated fashion.

    The MKS X/Server installation files (and all delivered binaries) are digitally signed for your peace of mind. You always know that they came from MKS unmodified and are the genuine, virus-free packages.

    MKS X/Server installation auto-senses if it is being installed on an x86 or Itanium machine (and hence installs the 32 bit X Server) or an x64 machine (and hence installs the native 64 bit X Server). No more hassles with multiple install media for different architectures. This all-in-one smart installer looks after delivering the correct binaries.

    After installation, the users may choose to run the UNIX/Linux application wizard which will guide them through their first and subsequent connections to the UNIX/Linux servers. The wizard automatically detects and lists available hosts on the network and prompts the user to select one. The user then either enters the application they wish to start or browses the UNIX/Linux file system to find it. The application is then stored as a UNIX/Linux program on the Windows Start menu.


Does MKS X/Server need a lot of configuration to get operational?

    MKS X/Server is true plug-and-play X, with a powerful UNIX/Linux application wizard to guide the user seamlessly through the connection process of starting X- or character-based applications. Unix Neighborhood provides a powerful, transparent natural extension to the Windows Explorer, making UNIX/Linux files as accessible as Windows files.


Is MKS X/Server compliant with The Open Group’s X Windows System?

    Yes, MKS X/Server supports Broadway, The Open Group's X Window System X11R6.3. Users can launch and display X clients from a web browser across the intranet and the Internet. MKS X/Server supports the following Broadway extensions:

    • RX – This allows applications to be remotely invoked and run outside of the web browser.
    • Security extension - This separates trusted applications located inside the firewall from untrusted X clients located outside the firewall. X server resources are protected because X11R6.3 security prevents untrusted applications from stealing, destroying or modifying any trusted application's data.
    • LBX - Low Bandwidth eXtension. The X protocol was originally designed for a high-bandwidth connection such as a local area network environment running Ethernet at 10Mb/sec. The Internet, however, is bandwidth hungry so the LBX extension was designed for accessing X applications over a WAN or serial line including direct dial up from home to office and through an Internet server provider (ISP).
    • IPV6 – This is fully implemented to ensure that you are ready for the future.


What type of performance tuning is available for MKS X/Server?

    MKS X/Server automatically configures itself to deliver the highest performance possible for each PC. At installation time, it advises on how to best utilize the full power of an individual PC’s hardware by having the graphics optimizer benchmark several different drawing methods and recommending the best one. The graphics resource cache provides further performance gains by eliminating unnecessary access to the server, for example there is no need to open a new brush if one is already open in the cache.

    The innovative asynchronous communications feature of MKS X/Server ensures optimum use of a PC's resources by executing operations concurrently.


Is MKS X/Server compatible with Hummingbird Exceed?

    Yes, Remote Program Starter (RPS) will read and use Hummingbird Exceed .xs files. You can place such files directly in a RPS command line or you can read them into RPS, modify them, and save them as .rps files. Additionally, if you desire, you can associate .xs files with rps.exe with the command line: assoc .xs="Rps.Document.l"


Licensing

How is MKS X/Server licensed?

    MKS X/Server is licensed on a per machine/per user basis.


What if I want to resell or re-distribute MKS X/Server?

    Please contact your sales representative for details.


Are there site licenses available for PTC X/Server?

    Yes, PTC offers a variety of site licenses and volume discounts suitable for any size organization. Please contact your PTC MKS Toolkit Sales representative for details.


Does MKS offer concurrent, floating or partial licenses?

    MKS does not offer a concurrent license for MKS products. Concurrent licensing, also called floating licensing, means that if you have 20 people with potential to use the software but only 5 at any given time will actually use it, you need only 5 licenses of the product. MKS offers site licenses under special contract. Please contact us for more information if you have this requirement.

    MKS does not offer subsets of a given product for sale. For example, you cannot just buy the shell or only the connectivity tools, you must buy the MKS Toolkit or X/Server package as a whole.