IPXCTRL1.ZIP Remote node control utility for the IPX protocol ver 1 Jay Hackney 05/19/94 gt3314a@prism.gatech.edu First things first: Although I have tested this program to the greatest extent possible with my equipment and found it stable, I cannot guarantee that it will not crash your system, spoil your mood, or give your spouse a social disease. Furthermore, I cannot take responsibility if it does. You use this at your own risk! I encourage the free distribution of this package. This file must remain a part of the package. This package may not be distributed for profit. No fee (other than for distribution) may be charged for this package. What it does: This system is made up of two parts: a memory resident program that runs on the node you wish to control (MINION.EXE), and a normal executable that can be run on any other node on the network (MASTER.EXE). MASTER.EXE can provide invisible control to any node running MINION.EXE. Multiple MASTERs can control a single MINION. All keypresses (except for a few, I'll get to that later) on a MASTER are sent to its selected MINION which in turn fools its host into thinking they came from its keyboard. MINIONs also send copies of their hosts' video memory to their corresponding MASTERs. A MASTER's screen is updated a little faster than twice a second. An ALT-ESC to a MASTER will disconnect it from its MINION and let you choose another MINION or quit. This system runs entirely independently of any network software you may or may not have. All that is required is an IPX driver and the necessary hardware. As a result of this, references to network nodes can only be made by node addresses. This system was originally designed for people developing software under a network and system administrators, neither of whom this limitation should cause difficulty. Why I developed this: Frankly, my desk is just too small. I'm trying to develop a bit of software to run under a network and I don't have room on my desk for three keyboards and monitors. I looked around a bit and could not find anything that provided these services so I wrote it myself. This is the primary intent of this system. I assume it may be useful to network administrators and employers as well. Limitations: * The TSR in this version requires 13k of conventional memory. I think this is damn good for having been written in Turbo C, but there is room for improvement (the IPX itself only takes 7k). If there is a next version, it will be written in assembler. * Control-C does not get transfered to the MINION. After little thought, I decided it would not be too cool to generate a 23h from the TSR. Suggestions always welcome. * Rebooting the MINION has not been tested. The code is in place but my network won't allow it. It should work. Then again, lots of things SHOULD work. * This version is limited to five nodes. That means that any MINION can only have up to five MASTERs. MASTERs only have the option of controlling the first five MINIONs that respond to its 'ping'. No special reason for it. That's all I needed. * A node can not be a MASTER and be a MINION at the same. I don't suggest you try it, it ain't pretty. It is a bug. One I don't see reason to fix, I might add. If you disagree, by all means, let me know. * The TSR fails to fool some applications when faking the keypresses. I don't know why. I suspect the application is using some goofy BIOS call to get keypresses. I've only noticed this with Mefford's DirMagic. If I get enough reports of this, I may be able to find a way around it. * The MINIONs currently only support the 80x25 color text mode. The next version will most likely cover 80x43/50 and possibly B/W modes. If someone wants to get ambitious and tackle the graphics modes, let me know and we'll work something out. What I ask: If you have e-mail capability, please drop a bit of mail to tell me who/where you are and what you think. This is my first public program and I'd be interested to see how it gets around. I am very willing to make changes to suit individual needs. If this doesn't quite get it for you, or a change here and there could help, let me know. E-mail, snailmail, call my grandmother. If you are a private user, I ask nothing of you. Use, enjoy, hire me if I ever come begging for a job. If this falls into commercial or government use, I might suggest a donation. A small "scholarship", if you will :-). How to contact me: I am currently a student at Georgia Tech. I emphasize 'currently'. My projected graduation is 1997, barring GPA crises which may postpone or kill graduation alltogether. Beyond that I don't know how to contact myself. Jay Hackney 33314 Georgia Tech Station Atlanta, GA 30332 internet: gt3314a@prism.gatech.edu