RemoteDB Gateway 1.0 - Package Notes
------------------------------------

RemoteDB Gateway is a SHAREWARE program that lets users access ODBC data
sources configured on a remote computer.  The package consists of 16-bit
and 32-bit ODBC drivers that communicate with a 32-bit server process
running under Windows NT or 95.  The server process provides access to
the full array of ODBC data sources that have been configured on the
server machine.  This architecture simplifies the administration of ODBC
data sources by limiting administration to the server machine.

The architecture is depicted by the following diagram.

   Windows 3.x                          Windows NT/95
  +----------------------------+       +----------------------------+
  |  +----------------------+  |       |  +----------------------+  |
  |  |  16-bit application  |  |       |  |  32-bit application  |  |
  |  +----------------------+  |       |  +----------------------+  |
  |             |              |       |             |              |
  |  +----------------------+  |       |  +----------------------+  |
  |  | ODBC Driver Manager  |  |       |  | ODBC Driver Manager  |  |
  |  +----------------------+  |       |  +----------------------+  |
  |             |              |       |             |              |
  |  +----------------------+  |       |  +----------------------+  |
  |  | REMOTE16 ODBC Driver |  |       |  | REMOTE32 ODBC Driver |  |
  |  +----------------------+  |       |  +----------------------+  |
  +-------------|--------------+       +-------------|--------------+
                |            TCP/IP Network          |
      #=========+==================+=================+=========#
                                   |
                     +-------------|--------------+
                     |  +----------------------+  |
                     |  |   REMOTEDB Server    |  |
                     |  +----------------------+  |
                     |             |              |
                     |  +----------------------+  |
                     |  | ODBC Driver Manager  |  |
                     |  +----------------------+  |
                     |       |            |       |
                     |  +--------+    +--------+  |
                     |  | DSN #1 | .. | DSN #N |  |
                     |  +--------+    +--------+  |
                     +----------------------------+
                      Windows NT/95

Applications that been designed to work with a particular data source can
now access that same data source from a remote computer.  It's as simple
as configuring a data source on the remote computer to use either the
REMOTE16 or REMOTE32 ODBC driver.  Only three configuration options are
required:  1) a local data source name, 2) the remote host name or IP
address of the machine where the RemoteDB Gateway server process is
running, and 3) the remote data source name.

Since the RemoteDB Gateway server process makes use of multiple threads,
it is imperative that a thread-safe ODBC driver be utilized on the server.

RemoteDB Gateway Features
=========================

*  32-bit multithreaded server capable of running on Windows NT/95.
*  16-bit and 32-bit ODBC drivers capable of running on Windows 3.x/NT/95.
*  Support for ODBC 1.0 and 2.x drivers.
*  Various licensing options.

RemoteDB Gateway Usage Scenarios
================================

*  Consider accessing a single-tier data source (e.g., Microsoft Access,
   dBase IV, Btrieve, Excel, Text, etc.) across a slow link such as a
   14.4 kbps Remote Access Service (RAS) connection.  Certain database
   operations can chew up unecessary bandwidth by performing multiple
   seeks and reads of the underlying database files.  Why pay these
   enormous performance penalties when you can use RemoteDB Gateway to
   perform lengthy searches remotely and limit the amount of traffic on
   the underlying network link?

*  Consider accessing a two-tier data source (e.g., Oracle, Informix, Sybase,
   Microsoft SQL Server, etc.).  Accessing these data sources requires the
   licensing, installation and configuration of client-side software which
   provides access to the target data source.  Examples include licensing
   an ODBC driver from a vendor such as Intersolv, installing and configuring
   SQL*Net to access an Oracle database, installing and configuring Net-Lib
   to access a Sybase database, and installing and configuring I-Net to
   access an Informix database.  Why be faced with the daunting challenge of
   administering each of these components on every client machine when you
   can use RemoteDB Gateway and limit administration to the server machine?

Planned Future Enhancements
===========================

*  Provide a JDBC driver that will allow Java applets or applications to
   access remote data sources through the RemoteDB Gateway server.
*  Provide support for ODBC 3.0 drivers.
*  Provide support for IPX/SPX, NetBIOS, and named pipes.
*  Provide additional performance enhancements.

Installation 
============
RemoteDB Gateway is distributed in a single ZIP file.  This archive
contains the following files:

   README.TXT    - This file - general information.
   REGISTER.TXT  - Information on registering RemoteDB Gateway.
   DRIVER16\     - Directory containing setup for 16-bit ODBC driver.
   DRIVER32\     - Directory containing setup for 32-bit ODBC driver.
   SERVER\       - Directory containing setup for RemoteDB Gateway server.

The RemoteDB 16-bit ODBC driver can be installed on Windows 3.x, 95, or NT.  To
install the driver, run the SETUP.EXE program in the DRIVER16\ directory.

The RemoteDB 32-bit ODBC driver can be installed on Windows 95 or NT.  To install
the driver, run the SETUP.EXE program in the DRIVER32\ directory.

The RemoteDB Gateway server can be installed on Windows 95 or NT.  To install the
server, run the SETUP.EXE program in the SERVER\ directory.

When the RemoteDB Gateway server is executed for the first time, a license key
will automatically be generated that grants the user a 30-day evaluation license
to use the software for a single client.  To enable additional concurrent clients,
the software must be registered and a license must be purchased from the author.
Please see the section entitled "Registering RemoteDB Gateway" for further details.

Distribution
============
RemoteDB Gateway may be freely distributed with the following conditions:

1. All files in the ZIP file should be included in distributions
2. The software must be identified as SHAREWARE in any distribution

Registering RemoteDB Gateway
============================
Please complete the form found in the file REGISTER.TXT and mail the completed
form along with payment directly to the author.  The author's address is listed
in the following paragraph.

Contacting the Author
=====================
Address questions, problems, or praise to:

E-mail:  mikem@netimage.com  

U.S. mail:  Michael McDonald 
            2506 Branding Iron Ct.
            Herndon, VA 20171

