Symantec has conveniently included an earlier version on the CD. The users guild gives you a good explanation of what features have been added or removed. It also furnishes you details of why the new features have been added, along with limited information of why some of the features were removed. They seemed to aim this latest version towards network administrators and network users. They have increased the security and given the administrator some additional tools to use. 

Symantec also increased the system requirements for the program. I found that the box and the book did not agree about the memory requirements for Windows 2000. The box stated that the application needs 64 MB of RAM and the users guide states that the software requires 32 MB of RAM. 

The workstation that I installed the program on is a PIII 800 with 1 GB of memory running Windows 2000 professional with SP1. The install requires that any previous versions be uninstalled. The wizard asks if you want to save the information from your previous version. The installation wizard guides you through this process and requires you to reboot the computer. You are then required to restart the installation process again. The installation then provides a menu for the type of installation you want to perform. 

There are six different installation choices, depending on your needs.

I chose to install the professional version so I could evaluate all options available to the user of the program. In addition, I also chose the custom installation to assure the loading of all features. This would allow me the greatest latitude to evaluate the new features added. Once the installation is completed, you are required to restart your system again. 

Upon restarting the workstation, I opened pcAnywhere and was pleasantly surprised at how crisp and clutter free the desktop interface appeared. The program has only five icons on the tool bar. The first icon let’s you designate your PC as a host. The second lets you remote control another computer. The third provides the user a set of user options for the program. Only on NT/Windows 2000 machines will you get the forth packages icon, the fourth icon allows you to build installation packages adding pcAnywhere to other machines. The fifth icon is the exit program icon. 

One of the major changes in the program is the decrease in the availability of wizards. The usual wizard walking you through the host/remote setup procedures is gone. You now have to toggle through the index tabs to set up new connections. If you are familiar with pcAnywhere this is not a problem, but if you are new to pcAnywhere, you are going to find the process difficult for the first couple of times. Once these unfamiliar hurdles are crossed, it is easy going from there.  

The file-transfer utility tool has improved. To move multiple files is easier than with Windows Explorer. This is because the user is provided with a history of recently accessed directories in a small drop-down menu appearing under the toolbar. One click on the folders in the list brings up the directory in the file-transfer window.  From here the process is initiated so that you can move your files to the necessary location. 

During my review of the program, I noticed a significant improvement in the refresh rate. My modem rate is at about 45 to 50 kbps. On previous versions I would constantly have to wait for the screen to refresh, but in this latest upgrade I found that the program moved very smoothly. I also found that the file transfer rate is a bit faster. This improvement is due to pcAnywhere’s SpeedSend. SpeedSend is a utility that detects only the changed data. SpeedSend reduces transfer time by sending only changed data and not the entire file. 

The synchronization feature in the main toolbar lets you match a file in a folder on your remote machine with the same file on the host machine. This is handy for keeping work current while being on the road. It also speeds up the synchronization process between the two machines. It is very easy to send a file from a remote to a host PC by simply dragging and dropping the desired files from your directory into pcAnywhere's file-transfer pane.

The most significant improvement is the new improved security that is built into the program. It now offers seven new authentication options. This is done via FTP, HTTP, HTTPS, Windows Active Directory, Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, Novell Bindery Service, or Novell Directory Services. This change allows the companies or users to select the best authentication process to meet their security requirements. The enhanced security also allows pcAnywhere to guard against outside unauthorized users. Through the use of a special code, you can connect a host to a remote computer and prevents hackers from using other copies of pcAnywhere to gain access to the host or remote. The added security modifications to pcAnywhere allow the program to recognize even the slightest change to its DLLs, Registry entries, and executables. The program will disable itself if it discovers any alterations. The access to resources on the computer is still controlled by the user or network administrator when the program is set up. 

One attractive feature is still missing. It is the ability to set permission on individual files or folders. You can still only limit access by drive. It is an all or nothing situation. 

Other improvements include the Packager, Web deployment tool, Pre-configured installation packages, Object linking and embedding (OLE) automation, Remote access perimeter scanner, the ability to lock the configuration of the program, the ability to protect the security of the configuration using policy management, and security enhancements that include the ability to track all files opened during a session. 

Two additional improved tools listed in the users guide are the Optimization Wizard for optimizing connection, and the ability for ISDN CAPI users to select channel bonding when using the host callback feature. 

Conclusion
Overall I found that the new version is a great improvement over the previous 9.2 version in speed and security. I found the program very fast compared to previous version using a dial-up connection. I would recommend upgrading if you are using a dial-up connection or need additional security. Again, refer to the CD for program improvements and deletions for greater detail.

I still need to test the program further to see if Symantec solved the problem of compatibility with one of the programs that we use at the office on one of our servers.

The price for pcAnywhere at Best Buy is $159.99 with an $80 rebate. I also found it on the Web for $81.00 at A&S Electronics: 888/811-6688. 

Symantec Corp
20330 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014.
408/517-8000