Using SGD with SunRays

Question

We're looking to deploy SunRays into a SGD environment, and I have many questions. Would appreciate any feedback/answers/opinions on the following:
1) Does SGD support SunRays natively, or does the SunRay server software need to be installed as well? If so, are there issues with installing both on the same physical server (without using zones)?
2) Do users need to login twice - once to the SunRay server software, then again to the SGD page? Can we achieve SSO?
3) Can USB keys/drives be made accessible to published Windows applications via SGD (it would appear so from the docs, has anyone done this successfully?)
4) Can a printer attached to a SunRay be made accessible to published Windows apps?
5) SGD is currently configured to authenticate against active directory. Will I have to create unix users for all active directory users?
I'm aware that Sun Ray Server 4 allows direct connection to Windows apps, but we also need PC/Web users to be able to access the same apps (this is already working).
Thanks for any feedback you can provide.
-Simon

Answer 1

Hi Simon
we are using SGD 4.2 and SRSS3.1 - so just my little
feedback:
1 )Does SGD support SunRays natively, or does the
SunRay server software need to be installed as well?
Independet applications - you have to install both.
1) If so, are there issues with installing both on
the same physical server (without using zones)?
That's what we are running for a long time in the
past: SRSS and SGD on the same server (Solaris 9).
Zones are not necessary but might be usefull.
2) Do users need to login twice - once to the SunRay
server software, then again to the SGD page?
Yes. Maybe there will be a possibility in SGD 4.3.
For our environment, log on SR and SGD is not a
problem: The SRSS Session don't have to finished,
just detach it to the background - if you are comming
back and log on, SGD is still open :-). Our SunRay
Sessions normaly live 4-8 weeks.There are ways to do SSO between Sun Ray and SGD depending on your needs.
>
2a) Can we achieve SSO?
I don't know of any good solution
3) Can USB keys/drives be made accessible to
published Windows applications via SGD (it would
appear so from the docs, has anyone done this
successfully?)
As far as I know: no for SRSS on Sparc. I don't know
SRSS on x86, but I heard that USB Sticks on SRSS 3.1
x86 are not supported at all. In SGD 4.3 this might
be possible ! I don't know any docs regarding
'mounting a USB Stick on a SunRay and export them to
Windows ')Through SGD, your Windows session would be able to access the USB thumb drive on the Sun Ray device (provided administator allows you to do so.)
>
4) Can a printer attached to a SunRay be made
accessible to published Windows apps?
Yes, there are several ways.
a) SGD creates a virtual PDF printer. If you print
from you Windows App to that one, an Acrobat Reader
on the SunRay should open and you can print from that
one on your local attached printer. This is good for
remote connections.
b) SGD have a feature of "follow me printing" - this
should do what you expect directly but we never used
that.
c) we use CUPS as printing system on the SunRays. On
the Windows you can then configure any CUPS printer
with the IPP URL
(http://myprintserver:631/printers/sunray1) of the
CUPS server (CUPS Server can run on Sun Ray Server).
5) SGD is currently configured to authenticate
against active directory. Will I have to create unix
users for all active directory users?
You mean authenticate your SunRay User ? I don't have
any experience with this configuration. If the user needs to login into Sun Ray first, then you'll need to configure the Sun Ray to authenticate against AD first (which I don't have any experience either.) Once that's done, SGD can authenticate against AD directly.
However, if you configure CAM mode, then you can present just the Windows logon to the user sitting in front of the Sun Ray.
>
CU
Carsten
Message was edited by:
crose99