Base UB+

Superior Server Foundation for all HELIOS Products

HELIOS Base UB+ is the innovative foundation used by all HELIOS UB+ products. It incorporates the advanced server technologies developed by HELIOS over many years. These core HELIOS technologies include the service controller, printing system, authentication server, remote administration, networking and imaging libraries, tools and more. HELIOS Base provides the foundation for all HELIOS products.

Ease of Use The concept of HELIOS Base is to make your server easy to use and manage. Installation, configuration, and updating are very straightforward. Even switching between supported platforms takes only minutes, and preserves all custom HELIOS settings.

Server Fail Safety HELIOS software is made for mission-critical environments. HELIOS Base adds another level of server fail safety. The HELIOS Service Controller starts, stops and monitors all HELIOS services. Separate processes per active user are generated, to enforce file security and ensure process safety. If any HELIOS service fails the HELIOS Service Controller will restart the service.

Advanced Printing System HELIOS Base provides the state-of-the-art HELIOS printing system to all other HELIOS products.

HELIOS Authentication Server supports LDAP, AD/PDC, NIS and local users. Even mixed environments, e.g. LDAP, AD/PDC and backup servers are supported.

HELIOS mDNS Server (“Bonjour”) enables automatic discovery of computers, devices, and services on IP networks without the need to enter IP addresses or configure DNS servers.

SQL desktop database indexes all server files, enabling near instant file searches. Allows system snapshots and backups while the file system is in use.

HELIOS DHCP Server provides TCP/IP configurations to Windows, Mac, and other network devices. Includes DHCP backup server capability. Dynamic DNS updates are also supported.

There is no extra cost for HELIOS Base.

Product Highlights

Server installation

Fast, menu-driven installation, easy installation for system administrators
Extensive documentation in printed, PDF, and online manuals

Server Administration

Remote server administration from Mac OS X, Windows, and UNIX via HELIOS Admin over TCP/IP and HTTP
Manages local users, volumes, printers, server settings, security settings, TCP/IP access lists, logs, etc.
Remote server file browsing & editing
RSA 1024-bit encrypted passwords
HELIOS Services, “srvutil” front end to manage different services
Open files tool
Central start / stop HELIOS scripts
CLI “dt” utilities for file management

Server Fail Safety

All services are managed and observed by the HELIOS Service Controller.

Automatic reporting of problems
Automatic service restart if required
If a process fails, other processes are not affected
Automatic starting order
Allows easy integration of third-party services and scripts
HELIOS SDK available to develop additional start/stop COM plug-ins to permit more control, e.g. start, stop, restart events, messages

HELIOS Update Installer

Each HELIOS file has a version number managed by our version control system.

Automatic download of updates
Automatic installation of updates
Option to roll back installed updates

Authentication Server

Central server supports authentication of local host users, LDAP, NIS, and Windows AD/PDC users
“authutil” tool to look up accounts and verify/change user passwords
Optional script to allow/deny logins by user, service, TCP/IP, time, etc.
Central passwords up to 64 bytes

DHCP Server

Built-in DHCP server automatically distributes DNS, router, WINS and TCP/IP addresses to Windows and Mac clients. A second server can be used as a DHCP backup server, in case the main server fails.

HELIOS mDNS Server (“Bonjour”)

Supports multiple network interfaces
Proxy for non-Bonjour devices
Tools and API included

SQL desktop database

Transactional 64-bit desktop file

Server Auditing & Monitoring

Live monitoring and tracing of any HELIOS service and/or individual session, to isolate/identify problems. It complements network and system traces.

Unicode

All HELIOS services utilize Unicode

Unicode UTF-8 is used for file names
“uniconv” tool converts files and file names between different encodings
All major client encodings are supported
HELIOS SDK to add/use encodings

Migration to other platforms

All installed HELIOS products and settings can be transferred to any supported platform by installing the HELIOS products from CD and moving the HELIOS “var” folder to the new platform. All server settings including volumes and printers are transferred to the new platform and are automatically re-created on the new system. Supports migration from earlier versions.

Advanced Printing System

Large server sites require a superior printing system to manage their printing needs. The HELIOS printing system includes key features like custom spool directories, moving of jobs between queues, reprinting and archiving of jobs, full error feedback and control, etc. It is lpr/lpd compatible, supports PostScript, PDF and other jobs with many features:

Error and hold queues for all queues to reprint and monitor the jobs done
Print job accounting
Remote LPR printers, with 64-bit jobs between HELIOS UB “lpr” queues, and 32-bit jobs to other “lpr” printers
64-bit print jobs (no 2/4 GB limit)
Printing via TCP/IP Stream (socket)
Print to disk including compression
Time queue to specify printing times
Balance queue for load balancing
Clone queue for multiple workflows
Print to AppleTalk PAP Printers (requires EtherShare UB+)
Print to Windows SMB/CIFS printers (requires PCShare UB+)
Print to Create PDF queue (requires PDF HandShake UB+)
Print to PDF bitmap proof queue (requires PrintPreview UB+)