VCON's IPNexus

Companies concerned about security threats with public instant-messaging services are looking at enterprise instant-messaging products as a way to allow for real-time text communications without sacrificing security and manageability. A product on the short list for companies should be VCON's IPNexus system. IPNexus is independent of existing enterprise messaging infrastructures (others include i3Connect's Merlin and Tipic's Instant Messaging Platform). This differs from Microsoft's Exchange 2000 IM services and IBM's  Lotus Sametime.

The IPNexus system supports instant text messaging, and can escalate to real-time, full-featured collaboration sessions. From the same user interface, users can launch and manage point-to-point or multipoint H.323  videoconferences (as long as they have a camera and speakers). This review looked only at the real-time messaging and desktop collaboration tools.

We found well-integrated and distinct features designed to support real-time desktop communication and collaboration. All the features were easy to use, produced immediate results and promised to keep electronic meetings focused on business rather than on the technology.

Installation and configuration

The IPNexus 1.5 system consists of a tower or rack-mount appliance that runs VCON's Multimedia Exchange Manager (MXM) Release 3.1 software and IPNexus server software on a Windows 2000 platform. It also comes with a client application, a 2.5M-byte program that installs on users' PCs.

An IPNexus-specific file ("WebShare class") must be installed in a directory where the server application consistently can access local or remote FTP and Web server virtual directories and services. FTP and Web-access configuration experience is helpful for proper installation, and administrator-level rights to FTP and Web servers must be given to receive the IPNexus files.

The IPNexus client software runs on any Windows 95 or later operating system, and it installed without fanfare. It configured easily, letting the user select which IPNexus server the application should register to (the client can only register to one server at a time). The client also lets users select a screen name, or use a system login name, and lets them set personal preferences, such as the client behavior when invited by the server to join a session. Then the client quietly parks itself in the system tray until called on. Clients can be installed on any number of PCs in a corporation, but an MXM license key controls the number of simultaneous clients any single IPNexus server will register (concurrent logons). The MXM is a mature "super Gatekeeper" and application server, and has many valuable management and administration features. It is a required component of IPNexus.

Client applications

The IPNexus client application includes instant messaging, QuickNotes and QuickPolls - we found them very easy to use.Double-clicking on the system try icon displays the clients directory and session initiation console, which lists the names of the users alphabetically by name or department. We were disappointed that we couldn't organize users as in a buddy list. Also the concept of "presence," indicating when buddies are active or inactive, is missing from the IPNexus directory paradigm.