Overview

NPower DNA is built using Windows standards and tools and uses DCOM to support communication among software objects on different computers.  The very nature of an access control software platform demands that a certain amount of network security is inherent in the application and as a result DNA does have certain network requirements that must be met for successful deployment on the customer’s network. 

What is DCOM?

DNA utilizes a Microsoft architecture known as DCOM (Distributed Component Object Model) as the main communication infrastructure in the client/server environment.   The DCOM model provides improved network bandwidth utilization, allows communication across multiple network protocols, and is inherently secure using the extensible security framework of Windows NT.

What are the network requirements for DNA?

DNA has certain network requirement under this model that must be met for successful deployment of DNA in the client/server environment.  Any of the following network scenarios are acceptable for this operation:

• All DNA computers (servers and client workstations) MUST be members of the same Windows domain regardless of what other applications are operating on the domain.

• All DNA computers are members of a dedicated Windows domain.

• DNA computers can be members on different Windows domains, but each domain MUST have an established bi-directional trust in place.

• DNA computers can be members on different Windows domains, but each domain MUST be managed under Windows Active Directory Service or a master domain.

• All DNA computers are members of a single dedicated workgroup without a Windows domain.  A few things to consider with this option are:

   

  • The absence of domain authentication requires that all passwords and users are managed at each individual PC in the DNA workgroup.

   

  • If you are using SQL Server for data storage, all passwords will be required to be managed at the SQL Server level.

Open Options is committed to your security and makes every effort to ensure the success of your system.  However, Open Options cannot be held responsible for system failure due to non-compliance with the above network requirements.