The machine running the 'Manager' component can also access all peripherals attached to the remote machine and that are available to the operating system on the remote machine, whether it be DOS, Windows, or OS/2. Manager must, however, reside on an OS/2 system. Both command-line and GUI environments of all these systems are accessible to the PolyPM Manager. Monochrome, 16-, 256-colour palettes are available to the Manager: the smaller the colour palette, the faster the screen refresh over the link, with a 16-colour palette providing a reasonable compromise between speed and aesthetics, and Monochrome providing the fastest redraw.
The remote machine uses the 'Client' component, and is the operational link between the Manager and the operating system on which the DOS, Windows or OS/2 Client is running. The Client answers incoming calls from the Manager after a Client-defined number of rings, and after the login protocol has been executed satisfactorily, the Manager takes over the machine on which the Client is running. The Manager can also be given the privileges required to download and upload files, and reboot the remote machine. This protocol is highly secured, and connection will be refused if access is not correctly obtained by both components.
Control of Client by Manager is dynamically configurable, and can be used, for example, by System Administrators and IT help desks. A remote system can have an operating system or application installed or updated, or a new set of configuration files delivered by a System Administrator using a Manager system. Using a set of graphical tools provided with RSM, Help Desk personnel can instruct a user on the best way to use a program. This may be done by a Manager on any of the previously mentioned operating systems, regardless of hardware differences, e.g. video hardware, which may exist between the two machines. A System Administrator can view the functioning of a remote program to determine errors reported by the remote user, and then take the appropriate action, without having to personally travel to the remote site. A Client can also be configured via the Manager setup to call the Manager back if necessary.
Both Manager and Client Gateways can be installed (given the appropriate number of workstation/site licences) to enable multiple concurrent access between Managers and Clients across multiple homogeneous and heterogeneous networks.
Security is by way of passwords used at both ends. A Manager cannot logon to a Client without the correct hard-coded individual RSM product serial number, and the right non-echoing Manager-defined password installed in the Client component. Without both of these known to the person using the Manager, connection will be refused and the link broken.
RSM was developed in and for the large Corporate environment, with security as one of the fundamental elements of the product. It is used currently in Australia by Westpac, the AMP, the Metway Bank and several large corporations.
Those companies were not dedicated OS/2 users, yet they opted to manage their "client" DOS/WIN machines by simple installation of OS/2 on servers to use the advanced benefits of RSM. In fact several similar products require OS/2 installation while not providing support for OS/2.