Borland socket server, what is that?

Question

This is not question about programming, but I think maybe I'll get some answers here. Probably some of you did work with this and you can tell me more about it.

So, on a client we need to install some weird old SW written in D6 which needs Borland socket server installed on our server. Problem is that I don't know how and If it's even possible to run this Borland socket server as a service. And when you start this application on client it also opens an empy GUI form on server :S

So what exactly is Borland socket server and is it possible to run it as a service ?

Best regards, primoz

Answer 1

1. It is a DCOM proxy which allows Datasnap servers to be used by clients without the need to connect directly via DCOM (it is more firewall friendly, and less complex to setup. In turn many of the DCOM security features are lost
2. It can be run as a service. Execute it once with the -install command line option, and then you'll find it in the service manager.
3. When a client connects, the server may display a simple window, if it is not written to hide somehow the server application DCOM istantiates.