Introduction
Have you ever wanted SSH or telnet access to your system from an
“internet desert” - from behind a strict firewall,
from an internet cafe, or even from a mobile phone? Anyterm is a
combination of a web page and a web server module that provides this
access - see the demos.
Anyterm can use almost any web browser and even works through
firewalls. There is experimental support for mobile phones using
WAP. If you join my.anyterm.org you can
access your systems straight away via our server with no software to
install anywhere. Alternatively, you can run the Anyterm software
on your own system - see the deployment
examples.
We can also help you to integrate Anyterm-type functionality into
your own applicatons, for example to web-enable a legacy system, or
an embedded system. Contact us for details.
How It Works
Anyterm consists of some Javascript on a web page, an
XmlHttpRequest channel on standard ports back to the server, and an
Apache module. The module uses a pseudo-terminal to communicate with
a shell or other application, and includes terminal emulation. Key
presses are picked up by the Javscript which sends them to the
Apache module; changes to the emulated screen are sent from the
module to the Javascript which updates its display. Performance is
quite reasonable and SSL can be used to secure the connection.
my.anyterm.org
my.anyterm.org is designed for systems
administrators and others who want the benefit of access from
anywhere using Anyterm, but who don't want to risk
installing the Anyterm software on their own servers. For a small
charge you can use our Anyterm installation to connect to your own
systems.
Status
Anyterm's stable 1.0 branch provides a fairly reliable
implementation of the basic Anyterm functionality. Bug fixes will
continue to be applied to this branch if necessary.
The 1.1 branch is where development will continue, starting with
WAP phone access. If you have a suggestion or would like to help,
do please get in touch via the forums.
Requirements
Anyterm is developed on Linux but there is a good chance that
it will run on other Unix-like operating system. Apache2 is
needed. Mozilla-based browsers and Internet Explorer 6 work;
Opera 8 now also works but only just, and recent versions of
Konqueror are partially functional. Feedback about other browsers
would be appreciated.
License
The main Anyterm code is licensed under the GNU General Public
License (GPL). Included code is licensed as follows:
- The included Sarissa code is licensed under the GPL or the
"lesser" LGPL.
- The included mingetty code is licensed under the GPL.
- The included Shmem library code is licensed under the Boost
license, which is included in the boost_shmem directory.
So you are free to use Anyterm in any
application, including commerical use. If you want to distribute
something that includes the Anyterm code, then that must also be
distributed under the same free license.
Support
Anyterm has no warranty. The main support channel for Anyterm is
the online forums. Please do ask in the
forums if you have any problems, questions or suggestions.
If your business would like to deploy Anyterm on your servers,
or add Anyterm-like functionality to your own product, please
get in touch. We may be able to help.
The Author
Anyterm is the work of Phil Endecott. I'm also responsible for
Decimail and QWAZERTY. Contact email here.
Getting started
If you want to install Anyterm, first decide whether you
want to get the stable version or be more adventurous and try the
development version. Then just get the code from the download page and follow the
appropriate installation instructions. Alterntively you can just
join my.anyterm.org and get the benefits
without the effort!
