Workspace
A workspace is an online place where you connect with other PeerAware users in order to chat, share documents, draw on the shared whiteboard and more.
Getting to know the workspace window
A description of features in the workspace window:
- Chat - Click to see the chat window.
- Whiteboard - Click to see the whiteboard window.
- Whiteboard sessions - Click a name to join a whiteboard session.
- Start session - Click to start a whiteboard session.
- User list - List of users connected to the workspace. Right click to browse the users shared folders, chat in private or send e-mail.
- Chat message - Write a message for the workspace.
- Smilies - Click a smiley to insert the smiley code into the chat message.
- User count - Count of users in the workspace.
- Send - Click to send message to the workspace.
- Shared file size - Total size of shared files.
Click connect on a workspace description in the startpage, or Ctrl + J and type the workspace address to open the workspace window.
Create a workspace
It is easy to create a workspace. Click "Add workspace" on the start page. The following dialog will be displayed:
The dialog allows the workspace to be configured:
- Name - The name of the workspace. Required.
- Description - The description is important to understand the purpose of the workspace. Name and description will be visible in the local network list on nearby computers, and is displayed when a user connects to the workspace.
- Workspace script - The workspace script The url for a custom workspace script.
- Max users in - Maximum number of users in the workspace. Default 500.
- Minimum share - The minimum total size of documents a user must share before connecting to the workspace. Default 0.
- Port - Port used to connect to the workspace. Default 1511.
- Members only - If set only members in the member list can connect. Default off.
- Proxy passive clients - If two users are unable to connect directly to each other, they can connect by using the workspace as a proxy. Default on.
- Secure communication - By default a PeerAware workspace is encrypted. If you need to support more than a few hundred users you can turn this off. A secure workspace supports fewer users due to the increased processing requirements. Default on.
- Hide shared files - Disables file sharing and search. Default off.
When you press ok the workspace is started as a service on your computer and listed in the local network list on nearby computers running PeerAware.
Workspace availability
A workspace will run as a service on the computer where it is created. If you have users that want to connect from across the internet it is possible to the test if the workspace is available for these. The test tries to connect to the workspace from the internet and reports whether the attempt is successful. The test is only available where the workspace is running. Click "Availability" to start the test, and it will report the result within five seconds.
If the test fails the following will be displayed below the workspace listing:
If you prefer to block the workspace from the Internet this is fine. The workspace can still be reached from computers on your local network unless blocked by internal firewalls. However, if you would like to make the workspace reachable from the internet you will have to open the configured port in your firewall. Contact your system administrator for support.
If the test is successful the following will be displayed:
The address listed will be your numerical ip-address. Unless this is fixed ip-address you should replace it with a host-name before sending it to users who needs to connect to your workspace.
Register in the Internet list
If you would like to make your workspace available for anyone to connect, you can publish your workspace in the internet list by clicking "register" after a successful availability test and completing the registration process in the web-page. Anyone using PeerAware can then discover and connect to your workspace.
Modify a workspace
To change a workspace go to Tools > Options on the menu, select the "Workspace" tab, select the workspace you want to modify and select "Modify".
Delete a workspace
go to Tools->Options on the menu, select the "Workspace" tab, choose the workspace you want to remove and select "Delete".