R. Stahl EXICOM Series 500 Thin Clients

R. Stahl has released firmware version 5.5 for its EXICOM Series 500 Thin Clients. The industrial-grade remote HMI firmware, based on Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSB (Long Term Service Branch) is made for efficient connectivity, security and manageability.

The firmware has a protected kiosk mode where user rights are restricted, and access to the operating system is barred. It is highly secure against threats and unauthorised access and includes a filter that can be used to limit access to the USB port to defined storage media and other specific devices. Users can only access normal settings as well as apps specially set up for them, such as Citrix clients, ERP or CCTV systems.

A feature of the latest firmware is the simultaneous display of multiple sessions: it is possible, for example, to simultaneously access the control system and the ERP system, either in split-screen mode on the same screen or in a dual-monitor system. For apps and functions that are frequently used, the user interface will suggest one-touch shortcuts. All other functions are easily accessible via clearly structured menus.

For reliable failure protection and non-stop availability, the remote access protocols RDP, VNC and KVM over IP feature an immediate re-connect as well as redundancy with dual Ethernet interfaces. The firmware user interface adapts to different-sized displays as well as landscape/portrait formats. Virtual keyboards with various fonts are available for data input. Stability and progressive compatibility of the firmware is ensured by Microsoft's operating system security updates.