Running the GO-Global Web App
Introduction
The GO-Global Web App provides a seamless way to access and run Windows applications directly from a web browser—no installation required. Built with JavaScript and HTML5, it enables users on Windows, Mac, and Linux to work efficiently through modern browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. With features such as password caching, local printer support via GO-Global’s Preview PDF printer, and text copying between local and remote apps, the Web App simplifies remote application delivery without requiring complex host configurations.
Developed with JavaScript and HTML5, the GO-Global Web App is a zero-install client that allows users to run Windows applications from popular web browsers on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. In addition, no special host configuration is required to deploy the Web App. The Web App supports client-side password caching, printing to local printers via GO-Global’s Preview PDF printer, and copying and pasting text between local and remote applications using CTRL keys.
Running the GO-Global Web App
GO-Global can be run from popular web browsers, including Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Apple Safari.
To run GO-Global from a Web browser
- Open a browser.
- In the Location box, type http:// or https:// followed by the host name, followed by
?useApp=false
For example:
http://hostname:491/?useApp=false -or-
https://hostname:491/?useApp=false - When the Sign In dialog appears, enter the Windows credentials for a local or domain user on the GO-Global Host.
When https:// is specified in the Location box, the TLS protocol must be enabled on the Security tab of the Admin Console's Host Options dialog, and the common name of the TLS Certificate specified on the tab must match the host name specified in the URL.
Note:When a third-party load balancer is used and the TLS protocol is required (e.g., when clients will connect to the load balancer over the internet), the TLS protocol may be terminated at either the load balancer or the GO-Global Hosts. For more information, see TLS Configuration with Third-Party Load Balancers.
GO-Global's Web App, however, is subject to browser security restrictions, which require web apps to use WebSocket Secure connections when they are loaded over an HTTPS connection. See Selecting TLS Protocol for more information.
By default, GO-Global attempts to automatically download and run AppController. Appending ?useApp=false to the logon URL will prevent GO-Global from downloading AppController and will run the GO-Global Web App instead.
Note:GO-Global Web App users must use the 3-finger tap to activate the keyboard.
Running the GO-Global Web App with AppController
The GO-Global Web App allows users to run applications from a browser without installing anything on their computer. However, there are several limitations when only the Web App is run. For example, when running only the Web App, the following features are not supported or available: client file access, serial and parallel ports, smart cards, client sound, printing directly to client printers, and running GO-Global in loose windows mode. These limitations can be easily overcome by downloading and installing AppController. By running AppController on a Windows, Linux, or Mac computer, users will have access to all these features. To retain the web app experience and still have access to client integration features, users can opt to run AppController in embed mode.
GO-Global provides the useApp parameter to control installation and execution of AppController. When useApp=true, the Web App will try to launch AppController. When useApp=false, the Web App will not try to launch AppController. When useApp=force, the user will not be given the option to run applications via the Web App within the browser. The user will only be able to run applications via AppController. The default value of the UseApp parameter is true.
If this parameter is not specified in the logon.html file on the host or in the URL (e.g., http://hostname:491), the default value is true. Users will be prompted to download, install, and run AppController.
Running AppController in Embed Mode
When AppController is installed and enabled, the “embed” URL parameter can be used to control whether applications run within the browser window or outside the browser window. If the embed parameter is not specified or is set to “false” (e.g., if the URL is http://hostname:491/?embed=false), the user’s applications will run outside the browser’s windows via AppController.
Alternatively, if the embed parameter is set to “true” (e.g., if the URL is http://hostname:491/?embed=true), applications will run inside the browser window via the Web App, but users will still need to install and/or launch AppController when prompted. In this case, GO-Global will start AppController (if it is installed and enabled), to provide access to the computer’s devices (e.g., printers and drives); it will not display the session’s applications.
When AppController is not installed or useApp=false, the embed option is ignored. AppController must be launched from the browser for embed mode to function properly. To do this, click Start AppController when prompted by the browser. AppController will run in the background, providing access to client drives and devices while retaining the web app experience.
Note that AppController can be viewed and managed in Task Manager, but not the taskbar.
Accessing the Host or Relay Load Balancer Directly from the Internet
If users will be connecting to a GO-Global Host or Relay Load Balancer from the internet, the web server and host addresses in the URL must resolve to public (internet) IP addresses.
If users will be accessing a host or Relay Load Balancer from both the internet and the internal network, the external and internal DNS should be configured so that the public and internal addresses of the web server are the same, and the public and internal addresses of the host are the same. Alternatively, administrators can provide external and internal users with different URLs, but this may be confusing to users.
When hosts are accessed via a third-party load balancer, the URL must include the address of the load-balancer. For example,
https://loadbalancer.com/goglobal/?host=hostname&app=Notepad
Note: When using the GO-Global Web App, copying and pasting to the clipboard through an application's menu or toolbar is not supported. Instead, on Windows, use the keyboard shortcuts CTRL+C to copy and CTRL+V to paste. On the Mac, use the keyboard shortcuts Command-C to copy and Command-V to paste.
Conclusion
The GO-Global Web App provides a seamless way to access and run Windows applications directly from a web browser—no installation required. Built with JavaScript and HTML5, it enables users on Windows, Mac, and Linux to work efficiently through modern browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. With features such as password caching, local printer support via GO-Global’s Preview PDF printer, and text copying between local and remote apps, the Web App simplifies remote application delivery without requiring complex host configurations.
Are you an ISV exploring cloud-based application delivery? Contact us to learn how GO-Global can help you streamline software access for your end users. Or download a free trial to test it yourself.
