Symantec's pcAnywhere 11.0 is best thought of as an industrial-strength remote-access tool. The product supports a rich array of authentication and security options, including the ability to create a serialized installation that requires both the host and remote machines to have the same security code.

pcAnywhere's new remote-management tools address help desk problems and server maintenance needs. Included are a command prompt, task manager, services manager, event log viewer, system control (reboot, shut down, lock, log off) applet, system file editor, installed application viewer, and Registry editor. These tools save time over a full remote-control session because they execute locally yet directly affect the host machine with minimal data transfer. Moreover, they can be run independently of or concurrent with a full remote-control session.

Version 11.0 enhances pcAnywhere's file-transfer feature. You can transfer files in the background while queuing up additional files or sending files to other computers. The file-transfer support is more advanced than GoToMyPC's, offering additional tools such as Folder Synchronization and Folder Compare. In our testing, files transferred quickly across a broadband Internet connection.

File-transfer commands are saved in the new Command Queue, which lets you queue file transfers, DOS commands (copy, delete, execute, and so on) and Windows shut-down options (reboot, shut down, lock workstation, and log off). You can save these sets of commands and file transfers as batch files, too.

Users of prior releases will also appreciate pcAnywhere's new look, which combines all features within a unified, shared interface. One unique feature is the new Quick Deploy and Connect option, which lets you push a feature-limited version of the applet to a remote PC that does not have pcAnywhere installed.

pcAnywhere's sophistication comes with some complexity, however. We had to alter our firewall settings to pass through pcAnywhere packets to our assigned host and use DynIP's useful service to track our host's dynamic IP address so that we could connect. (Six months of DynIP service comes bundled with pcAnywhere.) If you can deal with such complexity, pcAnywhere is a solid choice.