Open Mode

In open mode, Portal Server is installed without Secure Remote Access. Although HTTPS communication is possible in this mode, secure remote access is not possible. Users therefore cannot access secure remote file systems and applications.

The main difference between an open portal and a secure portal is that the services presented by the open portal typically reside within the demilitarized zone (DMZ) and not within the secured intranet. A DMZ is a small protected network between the public Internet and a private intranet, usually demarcated with a firewall on both ends.

If the portal does not contain sensitive information both of either deploying public information and allowing access to free applications, then responses to access requests by a large number of users is faster than using secure mode.

In Open Mode, Portal Server is installed on a single server behind the firewall. Multiple clients access Portal Server across the Internet through the single firewall.

Figure 1–1 Portal Server in Open Mode with Secure Remote Access