Best way to use Access over several offices

[ThomasAJ]

I run a small business that is expanding. One office now only.
The app runs on a Windows 2003 server using terminal services.

I want to find a way of serving out my database to offices.
I'm hoping that people here might know about solutions for small busineses.

Do ISPs run something like virtual W2003.
Maybe they run virtual servers that I can run my app on and use terminal
services
at each office.

Or where do I start to investigate.

 

[Tony Toews [MVP]]

I run a small business that is expanding. One office now only.
The app runs on a Windows 2003 server using terminal services.

Then why not allow those remote offices to use that W2003 Server?
Open a port in the firewall and point it to the W2003 server.

It has been suggested that you should use a VPN for additional
security. That said though I do work on my web server without using a
VPN for a number of years now and have never had a problem.

Do ISPs run something like virtual W2003.

Very unlikely unless you were to install the system yourself. The
term is, I think, colocate. This can cost many hundreds of $s per
month.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm
Tony's Microsoft Access Blog - http://msmvps.com/blogs/access/

 

[ThomasAJ]

The problem is speed. The max upload is 384KB. If the DB is somewhere that
has serious outbound speed then I am hoping that 'office like' response times
can be achieved.

Yes colocation is where a company physically stores your server.

Also there are places that offer virtual servers (you see the server as if
you were the only one on it). This is cheaper than coloc.

I was hoping someone had some experience with 'distributed' computing for
small business. Perhaps someone can suggest a more suitable forum.

 

[Tony Toews [MVP]]

The problem is speed. The max upload is 384KB. If the DB is somewhere that
has serious outbound speed then I am hoping that 'office like' response times
can be achieved.

I should have said - Why not let the users use your W2003 server with
terminal services? My apologies for not making that clear.

I've hit my server via a dialup line behind a motel switchboard at
28.8 kpbs. While slow and sluggish it worked. 384 kb shared amongst
5 users would give you acceptable performance given that it would be
very bursty rather than sustained traffic.

I was hoping someone had some experience with 'distributed' computing for
small business. Perhaps someone can suggest a more suitable forum.

This forum is as good as any.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm
Tony's Microsoft Access Blog - http://msmvps.com/blogs/access/