Citrix or Terminal server for Access dBs

[M Skabialka]

A couple of years ago I wrote a database where users were scattered around
the country. The users got to the linked database back end using Citrix,
but the front end was on their own PC. This was incredibly slow.

In reading through some recent posts here about Citrix and Terminal server,
am I to understand that the correct way to use an Access front end is by
having each user maintain a folder where they keep a copy of the front end
on the same server as the back end, then use Access on their own computer to
open the front end on the Citrix and Terminal server?

It is likely that I will be developing another database on a WAN and need to
get much better performance.

Thanks,
Mich

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

the correct way to use an Access front end is by having each user maintain
a folder where they keep a copy of the front end on the same server as the
back end, then use Access on their own computer to open the front end on
the Citrix and Terminal server?

Yes, you are 100% right on. And, the performance is fantastic on any kind of
high speed internet.

You can even read my rambling thoughts on this issue here:

http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal//Wan/Wans.html

 

[Immanuel Sibero]

Albert,

Pardon me for jumping in. I'm about to implement a terminal server setup
with Access. But is the following statement by the OP correct?

.......then use Access on their own computer to open the front end on
the Citrix and Terminal server?

Or, should the user use the copy of Access on the TS/Citrix. (Meaning the
user doesnt even have to have MS-Access)?


Thanks,
Immanuel Sibero

 

[Rick Brandt]

Albert,

Pardon me for jumping in. I'm about to implement a terminal server
setup with Access. But is the following statement by the OP correct?


Or, should the user use the copy of Access on the TS/Citrix. (Meaning
the user doesnt even have to have MS-Access)?

The latter. If you are running Access locally then you are not using
TS/Citrix.

 

[M Skabialka]

This puts a new twist on things. In the previous database that I developed,
the Citrix server owners told the users NOT to use the server copy of Access
to run the database. That is why I put the front end on their machines,
where they had Access. As I mentioned, it was unbearably slow.

So Access, the front end and the back end ALL have to reside on the Citrix
server, and be utilized from there?

Mich

The latter. If you are running Access locally then you are not using
TS/Citrix.

 

[Immanuel Sibero]

Thanks for the confirmation, Rick! I was expecting so.
I havent implemented Access on TS but am about to. And the latter was the
whole concept of TS.

Immanuel Sibero

 

[Immanuel Sibero]

Hi M,

As Rick pointed out, yes both Front and Back end should be on the server.

I cant speak for Citrix (implementation may be different), but on Terminal
Server setup, your remote workstation simply logs in to the TS and the
remote user uses the TS as if he is sitting in front of it. So everything
the user runs resides on the TS. It's effectively a remote control software
such as PCAnywhere (although TS is way way better).

The way you described using the Citrix server in your previous database,
you're really not getting the benefit of what a Citrix/TS is designed for.

HTH,
Immanuel Sibero

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

Or, should the user use the copy of Access on the TS/Citrix. (Meaning the
user doesnt even have to have MS-Access)?

Correct, I might have been a bit confusing here..but the end users don't
even have to have ms-access installed.

 

[Tony Toews]

This puts a new twist on things. In the previous database that I developed,
the Citrix server owners told the users NOT to use the server copy of Access
to run the database. That is why I put the front end on their machines,
where they had Access. As I mentioned, it was unbearably slow.

The Citrix server owners either didn't understand how Access works or
were idiots.

So Access, the front end and the back end ALL have to reside on the Citrix
server, and be utilized from there?

Not quite. MS Access must be installed on the TS/Citrix system.

The FE should be on the TS/Citrix server but I have a client who
wanted that left on the file server. So there is likely a slight
performance hit there but it's quite acceptable.

The BE should be on a file server. But there again there may be
valid reasons, including performance, to have the BE on the TS/Citrix
server. Do ensure it's being backed up of course.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
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