Large Database Across WAN

[Nick]

Hello,

I have a fairly large database that some users need to access over a T1. Is
there anything I can do to the database or their local settings to speed up
their experience? I'm very new to Access so I have no idea if that is
possible or not.

Access database was created in v2003 and the clients over the WAN are 2007

Thanks.

 

[Paul Shapiro]

Install a terminal server on the same LAN as the database, and let the
remote users access it via the terminal server. Performance improves
drastically. You also eliminate a large risk of database corruption. Access
is a file-server type of database, meaning each user's computer is directly
reading and writing the database file. Network problems are the most common
cause of db corruption, and remote users multiply that risk.

The typical Access form loads all of a table's records when it opens, and if
it's a large db that will always require a lot of network bandwidth.
Modifying forms to load only one record at a time should improve performance
considerably.

You could also convert the backend db to SQL Server, but you still probably
have to modify your forms to get suitable remote performance.

 

[Nick]

Ok thanks for the suggestions!

Install a terminal server on the same LAN as the database, and let the
remote users access it via the terminal server. Performance improves
drastically. You also eliminate a large risk of database corruption. Access
is a file-server type of database, meaning each user's computer is directly
reading and writing the database file. Network problems are the most common
cause of db corruption, and remote users multiply that risk.

The typical Access form loads all of a table's records when it opens, and if
it's a large db that will always require a lot of network bandwidth.
Modifying forms to load only one record at a time should improve performance
considerably.

You could also convert the backend db to SQL Server, but you still probably
have to modify your forms to get suitable remote performance.

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

In addition to what Paul's already told you, you might be interested in
reading what Albert Kallal has at
http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/Wan/Wans.html