Putting db on a web-based server -- delay time

[maura]

I have a server that I have my Access Database on that 6 people in my office
use. I actually have a shorcut to the database and this has been working
great. My server has gotten "tired" and is now 7 year old. I have decided to
go to an offsite server, so my other offices can access, not only this
database, but also other files. In testing the new offsite server, I put the
backend on it and put a frontend of the database on my computer. There seems
to be considerable delay time when I start accessing the database. Does
anyone have a suggestions to speed up the access time. I do realize that some
of this is the upload and download speed of my DSL, but other files that I
have put on this server do not take this long to open.

 

[John Nurick]

Hi Maura,

It's not recommended to use an Access database across an internet or
WAN connection. See
http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/Wan/Wans.html for why.

 

[maura]

The problem is that I have remote offices and I need to take this database to
the next step. What about SQL would this allow me to use a VPN? And if so, is
it difficult to convert a backend to SQL?

 

[John Nurick]

Access can be used just fine as a front end to a SQL Server database
on a remote server via VPN or otherwise. "Upsizing" from Access/Jet to
Access/SQL Server is often straightforward, but needs care and
understanding to get best results - especially if to be used over a
slow connection such as dial-up or VPN.

The other approach to remote connections with Access is to use a 'thin
client', such as the Terminal Services built into recent server
versions of Windows or supplied by third parties such as Citrix. Here,
Access is actually run on the server and basically all that is
transferred across the VPN is keystrokes and mouse movements in one
direction and screen images in the other. This has the advantage of
needing no or virtually no alteration to the Access database.

Both these are discussed in the article by Albert Kallal that I
referred you to.