Synchronize or access database online

[Todd]

I need to be able to use my database when on the road with my laptop but the
data source is kept on our server. From what I've read so far, I may have 2
options.

1. I could use Replication Manager to synchronize the data sources.
Unfortunately, I do not have the MS Office Developers Edition. I think it
is required for Replication Manager.

2. Is it possible for me to access the data source over the internet? If
so, I would think this would be the quickest and easiest method.

I am running Windows XP and Office 2000. I appreciate any recommendations.
Thank you!

Todd

 

[Albert D.Kallal]

I explain some good solutions here:

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

I also explain in the above how a WAN is much to slow for connecting to
ms-access.

Of couse, the above article assume that you always known about splitting a
ms-access database. Just in case you don't know that, then you can
read the follwing BEFORE you read the above...

http://www.members.shaw.ca/AlbertKallal/Articles/split/index.htm

 

[Todd]

Thank you for the link to your web site. Your article was well-articulated.
You helped me to understand the pros and cons to each system.

It seems to me that going to SQL might be the best method for my situation.
I've found and installed the MSDE program on the Office CD but could still
ues a beginner's guide of some sort to get started. Any suggestions?
Thanks!

 

[Albert D.Kallal]

It seems to me that going to SQL might be the best method for my

situation. I've found and installed the MSDE program on the Office CD but
could still ues a beginner's guide of some sort to get started. Any
suggestions? Thanks!

Well, if you use remote desktop (terminal services), then you would not have
to learn or install sql server. You would also not have to re-code your
application to work with sql server. So, from a learning point of view....TS
is VERY little work on your part (and, the end users would NOT have to have
ms-access installed). Windows server 2000 does allow two free remote users
at the same time. If you need more then two remote users (at the same time),
then yes...TS does start to get expensive quite fast. It is assumed that you
have a competent network support person who can set this up ...and do so in
a SECURE manor.

As for a beginners guide?... any "dummies" for sql server, or "getting
started" with sql server will do the trick. You also REALLY need to get you
hands on the Enterprise tools (manager) for sql server (I used to get this
by downloading the trial edition of sql server....as the Enterpise tools did
NOT expire). However, why bother with MSDE, as we now have sql server
expresse.

download:
http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/sql/default.aspx

about:
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/express/


The above also now comes with some nice management tools. (a much better
choice then the MSDE right now).

However, the problem is not setting up sql server, the problem is setting up
a SECURE means for people OUTSIDE of your company network to connect to sql
server. Are you experienced enough to open up your network to the wild
internet? The last client of mine that did this came in Monday morning to
find their server being had been hacked. It was being used all weekend long
by a bunch of kid gamers who were using the server for a un-real game
tournament server (multi-player shooter internet game). Hey...a free server
for gaming...lets hi-jack it!!!

So, unless you know how to securely open up your system to the wild
internet, you better bring in some expertise on how to do this correctly
(users should connect via a SSH connection, or even more flexible...is a VPN
connection).