Home Forums Discussions General Discussion Multiple remote users

Hi


I am new to amazing charts, actually i don't even use it but we have a client that does.

We have setup a virtual 2003 server on which amazing charts runs as a "Main computer"

My question is: Is there a way in which 3 users can remotely connect on that Windows 2003 server and use AC simultaneously? Or do i have to install 3 virtual workstations as well and install AC as a client on those?

Or if i install a client pc at their location will the application work over the internet using port forwarding? (if yes what ports need to be forwarded?) Or it only works over a VPN tunnel?

Thank you

Ask DiveNDog, he'll know.

Hello Radu,
When you setup the server did you set it up with terminal server as remote access or did you config it for application server? If the server was set as remote access only then you can have a max of two user connected to the server simultaneously and will not require TCAL's, however the users that access the serve must be granted administrator level "this could be a bad idea" to access that server.

I recommend that you configure terminal server as application server then just create the profiles for the users that will be running AC. You will need to get TCALs for the remote user, but you can test it out for 120 days first to see if its what you want before you will need to buy them.

Did you setup Active Directory on the server and or is it in a local domain?

Hit me back if you have any problems or questions. I know that printers tends to boggle most people when it comes to remote desktop and AC lacks proper global printing schema like it should.

Good luck
-Dog

Hi

I am using amazingcharts since 2009. I have a remote office that is connected through vpn with primary office. Currently main database on a Desktop with Win 7 - professional. I had to get a server with windows 2008 R2 OS to meet our billing software upgrade needs. Right now I have put AC client version on it. It is configuired with terminal services to 5 RDP-CAL and is being accessed by remote office as well as working as server for billing sottware in primary location. If I make this the main computer for AC, will I have to download both main computer and client version of AC on the server? Will there be potential problems if AC database is on terminal server and multple remote clients accessing main database directly?

Thanks

No need to put ac on amy other computer but server. "main comport" is no longer the main computer and TS simply allows multiple users to access ac on server. Now add sharepoint and you will have a great system, lol.

Hi Radu,

Our office had the same problem about a year and a half ago but I got really lucky and found a really excellent, stable, inexpensive program that works great with AC that allows multiple users called TSplus (Terminal Service Plus). You just buy the number of licenses you need for how many remote users you have. They have licenses for 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 or unlimited users I think. Go to www.tsplus.net for further info. We paid $125 for 5 remote users to access AC on our main server and it has worked great for over a year now. It also couldn't have been easier to install. You won't need any of the setup you have now. TSplus will set it all up for you once you go through the installation. It was easy enough for me to set up and I'm not even a computer pro so good luck.

WayneP

nch,

I didn't notice before, but you really should start your own thread even if your question is similar. This thread should be devoted to Radu's problem until it is resolved.

Thanks.

I just don't see any way around installing clients for the remote users. And, VPN will be too slow.

Why would VPN be too slow?

Hard to explain, but VPN, compared with almost any other remote method is slow.

I wish I could find my old post about the speed of VPN vs. RDP. I'll just throw some rough numbers out there. RDC only needs like 56 kbps to function. Essentially, it's just updating your screen on the client computer while VPN is actually processing files back and forth. Assume you have an upload rate of about 1 megabit which is Time Warner's High Speed package (10 mbps down, 1 mbps up), that's only 125 kilobytes/second. More than enough for Remote Desktop but is it for VPN? Can you imagine copying files to a flash drive that was only 1 megabit/second, that's your average flash drive except 80 times slower (assuming your average FD is about 15 megabytes/second or 120 megabits.) Do you really want to work on something that slow? I'd imagine opening imported items and what not would take forever. Not to mention you can corrupt your database if the connection were to go out or something. VPN is mainly designed for companies with big pockets that need to connect their offices.

Not so hard to explain when Sandeep explains it. Thanks Sandeep.

I think we should just ban the acronym/letters "VPN" from the board.

Because I have had to explain this several time to folks considering hosted versus multi-site VPN, here is how we talk about the subject.

When you run over a VPN, EVERY BIT OF DATA travels the wire, and everything is making round-trips.

When you run a terminal session/hosted, the only thing that is making the trip is what the screen is showing you, and what commands you give (keyboard and mouse).

That is why you can run AC from a tablet or smartphone [via LogMeIn], and it performs fine, it is just a matter of screen size.

---Slightly off-topic---
That is also why I suggested that folks hold off on tablets @ ACUC 2010 until the displays caught up with what AC needs display-wise to function effectively.

With the advent of the ASUS Prime and ChromeBooks (now around $350 and still falling), the displays can accommodate AC, and have the keyboards and mouse control needed.
--- ---

VPNS are slower because EVERYTHING is running locally, and then going back to the server.

Bottom-Line:: implement a technology that keeps all of the processing work on the same network segment.

No problem, just trying to give an idea of how slow it is ha. Maybe you should sticky why VPN is a bad idea. I can write a better organized version incorporating Indy's explanation and mine as well. Maybe outline the pros and cons of other remote access methods. I feel like this question is asked frequently enough as to which is recommended.

Agreed, but it is still fairly straight forward. RDC is you have the capability and just a bit of know how. LMI otherwise. They are both fast, secure and free.