We have a data base we want our field sales people people to use
daily.
We have all our queries and forms and reports done in Access.
We do not want to have to re-do it all in ASP or some other Scripting
Language.
We think we need something like Citrix and Terminal Server... but they
are expensive... right?
Terminal Server and Citrix can be a bit pricey, depending on the number of users, etc ... you can purchase licenses from
resellers or directly from MS (the resellers are normally a little cheaper, but be VERY leery of prices which are
substantially lower than other quotes).
You need MS Server (2000 or 2003) to run TS; TS is included with the server software, so there's no other software to
purchase. With MS Server 2000, clients running Windows 2000 PRO or XP Pro had "builtin" licensing, and no additional
licensing was required (you still had to have enough server licenses, of course). That was changed in 2003; ALL
connecting users must now have a license. You'll also need to run a licensing server; depending on the load, you might
be able to run the licensing server on the same box as the TS.
Users in a TS environment still must have the licensing to run the apps they'll be running in the TS session. For
example, if users will open and run Excel in the TS session, then each connecting user will require an Excel license.
Citrix is basically the same thing (MS licensed the technology for TS from Citrix, so at the core they're identical -
Citrix just has some nicer features), with additional licenses needed for each user. If you can get by with the basic TS
then you'll be better off.
Printing is the biggest headache with TS, generally. You'll need to make sure that the server has all print drivers for
the printers your remote clients will be using. Even then you'll still have some odd printer problems (at least in my
experience you will). One of my apps is in use at a government installation, and is being run over a TS setup with about
100 users. Once they got up and running, the app runs very well and they have few problems with the exception of
printers. Much of that has to do with trying to use printers that are NOT compatible with TS, but they IT people so me -
a lowly developer - can't tell them anything ...
You could also replicate the database and provide these to your sales force ... replication basiclly makes a copy of the
data tables and the field users make changes as needed ... then at some point (daily, weekly, etc) the field users
"synchronize" their databases with the Master. This works well if you don't need immediate data concurrency ... if your
data can be a day or so "old", then replication is something to consider. Remember, however, that replication carries
some overhead in terms of performance and maintenance ...
Scott McDaniel
scott@takemeout_infotrakker.com
www.infotrakker.com