Opening Access Database from remote location using VPN

[mamaspizo]

I work in a contact center and have been chosen to work remotely from home
through a VPN. The problem is that we have 4 employees working remotely and
our department database in which we enter information on the calls we receive
will only allow one of us to use the database as at time as it considers the
four remote employees as one administrator. How can we resolve this problem
so that all four of us can use the database at the same time.

 

[Arvin Meyer [MVP]]

RDP only allows 2 users on a server and 1 on a workstation. You'll need to
buy a Terminal Server, or use something like WinConnect which extends RDP
without a special terminal server.

http://www.thincomputinginc.com/product_thin_client_winconnect_server_xp.aspx

 

[GBA]

in addition to AM's advice; you could set up 4 stand alone PCs, each with an
FE - and then all 4 remote users can vpn to their own. Seems a bit
cumbersome - but is probably less expensive and easier to manage than
Terminal Services if TS is not already in your organization.

Another approach is to look into the www.AccessTables.com service - that
might work in your scenario.

Otherwise you might look at porting the application to be a true web
application. If you are running SharePoint then you could investigate it via
the new Access2010 capabilities - but otherwise just use another web
architecture solution.

 

[David W. Fenton]

RDP only allows 2 users on a server and 1 on a workstation. You'll
need to buy a Terminal Server, or use something like WinConnect
which extends RDP without a special terminal server.

Um, what?

You don't need to "buy a Terminal Server" -- all server versions of
Windows starting with 2000 are Terminal Servers by default. The "2
users" on a server are the default installation of Windows Terminal
Server with no CALs, which allows two simultaneous administrative
users to connect to the Terminal Server via RDP.

Small Business Server cannot be upgraded beyond that, i.e., you
can't use it as a Terminal Server for anything but the default 2
admin logons (i.e., no CALs can be added). This is one of the many
reasons that SBS is not such a great value, in my opinion.

But if you've got a Windows Server that is Windows Server 2000 or
later, you've already got a Terminal Server, though it's
functionality may be limited (either permanently in SBS, or until
you add CALs).

 

[David W. Fenton]

in addition to AM's advice; you could set up 4 stand alone PCs,
each with an FE - and then all 4 remote users can vpn to their
own. Seems a bit cumbersome - but is probably less expensive and
easier to manage than Terminal Services if TS is not already in
your organization.

The only situation where "TS is not already" in an organization is
if they have no Windows Servers (or the servers are old NT 4 servers
or earlier). Of course, practically speaking, SBS cannot be used as
a Terminal Server except if you're willing to limit to two
simultaneous users and give those users admin permission on the
server.

 

[Arvin Meyer [MVP]]

Um, what?

You don't need to "buy a Terminal Server" -- all server versions of
Windows starting with 2000 are Terminal Servers by default. The "2
users" on a server are the default installation of Windows Terminal
Server with no CALs, which allows two simultaneous administrative
users to connect to the Terminal Server via RDP.

Small Business Server cannot be upgraded beyond that, i.e., you
can't use it as a Terminal Server for anything but the default 2
admin logons (i.e., no CALs can be added). This is one of the many
reasons that SBS is not such a great value, in my opinion.

But if you've got a Windows Server that is Windows Server 2000 or
later, you've already got a Terminal Server, though it's
functionality may be limited (either permanently in SBS, or until
you add CALs).

 

[Arvin Meyer [MVP]]

I meant you need to buy Terminal Server licences (Client Access Licenses or
CALs)
--
Arvin Meyer, MCP, MVP
http://www.datastrat.com
http://www.accessmvp.com
http://www.mvps.org/access

 

[Arvin Meyer [MVP]]

Actually, that sounds like a very expensive solution. Terminal Server client
licenses are much less expensive that buying PCs. Last I checked, you could
get a 5 pack for about the price of a PC.

If you don't already own a server, WinConnect is also cheaper because it
will run from an SBS server or even a Windows workstation.. 3 packs are
about $300.

Porting an application to either SharePoint or a Web application is the most
expensive choice, because an entire app needs to be written.

 

[David W. Fenton]

Last I checked, you could
get a 5 pack for about the price of a PC.

??

Last *I* checked, there were no bulk prices for WTS CALs, and
whether you bought 1 or 100, it was under $40/seat (though there's
the issue of whether you hand out your licenses per user logon or
per PC; I can't remember which, but one of them is not properly
supported by the license server and will give spurious error
messages, though it still works).

If you can get a new PC for $200, I'd love to see that!