Simple architecture question.

[Guest]

Hi

I have forty clients applications in different places of the city, they
connect to a DB via Internet, until now the clients report information and
receive information only when they read the DB.(half duplex)

Now I need to be able to send information from the server to the clients
using a central Application, I need to send things like messages, enable and
disable options from the server .

The Internet network is from an ISP and the server is DHCP.

How can I send Data to the clients from the server?
Do I need a VPN? IP fixed?

any sug, any link, any documentation?

thks a lot

 

[Guest]

If you are going to send data without the client requesting, you need to have
a system that either a) broadcasts to everyone on the system or b) targets
computers at known locations. This means the client has to be on the network
for the broadcast (good for everyone receiving the same message) or the
client has to be registered with the system. For network, the client has to
log in and VPN is the easiest Internet method to register a client without
opening your data to the world.

If you do not have to have connected clients, you can opt for the clients
registering with the server or connecting to the network. If they simply
register, IP address is the easiest. Note, however, that you will have to
custom build your security system to send the message encrypted. As this can
get expensive (development time alone), VPN again makes more sense in most
implementations.

My suggestion: VPN, unless it is not possible in your case (working
extranet, not intranet).

If impossible, I would have a custom client application (service, most
likely) that logs into the server when the computer comes online. If you want
some security, have client certs as part of the setup process for the client
machines. A step higher would employ client certs on a smart card, or similar.

--
Gregory A. Beamer
MVP; MCP: +I, SE, SD, DBA

***************************
Think Outside the Box!
***************************

 

[Guest]

Thks for your analysis, option a) or b) is exactly what I want to implement
but using the less expensive and less time consuming (administration etc)
solution.

What I have and how my system works so far

My Server is administered by a hosting company, it give me less work.
There is a Web App on the server to view the data clients send to it and
set-up some parameter that clients have to read in order to update themselves.

Now I need more control over my clients.

My suggestion: VPN, unless it is not possible in your case (working
extranet, not intranet).

You got it! My case is an extranet, over the city and beyond.

I think is possible but Expensive, more when I'm trying to not own the
server, I want to have a Datacenter company administering it for me.

If impossible, I would have a custom client application (service, most
likely) that logs into the server when the computer comes online. If you want
some security, have client certs as part of the setup process for the client
machines. A step higher would employ client certs on a smart card, or similar.

When you say a custom app that logs into the server, you mean something like
an app that read the Dynamic IPAddress given to the client pc from the DHCP
server and send it to the server in order to have the client register with
that IPAddress?

And later send information to that client using that IPAddress?

That sound great, Is that what you mean?


thkns