The question is really where is the data be processed. If you use a straight VPN, the network thinks your computer is on the network but on a very long and normally very slow cable. When you do a query, all of the dataset is sent to your workstation over that slow link, and then is processed at your station. When you do a VPN and use remote access, the processing is done on the local net on the machine you remote into or citrix server etc and the only thing that is sent to your desktop outside the office is the screen display, and sound if any. When you type on a remote desktop the slow link carries the keystrokes to the local computer to execute. Then the office desktop/remote server executes the query at the office over a faster internal link, and transmits the screen info only to you on your slower vpn link. In both examples the vpn gives you secure access, but without the remote desktop the data has to travel to you. With the remote the data stays on the local network and the screens and keystrokes are all that travels over the slow link. Even if you have a fast internet connection it may be a 10-15mb speed where a slow desktop these days would be 100mb, or even 1gb. You won't be able to match that on a vpn unless you spend big $$$$$.
Mark Lindner Lindner & Associates PC 254 Second Ave Needham MA 02494 PO Box 920435 Needham MA 02492 0005 781 247 1100 781 247 7900 Fax 781 247 7905 EFAX 857 366 9691 Toll Free 888 658 4269 Direct 781 247 1160, 781 247 7902 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jim Belisle Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 4:42 PM To: RBASE-L Mailing List Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: Off topic Emmitt, I will have to ask the IT people we contract with since these type of connects are foreign to me (except I use them). The discussion has just got my interest up as to what is actually happening when I connect. I am sure even if they explain it to me, it will take some studying on my part to understand it all. I have enough just to understand what I am doing in RBASE without all that is happening through the Internet connection. All I know is that it has been working for years. Maybe we have some really good IT company! James Belisle _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Emmitt Dove Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 3:34 PM To: RBASE-L Mailing List Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: Off topic Jim, The question to answer is, "Where is the code that is accessing the database actually executing?" Emmitt Dove Converting Systems Architect Evergreen Packaging, Inc. [email protected] (203) 214-5683 m (203) 643-8022 o (203) 643-8086 f [email protected] From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jim Belisle Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 16:25 To: RBASE-L Mailing List Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: Off topic This has been an interesting discussion to me since I connect remotely to my computer at the site almost daily. Since I did not set up the VPN, I do not know how the system is set up. I log into the VPN first through a system called Forticlient. When this verifies that I am who I say I am, it connects me to my computer on site. I have access to everything on the server that I would have if I were sitting at my desk on site. The speed can at times be slow but usually that is only when I use my cad programs. Even then it is very good speed. As far as I know I have never caused any corruption to the RBASE database. If fact I do my UNLOAD RELOAD and PACKING the database remotely. There have been times when the server up there actually crashed and no corruption occurred. Would anyone venture as to what type of connection I would be on since it seems to work speedily? James Belisle _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Lawrence Lustig Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 3:06 PM To: RBASE-L Mailing List Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: Off topic << There's a huge difference in using a VPN to create a remote connection such as via RDP, Dameware, VNC, etc. so as to execute R:BASE on a desktop inside the location where the database is located, and on the other hand attempting to execute R:BASE locally with remote data no matter the connection type. I've never considered the latter to be viable. >> There's another problem with using VPN to attach a remote computer to your trusted network, even if it's not for file-server based database work. Essentially, you're allowing an untrusted computer to infect your network. The best use of a VPN is to provide a protected route to get to a remote desktop connection as described by Emmitt. Don't allow the VPN access to your file server, only to the RD server. This hides your remote desktop access from port scanners while not allowing the remote machine to actually infect the network. -- Larry
