If you MUST go VPN, I recommend a hardware firewall/VPN appliance such as SonicWALL. Easy to set up; keeps its configuration. Software VPN clients are kiss-of-death for remote database processing/VPN transmission.
Expanding on Mark's able explanation, TS and Citrix transmit ONLY keystrokes, mouse activity, sound and video in an encrypted stream. Sound can be disabled, and video resolution can be tweaked to fit available bandwidth. By breaking a video display into discrete 'blocks', and then transmitting only those blocks in which changes have occurred; TS and Citrix could shove the entire user experience across the slimmest of threads aka 53kb modem (running at 47kb). On a modern DSL line, this should perform ably no matter the processing requirement on the back end. Also, I'm thinking that this is NOT an 'off topic' thread. The owner/user's perception of R:Base is determined in part by their untutored observation of speed. 'Your application is too slow'. Remote access is thus a strategic aspect of an R:Base implementation. How 'bout a "Remote Access" thread instead? SET VAR vwhozis text = my SET VAR vego int = 2 SET VAR vclam curr = 1 SET VAR vbraincell int = 100 SET VAR vinput text = ((ICAP1(.vwhozis)) & (CTXT(.vego*(.vclam/.vbraincell)))) SHOW VAR vinput bruce chitiea safesectors inc > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: Off topic > From: "Mark Lindner" <[email protected]> > Date: Mon, November 22, 2010 2:14 pm > To: [email protected] (RBASE-L Mailing List) > > > Setting one up is not that hard, the 'easy' way is to use a box as a vpn > server and just have the server software running and the vpn service, either > MS windows server or similar. The vpn is an optional part of the server, > just install and go. Setting up a remote desktop on XP or newer is simple. > You just need to set up the rights and click an authorize remote box. > > The harder part is setting the firewall to route the vpn traffic on a > certain IP to the server. > If you are using a remote access server using MS Terminal Server you just > set up the rights on the server and you should be close to ready to go. > Citrix it is more complex, I have not used it, but the theory is the same. > > For the fastest speed, especially for large projects or things like > reloads, log into the server holding the database files and use it as your > remote desktop and there will be no delays on moving the data around on your > internal network. > > > > > > 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 5:05 PM > To: RBASE-L Mailing List > Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: Off topic > > > > Mark, > > > > I believe your explanation along with Emmitts' has helped me understand what > is happening. > > Now I know why sometimes the "screen display" when first connecting > sometimes comes up in "waves". > > I am using remote access so, as you said, the work is all being done on site > and I just get the results. > > This has all been very informative. > > Of course, I still would not want to have to set one up myself. > > This semi-old dog has learned some new tricks but I am not sure about > learning the Internet. > > > > James Belisle > > > _____ > > > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mark Lindner > Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 3:54 PM > To: RBASE-L Mailing List > Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: Off topic > > > > 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
