Best remote option

yes dood, thats the way the program is designed.

all the host is doing is storing a database file and some forms.

users on the lan, install a local copy of the program that tells the program to go to the P drive (host machine) for the data base.

a user can use the host machine just like a normal workstation.

so yes a remote user can connect to the server to do the work.

again, a backup has some form of offsite. if the office burns down your both fucked, since you get to tell him that data recovery will cost minimum of 1 grand, and that i was too ignorant to listen to people on the forum.

that second hard drive will cost you atleast 80 bucks, then labor for you to install and configure the backup software.

for 55 a year you can get away with running Mozy Home, that will encrypt the data and send to a offsite location and have revisions.
 
I get it and this guy knows. This is his choice.

I just need to be 100% sure that I can have one PC running pointing locally and the other user remotely to the HOST and have them both work like they were in the office together.
 
you know you could have tested this within 5 minutes right?

i suggest you test it. create a logmein account, install logmein on his computer and test it.

that is the point of the system. you log into the workstation holding the file, and you use the resources just like you were sitting in front of the machine.

have you ever sat in front of hte workstation and loaded up calyx? it works right? so someone connecting remotely to the machine what do you think wouldn't work?

this is how i had the mortage comapny setup. but the host machine was the owners desktop, all users connected to him, and he had mozy setup.
 
Thanks for the heads up on Mozy. I told him about it and will push him toward it. The free 2Gb should cover him anyway and even at $4.95 I don't think he'll complain.

Haven't tested it yet as we're waiting on the new Host PC to arrive today. However, the big concern is when this guy moves to his home office. That's when this comes into play. He may not but it sounds like it. Currently they have extra PCs on the LAN at the current office and I was thinking it was best to leave them in place with the remote software. Because they both need to remote it if they work from home.

I have been on one of the PCs and have run Calyx Point. Had to setup a new laptop recently and point Point to the shared drive folders. Works fine and we got to learn how to use it properly "offline" as well.
 
unlimited data is $55/year when you sign up, thats what i put all my clients on so they can backup pictures as well.

logmein is great, alot of users like it because its a web based and can work from everywhere. you do have limitations with the free version... no remote printing.

RDP may be the way to go. But yeah you can put 2 machines in the office and have them log directly into this.
 
Marley1: thanks

The thing I like about LogMeIn is that they use a different method to connect and don't go through their servers like GoToMyPC. Supposed to route you as direct as possible for speed

You get any benefit from signing people up with Mozy?
 
i do have some code to get money from referring people but to be honest not worth the effort to dig through emails.

if you want to get on mozy pro, i will cut you a great price =)

you still go through logmein gateway but still fast enough!

RDP makes it semi eaiser for printing if you get same ones on both side.

may want to try it with VPN too.
 
Not sure what you mean by:

"you still go through logmein gateway but still fast enough!"

These guys have a DSL connection so what is the reference to LogMeIn with Mozy? Or did I misunderstand?

Also, would you please clarify on this:

"RDP makes it semi eaiser for printing if you get same ones on both side."
 
you are going through a web service, so instead of connecting directly to the machine you connect through logmein server then to that machine so in theory RDP should be faster (logmein is always fast enough for the clients).

no reference to Logmein or Mozy.

Logmein Free doesn't allow you to print to local printers. So if the user connects to the work machine with logmein free and wants to print documents to his home printer he cant. With RDP you are able to with similar printers on both side. If you upgrade to Logmein Pro you can do remote printing.
 
SBMongoos;1033161334 "RDP makes it semi eaiser for printing if you get same ones on both side."[/QUOTE said:
RDP will "automatically" populate the remote users printer as being available on the host PC, if the printer happens to have drivers that are terminal server compliant. So in that case, it's all automatic...the drivers will "self install", almost like plug and play.

If cases where it doesn't happen automatically, various different approaches can be taken. What I do, is get the latest printer driver, update the host PC with that driver, and then install that driver onto the remote computer using the special "add driver" tab in the print servers property drop down menu (not the usual add printer mechanism to install a printer).
Click to expand...
 
marley1 said:
you are going through a web service, so instead of connecting directly to the machine you connect through logmein server then to that machine so in theory RDP should be faster (logmein is always fast enough for the clients).

no reference to Logmein or Mozy.

Logmein Free doesn't allow you to print to local printers. So if the user connects to the work machine with logmein free and wants to print documents to his home printer he cant. With RDP you are able to with similar printers on both side. If you upgrade to Logmein Pro you can do remote printing.
Click to expand...

Ya..knew that about the free version. LogMeIn free states they connect you "peer to peer" for better speed and shortest hops.
 
YeOldeStonecat said:
RDP will "automatically" populate the remote users printer as being available on the host PC, if the printer happens to have drivers that are terminal server compliant. So in that case, it's all automatic...the drivers will "self install", almost like plug and play.

If cases where it doesn't happen automatically, various different approaches can be taken. What I do, is get the latest printer driver, update the host PC with that driver, and then install that driver onto the remote computer using the special "add driver" tab in the print servers property drop down menu (not the usual add printer mechanism to install a printer).
Click to expand...

So RDP will allow you to print locally what you are doing remotely, correct. Like LogMeIn Pro (not free).
 
I don't trust any of these third party hosted remote desktop providers. If you are working with sensitive information... I hope you have legal agreements pertaining to breaches.

Personally I would try to setup a VPN with SecureID authentication. It's expensive and difficult to setup though. But username/password is the least secure method of authentication. Have something, know something, be something. SecureID covers two of these. Username/Password only covers knowing something.
 
u still go through logmein. thats why every once in a blue moon (only happened 1x to me) i wasn't able to access any of my logmein users cause their servers went down.

happened one time and was fixed that day.

what kind of router is used? i really bet site to site vpn would work awesome with calyx point but never tried it that way. can use dd-wrt on both sides could be a little easier for the home users. and more money for you since you get to sell and configure the vpn.
 
marley1 said:
u still go through logmein. thats why every once in a blue moon (only happened 1x to me) i wasn't able to access any of my logmein users cause their servers went down.

happened one time and was fixed that day.

what kind of router is used? i really bet site to site vpn would work awesome with calyx point but never tried it that way. can use dd-wrt on both sides could be a little easier for the home users. and more money for you since you get to sell and configure the vpn.
Click to expand...

Here's what they have at the office and home office:

http://www.qwest.com/internethelp/modems/2wire2701/index.html?option=installation
 
wouldn't do much good, would need a router that could support vpn behind it.

i dunno sucks that you gotta keep machines on just for them to remote in.

get em a real server =)
 
maybe look into the RDP hack for XP Pro, that allows more then 1 user to log in.
 
YeOldeStonecat said:
RDP will "automatically" populate the remote users printer as being available on the host PC, if the printer happens to have drivers that are terminal server compliant. So in that case, it's all automatic...the drivers will "self install", almost like plug and play.

If cases where it doesn't happen automatically, various different approaches can be taken. What I do, is get the latest printer driver, update the host PC with that driver, and then install that driver onto the remote computer using the special "add driver" tab in the print servers property drop down menu (not the usual add printer mechanism to install a printer).
Click to expand...

Here's one thing I'm not clear on. Maybe Marley1 can answer it since there is the familiarity with the Point software. If you are remote and have Calyx Point installed on your PC and you access the Host remotely via RDC how do you setup the remote PC (more specificly Point) to find the files on the Host since you're remote and not local where Point knows where to look for the mapped drive? Or is the only way to get this to work is to have Point installed on the Host and run it from there?
 
SBMongoos said:
Or is the only way to get this to work is to have Point installed on the Host and run it from there?
Click to expand...

The above is true
//has also worked with Point

With remote desktop applications, you don't install any of the production software on your remote PC. You have the software installed on the "host" PC. You use your remote desktop software (whichever one you choose) on your remote PC to connect to the host PC. Think of remote desktop connection software as like...a big telescope, or a pair of binoculars. You're looking at your host PC just like you were sitting there in front of it...the same desktop, the same My Documents folder, the same start button and program menus, etc.

Now if you were to "VPN" into the host network..that would be different. VPN only connects your PC to the host network, as if it's now on the local host network (except through a much slower connection). In this case...yes you would map a P drive to the host computer, you'd have Point installed on your home computer..and you would open the company files on the P drive.
 
YeOldeStonecat said:
The above is true
//has also worked with Point

With remote desktop applications, you don't install any of the production software on your remote PC. You have the software installed on the "host" PC. You use your remote desktop software (whichever one you choose) on your remote PC to connect to the host PC. Think of remote desktop connection software as like...a big telescope, or a pair of binoculars. You're looking at your host PC just like you were sitting there in front of it...the same desktop, the same My Documents folder, the same start button and program menus, etc.

Now if you were to "VPN" into the host network..that would be different. VPN only connects your PC to the host network, as if it's now on the local host network (except through a much slower connection). In this case...yes you would map a P drive to the host computer, you'd have Point installed on your home computer..and you would open the company files on the P drive.
Click to expand...

I'm familiar with remote software but not VPN too much. LogMeIn was telling me to use LogMeIn Hamachi and that it would work with on the Host PC and two laptops. So if the users were at home they could BOTH gain access to the Host PC and use the Point software on their laptops but hit the mapped drive as though they were in the office.
 
with any remote program like VNC, RDP, Logmein just think of it as sitting in from the machine.

you connect remotely to that machine and you pretty much work on it just like you were sitting in front of the desk.
 
Hamachi is just a VPN client. You install Hamachine on the server and on the user pcs. That creates the link between there machine and the host machine. They are able to access any shared files or folders.

If you went with hamachi you would install the program join the hamachi network, and map the P drive on the machines and install Point locally just like normal.

VPN works fine for low bandwidth stuff so with Point should be fine but you would have to try it.

All this stuff can be tried for free and see if its worth using.
 
I'm familiar with remote software but not VPN too much. LogMeIn was telling me to use LogMeIn Hamachi and that it would work with on the Host PC and two laptops. So if the users were at home they could BOTH gain access to the Host PC and use the Point software on their laptops but hit the mapped drive as though they were in the office.
 
marley1 said:
Hamachi is just a VPN client. You install Hamachine on the server and on the user pcs. That creates the link between there machine and the host machine. They are able to access any shared files or folders.

If you went with hamachi you would install the program join the hamachi network, and map the P drive on the machines and install Point locally just like normal.

VPN works fine for low bandwidth stuff so with Point should be fine but you would have to try it.

All this stuff can be tried for free and see if its worth using.
Click to expand...

Exactly, this is what I'm trying to get clear on all along. I was originally told by LogMeIn (a rep) that this would work. Use LogMeIn Hamachi remotely and it's just like you're on your LAN even though you're home. May need some help with setup.

Been hearing this wouldn't work.

Okay...so "I'm clear". LogMeIn Hamachi would be setup on the Host and the laptops that would need to be used remotely. These two laptops are also used on the local LAN in the office. So, when they are remote and run Point it will look to see the connection and simply connect to the Host just as if they were in the office on the LAN right?
 
marley1 said:
Hamachi is just a VPN client. You install Hamachine on the server and on the user pcs. That creates the link between there machine and the host machine. They are able to access any shared files or folders.

If you went with hamachi you would install the program join the hamachi network, and map the P drive on the machines and install Point locally just like normal.

VPN works fine for low bandwidth stuff so with Point should be fine but you would have to try it.

All this stuff can be tried for free and see if its worth using.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all your help...

The P drive is already mapped to these two laptops and they already have, and are using, Point as well that points to P. Sounds to me like Hamachi needs to be running and connected and then they could open Point which already knows where to look for the files (P:\) and it would simply do it as though they were on the LAN. Correct? Just verifying.

I would assume however that they cannot print locally using Hamachi or to a printer connected on the Host or the network? Maybe you don't know this.
 
i really hope they didnt hire you for this.

go ues the products then come back with your results. you seem to have no idea the basic concepts of Remote Desktop or VPN.

get the new host machine, install hamachi, install hamchi on yourhome machine and mess around.
 
actually even better, give me the contact information i will set them up in 1/2 an hour on the machines. 50 bucks, all done remotely.
 
marley1 said:
actually even better, give me the contact information i will set them up in 1/2 an hour on the machines. 50 bucks, all done remotely.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the vote of confidence. My questions are for clarification. I've got different answers when doing some research on this. Call it what you will. I wouldn't even be here had I heard back from LogMeIn Himachi. Granted I haven't dealt much with VPN, I'll give you that, but I don't find GoToMyPC and the like difficult to work with.

Even in what few places I was researching, people give different feedback from "this won't work" to "it will". So in that inconsistency I get to choose. Including this thread.

Like I said. I like to be very clear and communication is important to me.

Ever written an email and when they responded you noticed they didn't read the email in whole or misunderstood it? Just being careful.

More importantly I do appreciate the time people take to respond.
 
because these are questions you should know the answer too.

all a vpn does is give access to network resource away from thelan.

so think about it, you have hamachi which creates a link where ever you are to the office.

so where ever you are youshouldbe able to browse the P drive just like you were on lan.
/
following???

so lets think, P drive already mapped, user has hamachi loaded and connected to the hamachi server (office host), he is able to browse the P drive...........do you think he would be able to load Point that just points tothe P drive..................................

so now lets think even more.... if the host machine also shares a printer, if you can browse the P drive,do you think you can browse other shared resources???? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so where ever hte user is he can print tothe printers inoffice, if he wants to print to machines not in the office,well with hamachi or any VPN you have access to local devices,so he could print totheoffice or his machine in hishouse.

get it????????????

awesome. so now you can go show your client this thread and what you learned. try it first, some programs are slow as fuck over VPN, especially using a program like Hamachi that goes through a intermedia source.

but really if you are this guys tech guy, you really need to learn more.
 
marley1 said:
because these are questions you should know the answer too.

all a vpn does is give access to network resource away from thelan.

so think about it, you have hamachi which creates a link where ever you are to the office.

so where ever you are youshouldbe able to browse the P drive just like you were on lan.
/
following???

so lets think, P drive already mapped, user has hamachi loaded and connected to the hamachi server (office host), he is able to browse the P drive...........do you think he would be able to load Point that just points tothe P drive..................................

so now lets think even more.... if the host machine also shares a printer, if you can browse the P drive,do you think you can browse other shared resources???? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so where ever hte user is he can print tothe printers inoffice, if he wants to print to machines not in the office,well with hamachi or any VPN you have access to local devices,so he could print totheoffice or his machine in hishouse.

get it????????????

awesome. so now you can go show your client this thread and what you learned. try it first, some programs are slow as fuck over VPN, especially using a program like Hamachi that goes through a intermedia source.

but really if you are this guys tech guy, you really need to learn more.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily the best option -- especially if there is any possibility that they will need to work with large files. A VPN connection will drag as the file is transferred/saved, namely with the upload.


VMware Server is free and works just fine on a Windows XP host. Buy another 2 or 4GB of RAM for the new PC and install VMWare Server.

You should host two client Windows XP virtual machines on his new PC with the added memory and each person can have a dedicated PC to RDP into without locking out local use of the host PC.

Memory is very cheap with 4GB @ ~$40 now. No real need to worry about disk thrashing since use of each VM is occasional (unless he can afford another set of small drives in a RAID0 array).

Any VMs running on the host PC stay "hidden" and will not hinder local use of his PC.

Set each of the VMs to allow RDP connections on differing ports so that forwarding can be setup for RDP access into each virtual PC.
 
the point file is very small, i told him to try it.

a vm server is abit overkill especially consider the OP doesnt get the conceptof RDP or VPN
 
marley1: take a deep breath

Look, I've been simply checking a couple of resources on this. I like detail and clear communication. I've rec'd different opinions so I've asked for detail and clarification. That's all. Try not to draw conclusions about other people. It speaks more of yourself than of others.

Again, I do appreciate your help. You've been very helpful and thank you!
 
icemochalatte said:
Not necessarily the best option -- especially if there is any possibility that they will need to work with large files. A VPN connection will drag as the file is transferred/saved, namely with the upload.


VMware Server is free and works just fine on a Windows XP host. Buy another 2 or 4GB of RAM for the new PC and install VMWare Server.
Click to expand...


Or, better yet, Virtualbox.
 
Got it. Using Hamachi. Very simple to set up and seems to work great. Very cool. Thanks for the ideas and help.

I over complicated it but I was trying to be careful going into it.
 
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