Google One Drive as shared folder for "be" db

[arnelgp]

buy a Switch that has 4 or more input slots and but the cheapest (now a days, they are all the same, branded or not).

 

[tvanstiphout]

There is no shame in saying "This is not my area of expertise, but I called around and identified a company "Ils" that can setup a simple network for us. Will cost about X".

 

[The_Doc_Man]

While Arnel's diagram is a possible one, it has a "gotcha" that needs clarification since you claim to be novices at hardware issues. An experienced hardware engineer would know this; a novice would not.

As I mentioned, there IS such a thing as an Ethernet-enabled printer that COULD work through the router if you have enough plug ports for all of your computers and have at least one to spare. In Arnel's picture, however, you have printers connected to some computers, not the router. You can connect printers directly to the back of your computer via USB or an old-style printer port (though these days such a thing is rare.) Like Arnel's diagram shows, you CAN connect to a printer through a computer as long as you know the name of the computer, because the "connect a printer" wizard will want to know the name of that supporting computer. Given the host name, the "find a printer on the network" dialog will very quickly find such a device.

HOWEVER, if your printer is hard-wired but NOT connected to a machine that will be ON all of the time, then that printer will be unreliable. You said that one machine would be sacrificed to be the DB host. That would be a good candidate for a hardwired and shared printer to be attached.

 

[moi]

buy a Switch that has 4 or more input slots and but the cheapest (now a days, they are all the same, branded or not).

any particular brand you may recommend?

 

[Gasman]

If all or most of the computers have gigiabit ethernet ports, make sure you get a gigabit switch.

 

[Gasman]

wow the diagram itself is a little scary for a non-tech old man..

Hradly scary, it is just plugging some leads in. They are of a certain shape, so can only go in one place.
You need to reseach network drive mapping as well, but that is quite straightforward. Keep the drive name the same for everyone, though most people would use the ip address.
Make sure the BE computer has a static IP address in that case.

 

[moi]

If all or most of the computers have gigibit ethernet ports, make sure you get a gigabit switch.

thanks, will take note on that..

 

[moi]

Hradly scary, it is just plugging some leads in. They are of a certain shape, so can only go in one place.
You need to reseach network drive mapping as well, but that is quite straightforward. Keep the drive name the same for everyone, though most people would use the ip address.
Make sure the BE computer has a static IP address in that case.

thanks

 

[Gasman]

many thanks pat.. im not sure if i can do the configuration,, is there anything something like a plug n play.. and yes the desktop will not be use as a working station, it will serve as the "BE" holder.. something like a mini-server.. for the 3 laptops of the 3 clerks.

When I worked for a large UK bank, we had the team leaders's desktop storing the BE. That worked perfectly fine.

 

[moi]

While Arnel's diagram is a possible one, it has a "gotcha" that needs clarification since you claim to be novices at hardware issues. An experienced hardware engineer would know this; a novice would not.

As I mentioned, there IS such a thing as an Ethernet-enabled printer that COULD work through the router if you have enough plug ports for all of your computers and have at least one to spare. In Arnel's picture, however, you have printers connected to some computers, not the router. You can connect printers directly to the back of your computer via USB or an old-style printer port (though these days such a thing is rare.) Like Arnel's diagram shows, you CAN connect to a printer through a computer as long as you know the name of the computer, because the "connect a printer" wizard will want to know the name of that supporting computer. Given the host name, the "find a printer on the network" dialog will very quickly find such a device.

HOWEVER, if your printer is hard-wired but NOT connected to a machine that will be ON all of the time, then that printer will be unreliable. You said that one machine would be sacrificed to be the DB host. That would be a good candidate for a hardwired and shared printer to be attached.

Many thanks the-doc-man all your responses are well noted..

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Another factor came to my memory. You could, in theory, connect a WiFi printer to a computer. However, that WiFi cannot also be connected as your primary in-house network because of the aforementioned stability issues. Depending on which version of Windows you are running on the computers, it might not be possible to have two active network connections running at the same time. Therefore, an Ethernet-based network and a WiFi-based network could not coexist. Windows Home doesn't allow dual networks, unless that has changed recently, which means that you would HAVE to attach a printer directly to a computer or attach that printer directly to the router (if it can support it.) Windows Professional, on the other hand, might allow more than one network to be active, which would give you more flexibility.

 

[GPGeorge]

Many thanks the-doc-man all your responses are well noted..

This is the modem/router provided by my internet provider. Lower left is the incoming cable. Lower right is the power cord. Four ports inside the yellow triangle rectangle are for computers on the home "LAN". I only have one plugged in, obviously.

Your router will look somewhat like this, except, of course, without the incoming internet cable. It will have, instead an input port from the internet modem in your office.

This is an old router sitting in my closet, which will be closer to what you want. One incoming port for the internet coming in from your modem. Four ports for computers in your office. Additional ports may or may not make a difference in your scenario.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

If the computers are close enough and you have a "drop ceiling" it would be easy to route the cables up and out of the way of traffic. Otherwise, there are rubberized "cable covers" that protect your cables from people walking on them or rolling things over them. Here is a search to clarify what I meant:

Google Search

 

[moi]

If the computers are close enough and you have a "drop ceiling" it would be easy to route the cables up and out of the way of traffic. Otherwise, there are rubberized "cable covers" that protect your cables from people walking on them or rolling things over them. Here is a search to clarify what I meant:

Google Search

Hi Sir The-Doc-Man,

Yes the computers to be connected are in same office.. small office so there is no problem in cabling...

Thanks for the link, i will check it.

 

[mloucel]

I am sure this answer is NOT specially perfect for you but IT MAY HELP MANY OTHERS..

There is a way to do it, but is NOT 100% cloud like you imagine, but is close enough, check this website, Richard Rost is I am sure very known around here..

Access Database Cloud [Easily Share Your Microsoft Access Database Online]

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Having read the article from Richard Rost, I believe he is using a "remote session" solution similar to but not necessarily identical to CITRIX or RDP. Pat Hartman has used CITRIX many times and frequently references it in questions like this. In this article, you put Access on the central server and let it talk locally to the BE file. Then using remote session technology, you have a screen on your computer that looks like you are directly using Access. But it is an illusion. Your local screen is actually the "remote" object, representing a remote session. Which should not be taken as saying it won't work. To the contrary, if Richard Rost likes it, it can't be all bad. But it might involve a trickier setup because you are using server resources directly for end users. And @moi, in your tiny environment, the Access Database Cloud solution is definitely overkill. Still, as mloucel suggests, it might help someone to know that such a thing exists.