Question Remote Users

[Neilbees]

Hi all

Apologies for the new thread. I have been through umpteen threads that kind of address my issue but nothing that really outlines how I should proceed. Anyway.....

We have an Access 2007 database at work. At present it works fine, standard front end-back end set up with BE on the network server and a copy of the FE on user's machines. All current users are based at head office so no problems.

However, the bosses now want to roll the database out to our sales team who work remotely - either from home or at a client site. When they need to access anything on the head office drive they connect via a VPN.

I tried, as a first experiment, to put the database FE on a laptop and connect to the back end through the VPN. Once the connection was established the database worked but was excruciatingly slow. I can already hear the feedback if I tried to go down that road!

So basically I'm after some advice on how to proceed or some pointers on where I could read about some solutions. In a nutshell I need the remote users to be able to use the database with the same ease as those at head office.

Thanks in advance.

 

[jonathanchye]

I am afraid if you rely on VPN the speed would only be as could as the VPN connection. Unless you change the location of the BE to somewhere more accessible there's no way to improve this.

I think the best next step is to move into SQL Server/Sharepoint hosting.

 

[Neilbees]

Hi Jonathan

Thanks for your super quick response. SQL Server and Sharepoint are not viable options unfortunately. My company has neither and there would be no budget for that (and we don't even have an IT department).

 

[jonathanchye]

Hi Jonathan

Thanks for your super quick response. SQL Server and Sharepoint are not viable options unfortunately. My company has neither and there would be no budget for that (and we don't even have an IT department).

Same situation I faced few months ago It really depends how important it is to access data remotely is to your company. Saying that, even if the improve their VPN infrastruture if your end-users have really slow internet on their end that would not help much.

I think the only thing you can do if is to make sure your DB design is ultra efficient. Use queries where appropriate, normalise tables etc.

 

[Neilbees]

Cheers Jonathan, it's not looking good!
I have read a few posts kind of relating to my problem that suggest Terminal Services as a possible solution. Do you (or indeed anyone taking the trouble to read this) have any idea if that is something to pursue?