Will PC anywhere cut the mustard ?
Discussion
The saga drags on.......
As some of you will know, I have been tasked to find a solution to a relatively small problem. Our office runs a wireless network, which feeds three laptops. We all connect to an old desktop that has our files on it, easy! Now the gaffer wants two more people to connect to these files from remote locations. Speed isn't really an issue, as the files we are using tend to be just spreadsheets/word docs etc.
I asked a couple of weeks ago about a server solution, which turned out to be too expensive for the gaffers liking. Setting up this old desktop as a server looked like the next option. I've never set up a server before, and it looks daunting, so I'm looking for other ways of doing this. PCanywhere seems to be recommended highly, as it can tunnel its way via VPN, and the job would be a good 'un. Has anyone ever used it, or something similar? If I've got to talk the boss into purchasing several hundred quids worth of software, I want to know it will do the job. At the moment, the office doesn't have a static IP, but will soon. The remote users are dynamic, and will stay that way.
Are there any demos anywhere of how this software works? it would be nice to see if it is user friendly. I say this as one of our employees is blind, and setting up something that involved FTP'ing everything when you save it, isn't really an option. A simple directory structure, that can be saved to, would be spot on !
As some of you will know, I have been tasked to find a solution to a relatively small problem. Our office runs a wireless network, which feeds three laptops. We all connect to an old desktop that has our files on it, easy! Now the gaffer wants two more people to connect to these files from remote locations. Speed isn't really an issue, as the files we are using tend to be just spreadsheets/word docs etc.
I asked a couple of weeks ago about a server solution, which turned out to be too expensive for the gaffers liking. Setting up this old desktop as a server looked like the next option. I've never set up a server before, and it looks daunting, so I'm looking for other ways of doing this. PCanywhere seems to be recommended highly, as it can tunnel its way via VPN, and the job would be a good 'un. Has anyone ever used it, or something similar? If I've got to talk the boss into purchasing several hundred quids worth of software, I want to know it will do the job. At the moment, the office doesn't have a static IP, but will soon. The remote users are dynamic, and will stay that way.
Are there any demos anywhere of how this software works? it would be nice to see if it is user friendly. I say this as one of our employees is blind, and setting up something that involved FTP'ing everything when you save it, isn't really an option. A simple directory structure, that can be saved to, would be spot on !
We use PC anywhere to connect to Server to Server. Very good. also use Net meeting and remote desktop which are included in Win XP s2.
Im sure you can pick up a decent Server second hand from some where. maybe Ebay or a decent computer store. ok you will have to get a licenced win Server 2000 or 2003. i cant see it being MASSIVLEY expensive.
OR
why dont you do Offline file cacheing?
Im sure you can pick up a decent Server second hand from some where. maybe Ebay or a decent computer store. ok you will have to get a licenced win Server 2000 or 2003. i cant see it being MASSIVLEY expensive.
OR
why dont you do Offline file cacheing?
Edited by NickFRP on Friday 1st September 12:40
Your boss will adore VNC, it's free! Download it from www.realvnc.com and give it a go.
Would like to get away from the server option if possible as I've no experience of setting one up. If we can manage on a wipe and fresh install of the old tower, with PC anywhere, that looks like the easiest route. For all bar the one chap who is blind, right clicking and pasting back into the same folder shouldn't be too hard to show them. Imagine trying to do that when you can't see the screen? I think I'm going to have to sit down and have a word with the chap and see what he wants to do, then work around that.
I've had a trawl round, and looked at some walkthrus of PC anywhere, it seems to be almost identical to logmein. If it works similarly, then it may just be a case of doing the maths to work out the cheapest option, PC anywhere isn't cheap is it !
Synchronisation isn't really going to be a problem, as our system is quite tiered, as I finish my work, it's ready to go to the next person, and so on. It's easy to tell if the file you have is ready, in fact in most cases, it won't be there until it is.
I've had a trawl round, and looked at some walkthrus of PC anywhere, it seems to be almost identical to logmein. If it works similarly, then it may just be a case of doing the maths to work out the cheapest option, PC anywhere isn't cheap is it !
Synchronisation isn't really going to be a problem, as our system is quite tiered, as I finish my work, it's ready to go to the next person, and so on. It's easy to tell if the file you have is ready, in fact in most cases, it won't be there until it is.
BliarOut said:
Your boss will adore VNC, it's free! Download it from www.realvnc.com and give it a go.
Cheers Blairout, that might just win me some brownie points !
Forgive me if I'm stating the obvious, maybe I've misunderstood your requirements, but PCAnywhere (and VNC) are remote control applications. Your remote users will be operating the desktop (file server) just as though they were sitting at its keyboard. All that gets sent back and forth are screen shots, key strokes and mouse clicks. Therefore, only one remote user can be operating at a time. It's not like terminal services, where you can have multiple "sessions" running simultaneously.
If your remote users are able to VPN on to the network, and the files are as small as you say, why not just map a network drive and let them access the files directly?
If your remote users are able to VPN on to the network, and the files are as small as you say, why not just map a network drive and let them access the files directly?
I use UltraVNC (similar to RealVNC) and Radmin and both are excellent, plus both will allow you to transfer files.
However, if you just want file access, why not just install the (free) FileZilla server on your 'server' and then everyone can FTP in the with the FileZilla FTP client? Alternatively, use IIS or Apache to host a website and allow users to log in and view your flie structure and download that way, then they don't need client software?
Another option, and probably the best, is a software SSL-VPN solution. This would allow you to give your users remote access to all the files through a web browser without the need for IIS/Apache and extremely securely. Drop me an email if you want some advice on this.
However, if you just want file access, why not just install the (free) FileZilla server on your 'server' and then everyone can FTP in the with the FileZilla FTP client? Alternatively, use IIS or Apache to host a website and allow users to log in and view your flie structure and download that way, then they don't need client software?
Another option, and probably the best, is a software SSL-VPN solution. This would allow you to give your users remote access to all the files through a web browser without the need for IIS/Apache and extremely securely. Drop me an email if you want some advice on this.
ok, currently three users connect wirelessly to a computer that stores files... and you want 2 more to connect (please correct me if i'm wrong).
If you network is simply for sharing files and a server is too expensive consider the capacity you need sharing... if its anything up to about 400/500 Gb you could just buy an external 'ethernet' HD and connect it to your router. Then all you need to do is get the 5th person connected wirelessly (as many routers only allow 4 at any respectable speed) simply buy an access point.
If you network is simply for sharing files and a server is too expensive consider the capacity you need sharing... if its anything up to about 400/500 Gb you could just buy an external 'ethernet' HD and connect it to your router. Then all you need to do is get the 5th person connected wirelessly (as many routers only allow 4 at any respectable speed) simply buy an access point.
philthy said:
pcwilson said:
If your remote users are able to VPN on to the network, and the files are as small as you say, why not just map a network drive and let them access the files directly?
Can't VPN yet, but would be nice to just have a mapped folder if possible without a major headache.
If you've got broadbean at both ends just swap the office end router for one that accepts VPN conenctions (some models of DG834 do) and do the VPN / mapped drive thing using the XP VPN client.
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