Computers and Software > Business/Shop Management Programs
Stupid question on {cloud} netwoking.
ZooCity:
I've been sticking with a lot of cloud based programs due to our use of two separate locations and this had been very convenient. Trouble is, a lot of the shop management software that I'd like to use is not cloud based. There's one that looks alright but I'm not clear on backing up the file, etc. and need to get some answers on that. In the meantime, I know there are applications out there that allow you to access and sync files across the internet from multiple computers or phone devices, etc.. This is affordable and perfect for accessing art files from two workstation computers in separate locations and then opening with CS apps for example, no long upload/downloads of these larger files to the cloud, just access and transport. I'm certainly going to setup a network like this.
But, my question is, if I installed shop management software on two computers- one in our printshop the other at the retail space -can we simply set our cloud network helper to sync the management program's file between say, three different computers at a certain interval and achieve something similar to a cloud-based program or is this way too complicated and I should make do with what we have until a feature-rich shop management program is released that is web-based?
Our current system works but isn't ideal of course. We're tracking orders via 'activities' that get assigned to the invoice within the accounting program we use. It eliminates a lot of the easy reports you can run with printshop management software which is a downer but it does keep us all connected from anywhere which is clutch right now. Thoughts from anyone dealing with a similar setup?
screenxpress:
Why not just use Remote Desktop and remote into the machine that has the stuff installed you want to use.
I used that for about 2 years when I was traveling (work related) and always connected to my home machine from hotels to do everything, emails, seps, etc. that I wanted to do.
ZooCity:
--- Quote from: screenxpress on December 10, 2011, 02:20:11 PM ---Why not just use Remote Desktop and remote into the machine that has the stuff installed you want to use.
I used that for about 2 years when I was traveling (work related) and always connected to my home machine from hotels to do everything, emails, seps, etc. that I wanted to do.
--- End quote ---
If I remote access one computer from my location does that mess with the ability of whoever is there to use it? Also, we have a front-end computer at the retail shop and a workstation in the back and are sometimes working on both while a third workstation at the printshop is also working on client jobs. That sounds a little messy with all of us on there at once.
screenxpress:
Yes, that would be a problem. You would be fighting each other for control.
squeegee:
Just a couple thoughts, and this is based on Windows FYI.
You could get another machine for your remote location, think of it like a terminal, doesn't have to be a high dollar computer, just a used but decent PC, would depend on your needs.
Put your host machine in your office, and assuming you have a LAN, that machine would be the host to the terminal at the remote location. All syncing speed issues of Shop Management software would be taken out of the picture because the host is on the LAN. Host machine would be dedicated to the remote terminal.
I've done this so employees can telecomute when necessary, even had a full timer for 2 years that worked like this. The only tricky part comes in if you're using a router at the main location for the LAN, which involves port forwarding at the router. In Windows a firewall exception and changing the port number for Remote desktop (in the registry) to a unique port number for each machine. You'd need to configure your LAN on internal static IP addresses (most routers allow for this).
I could send you instructions on how to do this, but it would be for XP/Win 7 only.
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