could we use a remote sql server?

[mystifying]

This may sound like a pipe dream, but I thought "what the heck, I might as well ask". We have an odd situation with a sister company that we partner with. They have their own accounting system (500 miles away) and we have ours. However, we have a secondary company in Macola we share information on 100%. Right now, we are emailing reports and mailing invoice copies, etc to each other and doing duplicate entries in our two systems.

In a perfect world we would like to have a universal system we could both access. We do have terminal services set up for inter-company use, and even though we partner on many things we are still two different companies so the managers here are rather reluctant to give this sister company access via that route, and I am not crazy about that either.

In searching for a new web hosting company, I have come across a few that are Windows 2003 Server based, and also MS SQL 2000. This got me to thinking "I wonder if we can just put that company database on a remote server where we both can access it".

This of course brings up a few questions:

1) could this type of arrangement be compatible with Macola? (according to the hosting co. you basically just put the server ip address in Enterprise Manager and away you go).

2) even if so, how does our sister company access it? Do they have to actually buy Macola, or do we just somehow add a user license, or for the Macola side, they would have to login through our system anyhow, making this all kinda pointless anyhow?

This is just the first issues that came to mind. There might be others, or more than can be reasonably addressed but I thought I would at least kick it around some. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks,
Stacy

 

[abaldwin]

IMHO,

1. I think this would be a bandwidth nightmare. As for how it would work I have this question pending just internally. Would like to have one company on one server and one on another. Just the sql servers. Have had no luck so far.

2. You should ask your VAR about the licensing. I would bet that you could addlicenses but they would have to be running this version of macola on your host I would think.

Anyway, interesting question. My first thought would be to use TS on a TS with no domain access only rights to the macola drive. then create Macola sign ins for the remote users.

You can lock down the domain access fairly easily.


Andy Baldwin

"Testing is the most overlooked programming language on the books!"

Ask a great question, get a great answer. Ask a vague question, get a vague answer.
Find out how to get great answers FAQ219-2884.

 

[mystifying]

setting up a separate TS server might be an option. One of the issues management was concerned about was assuming we locked down security for the users from our partner company, how can we be certain we didn't leave a loop-hole open (we aren't a huge company with a full time IT dept), or what if someone here decided to provide their password (yes, a big if ...but they would rather be safe than sorry) and then they had access to all our data and files?

But using an entirely separate server outside of the domain might tighten these concerns. I'll have to look into that more, as I am not sure how to set that up without domain access,etc (how would our people access it?). But that does sound like a better option and certainly worth pursuing.

Thanks for the input!

Stacy

 

[abaldwin]

Well to address you BIG IF. If they were to give me their domain user name and password I could log into TS anyway and security is broken. To me that is a reason to fire someone.

What would be nice is if Macola supported SQL replication (which it does not) and you could replicate your db to their server and vice-versa. That would be nice.


Andy Baldwin

"Testing is the most overlooked programming language on the books!"

Ask a great question, get a great answer. Ask a vague question, get a vague answer.
Find out how to get great answers FAQ219-2884.

 

[AKPolarBear]

Just an odd thought, what about a Virtual Server solution at the remote site that is run from the host site using TS and a restricted GPO?

 

[NEmacGuy]

We have several sites running VPN between offices and TS with Macola. Really need VPN if WMS comes into your picture. Adds security too.