Paradox over internet

#1

Hello Paradix gurus

I am examining possible solutions to upgrade an old application that uses BDE
and paradox into a client/server application where the clients can reach the
data over internet.

Is it possible to reach the data over internet in the same way as it is
possible to reach it over a local network? As far as I understand it this
would require a VPN or something similar but my customer claims that it can
be done through some database settings. Am I missing something?

/Kristian

#2

Quote:

Is it possible to reach the data over internet in the same way as it is
possible to reach it over a local network?

the same way?.. no.. anything client/server and/or web based will pull
selected data from the "server".. i.e. query out a particular client,
product, whatever.. you aren't interacting directly with the data, like you
are in paradox, dbase, etc..

--
Steven Green - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina USA

Diamond Software Group
http://www.diamondsg.com/main.htm
Paradox Support & Sales

Diamond Sports Gems
http://www.diamondsg.com/gemsmain.htm
Sports Memorabilia and Trading Cards

"Kristian_CE" <u39992@uwe> wrote

Quote:

Hello Paradix gurus

I am examining possible solutions to upgrade an old application that uses
BDE
and paradox into a client/server application where the clients can reach
the
data over internet.

Is it possible to reach the data over internet in the same way as it is
possible to reach it over a local network? As far as I understand it this
would require a VPN or something similar but my customer claims that it
can
be done through some database settings. Am I missing something?

/Kristian

#3

Steven, et al,

Can terminal services be run over a VPN?

Jim Moseley

#4

Kristian,

If you want to keep the data in Paradox, I guess you've got options. Expose
the existing application using Terminal Services or RDP or LogMeIn.com.
Or, rewrite the application to use the CWS and serve up html webpages. The
second way is not too difficult, though there's definitely a learning curve.

HTH,
Jim Moseley

#5

Michel,

Your English is excellent, and I learned something new! For a networked
application, how much of a performance hit does this setup cause?

BTW, the translation for 'routeur' is 'router'. Got to love those Latin
roots.

Thanks,
Jim Moseley

#6

Quote:

Can terminal services be run over a VPN?

Yes.

Anders

#7

Kristian

It is possible to connect to servers over the internet as long as the server
owner is willing to enable these network settings to the internet. Michel
provided instruction for doing this for Net Bios and there are other
settings that can be enabled to do this for other network protocols as well.

The real issue is network security. By enabling your operating system
services to be accessed over the internet, you also enable them to be used
by hackers to access and take control of your computer. That is the reason
most users that want to have access via the internet use VPN (Virtual
Private Network) hardware/software as a security measure to control access
between private networks/computers over the internet.

Using NetBios as the protocol helps reduce the risk to some extent as not
many users or hackers are attaching this type of setup, but its still a
risk.

The real questions you need to ask is what risk am I prepared to take to
expose my operating system to the network and hackers?

Just my 2 cents - Rick

"Méta-MCI (MVP)" <enleverlesX.XmcX (AT) XmclaveauX (DOT) com> wrote

Quote:

Hi!

Yes! It's possible.
You must :
- use NetBios on the "server" (where are data/tables)
- configure "routeur" (french word, I don't know the english translation),
for redirect NetBios ports to the "server"
- configure firewall for let pass the NetBios sockets (on server &
client).

I use this way several times per week, and some of my customers also.

NetBios has bad reputation, but it is completely unjustified. The only
problem of security found has been filled for 8 years, and NetBios is much
faster and simple that a VPN.

With NetBios, you can map remote shared dirs, like on LAN (via Explorer,
or with Net Use R: \\111.222.333.444\SHAREDATA )

*sorry for my bad english*

@-salutations

Michel Claveau

#8

Quote:

Is it possible to reach the data over internet in the same way as it is
possible to reach it over a local network?

As the others have explained - yes it is possible and there might be
security aspects.

However, the main problem will most likely be performance. Usually the
access over the Internet is much slower than on a LAN. When you run a
Paradox application it will often drag the complete table over the Lan
(queries for example). If the users are accessing the server via regular DSL
connection it will be very, very slow.

If you chose a Terminal Service/Remote Desktop solution you will have much
better performance (usually) as only the screen is updated over the WAN, but
there will most likely be some sort of delay which can be a problem in a app
with heavy input of data.

There are many different ways to approach your problem and depending on what
exactly you wish to accomplish the answer might be different. For example,
is the Internet access going to be a "full app" or is it enough with a
"read-only" version? How many users? Etc.

Anders

#9

Thank you very much for all your answers.
Basically the solution is pretty much as I had expected, ie there is no magic
BDE setting that allows paradox to work as a client/server db like MySQL or
something similar and I have to either adjust the software or make some
adjustments to the windows environment or run the entire application remote
on a server.

/Kristian

--
Message posted via http://www.dbmonster.com

#10

Hi,

If you have not a big number of users who simultaneously access your application
(no more than, say, 50) , you can consider PxForms - http://vmsoft.org

In this case it's enough to have a browser (IE and FireFox are supported) at the
user's end.

Vladimir Menkin