WinTotal over a VPN?

[William Rightsell]

Has anybody tried running WinTotal over a VPN? I am considering closing down my office as I have no need for it anymore, and having my one appraiser who works for me access WinTotal over a VPN setup using a WinXP computer.

Anybody tried this, have any advice, or care to warn of potential pitfalls? Both ends would have cable broadband speed access, and I'd set up a server at my house and another workstation for me. My appraiser would access from his house via VPN over cable.

Also any Wintotal licensing issues??

Suggestions welcome.

todd

 

[David Beasley]

If you're talking about running the program over a VPN like you'd be running it over an intranet, it may be possible. I run WinTotal over a LAN at my office so my secretary can type the next one while I finish the one she just typed. But I don't think you're going to be satisfied with the functionality. WinTotal is slllooowww (think super-chilled molasses) over a 100Mb LAN, I wouldn't want to try it over cable. Even spell checking on a LAN install of WinTotal can be a chore. Takes the server a while between words to even get to the next one. It is one of the slowest LAN-capable programs I have ever used. Yes, even slower than some of the first Java apps and Citirix MetaFrame apps of the early 1990s.

I use gotomypc.com. This is basically Citrix's consumer version of their corporate remote control software (without the fob that changes login numbers every couple of minutes). It's $19.95 a month and works great for me. Faster and is more reliable than PCAnywhere, and much easier to setup when you have a dynamic IP due to cable or DSL connection. Your "server" tells Citrix (gotomypc) where it is and you login to it through their secured website - without ever having to know what your cable modem's IP is, even if it gets changed from time to time as will happen if the modem loses power or you turn it off or reset it.

 

[Mister Ed]

David.

For slow over a LAN, have you checked your virus scan settings. They can can make frozen mollasses running uphill seem fast. If they do a scan with each save, etc.

We have 10/100 LAN in my office and it is not bad.... after we made sure to properly set the virus scan settings.

William,
Now, as far as working on a VPN, it will be as fast as using gotomypc.com as we use Windows' build in capability to log in to our desktops remotely. Problem with this method is you have to have a workstation running onsite to work offsite.

Will WinTotal work over a VPN? The answer is yes. Does Alamode support it? As of the last word I heard, the answer is "no". Let me suggest going and joining the WinTotal User Group and asking there. I know you will be able to find an appraiser or two who is doing it.

 

[reliantappraisals]

I have fiddled with it some, It should work.
You would install wintotal App on the remote PC and map the drives over the VPN.

again I havent actually done it but it should work.

also wintotal isnt slow over my network, maybe you have something not setup optimally.

a good quality switch and network cards make a differance.
those 10-20 dollar specials give you exactly what you pay for.

 

[William Rightsell]

I think I'll at least try it.

I have WinTotal set up on a network now - a server and two workstations. Works fine, and we have 5+ yr old computers. I also have experimented with GoToMyPC and that works pretty well also. Only drawback is photo storage (problems with loading them from a local camera to a remote disk drive via GoToMyPC), and the fact that I would have to have a workstation for my associate apprasier up and running in my own house for him to access that way. That seems like one too many layers of stuff to go wrong and one more puter I have to have sitting around.

My plan is this - set up a server and workstation at my house and then allow my associate to access the server and run wintotal via a VPN connection. I think speed will be ok as long as both ends have broadband, as GoToMyPC does well, and a VPN I assume would be at least as fast if not faster.

My trouble lies in setting up the VPN - I have read just enough about them to be dangerous, but think I can figure it out with a little reading a lot of trial and error.

Any specific suggestions regarding setup of a Lynksys WRT54G on each end would be appreciated. I know they have VPN capabilities, but have no clue as to how to set them up to do this. Thanks in advance.

todd rightsell

 

[Mutyger]

Try this:

https://secure.logmein.com/products/hamachi/vpn.asp?lang=en

or this:

www.logmein.com

Both have free versions and work fine.

 

[David Beasley]

David.

For slow over a LAN, have you checked your virus scan settings. They can can make frozen mollasses running uphill seem fast. If they do a scan with each save, etc.

We have 10/100 LAN in my office and it is not bad.... after we made sure to properly set the virus scan settings.

Yup, no virus scanner in use. I just scan my systems manually every so often.

Everything else runs great across our LAN, just WinTotal is slow. I mean it runs, and works properly, only takes about 3X the same time it takes on the host machine. Unacceptable to me really, considering every other LAN app I use it much faster across the same LAN. I'm sure most would say it's fine, I've just been in the whole computer/network thing for a good long while now and know that it could be better. A lot better.

 

[reliantappraisals]

I would consult a local networking business, I may save you money to get it done quickly and correctly rather than have problems and be irritated.

Another option there is is a Citrix type server.
its alot like remote desktop but more users can connect at the same time. your other appraisers would log into their citrix account(on your server) and would have access to whatever you specifically want them to.

 

[Vegan702]

As a former Network Engineer and soon to be Network Engineer again, I would say it would be too slow. Your broadband cable connections are great for downloads, but are slow for uploads as most are only 256-512kb upload capability. Imagine if you are currently running across a 100mb LAN that is not restricted to upload capability how it would run approximately 200x's slower at the peak rate of 512kb upload? Very slow that is how it will run. I don't know the specifics of how WinTOTAL operates even though I use it, but I believe it maintains a constant connection with the server. If you could devise a way to house the databases on each pc so that it didn't need to be in constant contact with the server that would be best.

 

[Michael Chu]

I agree with Vegan702.

But the layman's conclusion to this issue would be as follows:

If such a cool feature as the VPN, which comes free with every Windows OS, is possible, why would Alamode not market that feature to customers?

Short answer: Because it does not work!
:new_sleeping: