Remote locations require either a Virtual Private Network (VPN) using high-speed internet connectivity between locations and the appropriate hardware to provide it, or a dedicated circuit from your telephone/networking provider and hardware. The VPN is usually established with hardware routers and other devices that “virtually” connect all your locations together using the existing high-speed internet. DSL or Cable can work for this. Minimum speed requirements are 1.5 Mbps download / 768Kbps upload. It is highly recommended that the data speed be 3 Mbps Download/ 1.5 Mbps Upload or above. For optimal performance, consider data speeds of 12 Mbps download, 8Mbps upload, using an internet service provider that provides FIOS (Fiber Optic Service) or Cable connectivity. Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connections are another alternative where optimal bandwidth is not available. Consider FocalPoint Anywhere (Chapter 6) or FocalPoint Hosted as a suitable solution for these circumstances. Dial-up or satellite networking is not supported.
The only network requirement regarding your VPN is that all local and remote workstations must be able to have full read/write permissions to a Windows Shared folder on the server (C:\FocalPt, usually, but the disk drive can vary.) We do not need this share to be seen using NETBIOS. Using a standard IP address naming convention will work if the VPN is set up properly. For example, this shared folder would be seen on a local or remote workstation by entering this Network Neighborhood address:
\\192.168.1.10\FocalPt
(Please substitute this address with the actual IP address of the server in your network.)
Shared Windows printers are not required to been seen through the VPN, but sharing Windows printers locally at each store can be possible. This way all workstations in one store can print to shared printers, but it is not necessary for those printers in Location A to be seen by workstations in Location B, for example.
Please consult your local networking or computer source for assistance in VPN equipment, setup, installation, and configuration best suited for your remote location needs.
