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Running R:BASE Remotely
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What does it mean to run R:BASE remotely? It's like having a very long
keyboard cord -- you sit at a computer in one location, call up a computer
at a different location, run R:BASE and connect to a database on that other
computer. Everything works just as if you were at the other location sitting
at the computer. Additional pieces of hardware and software must exist on
both computers to make this work. Each computer needs:
SYMBOL 183 \f "Symbol" \s 10 \h a modem
SYMBOL 183 \f "Symbol" \s 10 \h communications software
The modem is the hardware that handles the connection between the two
computers over a phone line. The modem converts computer data (digital) to
phone data (analog) and back. It does the work of transmitting and receiving.
A modem can be an internal board inside your machine, or an external box that
you connect to a port on the back of your machine. Most modems also come with
communications software.
The communications software is the interface between the hardware (the modem)
and the computers. It specifies how data is transmitted between the two
machines. There are different communications protocols. It's easiest to
connect two computers if the same communications software is on both machines.
Otherwise, you need to be sure both software packages support the same protocol.
If not, you won't be able to connect or you may lose data during transmission.
Your communications software has complete information on its protocol and what
others it supports.
pcANYWHERE, CloseUp and Carbon Copy are three communication software products
we have used and found to work well in a host/remote computer situation.
In remote computing, one machine is the host computer, the other the remote
computer. It may seem backwards to think of yourself as the remote computer
when you are connecting to a machine at another location, but that's how it
is. The machine initiating the connection or call is the remote, the one
receiving the call is the host. The remote computer controls the host.
Generally, you need to arrange with someone at the other location a time
when you will call up and connect to their machine. The communications
software must be active on both computers.
Once you connect, you are at the DOS prompt on the other machine (the host).
The remote machine, where you are, takes over operation of the host machine.
What you type at your keyboard happens on the host machine. The remote
machine can transfer files to and from the host machine. It can run programs
on the host machine. The R:BASE program files and database must be on the
host machine or accessible by it. They can be on a network file server at the
host site. Remote computing is handy for debugging or working on application
problems and checking database problems at remote locations. Remember, though,
this is someone else's machine. Changes you make are permanent.
Remote computing can be done on a one-to-one basis, or it can be set up to
have many different remote computers call up a single host.
Multi-user Remote Access
Situations exist where several people need to access a central database
remotely. This can be done fairly easily using a single computer system as
the host running a multitasking, multi-windowing operating system such as
OS/2. Multiple windows are opened, with each window capable of running a
separate application. Each remote computer connects to the host via a
separate window. The communication software, such as pcANYWHERE, is
started in each window. (Note: Depending on the software developer's
licensing agreement, you may need separate copies of the communication
packages for each window.) In addition, you need a separate serial port
and modem for each window. OS/2 is suggested, in that it is a true
multi-user operating system that allows R:BASE multi-user concurrency
control to be in effect. A multi-user version of R:BASE is installed on
the system and then each window acts like a workstation on a local area
network. The remote users connect to the host system using the remote
version of the communication package, start the R:BASE application and
access the database.
You can also have remote access to a database using a bulletin board system.
A bulletin board system is a communications host that can interface with
multiple remote systems. Today's bulletin board systems allow users to read
and write messages, transfer files, and chat with other users on-line. In
addition to these features, a bulletin board system can also allow remote
users to run an application such as R:BASE and also allow host computers to
setup password and security on multiple levels.
Typically, a bulletin board system is a network or a single computer system
using a multitasking, multi-windowing operating system such as DESQview,
Windows or OS/2. The BBS software provides the user interface and manages
the system resources. The number of simultaneous users allowed to access
the BBS is determined by the number of workstations on the network or the
number of nodes configured on a multitasking system. Each workstation or
node requires a separate modem.
The advantage of a BBS system is that a remote connect may be accomplished
using several different communication packages rather than one specific,
proprietary communication program, thus expanding the number of potential
users of the host system.
To access R:BASE on a BBS, the bulletin board system must be able to open a
door. What is a door? A door is nothing more than a program designed to
communicate through a COM port rather then through normal means, such as a
keyboard. R:BASE is not designed to do this, but you can add this
functionality with additional software. DOORWAY by TriMark Engineering
monitors the screen output and keyboard input/output on the host computer
and outputs it on the remote users screen using ANSI codes. With DOORWAY,
you can run virtually any text mode DOS application, including R:BASE, as a
door.
When R:BASE is executed on a BBS, the user temporarily exits the BBS, loads
the door software and then R:BASE application is started. The door software
captures the users keyboard input/output and then outputs the screen display
to the remote users system. When the user exits the R:BASE application, the
user returns to the bulletin board system. Most door software can use BBS
security or can provide password security.
When using R:BASE in a multi-user remote access situation, you must be
licensed for as many users as you have nodes or workstations. For
instance, a single user R:BASE package with a LAN pack would support six nodes
or workstations. R:BASE is installed on the BBS as a multi-user system just as
it would be installed on a network. Each node or workstation must have access
to the SERVER.SY5 file. If you are planning to use R:BASE on a a single
computer system using a multitasking, multi-windowing operating system,
R:BASE must run in conventional memory, so you must install the 286 version.
pcANYWHERE is a trademark of and is available from Symantec Corporation, 10201
Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA 95014-2132, 408-253-9600.
Close-Up is a trademark of and available from Norton-Lambert, Corporation,
P.O. Box 4085, Santa Barbara, CA 93140, 805-964-6767
Carbon Copy Plus is a trademark of and is available from Meridian Technology
7 Corporate Park, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92714, 714-261-1199
Doorway is available from TriMark Engineering, 406 Monitor Lane, Knoxville,
TN 37922,615-966-3667.