Let me start by laying out our scenario. We are a CPA firm with 7 local Computers running Win XP Pro (all fairly new) and a 3.0ghz 4mb ram server running server2003 w/ 10 cal licenses.
We currently have an old Sonicwall router/fwall going into a crappy trendnet switch w/ 2 gigabit ports and 24 100mbps ports.
Our business is going paperless and we do a LOT of remote work, we have 3 employees in the field and myself and the other 2 principles do a lot of work remotely as well.
Many of our applications (quickbooks, ms GP/dynamicsGP, Lacerte tax, Mas90/200, Timeslips) have their data files on the server (1 raid 5 array of 160gb drives). It seems that these programs perform SIGNIFICATLY slower over our network than they do locally. My questions are as follows:
1. Would it be worth it to upgrade all of the machines locally to gigabit ethernet cards and get a new gigabit switch?
2. Our current method of remote connect only allows us to connect to the server (remote desktop) or one of the computers here (running vnc). We need a better solution as there are times when more than 2 remote employees are working remotely at once. Our IT (fired) told us that we couldn't access more than one computer using the same remote software (remote desktop / VNC /PC anywhere) so we thought we had to have each program use a specific computer with a specific port allocated to that program and that computer.
I have a client who has a Cisco Pix router, once I connect to their router w/ the cisco software, I can simply open up vnc and type in the local ip of any computer on their network and voilla I have access. This seems far superior to our network and it makes me believe there are probably even better solutions out there. I am very winxp pro savvy but the world of $300+ routers is completely foreign to me... I know my way around server2003 but again, only for maintenance, I wouldn't dare attempt to set one up from scratch.
Can someone help me choose some hardware that will allow me to do what I'm speaking of? I would like minimal network delays on the local network and a very simple remote access method that would allow as much use as possible of the terminal computers from remote access... we also have dual monitors on all in office computers, does remote connect allow you to view both monitors as one and scale the resolution?
I realize this question may not be perfectly eloquent and probably has holes all over it, but I would really appreciate it if anyone can help me out. I would like to drop whatever advice I get here on a new IT guy to make sure he knows his stuff.
Thanks in advance
We currently have an old Sonicwall router/fwall going into a crappy trendnet switch w/ 2 gigabit ports and 24 100mbps ports.
Our business is going paperless and we do a LOT of remote work, we have 3 employees in the field and myself and the other 2 principles do a lot of work remotely as well.
Many of our applications (quickbooks, ms GP/dynamicsGP, Lacerte tax, Mas90/200, Timeslips) have their data files on the server (1 raid 5 array of 160gb drives). It seems that these programs perform SIGNIFICATLY slower over our network than they do locally. My questions are as follows:
1. Would it be worth it to upgrade all of the machines locally to gigabit ethernet cards and get a new gigabit switch?
2. Our current method of remote connect only allows us to connect to the server (remote desktop) or one of the computers here (running vnc). We need a better solution as there are times when more than 2 remote employees are working remotely at once. Our IT (fired) told us that we couldn't access more than one computer using the same remote software (remote desktop / VNC /PC anywhere) so we thought we had to have each program use a specific computer with a specific port allocated to that program and that computer.
I have a client who has a Cisco Pix router, once I connect to their router w/ the cisco software, I can simply open up vnc and type in the local ip of any computer on their network and voilla I have access. This seems far superior to our network and it makes me believe there are probably even better solutions out there. I am very winxp pro savvy but the world of $300+ routers is completely foreign to me... I know my way around server2003 but again, only for maintenance, I wouldn't dare attempt to set one up from scratch.
Can someone help me choose some hardware that will allow me to do what I'm speaking of? I would like minimal network delays on the local network and a very simple remote access method that would allow as much use as possible of the terminal computers from remote access... we also have dual monitors on all in office computers, does remote connect allow you to view both monitors as one and scale the resolution?
I realize this question may not be perfectly eloquent and probably has holes all over it, but I would really appreciate it if anyone can help me out. I would like to drop whatever advice I get here on a new IT guy to make sure he knows his stuff.
Thanks in advance