Topic: VPN Slow

[ansentry]

I am running 6.0.1-01. Modem set up = Bridge, SME Server-Gateway.

I have connected from a friends place to my SME using XP Pro PPTP. I can login to the domain fine and see ibays that I have permission to access.

The connection on my sme is down 256 up 64 friends place same. The connection is very slow. Could someone advise me what the minium speed I would require to say run QuickBooks or MS Access backend?

Also is there a better way than using Microsoft PPTP?

Any help would be appreciated.

[crazybob]

It is going to be slow. I tried pptp a while back, and did a test using ftp to transfer a couple files both through the tunnel, and outside the tunnel, and it looked like the tunnel added about 50% to the transfer time.

I would suggest using openvpn. it seems more robust. There is a very good how to available for it.

Bob

[ansentry]

Thanks Bob for the reply, I have seen the How to etc for openvpn.

You say that it appears to be more robust, but is it faster?

Maybe I should install it on a test machine and see what happens.

[crazybob]

A client of mine says it appears to be faster for him, but with your up and down speeds, it is going to be slow. Quickbooks will partially depend on how big the database is.

When following the howto on openvpn, watch for the section where you chmod som files, and add chmod 700 *.up


Bob

[ansentry]

Bob,

After I get it up and running on my test machine, I want install it at friends business he had cable at home and 512/512 ADSL at work. With these speeds how do you think quickbook should perform?

[crazybob]

At that speed, it should be ok. It will open and close slow, but should work. I have a client that is working into server that has 1.5 mb down, but 356 or something like that up. He seems ok wit it, just has to be a little patient at times

Bob

[kruhm]

The problem is only partially the VPN. The main problem is Quickbooks itself as it ships huge amounts of information between the file and the client. It doesn't matter if you have a T1, you'll still have problems. If you do a general search you'll find the same issue.

I run QB on a windows server and I experience the same problem. Some people get around this by terminal services, etc. but in the end, no resolve, bad program, move to different software.

FYI - http://lists.samba.org/archive/samba/2003-June/067790.html

[gippsweb]

We use SME as a gateway with OpenVPN to/from work and have an XP Pro machine setup at home. I find Quickbooks works better in remote desktop than trying to connect to the datafile remotely.
Terminal Services would probably be similar or slightly better.