Networking two remote computers

mnevitt · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 20

We have two computers in different cities that we could greatly benefit from by networking shipworks. Both have a broadband internet connection. Is there an easy, secure way to network these remote computers so shipworks can talk back and forth between the two terminals?

Thanks!

Mike

Guest · Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2004 3:44 pm Post subject: Windows XP VPN?

I've been researching Windows XP's VPN capabilities. Will this work if I can get it set up?

Wes · Site Admin Joined: 07 Oct 2002 Posts: 7427

Hi Michael,

Yes, ShipWorks will work over VPN - however, it may be too slow (depending on connection speed) to be effective. But you can definitely try and see if it feels fast enough for you.

Please let us know if you have additional questions.

Thanks,

Interapptive, Inc.

blk00xjc · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 5

So Mike and I got my computer to connect to his through XP VPN. I've installed ShipWorks on my computer and I'm now trying to connect to the main database (on Mike's computer). I set my workgroup to the same as his although we don't show up in the same workgroup.

When I search for databases it finds none. Can anyone be of any help here?

Brian · ShipWorks Staff Joined: 30 Jul 2004 Posts: 3608

Have you verified that the two computers are now connected, and can share folders and printers accross the network?

If this is the case, there are several reasons why the ShipWorks client would not be able to detect the main database. However, this does not mean that the client will not be able to connect.

One thing to try on the client, is to open the "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\ShipWorks\configuration.xml" file in notepad, and set the contents of the <SqlServerInstance> tag to be of the form "MainComputerName\ShipWorks" (without qoutes). So it may end up looking like

<SqlServerInstance>MIKE\ShipWorks</SqlServerInstance>

Thanks,
Interapptive, Inc.

blk00xjc · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 5

Excellent, we will try that tonight. This is exactly what I was looking for.

We are connected and sharing files perfectly. ShipWorks just couldn't find Mike's DB. I figured there was a way to manually configure the DB but couldn't find any info on it.

Thanks,
Chris

blk00xjc · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 5

So I tried that but when I'm prompted for a username and pass, I enter in the correct U/P combo and it times out saying "SQL Server does not exist or access denied"

Wes · Site Admin Joined: 07 Oct 2002 Posts: 7427

Hello,

Do you have your firewall set to allow ShipWorks access to the network?

Thanks,

Interapptive, Inc.

blk00xjc · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 5

I'm pretty sure Mike disabled his firewall when we tried this. Are you talking about a software firewall or the firewall on his router?

blk00xjc · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 5

[quote="blk00xjc"]I'm pretty sure Mike disabled his firewall when we tried this. Are you talking about a software firewall or the firewall on his router?[/quote]

The only question is if anything specific needs to be done with our router. We had no software firewall active when trying this.

Wes · Site Admin Joined: 07 Oct 2002 Posts: 7427

Hello,

You should make sure that your software firewall is set to allow ShipWorks to access the network. Also, do you have the path properly entered for the database?

For detailed information about working with VPNs, please see the following link from Microsoft:

http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/workspace/home/connect.mspx

Please let us know if you have further questions.

Thanks,

Interapptive, Inc.

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