Multiuser & Remote Connections
Connection Options
By default, SpeedBase connects to its built-in, file based database and does not require a server machine or installation of a server side software (with the exception of SQL server option).
You may choose and go with any of the available connection options given below whichever works best for you.
Option 1: Single User on a PC
This is the default installation on a computer with Windows operating system for local use only.
Option 2: Local Network
You may connect to your database using a computer in your local network via a shared folder. SpeedBase should be installed on to
the computer with Windows operating system for each user. Your database however might be located on any computer or storage device within your local network.
Note that, you most likely have a local network already if you have multiple computers at home or in the same office that share the same internet connection.
Scroll down to setup multiuser connection on a local network.
Advantages: No technicals skills, server management or internet connection is required. Very fast and responsive operation.
Data safety is highest as your database is not open to internet.
Disadvantages: You may not connect to your database remotely outside from your local network.
Best for: Organisations who need database access on a single location, require fast operation, require an offline database system for security reasons or limited/without internet connection.
Option 3: Removable Drive
You may choose to keep your database on a external SSD or HDD drive. This is most useful when you want to use your database in more than one location like home and work place and/or you want
to keep your data safe with you at all times.
For this option, you must install SpeedBase on the desired machine on each location and move your data folder to your removable SSD or HDD drive (but NOT a usb flash memory!) as explained
on this page.
Advantages: Similar advantages as previous options plus possibility to "plug and play" your database on multiple locations. Added privacy in case you want to use but not leave your database
on a location.
Disadvantages: You need to carry your external drive with you. Reminders will not be displayed when your external drive is not available.
Best for: Accessing your database both from home and work place desktop computers interchangeably.
Option 4: VPN
You may connect to your database via a VPN connection. All you need is to setup a VPN server for this option (scroll down for details).
SpeedBase should be installed on to the computer with Windows operating system of each user.
Your connection is secured by the VPN software with password and encryption.
An example of 3rd party software which is free for small networks is Hamachi
Advantages: You may connect to your database from anywhere around the world via VPN connection and internet.
Disadvantages: You need an average level of technical skills to setup and connect via a VPN server.
Best for: Organisations who need remote access from any location via internet but do not prefere the SQL server option.
Option 5: SQL Server
You may choose to keep your database on your own, existing Microsoft SQL server in this option.
More details and setup instructions are explained on this page.
Advantages: You may connect to your database from anywhere around the world via internet. It is very easy to setup if you already have a running SQL server.
Disadvantages: You must have the required technical skills to install, configure and manage Microsoft SQL server on a server machine to go with this option.
You may however get rid of most of the technical burden by subscribing to a hosted SQL server solution from a hosting company at the expense of reduced privacy.
Best for: Organisations who need remote access from any location, who already have a running (or capable of arranging) SQL server, who want to share data with any other sql server compatible software or web interface.
Option 6: Remote Desktop
You may connect to your database via a remote desktop software or device.
You only need to install SpeedBase to the remote server machine running Windows operating system.
Your data is secured by the remote desktop software with password and encryption.
Advantages: You may connect to your database from anywhere around the world via internet. No technical skills are required. No installation to client machines is required.
Clients may use any device (e.g. mobiles, tablets) with any operating system as long as they support remote desktop connection.
Disadvantages: Connection via remote desktop services remotely is usually slowest.
Opening more than one remote desktop connections to the same host computer requires purchase of additional licenses from Microsoft Windows server product family.
Best for: Organisations who already operate on a RDS (terminal services) based computing environment or when one or more clients must access the database from mobile devices and/or non-Windows operating systems.
Caution!
Do not attempt to share your database among multiple computers by using a file sharing service like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive etc.
Such services are based on synchronisation of data and do not actually create a genuine shared folder, unlike what is possible with the Windows operating system.
Attempting to connect to the same database from multiple devices, even at different times, using these types of services is NOT supported and would most likely
cause severe damage to your database.
Use Cloud Backup feature of SpeedBase if you want to keep a backup of your data on cloud.
Key Points to Remember
- SpeedBase is a desktop database application. It is NOT an online database service, i.e. it is not possible to access your data from
a web browser by simply opening a web site.
This also means that, it is NOT possible for a random, malicious internet user to access to your data by taking advantage of a security hole
on your web site.
- As many users as your license allows may concurrently connect to your database and work as a team.
- File sharing services like Dropbox, Google Drive etc. may NOT be used to connect to your database via internet as these services do not
create a real shared folder like in Windows operating system.
- For SQL Server users only: Beware that SpeedBase does not recognize or manage pre-existing data on your SQL server created by other software or means.
SpeedBase does manage data only created by itself. More Information
- For multiuser access: All data (i.e. records, design changes, layouts, views etc.) is saved to the same single location and all users will see/share
the same data unless you create access restrictions. No data is stored on individual user computers.
- For multiuser access with local network connection: You do not need to install SpeedBase or any other software to your server. You actually do not need a server,
however you need to employ either a computer or a storage device to keep your database. That device should be left up and running in order
to accept connections from users.
How to Setup Multiuser Connection within a Local Network
SpeedBase can connect to your database thru a shared folder on your local area network.
Follow the steps given below to allow multiple users to connect to your database:
- Choose a computer, a storage device or your existing server in your local network on which your database file will reside.
Try to choose a device which is up and running during whole working hours if not all time, as your database will only be available
as long as it is up.
- Create a shared folder. (See the end of this page for more information about creating shared folders)
- Go back to the computer where your current database was created. Locate the data folder of your database.
To find out the folder location, open "connection settings" window from "database" menu. The path is displayed under "Data Folder" title.
- Click on the data folder link on connection settings window to browse that folder on Windows Explorer.
- Right click the data folder, click "Copy". (Its location is "My Documents\SpeedBase\data" by default unless you changed before)
- Browse to the shared folder, right click the shared folder and click "paste". This will create a copy of the
data folder including your database and other data files.
- Start SpeedBase, open "connection settings" window, click browse button under the title "Data Folder Location".
Browse into the shared folder, select the copied version of your data folder, click OK.
- On "connection settings" window, select your database file from the box titled "Database Name".
Click "Save Settings". Click "Exit". SpeedBase will now connect to the database from the shared folder.
- Repeat the last two steps on all other computers to allow them to connect to the same database
under the shared folder.
Tip: If you cannot see any entry in the "database name" selection box, you have probably selected the wrong folder
as "data folder". Try selecting either the parent or the subfolder of the currently selected folder.
Tip: Practically, you will be able to connect to your database as long as you are able to browse to the shared data folder via Windows Explorer.
Caution!
Make sure that the connection settings window of SpeedBase on each computer shows exactly the same data folder location and database name.
You are strongly recommended to remove any older, unused, duplicate copy of your data folder from your network to ensure no computer gets connected
to an old copy of your database by mistake in the future.
Testing the Connection
It is essential to make a test if the database is shared on all computers successfully.
- Login to SpeedBase from one of the client computers and make some change on a record in your database.
- Move between each of the client computers to check that your modification is visible on all of them. You may need to click "reload" button.
If the change is not visible try clicking the reload button on the current window.
If the change is still invisible, check connection settings to make sure that all computers are connected to the
same database file on the same shared data folder.
How to Setup Multiuser Remote Connection using a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
There are a number of easy to use, easy to setup VPN products available on the internet.
Once you setup the VPN software on both of your host and client machines, the VPN software will allow the user on client computer
to browse shared folders of the host computer. You may then adjust connection settings
on SpeedBase to connect via the shared folder.
In some cases you may need to adjust firewall settings on either machines to allow the VPN product to connect successfully.
Consult the documentation of your VPN product or consider getting help from a network expert if needed.
How to Setup a Shared Folder
You may find lots of tutorials with screenshots or Youtube videos if you search for "setup shared folder windows 10".
We have included one example site for your convenience below:
How to set up network file sharing on Windows 10
If you have difficulties to create shared folders and there is a network administrator in your workplace, you may consider asking him/her
to setup a shared folder for you as there may be a specific network configuration requiring specific adjustments.