[sims] SIMs remote access question

[GeekyPete]

We have a need for three people to access SIMS from home. Cost is obviously a major factor.

 

I've looked at a few options but none of them jump out as clearly the way to go. What do you guys use, why, how much does it cost and are there any wow factors or pitfalls?

 

I've looked at:

 

Captia Learning gateway but I think it's a lot for what we need. We'd be paying for things we won't use.

 

Citrix with a VM ware CAG seems overkill for three people.

 

HAP, I've no experience with this and at first glance it looks like it's based on old web folders IIS features. Not sure how or even if you can access applications with it.

 

Any ideas welcome.

[Steve21]

Depends if it's deffo only 3 that need it, but there's remote desktop/apps built into server etc, just need the licenses as part of OVS etc but obviously a lot of config etc to do

 

Or if it's realllllllllly only 3 users might consider just teamviewer/logmein access etc.

 

Would save a lot of config/setup if it's just three users as they could just go to their own machine on the network etc

 

Steve

[nickbro]

HAP+ doesn't give you remote access to SIMS, you need a remote desktop gateway/server for that, HAP+ just has a link to an RDP file in the home screen, it's not using the old Web Folders it's a custom asp.net website which gives you remote access to files with the same levels of permissions from NTFS.

 

I would see what the price would be for 3 user CALS for remote desktop

[Meldrew]

Are the 3 people using their own computer or a school owned one, eg a school laptop? If the latter, you could use a VPN. OpenVPN would be free for 2 people, but more than that you'll need a (from memory) £5 per person per year licence.

 

Alternatively we used remote app part of remote desktop quite successfully for a few years, but we're now moving onto VDI now as we also only need a handful of people to be able to access SIMS.

 

Meldrew

[matt40k]

I wouldn't run SIMS over a VPN.

 

I'd also be careful, "only three" has a annoying habit of becoming more then you find yourself shouting "No, I can't just add another user, it supports 3 NAMED users , not 5, not 4, but T-H-R-E-E PHYSICAL actual humans!!!"

 

Would say options are: No, RDP server, move SIMS to centrally hosted (such as Capita Azure offering) or changing MIS system(*)

 

 

(* Yes, bit drastic, but its like those old apps that folks hang on to and you struggle to install then you finally get them to upgrade and they're like "oh the new version\product is soo much better" - more ironic when they say they're innovators and forward thinkers)