I have a application written in Arev 3.12, that needs to be run at two different offices. The Data files are close to max. (4gb) We are at the initial stages of deployment of these two offices. The App runs at one location now, with 50 users. The new office with add a additional 50 users. Both Offices are running Windows servers and the data line proposed (T1 1.5meg) will be channelized to handle voice also. So I'm probably not going to get the complete bandwidth.

I would like information on wheather it would be better to run Arev.exe in two different location, with the data attached at one location only,

OR, run Citrix server on the home server, or servers, and run the App from there as a terminal services.

Looking for help….

Frank

Frank,

I believe the first rule of thumb regarding AREV and WAN is to avoid if at all possible. WAN connections require the whole application to be pushed through the pipe. Generally speaking, the results are poor.

Is it absolutely necessary that both sites be connected to the same data tables? I'm assuming so based on your comments. If so, then I believe a Citrix server would be your best best based on what you've said so far.

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SRP Computer Solutions, Inc.

A lot depends on what amount of data will be entered at the remote sites, but my feeling would be the Citrix would be the way to go. I'd say at least two Citrix servers would be in order, too.

J

I second the Citrix idea. Not long ago I had a customer that tried to run AREV 2.1x on a WAN (dedicated fiber optic) from Raleigh, NC to Runnemede, NJ. Their file sizes were also near max. The performance quickly became atrocious due to the competing bandwidth. They made their life much more difficult by mixing voice, e-mail and some realtime video on the string. Best case actual bandwidth to the AREV desktops was about 500K and frequently dropped significantly below that number during peak loads. A report that ran locally on the LAN that took 15 minutes to complete took 19 hours on the WAN. You get the idea.

Don M.

Citrix gets my vote too, based on experience. We have literally hundreds of users at our primary UK site, and have remote access, update, reporting and printing to offices as far afield as the Middle East and Hong Kong. It's not *quite* like being on the same LAN - but it isn't far away.

FWIW,

Cameron

Cameron

Did you find you had to create your own unique "Terminal Id", in Arev, for each terminal.

If can you publish your method.

Barry

Barry,

We don't mess with the settings in ARev at all, relying on the inbuilt counter logic in the first part of @Station. It all seems to work just fine, locking is 100%, and if it ain't broke….!

There is presumably a particular reason why you ask? Drop me a note at [email protected] if you have any specific questions (or share them here, if they're "generic".)

Cameron

I can't believe all the great responses. A big thanks to you all. I was already leaning toward Citrix. Does any body know how big a server I need for 200 users, or should that be how many servers??? Also, my customer has a concern for the CPU utilization going through the roof, but I think that Citrix would handle that. Is this so? Thanks again for the great responses.

frank

I'd suggest you go to the Citrix site to answer your questions on what servers may be required. As a rule of thumb, don;t put more than 20 to 25 users on a single server. Make it have as much RAM as you possibly can, and be prepared to upgrade it.

J

CPU utilization can be a problem. Steve Smith's CPU utility can help, as can a programme called "TAME". However, utilization can be controlled. I have an Arev 3.12 mixed with OI application running on two Citrix servers, about 40 users. Utilization usually bobs along at 30 to 40 percent, with occasional "spikes"

J

Thanks again, I will go to a Citrix site and check out the usage figures. Many thanks.

frank

Cameron,

I was under the impression from responses here a long while ago that arev was unable to create unique workstation IDs for citrix pcs, therefore there was a problem with record locking.

Something like: Arev thinks the citrix server is a single workstation or something like that. There was acually code published to create the unique ID.

Must have been a furphy, or "under certain circumstances…"

Barry

While you are at it check out Microsoft Server 2003. Some of the Citrix technology is incorporated into this product. Undoubtedly the full Citrix version is better … but it costs nothing to get an eval on MS Server 2003.

My tests with OI on this platform thusfar are very favourable.

Richard Bright

Barry ..

I recall this issue too some time ago .. I'm not sure what release of Citrix it was. I think that the code you refer to was posted in response to a number of users who had this problem then. Since I've left it there since, I don't know whether this is an issue any more. Maybe I can call one of my user's LAN guy and have him check it out and report back (with whatever version they're currently using).

Don M.

I'm just throwing this out there, so be kind. How about creating web pages to do the job of input? Using OI as the engine and haveing all the users from the remote site connect that way. I would have to deal with the MV's, but it is a option. Just thinking out loud.

frank

We have several AREV sites doing data entry over the web either using OI or just native AREV and our S/WEB product. This is a very viable means of operating and also allows you to open up your AREV app to external customers if required.

The Sprezzatura Group

World Leaders in all things RevSoft

Citrix offers load balancing across several servers, I don't know if winserver2003 does that.

J

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