FORMULATOR Multi-User Installation Options

 

FORMULATOR is a multi-tier client / server application designed for use with Microsoft Windows operating systems.  FORMULATOR supports a variety of installation options and database servers.

Single User

FORMULATOR uses either MS-Access or MSDE for single user operation.  Single user operation can also be accomplished using SQL Server and other database options, however, this is typically more expensive in terms of capital and human resources.

Multi User  ion, FORMULATOR is typically installed on a “shared” or “network” drive.  The various clients then access the application from this central resource. 

 

Typically the “shared” drive  is a Windows  server “share”; however, it could just as easily be a shared client workstation, or a third party “share”, such as SAMBA running on Linux or a Novell server.

 

FORMULATOR requires relatively few resources from the server component in lower end installations.  In the peer to peer case, a very low-end server, or a dedicated client workstation, can provide both the “share” and the database connectivity.  The shared workstation would provide a workgroup “share” to both the application and the MS-Access database.  Each client would map a drive letter share to the application and the database, and proceed from there.

 

Three Tier Operation

Higher end installations will want the performance provided by de-coupling the application from the database server.  In this case, the database is accessed via an ODBC connection, separate from the application server.

 

Database Options

 FORMULATOR supports MS-Access, MSDE, MS SQL Server, and My*SQL databases.  Other options are available as custom installations (including Oracle).

   

Wide Area Connectivity

 For multi-user installations, FORMULATOR may be accessed remotely using Windows Terminal Server or Citrix Metaframe server.  Typically these solutions provide remote application access for a number of users.

 

Single user connectivity can be established via Windows XP Remote Desktop Connection software.  This method will work with both single and multi-user installations, but requires a dedicated PC running Windows XP.

 

Bandwidth requirements will vary based on your application-sharing platform.  A connection of at least 56kbps is needed for Citrix ICA clients.  Other clients should have at least a 120kbps connection to the application server.  Your performance will vary based on window dimensions and color depth.

 

FORMULATOR may also be accessed through other third party tools such as UltraVNC.  Note that these tools require the use of a dedicated PC to run the FORMULATOR application locally.