Opening from cache instead of network, while working online?

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Guest

My Problem is this;
I have 10 users that access the network, both internally over wireless, and
at home using a cisco VPN solution. They have offline files as a means to
work within a library of files, setup to sync each logon. I would like to
know if there is a way to still have the sync working, but to open the word
and excel docs from the cached position, rather than the network place. When
trying to open the document at home on the VPN, its very slow and can take
some time to open a 50mb PDF file.... so, can it be ready locally, even
though the original is on the network at work?
I am sure there is a setting to hold the computer offline at all times, and
only sync apon request. If someone can point me to this setting, i would be
most appreciated.
Thanks
 
Have you considered implementing Windows Terminal Server, where you could
open a 50MB file just as quickly as a 50KB file. If you aren't familiar with
Terminal Server it works by securely sending the client the application
display to the client computer via Microsoft's RDP Protocol or Citrix ICA
Protocol (if also using Citrix Presentation Server). Terminal Server is the
same technology that's included in Windows XP Pro as Remote Desktop. Terminal
Server is basically a multi-user workstation used for deploying applications
to virtually any kind of computer device.

Remote Desktop users can connect to and work comfortably on a terminal
server with as little as 30Kbps available bandwidth.

http://www.sessioncomputing.com

Sorry I do not know the answer to your question.
 
Thankyou patrick. Your advice is most interesting.
We currently do run a Citrix enviroment, but we chose to move away from it a
the time of implimentation due to the MF server version that was out at the
time, could not sync mobile devices.
Apparently, the new version can.
Regardless though, this setup as i explained earlier is for 10 people who
arnt very smart on computers... and therfore would most likely be in uproar
if a change was to take place. I have them set up with roaming profiles that
are saved Locally, and syncing offline files from one location. We are
getting reports that the files take a long time to open when connected to the
VPN... so we are looking for a way to speed this process up. Thus my question
about the local cache of offline files.

Is there something you can point me to that might give me some information
on how to convert this setup to utilise terminal services without citrix?

thanks
 
Terminal Server works fine w/o Citrix, it just doesn't have some of the bells
and whistles like load balancing, application publishing, universal printer
driver.... Any setup that requires the file sync of a 50MB file is going to
take a long time. I'd address if it's a business requirement to have an
offline copy, i.e. are they often in need of working with these files on an
airplane or in a rural setting where wireless Internet access is not
available?

Make a list of the business requirements (not wants, but needs) and I'll let
you know what's feasible over Terminal Server, or if another technology is a
better fit.
 
This is why we have gone the way we have.

We have 9 High profile members of the organisation here, that needs to
access the office network from home, and while in the office. The easiest way
for them to do that, is to have a laptop that acts the same wether its in the
office or at their place of residence.

To do this, we have local roaming profles that run outlook using local
cache, and syncs up to the servers at work, through a vpn. The only reason we
did this, was so they could run outlook locally... it gives these 9 the
ability to write and create email wherver they are, and only needing the
cisco VPN to connect and send/recieve email. This was done as i said, because
mobile devices could not sync over terminal services/citrix.

We are unable to change to citrix now, as we have gone through some very
tedious months to teach them how to use what we have put in place, and the
only let down really, is accessing the larger files over the network. To
combat it, i am looking at a way to teach them to use the Offline files
folder to access the files , while being online.

The issue, is to have these laptops able to use outlook anyhere, and so they
can read them at home. We would have gone for a citrix solution, but this
doesnt allow us to run outlook wherever the computer is. and they would
always need the connection back into the office to access the files and email
here.

If you can come up with a suggestion to this, or maybe point me in the
direction of an Offline files expert, i can discuss some furthur options with
him.

Thanks and appreciate the help.
 
Sorry, but I don't know of a happy medium between the two, other than using
Outlook over HTTPS, keeping a local OST, or a PDA like a RIM or Windows
Mobile handheld, and using terminal server to run large applications (so they
don't have to do large file transfers).

If they did this, their experience would be the same wherever they are.
 
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