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Web access provides
a window to the office's database through an Internet connection.
Software
is installed on a computer running TCP. If this web server
is to be accessible from remote locations (home, cottage,
etc.) the IP address of the computer must be a public (i.e.
Internet) IP address. If the computer IP is only a private
IP address for inside the office (like 192.168.##.##) then
the web server can only be accessed internally. In offices
running a VPN, for outside users to have access either the
Web Server computer must have a public IP address accessible
from outside or the user must have VPN set up to give them
access to the internal network.
When the web Server is running, it listens on any IP addresses
assigned to the computer for a request from a browser. So
if the IP address of the computer that the Web Server is running
on is 192.168.0.1, you would enter the URL "http://192.168.0.1"
in the web browser to reach the web server. You can change
the Port that the Web Server listens on in case you have another
website or web server running on the same computer (like certain
types of proxy servers). If you changed from the default of
Port 80 to Port 82, you would then enter the URL http://192.168.0.1:82
to reach the web site.
To obtain a static IP, you would need to request it from
the ISP. Some ISPs will accommodate and some will not. If
they will not, the issue an office needs to be concerned about
would be how frequently the IP address changes. Obviously,
each time the IP changes, Sales Associates would have to be
given the new IP or, if mapped to a DNS entry, the DNS entry
would have to be changed. If an office is implementing an
IP that may change without notice, it is wiser to map to a
DNS entry. This enables your technical support department
to make necessary changes without the requirement to inform
Sales Associates of the change in address.
To avoid having to remember an IP address, your IT person
adds a DNS record to a domain that you own so you could type
that instead. For example, if your company owned the domain
“myrealestatecompany.com", you could have your
IT person add the DNS record "QOC.myrealestatecompany.com"
that points to the IP address of your web server. That way
only the URL http://QOC.myrealestatecompany.com would need
to be typed to reach the web server.
On Windows operating system, click on
the MS DOS Prompt icon and in the DOS windows, enter the command
"ipconfig /all <Enter>". This will display
the network card(s) and their IP addresses.
No Static IP Solutions
Various companies provide dynamic DNS service whereby
you can map your domain names to servers connected via DSL,
cable modem, or any other service that does not provide you
with a static IP address. EasyDNS and Digital
Scope are two companies that provide such products.
Dynamic DNS is the term used to describe the process by which
users operating computers on the Internet may map a domain
name to their system even if it does not reside on a static
IP address. Many cable and DSL providers change their subscribers'
IP address periodically or assign a different one to their
subscribers' computers each time they connect. Dynamic DNS
enables users to operate internet services such as web, email
or chat servers on their home computers even if this IP address
changes.
Two ISPs Passing Through A Gateway
If you have multiple providers you would have to pick
which one you are going to use or the gateway(s) would have
to be programmed to forward the requests to the designated computer.
Of course you can't get the same IP from both providers so you
would end up with two addresses.
The static IP, however, would only resolve to the gateway.
The gateway would have to be programmed to forward the request
(on port 80 or whichever port you are going to use on the
software), to the correct machine inside the firewall.
What if the office wants to use a RAS
server
The other alternative is a Remote Access Server (RAS).
The agents would dial-in to the RAS server and use their web
browser to connect to the internal computer running the Web
Access Software. Of course you are limited to the number of
phone lines into the RAS server and have to determine whether
the costs of those lines make it reasonable. Going the RAS route
doesn’t have a restriction on IP address, so you can use
the address of 192.xxx.xxx.xxx series. To dial into a RAS server,
the agent will open their web browser and type the address of
the call in computer.
How Many Sessions
Can Run on the Web Access?
The number of concurrent users depends
on the number of licenses purchased. The default is 2 concurrent
users with 5-pack concurrent licence add-ons available at
any time.
The Web Server acts as a middle layer between the database
and the users. Although the web server can have multiple users
connected to it at one time, it in turn makes all the requests
to the database. So in the end there is really only one user
accessing the database from the Web Server and it is the Web
Server component itself.
As far as staying connected, the Web Server will time out
anyone not making a request within a 5 minute (default) period.
This can be changed at the Web Server and is primarily done
for security reasons. The Web Server does not hold open the
connection to the web browser once the current request is
finished and therefore when the user leaves their web browser
open and walks away, it has no effect on the web server.
Your comments and questions are welcome at
or call 905-944-9080 for further clarification.
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