Yes. There are several options for working with the SI Client when physically away from your network, where your SI Server is installed.
#1 Hosted Solution
We offer a Hosted Solution through Amazon Web Services (AWS) to house your SI Server.
The D-Tools hosted solution is a “plug and play” option for users looking for mobility and storing their D-Tools SI Server on the Cloud. Customers have their own D-Tools Server instance powered by the latest generation Windows Server 2012.
The D-Tools Hosted Solution includes the D-Tools SI Server Management application and comes completely configured with SQL Server 2012. The D-Tools Hosted Solution is powered by Amazon Web Services™ for the ultimate in scalability, security, and performance.
The D-Tools Hosted Solution offers users the option to purchase the software and host the server instance in the cloud, which enables a lower cost of entry and removes the need for costly in-house IT infrastructure.
For security, the pre-configured firewall only allows traffic from the D-Tools SI application, and the only ports opened to traffic are 9010, 1433, and 1434.
For enhanced security, the connection to those ports can be tied to your specific IP address. Therefore, only computers on your network can connect to your cloud server.
Our Technical Support team performs the installation and setup for you.
Click here for more details.
#2 Work Offline
If you want to be able to work on a laptop away from the network where your SI Server is installed, you can use the Work Offline feature in SI. In this case, "offline" means not connected to your SI Server AND running a local database.
This feature requires an initial setup, as detailed below, to establish your local database.
Initial Offline Configuration
The first time you select Work Offline, you will get the following prompt.
Followed by this one.
This will open the SI Offline Database Configuration Manager.
We recommend using the Express Configuration option, which will automatically download and install an instance of SQL 2012 Express on your machine.
If, for some reason, you feel like you know better than our software installer and want to install to a specific instance of SQL, you can use the Custom Configuration option. When you choose the Custom Configuration option, you will either select an existing SQL instance or choose to create a new one.
You will see the following prompt once the configuration is complete (Express or Custom).
Now that you are configured, the next time that you choose Work Offline, you will get a prompt warning to make sure that you check out any projects that you want to work on while offline.
Once you click OK, your SI Server database will automatically synchronize to your newly created local database.
When you return to your office network running the machine with your SI Server, you will want to click Connect to Server and then check in any projects you have checked out before working offline or created while offline.
Offline Functionality
You will not have complete functionality when working offline.
Functionality available when "Offline" in Projects
Checked out projects can be opened in Project Editor, Visio, and AutoCAD in an editable state.
Users can add products, labor, and packages from the catalog to projects.
Users can replace products, labor, and packages in projects with other catalog items.
Docked Product Explorer, Labor Explorer, and Package Explorer are available in Project Editor.
Product queries can be run to find catalog products.
New projects can be created offline (they will not be checked in.)
Projects can be imported (functionality to update the catalog will be disabled) offline (they will not be checked in).
Projects can be copied (they will not be checked in.)
Functionality NOT available when "Offline" in Projects
Update to the catalog.
Change product images, shapes, and blocks.
Update the IO to the catalog.
Scheduling Editor.
Check in, check out projects, and other server project functions.
Check out any projects you wish to edit or view before working offline.
Other Functions available when "Offline"
The following UI can be viewed as "read-only" when offline.
Product Explorer (read-only)
Labor Explorer (read-only)
Package Explorer (read-only)
Client Explorer (read-only)
Contact Explorer (read-only)
When working offline, one of your SI licenses will be "cached" locally and will not be available to other users still on your network.
#3 Remote Desktop Connection
This option is probably the quickest and safest way to work remotely, as you would be connecting to a computer on your network running the SI Client from a remote computer. All data transfer within SI then takes place within your network.
If you have a VPN set up, you can use the standard Remote Desktop Connection feature in Windows.
If you don't have a VPN set up, you could use some third-party software like LogMeIn or GoToMyPC.
#4 Virtual Private Network (VPN)
If you have a VPN set up, you can simply connect to your network before opening the SI Client. If your VPN is configured properly, this should be seamless, as your remote computer will appear to be on your network.
SI has been tested and certified to work in a Windows Domain environment running Routing and Remote Access (RRAS).
These instructions assume that the user already has an existing Windows Domain and a user account with VPN access via an existing Routing and Remote Access Server (RRAS).
The most common use case for this type of setup would be a company with one or more users who have installed the SI Client on a laptop and would like to access project information while away from the office without working offline.
Disclaimer: D-Tools has tested VPN operation in a Windows Domain environment running RRAS. While it should be possible to set up another type of VPN using the steps outlined below, D-Tools cannot guarantee the outcome. D-Tools technical support cannot assist with setting up a VPN.
Configure the SI Server
Since Routing and Remote Access has already been installed and configured on one of the domain controllers, little to no configuration is required on the SI Server.
The steps to configure the SI Server most likely took place during installation, but just to be sure, review the requirements below to ensure there won’t be any problems.
The following port must be open on any existing firewalls to allow for both inbound and outbound connections via the DTools LANSync v5 Server service:
TCP 9010 (default, but can be changed during the initial configuration)
The following two programs must be allowed for inbound and outbound communication through any existing firewalls:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Binn\sqlservr.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\sqlbrowser.exe
If using a firewall that is not the Windows Firewall application, please consult your firewall's documentation for instructions on how to add the above exceptions. This is only necessary if you are hosting SQL on a remote server.
Configure the SI Client
Some special steps are required to configure the SI client for VPN operation.
The steps required are:
1/ On the client machine, navigate to the C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc folder.
2/ Right-click on the file named hosts and choose Open.
3/ When prompted, choose to open the file with Notepad.
4/ At the bottom of the file, add an entry for your server that follows the example in the host file.
Example: The entry would look like this if the server IP address is 192.168.0.1 and the server machine name is SIServer.domain.com.
192.168.0.1 SIServer.domain.com
5/ Save the changes and close the hosts file.
6/ Confirm that you can resolve the server's name by connecting to the VPN and ping the server using its name.
If you receive a reply from the correct IP address, the hosts file is set up correctly.
If you do not, check the spelling and address in the hosts file.
CAUTION: There are anti-virus and anti-spyware programs that will detect that the hosts file was changed and then change it back. You may need to deactivate this functionality to implement this solution.
You will also need to set the Use default gateway on remote network option for your VPN properties. To do this:
7/ Right-click on your VPN connection and select Properties.
8/ Click the Networking tab, then the Properties button.
9/ Click the Advanced button.
10/ Check the Use default gateway on remote network option.
#5 Third-Party VPN Software
Now, if you don't have a VPN set up on your office network...or don't even have a network, you may be able to use a third-party VPN software.
The only third-party VPN software tested by D-Tools is LogMeIn Hamachi. Although tested, this is not an endorsement for Hamachi, and D-Tools does not offer Support for this solution.
See the Hamachi_Configuration.docx document for how we configured Hamachi during testing.