Working through a VPN server?

[Siberian]

I've got AutoCAD at work. The network setup there is a bit complicated, since many companies have come together to form one in a way. So when at work I've got my own computer there that's connected to a server on which the server files for AutoCAD lie. In addition to this there is another terminal server that has a VPN possibility via Remote Desktop. Through this I can also access the the other server that has the AutoCAD files on it. So the big question is, can I somehow get to the server files from home an work from home?

[rkmcswain]

Sure, just VPN into your office network from home, and then use Remote Desktop to access your office computer.

[chulse]

This does work. I do it sometimes, however large files can be a problem...

[CADDict]

I used to do this all the time, but the lag time was ridiculous. I eventually quit and resorted to uploading what files I needed onto my thumb drive and taking them home.

[rkmcswain]

This does work. I do it sometimes, however large files can be a problem...

How would file size make a difference? The computing is taking place at your office, and the only thing being transferred back and forth is an image of your work computer and the keyboard and mouse movements of your home computer.....

[chulse]

How would file size make a difference? The computing is taking place at your office, and the only thing being transferred back and forth is an image of your work computer and the keyboard and mouse movements of your home computer.....

Ok, I should clarify. I've done this 2 ways:

1: Remote Desktop: Very slow response/lag time over the network. Not productive at all. I do this now only when I want to set up and run large plot jobs to keep my laptop free.

2: VPN to the network for file access using the local machine to run CAD (laptop at home). This is where the large files become an issue. It takes forever to load and save large files. I assume someone working on small files would find this functional. I use fairly large files and this is not functional.

My Solution: Keep "offline folders" on my laptop of my current projects and work off line. I connect via VPN in the evenings to sync the offline folders with my server when I will be out of the office for extended periods.

I hope that helps...

[Siberian]

Thx. I believe the second way will work for me, since the admin at work won't let me install CAD on the server.

Still one question though; Acad runs on my home pc, so how do I get it to "locate" the server license files through Remote Desktop?

[rkmcswain]

Thx. I believe the second way will work for me, since the admin at work won't let me install CAD on the server.

Still one question though; Acad runs on my home pc, so how do I get it to "locate" the server license files through Remote Desktop?

If you have ACAD installed at home, and you VPN into your office network, there should be no problem obtaining a license from the LM.

Can you ping the LM while you are connected at home?

[Ozymandias]

I have a similar problem I have to take my laptop with me to one of our clients offices and work out of there 3 days a week.
I have resorted to saving the drawings onto the hard drive and if someone wants a drawing that I have worked on that I did not save I have the bak files saved on the c drive (command : movebak )
then just change the bak into a dwg. hey presto most recent version of the drawing I was working on..
but is there way to get CAD or even just the PC to back up the network drawings to my PC everynight before I go home incase I need to work from the remote office the next day??
------

I have just found some free software from microsoft called sync toy...
basically it allows you to run two folders and keep them completely syncronised...

so if im going to the other office or coming back I click synctoy and it will notice all the changes replace files with the most recent versions keeps track of renamed and deleted items etc.. if any one else has used this or similar software let me know.

[rkmcswain]

...but is there way to get CAD or even just the PC to back up the network drawings to my PC everynight before I go home incase I need to work from the remote office the next day??


Are you using Offline Files?
It's built into Windows.