Support of Exact Globe+ and Exact Synergy in a LAN and WAN environment

This document will describe in which situations we support Exact Globe+ and Exact Synergy in a LAN (Local Area Network) and WAN (Wide Area Network) environment.

What is a LAN and what is a WAN?

A computer network that spans a relatively small area. Most LANs are confined to a single building or group of buildings. However, one LAN can be connected to other LANs over any distance. A system of LANs connected in this way is called a wide-area network (WAN). LANs are capable of transmitting data at very fast rates, much faster than data can be transmitted over a telephone line; but the distances are limited, and there is also a limit on the number of computers that can be attached to a single LAN. 

LAN’s mostly support data transfer rates of 1 Gbps. Connections between different LAN’s support data transfer rates less than 10 Mbps.

How does Exact Globe+ communicate with the SQL server?

Exact Globe+ is a back office application which is installed on the computer of the user. This computer should have a fast connection with the SQL server where the database is stored. Minimum is 100 Mbps, preferred is 1 Gbps. This data transfer rate is necessary to exchange all data between client and SQL server in an acceptable time frame. The connection between the Globe+ client and the SQL server should always be available (100 %, so no time outs).

How does Exact Synergy communicate with the SQL server?

Exact Synergy is a front office application which is installed on a web server. On the client no additional components are installed. To use Synergy you only need to have a web browser. The Synergy application is running on the web server. The connection between the Client with the web browser and the web server can be a slow link (< 10 Mbps). This small data transfer rate is necessary because the amount of data exchange between the client and web browser is very small. The connection between the web server and the SQL server should be a fast link. Minimum is 100 Mbps, preferred is 1 Gbps. This data transfer rate is necessary to exchange all data between the web server and SQL server in an acceptable time frame. The connection between the web server and the SQL server should always be available (100 %, so no time outs).

How to use Exact Globe+ from different LAN environments also called a WAN environment?

Location The Netherlands – Rotterdam Transfer rate: 1 Gbps
Location USA – New York Transfer rate: 1 Gbps

Exact Globe+ SQL server location: Rotterdam
Users in Rotterdam and New York

To enable users in New York to use Globe+ databases in Rotterdam install a Remote Desktop Server (RDS) in LAN 1 (Location The Netherlands Rotterdam). Install Exact Globe+ on this RDS server. Users in New York connect via the Remote Desktop Client to the RDS server in Rotterdam and start Exact Globe+ on this Remote Desktop Server. Because the RDS server (on which Exact Globe+ is running) is in the same LAN as the SQL server, users can connect to the database on the SQL server in Rotterdam.

For recommendation on minimum and recommended bandwidth, Exact follows the Microsoft guidelines.

How to use Exact Synergy from different LAN environments also called a WAN environment?

Location The Netherlands – Rotterdam Transfer rate: 1 Gbps
Location USA – New York Transfer rate: 1 Gbps

Exact Synergy SQL server location: Rotterdam
Exact Synergy Web server: Rotterdam
Users in Rotterdam and New York

Users in Rotterdam and New York can start Synergy via a web browser on their client. Both users execute the Synergy application on the web server in Rotterdam. The connection between the web server and the SQL Server is 1 Gbps. (Same LAN). Additional web servers should be installed in Rotterdam. Additional web server should not be installed in New York because the data transfer rate between New York and the SQL server in Rotterdam is too small. 

Supported environment Exact Synergy
Exact Synergy web server and Synergy SQL server located in the same LAN. Exact Synergy client with a web browser can connect from every LAN or Internet.

Working with a cloud-based environment
Besides having physical or virtual servers running on premise it is also common to host virtual machines in a cloud platform like Microsoft Azure or AWS. In these environments connection between virtual machines is not a problem, if the virtual machines are in the same region. Therefore, if an environment is hosted in Microsoft Azure or AWS, the machine with the Globe+ workstation installation, the webserver with Synergy installed and the Microsoft SQL Server need to be in the same region and\or data center. However, these types of solution are not supported even though Exact software has been tested to work on cloud-based environment.

For more information, see System requirements for Exact Globe+ product update 502