>>>>>Hi,
>>>>>
>>>>>I have a VFP9 system that relies heavily on a few Active X controls that a client wants to access from three remote sites. The data is stored in DBF files, but I can pretty easily convert it to use SQL server if that would make this easier.
>>>>>
>>>>>Has anyone used LogMeIn Hamachi VPN for allowing remote access to their applications over the internet?
>>>>
>>>>I haven't used it, but I'd bet the connection speed and reliability would cause serious corruption.
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Will this be fast enough access to DBF files, or do I need to look at using something like Terminal Services to run the application through the VPN?
>>>>
>>>>Terminal Services through a VPN would work. Your DBF access is strictly on the local network that way.
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Any problems with ActiveX controls in this set up?
>>>>
>>>>Shouldn't be.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Any and all advice welcome as I really have no idea on the best way forward :)
>>>>
>>>>Being a longtime SQL Server convert, I immediately recommend converting to SQL Server for reliability and security, but If your application is already is up and working on their local network, Terminal Services would accomplish what you need quicker.
>>>
>>>Thanks Bill,
>>>
>>>I've found others saying the same about the speed of accessing DBFs over a VPN as well, so I'll definitely not go that way!
>>>
>>>So far I'm leaning towards a VPN and using SQL Server for the back end but I've found a product which looks interesting here: http://www.graphon.com/
>>>
>>>Anybody ever tried this?
>>
>>I haven't tried that, but the VPN with SQL Server database would work fine. Been there and done that (many times).
>
>Thanks very much. I wonder if it might make sense to have local sql databases at each site and have them replicate with a main sql server somewhere else so that if the internet/vpn connection goes down at least they can work locally.

That gets considerably more complicated.

If you expect frequent connectivity disruptions or disruptions simply are unacceptable then you may have to do that. SQL Replication using subscriptions is one option for that.