1:1 Screen Sharing Options. The simplest option is to use any number of screen sharing utilities to access a computer on the office LAN. The computer 'at the office' would run AcctVantage Client while the remote user connects via a screen sharing utility such as:

• Splashtop Business  (this is what we use to connect to your machine during a Support call)
• LogMeIn
• TeamViewer
• macOS Screen Sharing
• many many more....

Considerations for screen sharing applications include how to best manage printing and file sharing between the 'home' and 'office' computers. Each application will approach these issues in a different way.

The limitation here is that you need a 'host' computer on the office network for each remote connection. This may be fine for some and not desirable for others.

Remote Desktop Services, General

Both Apple and Windows support a process that is known as Remote Desktop Services (aka Terminal Services).  This essentially means that you can host <more than 1> user account on a single computer at the 'office' site.  Each user that logs into the 'terminal server' will see a unique desktop environment and will be able to use 'their' account on that server computer to access applications, including AcctVantage Client.

The number of concurrent users supported by Remote Desktop Services is primarily a function of the hardware.  There is a direct relationship between the processor speed, number of processor cores and available RAM and the number of concurrent users that can be supported.  Several RDS servers can be used simultaneously to support an unlimited number of remote users.

The AcctVantage Server application can also run on the RDS server in its own user account.  This means that you could have a single computer on your 'office' network that runs BOTH the AcctVantage Server AND a number of AcctVantage Client sessions simultaneously!  The limiting factor is the computer hardware itself. Or, your AcctVantage Server can continue to run on its own dedicated server computer while the RDS computer(s) host the AcctVantage Client sessions.

While it may not be strictly necessary in every instance, we have found that macOS Server ($19.99 at the App Store) can help facilitate the various RDS approaches outlined below.

Windows servers generally have Remote Desktop Services built in as part of the operating system. For windows, we strongly suggest consulting a qualified systems engineer to best deploy your RDS infrastructure.

1:Many macOS Screen Sharing

We have had great success in testing with a Mac server and clients using Apple's built in Screen Sharing (VNC).

1. On the 'office' network, you would setup a host computer (with appropriate RAM/processor) running macOS Server ($19.99 at the App Store) .  macOS Server will facilitate running multiple, concurrent, user accounts on the same hardware.
2. On the host computer  create a macOS user account for each end user that needs access to AcctVantage Client.  These macOS user accounts must have screen sharing active in the System Preferences > Sharing screen.
3. Configure your router to assign a public IP address to the host computer
4. The AcctVantage Server application can continue to run on its own hardware, or could run on the Administrator user account on the hardware used to host the end user accounts.  This is dependent on your hardware specifications, and we continue to recommend that the server application runs on its own hardware if possible.
5. End users access their user account on the host computer FROM their 'home' computer by going to Finder > Go > Connect To Server.
   At the prompt, enter the IP address for the host computer.  This address will look like  vnc://[host_ip_address
   
   Then, enter the user name and password for their macOS account on the host computer. Once connected the user will be able to see 'their' desktop on the host and launch AcctVantage Client.
   
   For more on Apple's built in screen sharing, see this article:  https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/share-the-screen-of-another-mac-mh14066/mac

For Screen Sharing, printing and audio can be more difficult to setup. Security is fair but not as robust as some of the other options.

NuoRDS

NuoRDS is a Terminal Services application specifically for macOS servers. We have found this application to be very easy to setup and manage. WIth a true Terminal Services application issues like printing, audio, security, etc. are handled by the software. In other words, less IT support is generally needed.

The setup for NuoRDS largely mirrors the Screen Sharing setup above:

1. On the 'office' network, you would setup a host computer (with appropriate RAM/processor) running macOS Server ($19.99 at the App Store) .  macOS Server will facilitate running multiple, concurrent, user accounts on the same hardware.
2. On the host computer  create a macOS user account for each end user that needs access to AcctVantage Client.  These macOS user accounts must have screen sharing active in the System Preferences > Sharing screen.
3. Configure your router to assign a public IP address to the host computer
4. The AcctVantage Server application can continue to run on its own hardware, or could run on the Administrator user account on the hardware used to host the end user accounts.  This is dependent on your hardware specifications, and we continue to recommend that the server application runs on its own hardware if possible.
5. Install NuoRDS (https://www.nuords.com/products/nuords-ts/) on the host computer. Configure NuoRDS to allow for multiple connections.
6. With NuoRDS your end users will access their account on the RDS via the MS Remote Desktop app available on the Apple Store at no charge.

When printing via a NuoRDS connection, your users will be able to select their 'local' printer.