Networking

Remote Access

There are several ways to access your FrameReady from a remote, off-site computer, that is, a computer not in the shop.

You are responsible for setting up your remote access.
Out of the box, FrameReady is not set up for remote, off-site use.
However, there are different software solutions to help get around that.
Internet speeds will impact how well FrameReady performs when you connect remotely.
If your internet connection is not fast enough, then expect delays and pauses while using FrameReady.

Recommended: If you use remote desktop software, then you can "dial into" your FrameReady computer.
This is similar to how FrameReady Support connects to your computer and can see the screen and control the mouse.
Remote Desktop software is installed on two computers:
- on one of your Guest/client computers, and
- on the remote, off-site computer.
The remote computer, when connected to the Guest computer, can see its screen and control its mouse/keyboard, meaning you can open FrameReady as you normally do.
There are a variety of software applications available that can provide remote desktop connections.
While under remote control, the Guest computer may not be accessible to staff on-site.
You can use the mouse and keyboard to control the remote FrameReady computer, as well as print to a local printer if one is connected.

If your FrameReady is installed on a laptop, then you can easily take it with you for remote work.
However, this option is only available to single FrameReady users. (If you took the Server computer off-siet, then none of your shop computers can open FrameReady.)

FileMaker Server can easily make FrameReady available to all the other computers and is considered the best option overall.

See: FileMaker Server Overview
Ideally, the server is located at the busiest location (so it may take advantage of local area network speeds) and is given a static IP address so that it is accessible from outside the local area network. It can also be hosted on the cloud, but this will introduce additional fees. Contact your Internet Service Provider about obtaining a Static IP Address.
Off-site computers must make a connection, to that server, over their internet connection. Performance may vary with the speed of their internet connection. For each computer that needs to use FrameReady, it first uses FileMaker Pro and then opens a remote connection to your FileMaker Server.
Ideally, the FileMaker Server software runs on a stand-alone computer (to handle the work load) and must be powered on at all times.
For a Multi-Site setup, each location logs into their FrameReady in such a way that Work Orders can be separated by location. See: Set up a Multi Site Network

The FrameReady computer or server needs a Static IP Address (available from your internet service provider) in order for remote, off-site computers to locate and connect to it (because a static IP address does not change, it can be used to make a reliable network connection).
Additional network and router setup is required to make sure the static IP address is properly routed to the "Host" computer (this connects the static IP address in the outside world with the internal IP address of your host/server computer).
FileMaker Server uses port number 5003 for remote access. Port Fowarding (of port 5003) must be enabled in your router/firewall and pointed to the Server computer's internally assigned IP address, e.g. 192.168.0.10.
Set up Using DHCP with manual address if available on the server computer.
Also, in order for other computers to open FrameReady, the FrameReady Server computer must be powered on and not be allowed to enter hibernation.

Not recommended: While you could copy the FrameReady folder to another computer (which is then opened with FileMaker Pro), we do not consider this a "best practice" as there is a genuine risk of losing or overwriting data when moving the modified data files back to the original computer.