I got an amazing email recently from Keith Wootton at AV1 in Sydney who casually mentioned that his team were using their Production Assistant installation via a remote desktop onto their iPhones. I simply had to know more and asked Keith for a few more details. He graciously decided to share his setup here as follows:
“Story:
Because we are Mac users, we were running PA2 on Windows Vista via Parallels on Mac. We also run Visio and Vivien for floorplans and design on Vista/Parallels. In addition to running PA2 on Parallels, we run it on two standalone PC laptops that sit in our office on the network and have their own IP addresses. This allows us to run PA2 remotely at faster speeds than using the server based system when we are on the road (we do a lot of roadshows). We have set up a secure VPN for this and for access to our server. We use to used Windows remote desktop within Parallels to control the PC’s until we
discovered that we could use RDC on Mac and control the PC. This also increased speed on our Mac laptops as they didn’t have to run Parallels.The next logical step here, given that we also use iPhones was to download a remote desktop App for iPhone. We downloaded Remote Lite App for free and by connecting to our secure VPN via the iPhone, used the remote desktop app to control the PC and PA2 – PA2 on iPhone! We also run PA2 from a remote office at the MCA with a Vodafone USB modem, using the same protocol.
Flowcharts:
Office Scenario:
Apple iMac > Parralells > Windows Vista > Server > PA2
On the road scenario:
Apple Macbook Pro > Vodafone USB Modem > Connect to secure AV1 VPN > Start Apple RDC to PC in office > Start PA2
iPhone scenario:
iPhone > Settings > Turn on VPN > Open Remote Lite App > Connect to PC in office > Start PA2″
Wow! That is a brilliant setup and a very innovative answer to taking what would normally be an office based system onto the road. Thanks again to Keith and his team at AV1 for sharing this.
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