Datacon Dental Systems
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Question: "I’ve heard Datacon can connect two offices using DSL. What do I have to do to set that up?"

Answer: Yes, a remote office or remote user can connect to your Datacon server over the Internet, with the right equipment, configuration, and access permission.  Click here for a overview diagram of what the setup looks like.

At the office where the Datacon server is, you need

  1. An Ethernet network
  2. A DSL Internet connection with a Static IP address. Make sure to tell your ISP (Internet Service Provider) you need one static IP address when you order your service.
  3. A firewall/router that can be configured for remote access. This device also protects your network from unauthorized access (but not viruses).  Datacon can supply, install, and configure this device.
  4. Network configuration allowing access to authorized users
  5. Enough pcLink licenses for the maximum number of possible concurrent users
  6. Your Alpha Micro server to be ready for additional users, including correct licensing and memory

At the remote location, you need

  1. An Internet connection available to each PC.  The Internet connection can be any type (DSL, dial-up, cable, etc.)  A static IP address at the remote location is not necessary.
  2. pcLink to be installed and configured correctly on each PC

! IMPORTANT ! Datacon highly recommends that all sites use the same ISP (Internet Service Provider), such as SBC or GTE, if at all possible. The use of different ISPs at different sites can result in poor performance. Datacon has no control over remote access performance, and cannot "fix" poor performance. In our experience, sites using the same ISP have excellent performance, and sites using different ISPs have poor performance.

Question: "If I set up remote access, will the authorized remote users be able to "see" the other PCs on the network in the main office, or use any resources there, such as printers?"

Answer: No, they will only be able to access Datacon. Printing is done on your own, local PC printer, via the "pcLink Printer" option. If you want the networks at both sites to appear as one, you need

  1. A static IP address from your ISP at both sites
  2. A VPN-enabled router at both sites
  3. Configuration to make it all work