Does the fileserver hosting the backend mdb file need to have Access?

[daffyduck421]

I'm experimenting with MS Access, and I've successfully split an MDB someone created into two files. I can access the database from 2 computers at once using the front end file connecting to a file server which hosts the _be.mdb file.



Could the _be.mdb file theoretically be on a NAS without any computer attached, or is there some runtime or full version of Access that needs to run on the machine with the back end file?

[daffyduck421]

In case anyone finds this with a similar question, I found the answer.

I made a suitable Ubuntu server to test copied the "_be.mdb" file and, re pointed the front end file to go there. It worked perfectly well.

So in short, no, you don't need a full fledged server running Access to host the back end file, any simple file server can do the trick.

[ssanfu]

Correct. Access is a file based dB. It is the same as storing a Word document on the NAS and opening it from your computer.

I can access the database from 2 computers at once using the front end file connecting to a file server

Just to clarify, each computer has a copy (NOT a shourcut to) of the FE? This is good.

If the 2 computers are accessing one FE, this is very BAD. You will experience data corruption. Not a question of IF, just WHEN.

So the rule is: BE in a location everyone has access rights to and each user (workstation) has their own copy of the FE.


PS Are you ready to mark this as solved?