Chapter 69 Cloud Server
Big Business 14 Open Edition supports the option to set up your server in the cloud.
This enables full control of access to your data and documents from multiple locations.
This chapter describes this setup using Amazon Web Services (AWS) as the example.
AWS Cloud Server
AWS Cloud Server is an example of running Big Business using Amazon Web Services. Deployment requires Open Edition for licensing and includes unlimited Setup Support.
As you will see, setup is fast and easy but has detailed steps that may raise questions. If you are prepared, you can go from zero to hero in under an hour and have it running.
To try this out, you will need an AWS account with payment of any charges incurred. The last step here is Terminate Instance to stop usage, but there may be other charges.
AWS Launch Instance
Launch Instance is an orange button that you need once to get to the window pictured.
Enter a Name, click on an image like Windows, and choose an instance type (t2.xlarge). Go to Key Pair and click Create new key pair, enter a Name, and click Create key pair.
Click Launch Instance or review details here to choose best settings for your situation.
AWS Instance Summary
Instance Summary in AWS has the tools and information you need to complete setup.
In your AWS Console, in EC2, in Instances click on the Instance ID to open Summary. Connect will set up remote access so you can install Big Business on Windows 2022, Security will let you allow connections through, and Public IP will be used to connect.
See Next Page's (below) for simple step-by-step instructions for each of these options.
AWS Security Rules
Security Rules in AWS are simple. Just add a rule that allows Big Business to connect.
In AWS, go to Instance Summary, Security tab and click on the link to Security Group. Click Edit Inbound Rules, click Add Rule, choose Custom TCP, for Port Range type in "19812-19814", and for Source leave on Custom, click in search, and choose 0.0.0.0/0.
Click Save Rules or review details here to choose best settings for your security needs.
AWS RDP Client
RDP Client is a good way to connect to your AWS Server computer to install and run.
In AWS go to Instance Summary and click Connect. There you can Download a file that will open with RDP Client like Microsoft Remote Desktop for Mac or Windows. Click Get Password and follow the steps to Upload private key file to get a Password.
Save the Password to log on as Administrator from any RDP Client to using Public IP.
AWS Installing Big Business Server 14
Install Big Business Server 14 on AWS is the same as for a local computer but remote.
Remote into Windows Server, run the Edge browser, and go to https://bigbusiness.com. On the Download tab, click Windows Server, wait, and click ellipsis... to choose Keep. Show More, Keep Anyway, wait, and click Open File. Run the Installer and Finish.
Start Big Business Server 14 from its Shortcut on the Desktop and follow the prompts to open a copy of your Data File, or the Demo File found in the Program Files folder. Wait once more for a minute while it compresses files. Waits are disk use, now done.
AWS Windows Firewall
Windows Firewall is On by default and you must allow Big Business to communicate.
Click Windows Start, type "Firewall", and find the prompt to Allow An App through. Click Allow Another App and Browse to Program Files to Big Business Server 14.exe.
This requires that Big Business Server 14 is installed, and it will take immediate effect.
AWS Installing Big Business Client
Installing Big Business Client 14 is the last step to connecting to a Big Business Server.
On you local client computer open a browser, go to https://bigbusiness.com and on the Download tab click on Mac Client, Windows Client, or Client SDI (multiple window). For Security, on the Mac go to System Preferences, Security and click Open Anyway. For Windows, click the Ellipsis ..., Keep, Show More, Keep Anyway, and Open File.
Run Client, wait for the Connect dialog and on the Custom tab enter a Name and the Public IP Address of your AWS Server. Contact support@bigbusiness.com for help.
AWS Terminate Instance
Teminate Instance erases your AWS Instance. Do not use this option without backup.
If you have put a copy of your Data File on AWS to run with Big Business 14 Server and entered any data you wish to keep, copy your Data File back before termination.
If you are simply testing and want to avoid ongoing charges with an AWS Instance, Termination may be effective as it will permanently delete the instance and all content.
AWS Setup
Big Business Server is easy to deploy on Amazon Web Services. You can do proof-of-concept on a free trial (t2.micro with 1gb) or go straight to a usable amount of memory (t2.large with 8gb or better). You must allow access to aws (security group) and to windows (advanced firewall) for Ports 19812 - 19814 before you can connect remotely.
This Solution provides details. (6779)
Follow the aws tutorial (below) to create an instance of Windows Server 2012 R2 Base. For full speed choose a larger instance like t2.large for more memory.
Click on the Security Group (launch-wizard-1) and go Actions, Edit inbound rules, to add the port range 19812-19814.
Then in Windows, click Start button and type "firewall" to get to Windows Advanced Firewall and also for Inbound Rules create a New Rule for Ports 19812 - 19814.
To download and install Big Business Server 11 you may want to Add bigbusiness.com as a trusted site for Internet Explorer.
And last to connect remotely, start Big Business Client and on the Custom tab enter any name ("aws") and the IP listed for your instance (different than "internal" adddress shown on Big Business Server Admin window). Remember if you are using t2.micro for free testing it will never get much data cached, where a larger instance will have memory to load data as it is used for instant recall.
Microsoft Azure
Big Business Server is a snap to deploy on Microsoft Azure. It takes only a few minutes to create a Virtual Machine with Windows Server and install Big Business Server. The trick is to set up the Networking and then put the Public IP into Big Business Clients you are connecting.
This Solution provides brief instructions. (6921)
Create a Virtual Machine with Windows.
Add an Inbound Port Range (19812-19814).
Set Windows Firewall to allow same.
Start Big Business Client and on the Custom tab enter any name ("azure") and the Public IP of your server.