SourceAnywhere for VSS is a client/server application. It consists
of a Server, Cache Server (optional) and several types of Client.
They communicate over any standard TCP/IP connection, including a
PPP connection over a modem, an ISDN line, or an Ethernet connection
on the same LAN as the Server. SourceAnywhere for VSS does not require
Windows Remote Access Service (RAS). This architecture is illustrated
below:
The client-server architecture eliminates many problems of Visual SourceSafe, which is file-system based, in remote access. For VSS, to share VSS documents, you have to share the whole VSS database folder, even if you only wish to share a single file in the database. Sharing the database folders totally exposes your valuable data to the outside, which may potentially cause the data to be copied or damaged. Especially in remote access, it is almost unconceivable. Also, accessing the file system in a remote environment is very slow.
In Dynamsoft SourceAnywhere for VSS, the VSS database folder is only exposed to the SourceAnywhere for VSS Server. The client sends requests to the server and gets the result back. The security and performance are greatly improved.
Dynamsoft SourceAnywhere for VSS 5.0 introduces a Cache Server for distributed developments.
- Cache Server
Dynamsoft SourceAnywhere for VSS Cache Server is specifically designed for geographically distributed teams.
SourceAnywhere for VSS Cache Server caches the files when they are transferred through it. When a client needs
to get or check out a file from remote server, if the file is cached in Cache Server, the Cache Server
transfers the file to client directly, without relaying the file transfer request on to the remote
SourceAnywhere for VSS server. This way, the number of files to be transferred over the internet
is significantly reduced, and the remote access performance is greatly improved.
For more information about SourceAnywhere for VSS Cache Server, please refer to the
Cache Server page.
- Client
Dynamsoft SourceAnywhere for VSS Client software includes a Windows GUI Client, Windows Command Line Client,
Java GUI Client, Java Command Line Client and an IDE Client.
SourceAnywhere for VSS Windows GUI Client is a GUI application
that resembles the SourceSafe Explorer user interface very much.
SourceSafe users should find the SourceAnywhere for VSS Client to
be familiar and easy to use. Users can perform most SourceSafe
operations in a similar fashion.
- Server
Dynamsoft SourceAnywhere for VSS server is installed on the machine with access to the file system where
the SourceSafe (VSS) database resides. After installation, SourceAnywhere for VSS server provides
SourceSafe operations to Clients. Client and Server can communicate with each other through any
standard TCP/IP connection.SourceAnywhere for VSS server is installed as a system service,
hence the server can be installed on any windows platforms which support service, such as Windows NT,
2000, XP, or 2003. It runs in the background with no user interface of any kind. Configuration of the
Server is accomplished through the Server Manager.