WAL Tail scale setup
Phone install and others
How to Use a Tailscale Authentication Code on Your Phone
Step-by-Step Guide
Install the Tailscale App • Download and install the Tailscale app from the App Store (for iOS) or Google Play Store (for Android) or tailscale.com for computers.
Open the Tailscale App • Once you’ve installed it, open the Tailscale app on your phone.
Enter the Authentication Code which you ask me for. • Instead of signing in with your email or SSO, look for an option to enter an authentication code. This option might be labeled “Already have an auth key?” or found in the advanced settings.
Paste the Auth Code • Paste or type (probably not!) in the authentication code I provide. • This will authenticate your device and add it to my WAL Tailscale network.
Complete the Setup • After entering the code, your phone will be connected to the Tailscale network. You should now see it listed among the connected devices.
Then use your RDP app to join the server i.p. I provide.
What this does is secure (encrypt) your connection across the wider internet, from anywhere.
May 25, 2025
WAL U6 APs
Detailed comparison of the UniFi U6 Mesh, U6 Pro, and U6 Long-Range (U6-LR) access points, including their current UK prices from the official Ubiquiti Store:
📊 UniFi U6 Series Comparison (UK Pricing)
| Price (ex. VAT) |
£117.00 |
£105.00 |
£117.00 |
| Wi-Fi Standard |
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
| Bands |
Dual-band (2.4 & 5 GHz) |
Dual-band (2.4 & 5 GHz) |
Dual-band (2.4 & 5 GHz) |
| Spatial Streams |
6 |
6 |
8 |
| Antenna Gain |
4 dBi |
4 dBi |
4 dBi |
| Max Throughput |
Up to 2.4 Gbps |
Up to 5.3 Gbps |
Up to 3.0 Gbps |
| Mounting Options |
Wall/Pole (indoor/outdoor) |
Ceiling (indoor) |
Ceiling (indoor) |
| PoE Support |
802.3af |
802.3at |
802.3af |
| Weather Resistance |
Yes (when mounted LED side up) |
No |
No |
| Ideal Use Case |
Flexible indoor/outdoor coverage |
High-performance indoor coverage |
Extended indoor range |
🔍 Model Highlights • U6 Mesh £117: Designed for flexible deployments, suitable for both indoor and outdoor environments. Its weather-resistant design makes it ideal for extending coverage to areas like gardens or outbuildings.
• U6 Pro £105: Offers higher throughput, making it suitable for high-density environments like offices or conference rooms where multiple devices are connected simultaneously.
• U6 Long-Range (U6-LR) £117: Provides extended range, making it ideal for large indoor spaces where fewer access points are desired without compromising coverage.
🛒 Purchase Links EX VAT • U6 Mesh: £117 • U6 Pro: £105.00 • U6 Long-Range (U6-LR): £117.00
Spatial streams are a key part of how modern Wi-Fi achieves higher speeds and better reliability, especially in Wi-Fi 5, 6, and 6E.
📡 What Are Spatial Streams?
Spatial streams are individual data streams transmitted or received simultaneously between a Wi-Fi device and an access point using multiple antennas. Each stream carries a separate part of the data, effectively increasing speed without needing more frequency spectrum.
Think of them like multiple lanes on a motorway: more lanes = more cars can travel at once = higher total throughput.
🔧 How It Works • Based on MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) technology. • Each spatial stream uses a separate antenna. •** A client device (like a laptop or phone) must also support multiple streams to benefit fully.**
🧮 Example Comparison
| UniFi U6 Lite |
2×2 MIMO (2 streams) |
~1.5 Gbps |
| UniFi U6 Mesh |
2×2 MIMO |
~2.4 Gbps |
| UniFi U6 Pro |
4×4 MIMO (4 streams) |
~5.3 Gbps |
| UniFi U6 LR |
4×4 MIMO |
~3.0 Gbps |
| Smartphone (typical) |
2×2 or 1×1 |
~0.5–1.2 Gbps |
| Laptop (good model) |
2×2 or 3×3 |
~1.5–2.4 Gbps |
🧠 Key Takeaways • More spatial streams = more potential bandwidth, assuming the client device supports it. • 4×4 MIMO means up to 4 data streams at once. • Client limitations matter — many phones and tablets only support 1×1 or 2×2, so they won’t use the full potential of a 4×4 AP. • More streams can also help multiple devices share bandwidth more efficiently.
Mesh?
| UniFi U6 Lite |
⚠️ Not ideal |
Designed for wired use; limited or no mesh support in current firmware |
| UniFi U6 Mesh |
✅ Yes (Designed for mesh) |
Fully supports wireless uplink; best suited for mesh setups |
| UniFi U6 Pro |
⚠️ Not ideal |
Designed primarily for wired Ethernet backhaul |
| UniFi U6 LR |
⚠️ Not ideal |
Long-range but expects wired uplink; mesh is possible but discouraged |
| Smartphones/Laptops |
❌ No |
Can only connect as clients, not as mesh nodes |
SPEEDS
| Unit |
Megabytes per second |
Gigabits per second |
| Conversion |
240 × 8 = 1920 Mbps |
2.4 × 1000 = 2400 Mbps |
| Comparison (in Mbps) |
1920 Mbps |
2400 Mbps |
| Relative Speed |
~80% of 2.4 Gbps |
100% |
| Real-world Usage Context |
SSD transfers, LAN copy |
Max theoretical WiFi 6 speed |
Yes — you can mesh the UniFi U6 LR, but with important caveats:
⸻
✅ UniFi U6 LR Mesh Capability
| Mesh support |
✅ Yes |
Supports UniFi “Wireless Uplink” mesh mode |
| Designed for mesh |
⚠️ Not primarily |
Optimised for wired long-range coverage |
| Performance in mesh |
⚠️ Moderate |
Mesh mode uses half the bandwidth for backhaul |
| Ideal use |
🚫 Not recommended for backhaul to other APs unless wiring is impossible |
|
🔧 When You Can Use U6 LR in Mesh Mode • As a last-mile repeater in areas where Ethernet is not available • For outdoor line-of-sight scenarios if signal strength is still high • Only a few clients (low density), otherwise bandwidth gets saturated
🧠 Better Practice • Use wired backhaul for U6 LR whenever possible — that’s its strength. • If you must use mesh, try to: • Limit the number of devices connecting via this AP • Avoid chaining more than one hop (AP-to-AP-to-AP)
⸻
🧪 Summary
| Can U6 LR operate as a mesh AP? |
✅ Yes |
| Is it designed for mesh use? |
⚠️ Not ideally |
| Better for wired backhaul? |
✅ Absolutely |
| Suitable for high-speed uplink? |
⚠️ With reduced performance |
First Draft House x 2 U6 Mesh wired Office and Shop x 1 U6 Mesh wired
Yard midway x 1 U6 Mesh wired Yard midway Ethernet repeater x 1 Workshops x 1 U6 LR (inside) wired or U6 Mesh Sales office x 1 U6 Mesh wired
2 house, 4 shop etc
6 x £117 = £702
🌐 U6 Mesh-to-Mesh Distance Estimates with wired links
| 📭 Clear line of sight (outdoors) |
60–120 metres |
Stable connection; ideal conditions |
| 🏠 Indoors, few thin walls |
10–25 metres |
Brick/plaster walls reduce range |
| 🧱 Indoors, multiple thick walls |
5–15 metres |
Signal and performance can degrade significantly |
📡 U6 Mesh with Wireless links — Key Details
| 🔄 Wired Speed |
Shared with client traffic — expect up to 50% bandwidth loss |
| 📶 Distance Limit |
Ideally < 30–40 metres indoors, < 60 metres outdoors |
| 📉 Throughput |
Degraded with each hop — don’t exceed 1 hop if possible |
| 📡 Signal Strength Needed |
Maintain at least –65 dBm for stable mesh uplink |
| ⚙️ Setup Simplicity |
Easy — automatically meshes with controller guidance |
| 📦 Traffic Load |
Light/medium use is fine — heavy loads will struggle |
If there’s no wired links, UniFi U6 Mesh access points will rely on wireless uplink, forming what’s known as a true mesh.
Here’s what that means for performance, reliability, and placement:
📡 U6 Mesh with Wireless links — Key Details
| 🔄 Link Speed |
Shared with client traffic — expect up to 50% bandwidth loss |
| 📶 Distance Limit |
Ideally < 30–40 metres indoors, < 60 metres outdoors |
| 📉 Throughput |
Degraded with each hop — don’t exceed 1 hop if possible |
| 📡 Signal Strength Needed |
Maintain at least –65 dBm for stable mesh uplink |
| ⚙️ Setup Simplicity |
Easy — automatically meshes with controller guidance |
| 📦 Traffic Load |
Light/medium use is fine — heavy loads will struggle |
🔍 What You Lose Without Wired links
| Reduced Speed |
Wireless uplink halves the AP’s bandwidth — it must “talk” in both directions over the same radio. |
| Latency Increases |
Each hop adds 5–10+ ms — affects video calls, VoIP, RDP responsiveness. |
| Interference Risk |
Shared spectrum = more collisions, retries, especially in dense areas. |
| Limited Scalability |
Mesh doesn’t scale well — ideal for ≤ 2–3 APs total, not whole buildings. |
✅ When Wireless Mesh Can Work Well • You’re covering a small number of users or light-load tasks (e.g. basic internet, Sage access, web apps). • APs have good line-of-sight or limited obstructions. • The client devices are close to the mesh APs (not sitting at the outer fringe of the signal).
🧠 Realistic Use Case Summary
| Office ↔︎ Yard (30m LoS) |
✅ Yes |
Strong signal, especially with elevated APs |
| Yard ↔︎ Warehouse (30–50m) |
⚠️ Maybe |
Only if not heavily used simultaneously |
| House ↔︎ Shop (walls, 20m) |
⚠️ Maybe |
Acceptable, but wired preferred |
| Yard ↔︎ Yard AP ↔︎ Warehouse |
❌ Avoid double-hop |
Second hop cuts performance sharply |
🔧 If No Wiring Is Possible • Use U6 Mesh (not Pro or LR) — it’s designed for wireless uplink. • Keep APs as high and visible as possible. • Consider adding one AP mid-point if direct link isn’t reliable — but not more than 1 hop. • Optionally, use the UniFi Building-to-Building Bridge for a stable wireless link with dedicated bandwidth (range up to 15km!!) but https://uk.store.ui.com/uk/en/category/all-wifi/products/uap-ac-mesh
May 24, 2025
WAL Unify routers compared
Detailed comparison between the Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Gateway Ultra and the Cloud Gateway Max.
🔍 UniFi Cloud Gateway Ultra vs. Cloud Gateway Max
| Ideal Use Case |
Small offices, home networks |
Medium-sized businesses |
| UniFi Applications Supported |
UniFi Network only |
Full UniFi OS suite (Network, Protect, Access, Talk, UID) |
| CPU |
Quad-core ARM® Cortex®-A53 @ 1.5 GHz |
Quad-core ARM® Cortex®-A53 @ 1.5 GHz |
| Memory |
3 GB DDR4 |
3 GB DDR4 |
| Storage |
16 GB eMMC |
NVMe SSD slot (0 GB — 2 TB options) |
| WAN Ports |
1 × 2.5 GbE RJ45 |
1 × 2.5 GbE RJ45 |
| LAN Ports |
4 × 1 GbE RJ45 |
4 × 2.5 GbE RJ45 |
| IDS/IPS Throughput |
1 Gbps |
1.5 Gbps |
| Max Routing Throughput |
1 Gbps |
2.5 Gbps |
| VPN Throughput (WireGuard/Site Magic) |
~500 Mbps |
~500 Mbps |
| UniFi Device Support |
30+ devices |
30+ devices |
| Client Device Support |
300+ clients |
300+ clients |
| Display |
0.96″ LCM status display |
0.96″ LCM status display |
| Power Input |
USB-C (5V / 3A) |
USB-C (5V / 5A) |
| Max Power Consumption |
6.2 W |
16.1 W |
| Dimensions (W × D × H) |
142 × 127 × 30 mm |
142 × 127 × 30 mm |
| Mounting Options |
Desktop, optional wall mount |
Desktop, optional wall mount |
| Price (Approximate) |
$129 |
$199–$479 (depending on storage) |
🧠 Key Differences • Application Support: The Ultra runs only the UniFi Network application, while the Max supports the full UniFi OS suite, including applications like Protect, Access, Talk, and UID. • Storage: The Ultra has fixed 16 GB eMMC storage, suitable for basic configurations. The Max offers an NVMe SSD slot with options up to 2 TB, ideal for applications requiring significant storage like UniFi Protect. • Port Speeds: The Ultra provides 1 GbE LAN ports, whereas the Max offers 2.5 GbE LAN ports, catering to higher-speed LAN requirements. • Throughput: The Max delivers higher IDS/IPS and routing throughput, making it suitable for environments with greater performance demands. • Power Consumption: The Max consumes more power due to its enhanced capabilities and storage options.
✅ Recommendations • Choose Cloud Gateway Ultra if: • You’re setting up a small office or home network. • Your primary need is managing the UniFi Network application. • Budget constraints are a consideration. • Choose Cloud Gateway Max if: • You require support for additional UniFi applications like Protect or Access. • Your network demands higher throughput and faster LAN speeds. • You need scalable storage options for applications like UniFi Protect.
| UniFi Network |
Centralized management for Ubiquiti networking hardware (routers, switches, APs) |
- Device provisioning
- VLANs
- Firewall rules
- Site Magic VPN
- Traffic stats & DPI |
Any organization using UniFi gear to build a LAN/WAN |
| UniFi Protect |
Surveillance system manager for UniFi cameras and NVRs |
- Live video monitoring
- Motion detection & alerts
- Smart detections (people/vehicles)
- Mobile access |
Homes, offices, retail needing a self-managed CCTV system |
| UniFi Access |
Door access control using UniFi door readers and badges |
- Door unlock rules
- NFC card/badge/user control
- Logs and schedules |
Offices, co-working spaces, schools needing smart entry |
| UniFi Talk |
VoIP phone system built around UniFi desk phones |
- Cloud-managed VoIP
- Extension dialing
- Call routing, voicemail, mobile app |
Small businesses replacing a traditional office PBX |
| UniFi UID |
Identity & access management platform with SSO and WiFi captive portals |
- SSO login
- Visitor WiFi onboarding
- Access control sync with UID accounts |
Larger businesses or campuses needing federated access control and user provisioning |
Certainly — let’s compare and comment on the two key performance metrics you provided for the Cloud Gateway Ultra and Cloud Gateway Max:
| IDS/IPS Throughput |
1 Gbps |
1.5 Gbps |
| Max Routing Throughput |
1 Gbps |
2.5 Gbps |
⸻
🔍 What These Mean
- IDS/IPS Throughput • IDS (Intrusion Detection System) and IPS (Intrusion Prevention System) scan your network traffic in real time for threats, signatures, and suspicious patterns. • This metric shows how much bandwidth the device can inspect with IDS/IPS enabled.
| Ultra |
1 Gbps — Can inspect full gigabit connection without bottlenecks |
| Max |
1.5 Gbps — Supports faster WAN (e.g., multi-Gigabit fiber) with IDS/IPS still active |
🧠 If you’re on a 1 Gbps or slower connection, the Ultra is sufficient for security. If you’re on a 2 Gbps or faster connection, or future-proofing, the Max is a better fit.
- Max Routing Throughput • This is the raw speed the router can push traffic through — without IDS/IPS or other packet inspection overhead.
Ultra 1 Gbps — Tops out at standard gigabit routing performance Max 2.5 Gbps — Handles higher LAN-to-LAN or faster WAN traffic
This matters for internal LAN performance and multi-Gigabit WAN, e.g., 2.5 Gbps fibre or high-speed file transfers between VLANs or subnets.
🧠 Commentary
| Home or small office with ≤ 1 Gbps WAN |
✅ Ultra is fully capable |
| Office or lab with 2+ Gbps WAN or internal VLAN-heavy traffic |
🔼 Max is better suited |
| Future-proofing for 2.5 Gbps+ ISP |
✅ Max is ideal |
| On a budget, < 1 Gbps internet, and simple needs |
✅ Ultra is cost-efficient |
If you’re using a Starlink internet system, here’s how that impacts the choice between the UniFi Cloud Gateway Ultra and the Cloud Gateway Max, with all your prior data integrated and summarised in Markdown:
⸻
🚀 UniFi Cloud Gateway Ultra vs Max for Starlink Internet
Starlink typically provides: • ~100–250 Mbps download • ~10–20 Mbps upload • 1 Gbps ceiling on enterprise plans (rare for most users) • NAT and dynamic IPs (not ideal for on-prem VPN termination) • High jitter and latency spikes vs fibre
⸻
✅ Which Gateway is More Appropriate for Starlink?
| Starlink < 1 Gbps typical throughput |
✅ Cloud Gateway Ultra |
Starlink speeds fall well within Ultra’s routing and IDS/IPS limits |
| No use of UniFi Protect / Access |
✅ Ultra |
Max’s storage and app support is unnecessary if not used |
| Needs UniFi Talk or Protect |
🔼 Max |
Only the Max supports full UniFi OS suite |
| Using Starlink Business / 1 Gbps+ |
✅ Max |
Max handles faster routing and IDS/IPS better |
| Budget-conscious setup |
✅ Ultra |
More cost-effective with no wasted overhead |
🔍 Summary Table: IDS/IPS and Routing Comparison
| IDS/IPS Throughput |
1 Gbps |
1.5 Gbps |
| Max Routing Throughput |
1 Gbps |
2.5 Gbps |
Starlink rarely exceeds 1 Gbps — so the Ultra is already well-matched to the bottleneck imposed by your satellite connection.
🧠 Verdict for Starlink Use • Go with Cloud Gateway Ultra if: • You’re using Starlink Residential or Roaming • You want UniFi Network management only • You don’t need camera recording or access control • You’re not running high-throughput site-to-site VPNs
• Go with Cloud Gateway Max if:
• You’re planning to host UniFi Protect, UID, Talk, or Access NOT INTENDED
• You want extra headroom for internal routing or future ISP upgrades UNLIKELY
• You’ll be terminating VPN tunnels on the gateway with high traffic volumes LOW TRAFFIC ONLY
May 24, 2025
WAL Skewed
Here’s a version written from the perspective of a supplier proposing the peer-to-peer setup — while acknowledging the strengths and trade-offs, and justifying the simpler approach. It’s still in Markdown format for easy use:
Proposal: Peer-to-Peer System for Sage 50 & Inventory Software (5 Users)
Dear Client,
As your software and systems provider, we’d like to propose a cost-effective and easy-to-manage solution for your Sage 50 and Inventory Management needs using a peer-to-peer Windows 11 setup. This avoids the complexity and upfront cost of a dedicated server, while still delivering the functionality required for a team of up to 5–6 users.
🧾 Peer-to-Peer vs Server-Based: Honest Comparison
| Architecture |
5–6 Windows 11 PCs networked together |
Centralised server with remote desktop access |
| Software Installation |
Sage 50 and Inventory tools installed locally |
All software runs within central server |
| Data Access |
Shared folder hosting Sage data on one PC |
High-speed SSD-backed access inside virtual server |
| Remote Access |
Not supported by default |
Built-in via RDS (Remote Desktop Services) |
| Snapshots / Rollbacks |
❌ Not available |
✅ ZFS snapshots with instant rollback |
| Backups |
Manual (via shared folders or cloud sync) |
Scheduled, immutable, and offsite-capable backups |
| Ransomware Resilience |
❌ Basic AV and Windows Defender only |
✅ Snapshot and offline backup protection |
| Maintenance |
5–6 PCs to patch and update |
One central system to maintain |
| Sage 50 Compatibility |
✅ Supported in peer networks |
✅ Fully supported under RDS |
| User Support |
Local user sessions only |
Concurrent RDP sessions possible |
| Cost |
✅ Lower upfront cost |
Higher initial cost (server + Windows licensing) |
| Disaster Recovery |
❌ Restore from backup or reinstall manually |
✅ Full rollback in minutes |
✅ Why Peer-to-Peer Is a Good Fit for You
- You have a small team (5–6 users)
- All users work on-site and do not need remote access
- You want to avoid complexity and prefer familiar Windows 11 desktops
- You prefer to minimise cost without compromising core functionality
- Your team is not yet at the scale that justifies enterprise-grade infrastructure
⚙️ How It Works
- One PC will act as the data host, sharing the Sage 50 and inventory files
- All other PCs will run the same software and access the shared data
- We will set up daily file-level backups to external drives or OneDrive/SharePoint
- Each user will work locally on their PC without relying on remote logins
- Software updates and patches will be managed as part of your support contract
🛠️ What’s Included
- Supply and install Sage 50 Pro (5-user) and inventory software
- Configure shared data access and test multi-user functionality
- Set up local backups and recovery steps
- Assist your team with usage, access, and updates
⚖️ Final Note
While a dedicated Windows Server setup with Proxmox offers more advanced resilience, security, and centralised control, our peer-to-peer model is more than capable for small teams and delivers excellent value with simplicity.
If in future your needs evolve — such as requiring secure remote access or centralised IT — we can help you migrate to a server-based model seamlessly.
Let us know if you’d like to proceed or discuss this in more detail.
Sincerely,
[Your Company Name]
Peer-to-Peer IT Solutions for Small Teams
May 23, 2025
WAL Sys Compares
Below are two matched proposals written in Markdown: one from the peer-to-peer system supplier, and the other from the dedicated server + Proxmox solution provider. Each reflects realistic justifications, acknowledges trade-offs, and is suitable for sharing with stakeholders.
⸻
- Peer-to-Peer Supplier Proposal (Markdown)
Proposal: Peer-to-Peer Setup for Sage 50 & Inventory Software (5 Users)
Dear Client,
We propose a cost-effective, easy-to-maintain solution to support your Sage 50 Pro and Inventory Management requirements across 5–6 user workstations — all using Windows 11 Professional.
This design avoids the complexity and cost of a dedicated server while fully supporting Sage’s multi-user features in a small-office setup.
🧾 What’s Included
- Installation of Sage 50 Accounts Pro (5-user licence)
- Installation of Inventory & Sales software (5-user licence)
- Configuration of one PC as a central shared data host
- Setup of file sharing and multi-user data access
- Local backup scheduling (to USB/OneDrive/SharePoint)
- Ongoing support and patch guidance for each workstation
✅ Benefits of Peer-to-Peer for Small Teams
| Simple architecture |
No server required — all PCs are equal peers |
| Familiar environment |
Each user works within Windows 11 |
| Low upfront cost |
No server licensing or RDS CALs needed |
| Easy to scale to 3–5 users |
Efficient for small teams working on-site |
| Flexible data storage options |
Shared folder hosted on central PC, accessible via local network |
⚠️ Considerations
| No central snapshot system |
Manual file backups on schedule |
| No remote desktop access |
Only local usage supported |
| Less ransomware protection |
Use endpoint antivirus + cloud sync for resilience |
| Harder recovery in outage |
Each PC must be restored individually if affected |
| Requires local discipline |
Users must not modify or move shared Sage data folders |
💡 Summary
Peer-to-peer is an ideal solution for:
- Small offices with 5 or fewer users
- No need for concurrent remote access
- Teams seeking simple maintenance
- Cost-conscious deployments
If in the future you grow or wish to support remote working, we can migrate this setup into a full server environment without starting over.
Sincerely,
[Your Company Name]
Simple IT. Efficient Delivery.
⸻
- Server + Proxmox Supplier Proposal (Markdown)
Proposal: Dedicated Server System (Proxmox + Windows Server 2025)
Dear Client,
We propose a robust, secure, and future-proof centralised server environment to support Sage 50 Pro, Inventory Management Software, and up to 6 concurrent users — fully scalable and backed by modern snapshot-based disaster recovery.
This is the professional approach used by accountants, service businesses, and SMEs seeking reliability, speed, and protection from data loss or ransomware.
🧾 What’s Included
- Provision and setup of a mini-server running Proxmox VE
- Installation of Windows Server 2025 Standard (with Desktop Experience)
- Configuration of Remote Desktop Services (RDS) for 5 concurrent users
- Installation of Sage 50 Pro and Inventory software in the server VM
- Creation of 5 user accounts with secure login over RDP
- Setup of ZFS with snapshots for fast rollback and protection
- Optional S3/offsite backup + ransomware shielding
- Local admin training and full support documentation
✅ Benefits of Central Server Approach
| Centralised data & control |
One place to manage Sage, backups, updates, and user access |
| Multi-user RDP access |
All users log in securely with isolated sessions |
| Hardware redundancy & ZFS |
Self-healing filesystem + snapshots = fast disaster recovery |
| Simplified backups |
Daily snapshots + optional external sync |
| Remote access |
Works perfectly with Jump Desktop or ZeroTier |
| Expandable |
Add more VMs, services, or storage in future |
⚠️ Considerations
| Server licence and CALs |
Windows Server + 5 RDS CALs required (one-off cost) |
| Slightly higher initial cost |
Hardware and setup are an investment — mitigated by lower downtime |
| Some IT knowledge helpful |
Fully managed or partly self-managed options available |
🛡️ Resilience and Security
| Snapshots (ZFS) |
✅ Yes |
| Immutable backup options |
✅ Yes |
| Proxmox VM isolation |
✅ Yes |
| Centralised access logs |
✅ Yes |
| Ransomware rollback |
✅ Yes |
💡 Summary
This solution is ideal for:
- Teams of 5 or more using Sage 50 daily
- Businesses that want real-time multi-user access
- Those requiring backup, security, and future expandability
- Clients seeking reduced support overhead across devices
Sincerely,
[Your Company Name]
Resilient IT. Business Ready.
⸻
May 23, 2025
WAL Server or Peer
📊 Server vs Peer-to-Peer Setup for Sage 50 & Inventory Access (5 Users)
🧾 Comparison Table
| Core Architecture |
Centralised VM server with RDP for 5 users |
Local installs or shared peer-to-peer networking |
| Central Data Storage |
✅ Centralised in VM on SSD |
❌ Data scattered or hosted on one PC |
| Remote Desktop Access |
✅ 5+ RDP sessions via Server |
❌ One user per PC max, no headless access |
| Performance Consistency |
✅ High-performance NVMe + CPU/RAM scaling |
❌ Depends on each PC |
| Snapshots & Rollbacks |
✅ ZFS snapshots (instant rollback) |
❌ Not available |
| Backups |
✅ Scheduled, local + offsite, immutable |
❌ Manual or inconsistent backups |
| Ransomware Resilience |
✅ Snapshots + air-gapped + S3 support |
❌ All PCs at risk |
| System Maintenance |
✅ One Proxmox node to maintain |
❌ Maintain each PC separately |
| Sage 50 Suitability |
✅ Server-based hosting fully supported |
⚠️ Local use OK but more fragile |
| Multi-user File Access |
✅ Safe concurrent access via RDP |
⚠️ Risk of file corruption or conflicts |
| Software Patching |
✅ One system to update |
❌ Patch all workstations manually |
| User Management |
✅ Centralised logins and control |
❌ Local logins only |
| Scalability |
✅ Add VMs/roles easily |
❌ Quickly becomes unmanageable |
| Cost |
Moderate one-off + CALs if needed |
Low upfront, higher long-term support cost |
| Audit & Logs |
✅ Fully auditable |
❌ No central logs |
| Disaster Recovery |
✅ Restore entire system in minutes |
❌ Manual recovery on each PC |
🔍 Summary
| Reliability |
Server + Proxmox |
| Security |
Server + Proxmox |
| Ease of Maintenance |
Server + Proxmox |
| Initial Cost |
Peer-to-Peer (Win 11) |
| Long-Term Stability |
Server + Proxmox |
| Admin Burden |
Peer-to-Peer = Higher |
✅ Choose Server + Proxmox If:
- You want central control
- You need fast disaster recovery
- You support 5 or more users
- You want snapshot & ransomware protection
⚠️ Choose Peer-to-Peer If:
- You have 1–3 users only
- You’re OK with no central backup or access
- You prefer very low upfront cost
May 23, 2025