Microsoft Access has been tested and verified as supportable on the
following networks:
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
- Microsoft Windows 2000
- Novell NetWare 3.x/4.x
- Banyan Vines 6/7 (with applicable patches)
- IBM Lanserver version 4.0
- Artisoft LANtastic 6.x or later
Other network types (including DEC Pathworks and UNIX NFS) have experienced irregular behaviors and only limited success with Microsoft Access. Irregular behaviors on these network types can include:
- An inability to install Microsoft Access to a network drive.
- An inability to install Microsoft Access to a workstation from a network drive.
- An inability to open a multiuser file (non-exclusively).
- Multiple users cannot update a record correctly.
- Unexplained database corruption or data loss.
Some of these behaviors are serious. Microsoft wants to protect its customers' valuable data, and the best way to do this is to support Microsoft Access only on networks on which Microsoft has tested Access. Microsoft cannot support Microsoft Access on non-tested networks.
Note Access was not tested on a Citrix server. Therefore, Access is supported on a best-effort basis on a Citrix server.
However, just because we have not tested Microsoft Access with a particular network, does not mean that the network does not work with Microsoft Windows. Microsoft Windows has been tested with far more networks than has Microsoft Access. It is a good idea, before purchasing any product, to check with the product's manufacturer as to the product's compatibility with your network.
The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.