Access to the Server file?

We are buying a co. in another province, they are using QB Contractor w/payroll, we have managed to set it up so that I can connect to their server using Remote Desktop Connection, and they have a QBC program on there that I can use, but I have 2 other users here (with licenses) that need to be able to connect at the same time (multi-user). I thought I understood that I needed QBC w/licenses on all 3 computers here. Our current setup (in this office only) everyone maps to the computer with the file on it, but how do I access (map?) the file on the server in that other province? If I use the Remote Desktop Connection it seems to be totally separate from anything on my computer and I can only use the programs that are on the server. Do I have it all wrong, do the 3 copies of QBC have to be on the server, then we use Remote Desktop Connection and click our personal QBC or something? It seems mapping somehow would be the proper way to do it? Thanks for your help in advance.

Reply to
Eclipse
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Remote Desktop moves the screen and keyboard of a remote computer to your local machine. Whatever else is installed on your machine is immaterial, you are running on the remote machine, the code is running on the remote computer, not yours.

Now if you implement some sort of VPN (Virtual Private Network), the data files can be remote and you run the programs on your local machine.

You're on your own trying to figure out the licensing issues - I have no clue.

Reply to
HeyBub

It is a VERY bad idea to run Quickbooks on a local computer and have your data file located on a remote machine. First of all, unless you have a very small data file, the performance will be awful (like unusable). Secondly, if during your QBooks session, your network connection is interrupted, you will almost certainly end up with a corrupted datafile.

What you are doing with Remote Desktop is the right approach. This way, you are actually running QBooks on the same machine where your data file is located.

If you want to run multiple users in this type of environment, you need to install a Windows 2003 Server with Terminal Services enabled. This gives you the ability to run as many simultaneous remote desktop sessions as you have Terminal Server licenses.

Another factor that you need to take into account is QBooks licenses. Terminal Server installations of QBooks Pro are NOT officially supported by Intuit, but they DO work. However, the only way that you are able to run multiple copies of Quickbooks on a Terminal Server simultaneously, is to install the 5 user pack, which has a single CD ROM key for all 5 users.

I'm not familiar with the Contractor, or Canadian editions, so I do not know if the 5 user pack is available. If not, you will only be able to run a single user at a time in a Terminal Server session. You could still have additional licensed users run QBooks on local PCs connected to the server, simultaneously with the Terminal Server user.

Note: When installing QBooks on a Terminal Server you need to make sure that you are in Install Mode when you install, and the 1st time you run QBooks on the server. In addition, all QBooks users on the server need to be part of the "Power Users" group.

Good luck, Mike Schumann

Reply to
Mike Schumann

We run QuickBooks with our data files on remote machines all the time and have not experienced any problems. We receive QB data files from clients and utilize them to extract information for their financial statements and tax returns. We also service several clients, plus our own in house receivables and payables, in the same manner. Although we are running Windows 2003 Server, Enterprise Edition, we are not (yet) running Terminal Services. We have not ever experienced any data corruption issues notwithstanding the fact that we access numerous QB data files from about four network computers all day, every day (well, almost that much). Performance, while not lightening speed, is more than adequate. I don't have any experience with interrupted network connections, since ours are very stable, and we back up very frequently, usually multiple times each day. Based upon my experience, QB can be run with data files on the server, in a non-TS environment, as long as reasonable data protection steps are taken. Running Terminal Services also involves another layer of technical issues, not to mention significant licensing costs. In my judgment, it is not essential.

Reply to
Z Man

How big are your QBooks data files? Mine is over 200 MBytes. You'll never get that to run over a WAN link. It's even a pain to run it in a non-Terminal Server environment when everyone is on the same LAN in a single building.

Mike Schumann

Reply to
Mike Schumann

What method do you use to connect the QuickBooks programs on your computers to the data files on remote computers?

Reply to
Karl Irvin

Hmm. You may be right! My QB files comprise 130Mb running on a peer-to-peer (files there, program here) and everything is swell. Oh, QB mutters to itself a bit when it starts up in the mornings, but settles down to yoeman work thereafter.

I'll closely monitor everything, especially as it gets closer and closer to the 200Mb threshold.

Reply to
HeyBub
[comments bottom posted]

The program is installed locally on each machine (five user version) while the numerous datafiles reside on the server, to facilitate backup, and enable everyone to access them. Clear?

Reply to
Z Man

So you are taking about a local area connection via Ethernet. Is that correct?

Reply to
Karl Irvin

Ethernet is one method. Yelling is another.

Reply to
HeyBub

Where does the remote communications happen? Between the local computers and server? Or is it occasional for specific client purposes? Not trying to be picky, just want to know what works for others, why, and how.

Thanks

Gary

Reply to
Gary

I'm not sure what you mean. Opening a QuickBooks file on my server is the same as opening up a Word or Excel file. The data files reside on the server, while the applications reside on the client computers.

Reply to
Z Man

Based on a previous post, I got the impression you did remote communication with a QB data file, not just opening it up on a local server. Remote communication to me means outside your business building, and outside your local area network. Sorry for the confusion.

Reply to
Gary

I also do remote communication. For that purpose, I highly recommend gotomypc.com, which I have been using for quite a while with excellent results. Unlike pcanywhere and similar products, it requires no software whatsoever. All you need is internet access and a web browser. I have accessed my office network from internet cafes in various parts of the US and Canada and never had a problem.

Reply to
Z Man

Personally I use Logmein, same as Gotomypc, but less expensive.

Gary

Reply to
Gary

If the PC you are connecting to is a Windows XP Pro machine, you don't need any software - just use Remote Desktop that is built into Windows XP Pro.

Mike Schumann

Reply to
Mike Schumann

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