The Quickbooks database server on SBS

[Guest Tom Del Rosso]

The Quickbooks database server apparently needs an admin to stay logged in

while it runs. I'm wondering if you can make it run as a service or in a

startup script. The fact that it also closes when you close it instead of

minimizing to the tray makes it look pretty lame. What's the trick to make

it work, or do you chuck it and let a workstation control access to the

shared file?

 

It seems to be designed to search for QBW files on a whole drive instead of

simply remembering the folder you select. Are users supposed to open the

file as before and rely on the manager to act transparently? This mechanism

is strange for a database server. Does it hook file access so that it can

find the file and control access to it whenever somebody opens any QBW file

on the selected drive?

 

 

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[Guest Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Re: The Quickbooks database server on SBS

 

Tom Del Rosso <td_01@att.net.invalid> wrote:

> The Quickbooks database server apparently needs an admin to stay

> logged in while it runs. I'm wondering if you can make it run as a

> service or in a startup script. The fact that it also closes when

> you close it instead of minimizing to the tray makes it look pretty

> lame. What's the trick to make it work, or do you chuck it and let a

> workstation control access to the shared file?

>

> It seems to be designed to search for QBW files on a whole drive

> instead of simply remembering the folder you select. Are users

> supposed to open the file as before and rely on the manager to act

> transparently? This mechanism is strange for a database server.

> Does it hook file access so that it can find the file and control

> access to it whenever somebody opens any QBW file on the selected

> drive?

 

Have you checked Intuit's website/support?

 

Personally I wouldn't install *any* Intuit crap on my domain controller (in

fact, I *don't*). From what I understand, you would only need it if you have

multiple concurrent users accessing the same Quickbooks data file (and I'm

not sure that's even true) - you sure as hell don't need it otherwise. I

support plenty of small offices that have multiple (serial, not parallel)

Quickbooks users accessing QBW files from their servers without my ever

installing anything from Intuit on the server.

 

Susan Bradley is inarguably the foremost Quickbooks expert in the SBS

groups, so I will of course cede to her, but I got to reply first because of

my time zone :-)

[Guest Rosewood]

Re: The Quickbooks database server on SBS

 

FWIW, I've always used a virtual server for a QB server or I've just let a

workstation act as a server for their stuff.

 

I never trusted Intuit anything on my DC/SBS2003 box.

 

"Tom Del Rosso" <td_01@att.net.invalid> wrote in message

news:e%2398t8XYIHA.5132@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> The Quickbooks database server apparently needs an admin to stay logged in

> while it runs. I'm wondering if you can make it run as a service or in a

> startup script. The fact that it also closes when you close it instead of

> minimizing to the tray makes it look pretty lame. What's the trick to

> make

> it work, or do you chuck it and let a workstation control access to the

> shared file?

>

> It seems to be designed to search for QBW files on a whole drive instead

> of

> simply remembering the folder you select. Are users supposed to open the

> file as before and rely on the manager to act transparently? This

> mechanism

> is strange for a database server. Does it hook file access so that it can

> find the file and control access to it whenever somebody opens any QBW

> file

> on the selected drive?

>

>

> --

>

> Reply in group, but if emailing add another

> zero, and remove the last word.

>

>

[Guest Tom Del Rosso]

Re: The Quickbooks database server on SBS

 

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

<lanwench@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmailatyahoo.com> wrote in

message news:uylCmJbYIHA.5784@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl

>

> Have you checked Intuit's website/support?

 

Such as it is. They don't offer much information.

 

> Personally I wouldn't install *any* Intuit crap on my domain

> controller (in fact, I *don't*). From what I understand, you would

> only need it if you have multiple concurrent users accessing the same

> Quickbooks data file (and I'm not sure that's even true) - you sure

> as hell don't need it otherwise.

 

Well certainly, that's what it's for.

 

> I support plenty of small offices

> that have multiple (serial, not parallel) Quickbooks users accessing

> QBW files from their servers without my ever installing anything from

> Intuit on the server.

 

By serial do you mean the workstations have QB 2007 or later and run the

server management function on one workstation?

 

> Susan Bradley is inarguably the foremost Quickbooks expert in the SBS

> groups, so I will of course cede to her, but I got to reply first

> because of my time zone :-)

 

It's because of her website that I tried it out. Her blog says she uses it,

but there doesn't seem to be a page on configuring it. There is some

mention of using task scheduler to run it so you don't need to be logged in,

but, since the way it works is so strange for a databae server, it isn't

clear if all you have to do is start it and then access the file as before.

I don't see any other way to use it.

 

It doesn't run when not logged in, so it's not running now. I'll just

uninstall it later and explain that QB must be running on one PC for the

others to access it.

 

Thanks.

 

 

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[Guest Tom Del Rosso]

Re: The Quickbooks database server on SBS

 

"Rosewood" <rosewood@nospam.gmx.nospam.de> wrote in message

news:CEA46A71-3924-4A9D-A87B-0C4144146AE8@microsoft.com

> FWIW, I've always used a virtual server for a QB server or I've just

> let a workstation act as a server for their stuff.

>

> I never trusted Intuit anything on my DC/SBS2003 box.

 

Thanks. It might even work, but if nobody else wants to use it then I won't

give it a chance.

 

 

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[Guest Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Re: The Quickbooks database server on SBS

 

Tom Del Rosso <td_01@att.net.invalid> wrote:

> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

> <lanwench@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmailatyahoo.com> wrote in

> message news:uylCmJbYIHA.5784@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl

>>

>> Have you checked Intuit's website/support?

>

> Such as it is. They don't offer much information.

>

>

>> Personally I wouldn't install *any* Intuit crap on my domain

>> controller (in fact, I *don't*). From what I understand, you would

>> only need it if you have multiple concurrent users accessing the same

>> Quickbooks data file (and I'm not sure that's even true) - you sure

>> as hell don't need it otherwise.

>

> Well certainly, that's what it's for.

 

Certainly what? A lot of people try to install this on their servers without

understanding how multiuser/simultaneous usage works, which is why I

mentioned that. The offices I support generally don't *need* multiple

simultaneous concurrent access to a Quickbooks file, thankfully.

>

>

>> I support plenty of small offices

>> that have multiple (serial, not parallel) Quickbooks users accessing

>> QBW files from their servers without my ever installing anything from

>> Intuit on the server.

>

> By serial do you mean the workstations have QB 2007 or later and run

> the server management function on one workstation?

 

No - they have QB2007 or later, and there is no server management function

at all. It operates much as a locally installed Word app opens a shared

document on a server. (not to mention, how Quickbooks handled multiuser

access in previous versions....required *nothing* be installed on the server

itself, which is how I preferred it).

>

>

>> Susan Bradley is inarguably the foremost Quickbooks expert in the SBS

>> groups, so I will of course cede to her, but I got to reply first

>> because of my time zone :-)

>

> It's because of her website that I tried it out. Her blog says she

> uses it, but there doesn't seem to be a page on configuring it.

> There is some mention of using task scheduler to run it so you don't

> need to be logged in, but, since the way it works is so strange for a

> databae server, it isn't clear if all you have to do is start it and

> then access the file as before. I don't see any other way to use it.

>

> It doesn't run when not logged in, so it's not running now.

 

That stinks.

> I'll just

> uninstall it later and explain that QB must be running on one PC for

> the others to access it.

 

Not sure that will help you if you are using multiuser mode for a single

Quickbooks file. If you aren't, then there's no need for anyone other than

*that* user to have Quickbooks running at all, regardless of the location of

the QBW file.

>

> Thanks.

[Guest Tom Del Rosso]

Re: The Quickbooks database server on SBS

 

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

<lanwench@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmailatyahoo.com> wrote in

message news:%23$lsvjcYIHA.4808@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl

>

> Certainly what? A lot of people try to install this on their servers

> without understanding how multiuser/simultaneous usage works, which

> is why I mentioned that. The offices I support generally don't *need*

> multiple simultaneous concurrent access to a Quickbooks file,

> thankfully.

 

Funny, all mine do. The ones that have multiple licenses always want

simultaneous access. This is the first time I've set up 2007 though, and it

has multi-user mode, but it's greyed out in the menu. I'll try

re-installing with the other options to see if it comes back.

 

>>> I support plenty of small offices

>>> that have multiple (serial, not parallel) Quickbooks users accessing

>>> QBW files from their servers without my ever installing anything

>>> from Intuit on the server.

>>

>> By serial do you mean the workstations have QB 2007 or later and run

>> the server management function on one workstation?

>

> No - they have QB2007 or later, and there is no server management

> function at all. It operates much as a locally installed Word app

> opens a shared document on a server. (not to mention, how Quickbooks

> handled multiuser access in previous versions....required *nothing*

> be installed on the server itself, which is how I preferred it).

 

It was easier that way, but client-side-only databases are more error-prone.

 

But from what their server thing says, it isn't clear if it uses a

client-server model anyway. It isn't clear what it does at all beyond

"scanning [for QBW files] to ensure that other computers can open the files"

whatever that means.

 

>> I'll just

>> uninstall it later and explain that QB must be running on one PC for

>> the others to access it.

>

> Not sure that will help you if you are using multiuser mode for a

> single Quickbooks file. If you aren't, then there's no need for

> anyone other than *that* user to have Quickbooks running at all,

> regardless of the location of the QBW file.

 

That's how it was in previous versions. I didn't know if it was still the

same because the install for this version offers the option to have a server

component run either on the workstation or on a server. The exact function

of it is clear as mud.

 

 

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[Guest Mark Storm]

Re: The Quickbooks database server on SBS

 

Tom,

 

I have been using QB2007 Premier Edition in my wife's office, which runs SBS

2003 STD. The Database Manager app runs on the SBS server and we have

experienced zero issues with it. I think the other functionality that runs

on the server is the shared file updater function, which sits in a folder

named (I believe) QB17. Again, zero issues in the past year.

 

Having said that, it is fair to point out that another app (their medical

practice management software) REQUIRES an Administrator to always be logged

on! I suspect that is why I never felt that the requirement in QB was a big

deal, I have to live with that situation. The PMS software (good

acronym!...) has a Password Server that does not run as a Windows Service

but instead must be logged on and reduced to the SysTray. How goofy is

that? I have repeatedly asked the company to change that but for now that's

the way it is.

 

The office has three QB users who many times are logged into the one company

file and they work concurrently. They love it, under the old system they

had to take turns using QB and it wasn't very pretty.

 

Works fine for us now... :>)

 

Mark

 

 

 

"Tom Del Rosso" <td_01@att.net.invalid> wrote in message

news:e%2398t8XYIHA.5132@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> The Quickbooks database server apparently needs an admin to stay logged in

> while it runs. I'm wondering if you can make it run as a service or in a

> startup script. The fact that it also closes when you close it instead of

> minimizing to the tray makes it look pretty lame. What's the trick to

> make

> it work, or do you chuck it and let a workstation control access to the

> shared file?

>

> It seems to be designed to search for QBW files on a whole drive instead

> of

> simply remembering the folder you select. Are users supposed to open the

> file as before and rely on the manager to act transparently? This

> mechanism

> is strange for a database server. Does it hook file access so that it can

> find the file and control access to it whenever somebody opens any QBW

> file

> on the selected drive?

>

>

> --

>

> Reply in group, but if emailing add another

> zero, and remove the last word.

>

>

[Guest Susan Bradley, CPA aka Ebitz - SBS Rocks [MVP]]

Re: The Quickbooks database server on SBS

 

What year? 2007 and 2008 set up the necessary permissions and just run

as a service. 2006 was rough and rocky.. 2007 and 2008 are much much

better.

 

Tom Del Rosso wrote:

> The Quickbooks database server apparently needs an admin to stay logged in

> while it runs. I'm wondering if you can make it run as a service or in a

> startup script. The fact that it also closes when you close it instead of

> minimizing to the tray makes it look pretty lame. What's the trick to make

> it work, or do you chuck it and let a workstation control access to the

> shared file?

>

> It seems to be designed to search for QBW files on a whole drive instead of

> simply remembering the folder you select. Are users supposed to open the

> file as before and rely on the manager to act transparently? This mechanism

> is strange for a database server. Does it hook file access so that it can

> find the file and control access to it whenever somebody opens any QBW file

> on the selected drive?

>

>

[Guest Tom Del Rosso]

Re: The Quickbooks database server on SBS

 

"Susan Bradley, CPA aka Ebitz - SBS Rocks [MVP]" <sbradcpa@pacbell.net>

wrote in message news:%23G2JUjkYIHA.4880@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl

> What year? 2007 and 2008 set up the necessary permissions and just

> run as a service. 2006 was rough and rocky.. 2007 and 2008 are much

> much better.

 

Thanks. It's 2007. I had thought to check for new services, but when I saw

that the utility loaded into the tray I didn't think it would have both.

That must be a vestige of the previous design.

 

Then I take it the utility needs to run only once to select the drive letter

and never needs to sit in the tray at all. The last unknown I can think of

is, when using the database server should the app be in multi-user mode, or

does it not matter since it isn't using file-level sharing?

 

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[Guest Leythos]

Re: The Quickbooks database server on SBS

 

In article <e#98t8XYIHA.5132@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>, td_01

@att.net.invalid says...

> The Quickbooks database server apparently needs an admin to stay logged in

> while it runs. I'm wondering if you can make it run as a service or in a

> startup script. The fact that it also closes when you close it instead of

> minimizing to the tray makes it look pretty lame. What's the trick to make

> it work, or do you chuck it and let a workstation control access to the

> shared file?

>

> It seems to be designed to search for QBW files on a whole drive instead of

> simply remembering the folder you select. Are users supposed to open the

> file as before and rely on the manager to act transparently? This mechanism

> is strange for a database server. Does it hook file access so that it can

> find the file and control access to it whenever somebody opens any QBW file

> on the selected drive?

 

I just installed QB 2007 or 8, can't remember, and only had to install

the Server part on the server, no user has to be logged into the server

at all.

 

I did a workstation install and pointed the users to the T drive

(accounting share on server) and it's all good - tracks users,

permissions work, etc...

 

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Leythos

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