Migration of QBPro6&POS 5.0 from workstation to fileserver
Posted:
Thu May 15, 2008 12:58 pmby bbeckmann
I have a client that has had all their QB data on a local pc with others accessing via shares. They are wanting to move all data to a centralized file server. I have done so for QuickBooksPro 6.0 and set up for MultiUser mode on their company files. This is working. I am now faced with moving the POS data to the server and am not sure if I should use "backup" to dump the data to a location and then do a restore on the file server to populate POS or if I should use Export/Import. I also am unclear whether I would continuing to use Financial Exchange or if I should configure to use Remote Data Sharing.
Any advice on best way to do this are much appreciated.
Thx,
Brad
Re: Migration of QBPro6&POS 5.0 from workstation to fileserver
Posted:
Fri May 16, 2008 9:54 amby erickei
Making a Backup of the POS file and placing it on the server would be your best option. The RDS applet is unreliable; if you're using Vista, it won't work at all. The RDS is meant to let you use Financial Exchange in situations where the QB accounting data and the POS data are NOT on the same system. Here's what you need to do (preferably on a weekend or other time when the files/systems won't otherwise be in use):
- Backup the POS data file. Copy that to the new server where QB Accounting data is located. Keep a spare copy of the data around just in case.
- Uninstall POS from the current system/workstation.
- Install POS on the server. Give it the ID of WS1 (the POS Server), Update POS, then Restore the data file.
- Set the POS file to "communicate" with QB Accounting (in Preferences), and run a Financial Exchange to make sure they are connected properly.
- Close POS on the Server. Keep in mind that, if you only have one license of POS, you can only have it open on one system at a time; if you have more, this will not be an issue, so you can ignore this step.
- Reinstall POS on the original system/workstation. Give it the ID of WS2 (a POS Client). Open and Update it, it should automatically be able to locate the data file on the network.
Then you should be good to go.
Special warning: While they're unlikely to be releasing any new updates for POS 5 in the future, Should they do so, ALWAYS update the Server system FIRST. If you don't, POS will "forget" where the data file is, and the easiest way to fix it is to uninstall and reinstall POS on all systems. Go ahead and turn off Automatic Updates as well, as it will take up processor time and network bandwidth needlessly.