Question

QuickBooks 2009 Pro install issues for single user

Asked by: Quetzal

I have QB 2009 Pro in a domain file server environment (SBS 2008).  It is a single user copy, but I anticipate upgrading to multiple users shortly.  I understood this to be a client-server version of the software.  Therefore I wanted to install  the QB database server on my file server and run QB from various client machines.  Initially multiple users will access the company file one person at a time, as they have with prior versions of QB.  

I installed the software as indicated.   But after opening the company file on a client computer, when I get on the server and look at the database server tab, it says that "unable to retrieve connected files and logged in user list".  The company file works perfectly whethe the QB database service is running on the file server or not.

I noticed that I apparently installed the QB database server on the client machine.  So I uninstalled Quickbooks, but the QB database service remains.

So...
1. How do I uninstall the QB database service from the client machine?

2. If I reinstall QB on the client machine and open the company file on the server, will the database manager show that it is opened by the client machine/user?

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Asked On
2009-05-03 at 15:06:00ID24376634
Tags

Quickbooks 2009

Topic

Quickbooks Financial Software

Participating Experts
2
Points
150
Comments
10

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Answers

 

by: thinkpads_userPosted on 2009-05-03 at 15:51:44ID: 24291580

You should be able to uninstall the QB Server module via Add/Remove programs. I see it there where I have it installed.

At this point, so far as I know, this Server module does not run on Server 2008. It runs very well on Server 2003, and Intuit has not yet provided a time frame for it to work on Server 2008.

Question 2 I don't know how to answer, because the Server module does not work on Server 2008.

If you install the Server module on one client computer (A), you should be able to open the ledger from other clients by pointing it to (A).  I have not actually looked recently, but I don't think the Server module will tell you who is connected - just what drives it is monitoring.
... Thinkpads_User

 

by: QuetzalPosted on 2009-05-03 at 16:29:44ID: 24291671

Tried removing with Add/Remove Programs, no joy.  Reinstalled just the database server, uninstalled still no joy.

To complicate things a little, SBS 2008 is running exchange so that it is a 64-bit version of the os.  It seemed to install ok, but given your comments and my experience, I'd have to say that I agree that it does not work.

WRT the functionality in 2009, when it is working, it is supposed to report which company files are open and which users are logged into each one.

 

by: thinkpads_userPosted on 2009-05-03 at 16:37:51ID: 24291702

With respect to your last point, I will have to look at this when I am at the client where all this is working. That may be tomorrow, but more likely Wednesday. I will certainly post back my findings, and I will try to log in tomorrow to do that.

With respect to the first point, I just looked on my Vista machine where I have installed QB2008 and QB2009 Client Server versions. I did not install the Server module either time. But I see in Services that the QuickBooks Database services (2 version) and QBCFMonitor service are all there, but disabled. So I don't think it means anything on your client computer that the service is there. .... Thinkpads_User

 

by: thinkpads_userPosted on 2009-05-04 at 05:53:47ID: 24294508

I checked a client installation this morning and the Server application (installed on SBS2003) does not tell me who has opened or what machine has opened the ledger. I did check with the client and QuickBooks is running fine for them. ... Thinkpads_User

 

by: QuetzalPosted on 2009-05-05 at 05:55:28ID: 24304125

Here is the primary reason for my obsession with the server module.  Intuit has always claimed that accessing the company file via a unc path was not recommended.   In all my SBS environments, the Shared Company folder is accessed via a UNC.  Personally I do not like the use of mapped drives whenever they can be avoided.

The client-server model of QB, offers the promise of not having to worry about the UNC issue.  In theory, the server service, running on the file server (not the client machine), will mitigate user access to the company file.

Indeed, when the the server service is installed on the file server, I was unable to access the company file until I opened 7 ports in the file server firewall.  When I open the company file and press F2, it shows a server address of my file server and a server name of QuickbooksDB19 (the name of the 2009 database server service).

I talked with Intuit tier 2 support, who believes that the status of the company file should be properly displayed.  However, it is possible that my particular situation may have a bug.  Because I am running SBS 2008, I am also running Exchange 2007, which requires a 64-bit install.  I am also installing the client software on a 64-bit install of Server 2008 Terminal Services.  I am submitting a bug notice to Intuit.

WRT your install on SBS 2003, is the QB database service running?  Does the client machine (F2) show the server ip and server name?  I'm trying to differentiate between whether the server service is mitigating access to the company folder in your situation or whether the file system is doing so for your users.

One last point.  To uninstall the QB database manager, I ended up scrubbing the registry of references to the service and that ultimately did the trick.

 

by: thinkpads_userPosted on 2009-05-05 at 06:04:57ID: 24304204

Quetzal wrote: "WRT your install on SBS 2003, is the QB database service running?  Does the client machine (F2) show the server ip and server name?  I'm trying to differentiate between whether the server service is mitigating access to the company folder in your situation or whether the file system is doing so for your users."

Yes, the QB database service is running. The client machine (when I press F2) shows me the full name of the server path to the ledger. There are no IP addresses and in addition, the path shown via F2 at the client is the path on the server where the ledger is stored.

Now I use mapped drives and have no problem with that. Put another way, my clients have been mapping drives in their SBS environments and there have been no negative outcomes.
... Thinkpads_User



 

by: QuetzalPosted on 2009-05-07 at 04:59:04ID: 24324581

A couple last comments and a question.

When you press F2, below the server path to the ledger, there are 2 entries for server ip and server name.  These are empty on the client machine to which you refer?  [There should be entries here if the client machine is actually using the client-server method of accessing the ledger.]

When you say that your clients have been mapping drives in their SBS environments, do you mean that you create a drive mapping, e.g. S:, to the server and that they access their ledger via the drive mapping, e.g. S:\Finance\ledger.qbw?  [Intuit supports drive mapping, they claim not to support UNC paths, e.g. \\SERVER\Finance\ledger.qbw.]

I have been using UNC paths with QB for years with no problems.  However, I've come to appreciate the nuance of difference between what a vendor will support and what they say won't, even if the unsupported method appears to work.

I appreciate the interaction and feedback from you on my problem, although I determined the answers to my original question through other means.  It often helps to have someone with whom to interact.  Have you any thoughts about how I should do the pont allocation?

 

by: thinkpads_userPosted on 2009-05-07 at 07:02:00ID: 24325875

Thanks. Let me take your questions and points in another order to help me.

1. When I say clients map drives, there are two methods:
(a) Off-domain laptops. Connect with a batch file: NET USE Y: \\SBServer\Company login pw
(b) Domain-connected desktops. SBS 2003 assigns the Company share in the AD user profile.

Either way I describe works. The QuickBooks user navigates to the QB folder on the company share and they have AD permission to do so. Other users are denied access. And to be complete to your specifice question "Yes I create a drive mapping and they access the ledger via a drive mapping"

2. At the client machine, when I press F2, the File Information is not empty. I am checking on a QB 2009 MultiCurrency (not client server) and it shows me the full path (Y:\Company ... and I called a client with QB 2009 Client Server and it shows them the full path (Y:\Company ...)

Note that the path shown in QB omits the server name but is otherwise the full path and users got to the server share using the full path with server name as outlined in 1.  Regardless, in all my installations there is a path to the ledger in the Company Information (F2)

3. With respect to points, it is entirely up to you (however, within Experts-Exchange you should always close your question by some means). I also do not appear to be in a conflict here, but what I can say is some persons offer Assist points. I have genuinely tried to assist you and I appreciate the interaction with you. I sometimes see half the points with a Good (B) grade. But again, for you and for those other readers, I leave this in your hands.

... Thinkpads_User

 

by: brett_jervisPosted on 2009-07-09 at 15:10:50ID: 24818776

We just rolled out SBS2008.  We initially had issues switching to multi-user mode.  Determined the cause was the firewall on the server.  Used the QuickBooks network connectivity tool to determine that the ports 8019 and 55333 for QB2009 needed to be opened.  After we did that, we were able to successfully able to connect via multiple machines.

Still receive the "unable to retrieve" error on the database server however and have been unable to resolve.

Except for that, we have joy...

 

by: QuetzalPosted on 2009-07-10 at 05:56:00ID: 24822714

Thanks Brett for the followup.  I have a feeling this information will be useful.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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