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GP Distributed Process Server Using an RDS Server

Hello:

Within Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 R2, we have set up a Distributed Process Server (DPS).  This DPS exists on an RDS Server (i.e. Terminal Server).  And, users access GP through a separate RDS Server.

We conducted one of our first tests, today.  We had one of our A/P users attempt to "print" a one-page Cash Requirements report to "File" and to a mapped drive.

While in GP's Report Destination window, we were able to "tell" GP to print the file to the location on the network where the user's mapped drive normally points to.

In fact, from within the GP Report Destination window, we were able to see other folders and files at this network location.

But, upon printing the report, no file generated.  We went to the location in Windows Explorer, yet, there was no resulting file found.

I had selected "Remote" in the Distributed Processes section of the User Preferences window, when the user was logged in to GP.  Perhaps, this issue would not have happened, if I had chosen "Local".  But, according to GP's System Administrator guide, choosing "Local" would have meant ignoring settings in GP's DPS Setup window.

Do any of you have any thoughts, as to why no file was generated?

Thank you!

John
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Steve Endow
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Hi John,

When the user chooses the network path where the report should be saved, are they using a mapped drive?  Or are they selecting a UNC path?  If they are using a mapped drive, verify that the Windows session running the DPS instance has the same mapped drive.  If that doesn't work, try using a UNC path instead.

Also, verify that the domain user account for the Windows session where the DPS is running has permissions to write to the network share.  

You could also do a test where you launch GP in the same windows session where the DPS is running (so that it runs under the same Windows account) and first have GP save the file to the network to confirm that process works.  If that works, try having that GP session send the report via DPS to the network location.

Let me know if any of those work or produce any clues.

Thanks,

Steve Endow
Microsoft MVP - Dynamics GP
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Software Engineer

ASKER

Hi Steve:

>>When the user chooses the network path where the report should be saved, are they using a mapped drive?  Or are they selecting a UNC path?  If they are using a mapped drive, verify that the Windows session running the DPS instance has the same mapped drive.  If that doesn't work, try using a UNC path instead.

They are saving to a mapped drive.  When you're in the Report Options window, I don't believe that you have the option of using UNC.  She does have permissions to this mapped drive.  She saves files to it, all of the time.  I would not have this mapped drive on the DPS box, since I would not use the user's credentials to get on to the box.

Now, the mapped drive that she uses does indeed point to a location that is on a different domain from what the DPS box is on.  Is that the issue?

Thanks!

John
Hi John,

Yes, if the user has a mapped drive, say the Q: drive, but the DPS session does not have the exact same mapped drive, then DPS will be unable to save the report to the Q: location.

You could ensure that the Windows user session that is running DPS has the same drive mappings as the user, but if multiple users are sending reports to the DPS server, and if the multiple users have different mapped drives, then that will not work.  (i.e. if Tom has Q: mapped to \\server\Share1\TomsReports\GL and Susan has Q: mapped to \\GPserver\Accounting\Reports\AP, then the DPS will be unable to use the single Q: drive mapping to save to the two different locations)

It is possible to use UNC paths in the GP Report Destination windows, but users will likely need some training to show them how to use the UNC path format.  See attached screen shot for reference.

Thanks,

Steve Endow
Microsoft MVP - Dynamics GP
GPReportDest.jpg
Hello:

The GP users would not, typically, get physically on to the Process Server through Remote Desktop Connection.

But, in order to test an idea that I had, I asked one of the users earlier this morning to try to get on to the server through that means.

Upon doing so, she got the following error:  "The connection was denied because the user is not authorized for remote login."

So, should the Active Directory User IDs of GP users be modified to allow such authorization to the Process Server box?

If so, what about the fact that this server like many others by default only allow two users to be "on" the server at a time?  Is that a problem, or is that "issue" neither here nor there?

Thanks!

John
Hi John,

That is correct, the GP users will not be connecting to the server running DPS, and the only reason they would connect would be to test their logon on the DPS server to see if that creates the necessary drive mappings and allows DPS to work properly.

The issue is that any report destination path the user chooses on their GP workstation must be accessible by DPS.  

So the domain account used to login to the DPS server and launch the DPS instance must either have the exact same drive mapping as the GP users (pointing to the exact same network share), or the user will need to specify a UNC path for the report destination.

Once the destination is consistent between the GP user workstation and the DPS server, you will need to ensure that the domain account running DPS has permissions to the network share.  So if Sally in accounting has access to \\fileserver\accounting\reports and uses that to save a report, the domain user running DPS must have permissions to write to the \\fileserver\accounting share.

Please let me know if you have any questions or need any additional information.


Thanks,

Steve Endow
Microsoft MVP - Dynamics GP
Hi Steve:

When we first tested, the user did specify--as an alternative--UNC pathing.  But, no joy.

In any case, she can "see" the mapped drive in the GP Report Destination window just fine.  But, when she prints to that mapped drive, the file does not appear.

This befuddles me.  

John
Hi John,

That is odd that the UNC path didn't work--the only reason I can think of for that not to work would be permissions.  If you connect to the DPS server in the window session where the DPS is running, login to GP, and then send the report to that same UNC path, does DPS save the report to the UNC path?  

And in the DPS windows session, can you browse to that UNC path and create and delete test txt files on the share?

If nothing works, let me know which report they are trying to print and I can mock up a test with DPS on a few of my servers.

Thanks,

Steve Endow
Microsoft MVP - Dynamics GP
Well, I wouldn't have the same network permissions as the user.  She has access to files on the network that I don't have access to, due to corporate protocol.

That's why I was trying to see about having her log on to the Process Server box directly.  That way, I could see if the issue is truly permissions related.  

Unfortunately, it doesn't matter which report.  She has tried a couple of different ones, yet, the issue remains.

That's why I'm baffled.

John
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