I want to help you
fix your painfully slow QuickBooks installation, protect your
QuickBooks company files and make your QuickBooks experience better.
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If you read on, even without purchasing anything, you will learn QuickBooks
setup secrets that took me years to learn. If you have QuickBooks
or accounting experience, you know that QuickBooks performance holds you back, slowing you down in your everyday
bookkeeping tasks. You can't afford to miss what a well designed robust QuickBooks installation can help you accomplish. Imagine no more manual backups or QuickBooks restarts again!
I've worked with QuickBooks
since the early 1990s. I install QuickBooks Multi User for clients and
use it in my own business. My time tested installation methods work with all five user or
less network installations of versions Pro through Enterprise 2006 to
2010, with computers running Microsoft Windows XP Pro, Vista and
Windows 7 and function exceptionally well in all types of businesses.
These four steps will make your QuickBooks installation sizzle!
First - Networking between
QuickBooks computers cannot be wireless and needs to be a step up from
the norm. QuickBooks works best with ultra fast gigabit networking.
Each QuickBooks computer must have a gigabit network interface,
connected to a gigabit switch, using gigabit certified cabling. Using
an off the shelf eight port gigabit switch and manufactured cables, plug a cable
from the switch to the present network and plug cables from the
QuickBooks computers to the gigabit switch, achieving gigabit
networking easily.
Second - Each QuickBooks computer must meet the minimum requirements listed below:
- XP Professional SP2,
Vista Home Premium, Business or Ultimate, or Windows 7 Home Premium,
Professional or Ultimate
- 2.0GHz or faster processor
- 2GB or more of RAM for
XP, 4GB or more of RAM for Vista or Windows 7
- 5GB or more free hard
drive space
- Each computer must have a
gigabit (1000MB) network interface
- Firewall software turned
off while connected to the local network
It's very important to
distinguish between firewall or security software and antivirus
software. Each desktop computer that runs QuickBooks needs an
antivirus program. However, do not use comprehensive security
software. One or more firewall software installations on a QuickBooks
computer will cause QuickBooks to run very poorly. Turn off the Windows
firewall and remove any security software except a single antivirus
program.
A firewall's place is at the
gateway to the Internet. Install a unified threat management device as your Internet firewall.
Maintaining your network's security cannot be overstated. UTM devices
prove themselves superior to any other method day after day. While your
competitors worry about malware, phishing attacks and slow moving
accounting software, you'll be speeding around in QuickBooks and
surfing the Internet without fear.
Third - Install all production
QuickBooks company files on a dedicated QuickBooks computer that will
become your QuickBooks production server. Your valuable QuickBooks
company files must be in a safe, secure location. A dedicated
QuickBooks server is a computing device that has no keyboard, mouse or
monitor. It usually resides in an out of the way closet or shelf. Only
QuickBooks and QuickBooks add on software is installed on a dedicated
QuickBooks server. Long story short; you simply do not want to host
QuickBooks company files on a dynamically changing computer used on
someone's desk every day.
Yes, I know that QuickBooks
can be hosted on a user's desktop computer; however, I've seen
multitudes of problems with desktop computers becoming unstable due to
virus, other malware and unintended user problems, causing file damage
and rendering QuickBooks data unavailable to other network users. I've
also seen how slow QuickBooks runs on a conventional network when
several users are in QuickBooks at the same time. In order for your
QuickBooks multi user installation to work correctly and the
environment be robust and productive, your business might need to make
some minor infrastructure changes.
A QuickBooks Server performs
automated tasks within QuickBooks and other "QuickBooks add on"
software such as nightly off site backups, order downloads from
your website to QuickBooks and keeping each of your QuickBooks desktop
computers updated to the latest QuickBooks version. A nightly
backup process will keep your company files compressed, verified,
well maintained and fast. I've successfully deployed QuickBooks servers
into many businesses. They've frequently run over a year without
requiring reboots.
In 2008, I wrote a step by
step guide for building a QuickBooks server from an XP Pro desktop
computer and a 2008 version of QuickBooks Pro. "Build Your Own
QuickBooks Production Server" sells for $19.95, the same money you
might spend for a decent computer book at your local discount book
store. It contains over 80 pages of step by step illustrated
instructions that apply to every version of QuickBooks since 2006. It includes:
- Step by step instructions for automating a
nightly backup of your critical QuickBooks company files. No more
broken CD burners or finding lost usb drives.
- Step by step instructions for automatically
updating QuickBooks. All of your QuickBooks computers will have the
latest updates as Intuit publishes them.
- A unique opportunity to build your server for
under $200, with my successful method of finding and utilizing
almost new off lease computer equipment.
Avoid headaches with a robust QuickBooks setup. Complete your QuickBooks Multi User
installation with the instructions from my book. Your search for QuickBooks speed is over.
Finally - The Holy Grail of QuickBooks setup. Consider a
QuickBooks Production Server with secure remote access. It will free
you to do business from anywhere. Remote access allows secure use of
QuickBooks company files from inside your office, from home or on the
road. You can even have your accountant access your QuickBooks files.
You can enjoy not installing any software on desktop computers and
laptops and not upgrading your network.
They say one picture’s worth
a thousand words. Look carefully at this screen shot of my QuickBooks
Production Server running as a multi user QuickBooks Application Server
on a shoe string. You can plainly see three user’s remote desktop
QuickBooks Multi User sessions and an administrator desktop session
simultaneously working on an XP Pro based terminal server. I access
QuickBooks form anywhere with high speed Internet.
Hosted QuickBooks remote
access can cost as much as $50 per user per month. Save your money! Purchase "Build Your Own QuickBooks Production Server" now. Build your own server. Then,
install "Thin Stuff" the same QuickBooks remote access solution I use,
for as little as $99 and eliminate recurring monthly QuickBooks hosting
charges. I'll send you links to purchase "Thin Stuff" and additional instructions
in my download confirmation email.
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