September 16, 2014 – Unified Network Services

Regarding all the questions I get about QuickBooks 2015 requirements; if you plan to move to QuickBooks 2015, it’s time for you to upgrade from XP to a new operating system. However, if you plan to stick with QuickBooks 2014 for awhile, consider that currently, all versions of QuickBooks 2014 support installation on XP Pro Service Pack 3. Check this link: http://support.quickbooks.intuit.com/support/articles/INF24382.

Although Microsoft no longer supports XP, by using a modern version browser, not Internet Explorer 8 and by using updated security software, one can mitigate most of XP’s security problems. No Microsoft support for XP Pro means very little, as refurbished XP Pro desktops will be around for some time to come.

The Painless QuickBooks XP Pro based QuickBooks Production Server still proves itself to be the easiest to configure and most cost effective way to host QuickBooks company files to Windows 7 or 8 client computers running any version of QuickBooks 2014 or earlier, sized for five users or less.

When you’re ready for QuickBooks 2015, return to painlessquickbooks.com and review these QuickBooks 2015 system requirements direct from Intuit QuickBooks Support at http://support.quickbooks.intuit.com/support/articles/inf26865 are listed below.

Pay particular attention to “natively installed,” performance issues with QuickBooks on RAID arrays and Microsoft Office 365 issues.

Operating systems:

Operating systems supported:

Windows 8, all editions including 64-bit, natively installed
Windows 7, all editions including 64-bit, natively installed
Windows Vista (SP1 or later), all editions including 64-bit, natively installed
Windows Server 2012, Windows Small Business Server 2011, Small Business Server 2008
Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2003 (SP2), including 64-bit, natively installed

Database Servers:

Windows: natively installed & Windows 8, Windows 7 or Vista (SP1) with UAC on, Windows Server 2011, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 – Terminal Server Config., Windows Server 2003 (SP2), and Windows Small Business Server 2008

Note: Windows Home Server Edition is not supported.

Hardware and operating system requirements (client and server)

2.4 GHz processor minimum
System processor should support at least Streaming SIMD Extensions 2 (SSE2) instruction set
2 GB RAM minimum

RAM requirements for multi-user setup
5 users: 2-3 GB
10 users: 3-4 GB
15 users: 4-6 GB
20 users: 6-8 GB

4x CD-ROM drive required for CD installations

Display optimized for 1024 x 768 screen resolution or higher with up to 2 Extended monitors

Best optimized for Default DPI setting (96 DPI or 100%). Additionally, medium DPI (120 DPI or 110%) is supported to ensure an optimal experience for 110% scaling.

Windows:
U.S. version
Regional Settings are supported when set to English (United States) with keyboard setting to U.S. only
Administrator Rights required for the server computer when hosting Multi User Access
Natively installed

Disk space requirements:
1.5 GB of disk space (additional space required for data files)
Additional software: 250 MB for Microsoft .NET 4.0 Runtime, provided on the QuickBooks CD
Additional requirements for Intuit Data Protect in QuickBooks Connected Services offerings
Require minimum 2.0 GB Ram
Twice the size of the largest File set to back up + 100MB or twice the size to restore. The space is only required from the work folder LocalApplicationData+”Intuit\Intuit Data Protect”

Software compatibility:

QuickBooks is capable of integrating with hundreds of third-party applications. The following integrations are provided with QuickBooks; additional RAM will enhance the use of these features. See Intuit Marketplace for the most up-to-date list.

Microsoft Office:

Office 2010 and Office 2013/365 (including Outlook 2010 and Outlook 2013) both on 32 and 64 bit. (Note: Office 365 is only supported when it is locally installed, not the web version.)
Preparing letters requires Microsoft Word 2013, 2010, or 2007.
Exporting reports requires Microsoft Excel 2013, 2010, or 2007.
Contact Synchronization with Microsoft Outlook requires Outlook 2013, 2010, or 2007.
Synchronization with Outlook requires QuickBooks Contact Sync for Outlook (the download is available at no charge).
Contact Sync does not work with the Microsoft Business Contact Manager Outlook plug-in. If a sync is performed, duplicate records could result

QuickBooks Point of Sale 2015 (V12.0), V11.0 , V10.0

Adobe Acrobat Reader: Business Planner functionality and viewing forms requires Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or later.

Payroll and other online features and services requires Internet access with at least a 56 Kbps connection speed (DSL or cable modem recommended)
TurboTax 2014 and 2013 (Personal and Business)
Lacerte 2014 and 2013
Pro-Series tax years 2014 and 2013
QuickBooks for Mac 2015
Quicken 2015, 2014, 2013
Gmail, Yahoo Email, Windows Mail, Hotmail and AOL
Internet Explorer 11, 10, and 9.
Firewall and antivirus software compatibility
QuickBooks Pro 2015 has been tested with the following firewall and antivirus products.

Note: In some cases, it may be necessary to adjust settings in these products to ensure the best possible performance with QuickBooks.

Windows Server Firewall (all editions)
Windows 8 and 8.1 Firewall (all editions)
Windows 7 Firewall (all editions)
Windows Vista Firewall (all editions)
Microsoft Security Essentials
Avast
Windows Defender
AVG
Symantec
ESET
Avira
Kaspersky
McAfee
Bitdefender
Norton

Note: QuickBooks will work with systems running RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) but this is not recommended because performance issues may cause QuickBooks to operate slowly.

I recently responded to a request about using a Mac as a server. It got me to thinking about two things; how much I like Macs and how I move client’s QuickBooks to a new QuickBooks server after a hardware upgrade. I hope this information helps you out.

My response:

I also like Macs except when it comes to QuickBooks. You may have picked up on the fact that I always install a full version of QuickBooks on the server; never using Intuit’s “server install only” option for QuickBooks. Consequently, Mac is not an option for me. Intuit allows for a free extra server install in their licensing. I developed my XP Pro server installation as a reasonably inexpensive alternative to hosted QuickBooks, Windows Server operating systems/hardware installs and Apple or Linux installs.

For several years now, I’ve used my own methodology to move QuickBooks from a desktop or old server to a new server. I always use unique folders for each unique group of companies. I evaluate and enumerate the existing company files folder to see what I’m working with. Every company has their own unique mess. Once I’ve figured out the mess, I plan the cut-over date and build the new server including the new folder structure. Just prior to cut-over, I complete a fully verified backup of each company file. I will generally rebuild the company files when they do not verify. On many occasions, especially with large files, the company accountant will need to back out transactions or clean up the data before the file will verify.

Upon cut-over to the new server, I perform a restore from the verified QuickBooks backup file, moving unique companies into their respective new folders. Then, I go back to pick up custom reports, invoices, images, etc in their folders, like “QuickBooks Letter Templates”, “[company file name] – Images”, “Templates” as well as other folders with names relative to past versions. I will also pick up any shipping databases or other third party add on files. Finally, I copy the entire contents of the old company files folder to a unshared location on the server from where I can get anything that might be found missing several days after the cut-over.

Folks have a habit of placing task lists, spreadsheets, pdf docs and other extraneous files in the company files folder. I will copy those over to a shared “Accounting” folder and train users to place any accounting related support documents in that folder. In spite of that, I still see stuff land in the QuickBooks company file folders when I’ve returned weeks or months later.

On a side note, I’ve stopped using “Q” as a mapped drive letter. Microsoft reserved “Q” for their click to run software. Seems that everyone gets Microsoft Office from click to run these days. Consequently, I go to each client computer and map the server shared QuickBooks company files folder to a new drive letter.

Daily Archives: September 16, 2014

QuickBooks 2015 System Requirements

Move To A New QuickBooks Server