Yearly Archives: 2013

8 posts

The Two Fundamental Ways To Install QuickBooks

QuickBooks

One has many options with QuickBooks, but when it comes to QuickBooks setup, they boil down to two fundamental ways to install QuickBooks.

1 – Setup QuickBooks as a client server application with software on each computer that accesses QuickBooks on a server. This is the least expensive way, in up front costs, to deploy QuickBooks. You can use a Windows Server product or XP Pro. My step-by-step manual details an inexpensive XP Pro “server” for five users or less. Intuit publishes support documentation for a typical peer to peer multi user installation of QuickBooks.

2 – Setup QuickBooks as a Terminal Services or Remote Desktop Services application. No QuickBooks software is installed on any computer except the server. Most deployments use Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services to pull this option off. Although, there are several other products on the market that will accomplish the same thing, including one that uses XP Pro as a terminal server. If you require Intuit service, they require the QuickBooks Enterprise on your server. Intuit does not support any other version on a Terminal Services or Remote Desktop Services server.

You will need high speed, firewalled Internet access to remotely reach your QuickBooks environment.

1 – If you are setup as a client server application with software on each computer that accesses QuickBooks, use a remote PC access tool like QuickBooks Remote Access, LogMeIn or GoToMyPC to access the desktop of a QuickBooks client computer.

2 – If you are setup as a Terminal Services or Remote Desktop Services application, have a remote user get to QuickBooks using an RDP client on a PC, MAC, tablet or smart phone, from the Internet, through the local firewall, to your QuickBooks Terminal Services or Remote Desktop Services server.

QuickBooks and SSD Drives

QuickBooks

A reader asked some great questions today.

I am looking to put my QuickBooks company files, accessed by five users, on RAID. Which RAID configuration do you recommend for this?

I know QuickBooks does not recommend RAID and you mentioned it too, but do they mean its not recommended for just for installing QuickBooks and/or the database file too?

I am thinking about getting a 64 bit Xeon, 16 GB memory, Windows 7 Pro computer to use as a server for QuickBooks Enterprise 14, what are your thoughts?

I know its an overkill but I rather be overpowered than under powered and at $600, why not?

I will be replacing the main drive with a 256GB SSD, which will also be used to install QuickBooks Enterprise 14. Again, your thoughts?

My answers:

For my money, I’m following Intuit’s recommendations to not put the QuickBooks application or company files on a raid volume and to use a physical server, not a virtual server.

Regarding RAID generally; RAID 1 volumes run terribly slow. I’ve personally seen many RAID 5 volumes fail completely. I’ve also seen RAID rebuilds after a drive failure cripple a server for over 24 hours. I never use RAID 1 or 5 unless I’m backed into a corner. But, I will use RAID 10 volumes as they are much more dependable, and expensive.

I like your choice of desktop computer. You’re right about it being overkill for the server, but it would make a great client computer. In the default client-server setup with QuickBooks configured as a client-server application and native QuickBooks software installed on each client computer that accesses QuickBooks on the server, most of the processing occurs on the client computers.

I also like your choice of an SSD drive. Anything to speed up I/O will improve QuickBooks performance. That includes regular company file maintenance. RAID slows I/O performance; consequently, Intuit recommends against RAID.

I would still use a Windows XP Pro computer as my server and invest money for performance options in my client computers. I would also consider using an SSD drive in my XP Pro server.

If I was concerned about recovering a failed drive, I would use a product like Acronis to image my server for bare metal recovery. The server should be imaged after every change; like a QuickBooks version upgrade. If the server fails, bring up another server from the image, then restore your last QuickBooks backup to the new server.

QuickBooks Virtual Server

2 comments
Business Systems Support QuickBooks

I install a lot of software, sometimes on a very large scale. My software installation best practice requires that anytime I install software for a client, I review release notes and minimum systems requirements from the software manufacturer. It’s not uncommon that major changes occur between version updates that will impact an installation that I’m doing.

Recently, I encountered a situation that challenged my default server installation methodology to the core. This challenge will prove to impact the way I look at QuickBooks in the future.

My server installation best practice requires me to consider virtualizing any server environment before I consider using a physical server. Virtual technologies integrated with RAID storage arrays are mature and as common as Ford trucks. Only a few architectural instances dictate a physical server; an on site domain controller and a network fax server using multi port pots lines come to mind.

My back up and disaster methodology depends upon continual data protection, continually writing an updated virtual server image to local and offsite storage. CDP is pretty much the norm in the industry today.

My most recent QuickBooks installation environment revolved around the role Remote Desktop Services plays in reducing costs and increasing manageability. It’s almost a no brainer to build a  thirty user QuickBooks Enterprise 13 set up with Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services on top of VMware, using Acronis to write a virtual image into a datacenter. However, QuickBooks release notes and latest system requirements stopped me dead in my tracks.

First, I came upon QuickBooks system requirements and Intuit’s concept of “natively installed” splattered all over the Intuit QuickBooks Support Systems Requirements page. I had not seen these requirements in the past. Check these out:

System requirements for QuickBooks 2013 and Enterprise Solutions 13.0  Native Installed

Apparently, Intuit does not recommend or support QuickBooks installation on a virtual server. An IT person might say, “so what.” My experience tells me that only a fool will run a large QuickBooks environment without a yearly Intuit QuickBooks Support Contract. There are always reasons to get Intuit’s assistance to keep your QuickBooks operational.

Secondly, if the failure to support QuickBooks installed on a virtual server is not bad enough, Intuit states that “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.”

Essentially, Intuit prefers that the two pillars of server technology, virtualization and RAID be completely avoided, to the extent that Intuit will not support you if you deploy virtualization and RAID. This strikes me as a large problem or a great opportunity.

How might this situation effect you?

Support for Windows XP SP3 and Office 2003 Ends April 8, 2014

Houston Texas Accredited Microsoft Licensing Professionals

After April 8, 2014, there will be no new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free or paid assisted support options, or online technical content updates for Windows XP SP3 and Office 2003. Talk to us today about moving to current versions of Windows and Office to help them minimize risk, increase productivity and operational efficiency, and take advantage of technologies like virtualization and the cloud.

Support for Windows XP SP3 and Office 2003 Ends April 8, 2014

Why is Microsoft ending support for Windows XP and Office 2003? – In 2002 Microsoft introduced its Support Lifecycle policy based on customer feedback to have more transparency and predictability of support for Microsoft products. As per this policy, Microsoft Business and Developer products, including Windows and Office products, receive a minimum of 10 years of support (5 years Mainstream Support and 5 years Extended Support), at the supported service pack level.

Thus, Windows XP SP3 and Office 2003 will go out of support on April 8, 2014. If your organization has not started the migration to a modern desktop, you are late. Based on historical customer deployment data, the average enterprise deployment can take 18 to 32 months from business case through full deployment. To ensure you remain on supported versions of Windows and Office, you should begin your planning and application testing immediately to ensure you deploy before end of support.

What does end of support mean to customers? – It means you should take action. After April 8, 2014, there will be no new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free or paid assisted support options or online technical content updates.

Running Windows XP SP3 and Office 2003 in your environment after their end of support date may expose your company to potential risks, such as:

Security & Compliance Risks: Unsupported and unpatched environments are vulnerable to security risks. This may result in an officially recognized control failure by an internal or external audit body, leading to suspension of certifications, and/or public notification of the organization’s inability to maintain its systems and customer information.

Lack of Independent Software Vendor (ISV) & Hardware Manufacturers support: A recent industry report from Gartner Research suggests “many independent software vendors (ISVs) are unlikely to support new versions of applications on Windows XP in 2011; in 2012, it will become common.” And it may stifle access to hardware innovation: Gartner Research further notes that in 2012, most PC hardware manufacturers will stop supporting Windows XP on the majority of their new PC models.

Get current with Windows and Office. This option has upside well beyond keeping you supported. It offers more flexibility to empower employees to be more productive, while increasing operational efficiency through improved PC security and management. It also enables your organization to take advantage of latest technology trends such as virtualization and the cloud.

How do I begin my migration? – Enterprise Customers: Microsoft offers large organizations in-depth technical resources, tools, and expert guidance to ease the deployment and management of Windows, Office and Internet Explorer products and technologies. To learn more about migration and deployment programs, please contact your Houston Microsoft sales representative or Certified Microsoft Partner. Learn how to pilot and deploy a modern desktop yourself, download the free Microsoft Deployment Toolkit and begin your deployment today.

Small to Medium Business: There are many options for small and medium businesses considering moving to a modern PC with the latest productivity and collaboration tools. Small to mid-size organizations should locate a Houston Area Microsoft Certified Partner to understand the best options to meet their business needs. If your current PC meets the system requirements for Windows 7 or Windows 8, you can buy Windows 7 Professional or Windows 8 Pro from a local retailer or Houston Microsoft Certified Partner. If your PC does not meet system requirements, consider purchasing a new business PC with Windows 8 Pro.

Networking QuickBooks Requires Mapping A Network Drive

QuickBooks

I’ve been all over the map about QuickBooks requirement to map a network drive in a QuickBooks multi user setup. For awhile, UNC paths were the way to go. First it was \\[server name]\[share name] not mapped, then \\[ip address]\[share name] not mapped. Now it appears that we’re back to mapped drives.

Straight from the source, Intuit spells out QuickBooks curent thinking about mapped drives below.

QuickBooks Map Drive

The take away: Do it by the book, there must be a good reason.

I’ve learned from experience that when picking a drive letter, choose something above LMNOP and make it the same for every computer accessing QuickBooks.

QuickBooks License Problem Solved

QuickBooks

Straight from the source, Intuit spells out QuickBooks licensing. Yes, you can use a copy of QuickBooks to support your QuickBooks server company files without using a QuickBooks license.

QuickBooks Licensing

The big take away:

QuickBooks Pro and Premier allow a maximum of five simultaneous users. Need more than five, use QuickBooks Enterprise, good to 30 users.

QuickBooks uses both a per computer and per person license model. Last I heard, my remote accessing CPA was a person and Intuit requires him to have a license. As a ProAdvisor, I’m certain he has his own license, so I don’t have to purchase one for him. Am I wrong? Let me know in the comments.

Cloud Resources Offer Profound Advantages

Business Systems Support Cloud Computing Data Center

dcJim Ditmore recently published an excellent article over at Information Week titled "Hard Truths About Cloud Differences" where he clearly articulates the necessity for medium to large sized company business people to understand the differences in cloud computing approaches and pitfalls.

Try as I might, I find it very difficult to articulate business need in the language of cloud computing folks. So, I tend to look at the most cost effective solution to achieve an end. Fortunately, cloud computing resources fit my requirements nicely, facilitating me to speak in terms of growth and performance.

For you to achieve a robust and scalable business, partner with competent highly skilled people that get the details and understand the pitfalls. Jim Ditmore does a great job spelling out the pitfalls of cloud computing in his article.

Be very cautious if it’s a core business functionality. You could be locking away your differentiation and ultimate competitiveness.

Before you sign the contract, know how you will get your data back should you stop using the SaaS application.

Make sure you have ensured the integrity and security of your data in the application vendor’s hands.

Understand where the product is in its lifecycle (older products might not provide lasting benefits).

Anticipate the eventual migration path as the product fades at the end of its cycle

From a technical perspective, details make or break any IT environment, especially when utilizing cloud resources. Something as simple as when to have physical assets inside a business facility correctly mated with cloud resources can severely impact any business.

Wrapping my head around the details pays big dividends, as my business runs using cloud resources, freeing me to operate more effectively.

I’m forever amazed at how far we’ve come in twenty years. I would have never imagined doing business the way I do business today. Utilizing cloud resources results in increased customer service, a high level of customer satisfaction and much improved operations manageability.

In spite of difficult deployment and integration, cloud resources offer profound advantages;

Reduced Cost: Cloud technology is paid incrementally, saving organizations money.

Increased Storage: Organizations can store more data than on private computer systems.

Highly Automated: No longer do IT personnel need to worry about keeping software up to date.

Flexibility: Cloud computing offers much more flexibility than past computing methods.

More Mobility: Employees can access information wherever they are, rather than having to remain at their desks.

Allows IT to Shift Focus: Organizations no longer have to worry about constant server updates and other computing issues; they are free to concentrate on innovation.

If computing performance and business growth interest you, lets continue the conversation.