Topic: Network Edition Setup

Network Edition Setup

When you install Vehicle Fleet Manager client software on your computer, an embedded database is installed by default to allow you to try out the software without further configuration. However, when you're ready to share the software on a network with multiple users, you need to install a shared database on a server. Any Windows computer may act as the "server", as long as it is accessible from all of the computers which need to access the shared database. You also want to make sure the computer is able to run without interruption to avoid any potential for database corruption which might occur if the computer is restarted while users are connecting to and using the database.

To set up Vehicle Fleet Manager for use on a network by multiple users, there are three basic steps:

1. Install the client software on the computers which will run Vehicle Fleet Manager.

2. Install the database server software on a shared Windows server.

3. Connect the client computers to the database server.

Installing the client software:

The client software is the program that users interact with to enter and update vehicle records. If you have used the trial version of Vehicle Fleet Manager, then you have already installed at least one copy of this software. Note that in order to connect to a shared database server, you must purchase Vehicle Fleet Manager Network Edition. All editions of Vehicle Fleet Manager run in single user stand-alone mode by default. The Network Edition can also connect to a central database server.

Install the database server software:

The database server software is very easy to install in the default configuration.

To install in the default configuration (in folder C:\Program Files\Vehicle Fleet Manager Data), follow these simple steps:

1. Log on to your server and download the setup program from http://www.vinitysoft.com/VFM/NetworkVFM.exe

2. Run the setup program that you downloaded in step 1, and accept all defaults.

This program will install a Firebird Database Server and a new Vehicle Fleet Manager database. The new database will be installed in "C:\Program files\Vehicle Fleet Manager Data\GESTIONFLOTTE.FDB".

3. Activate the database by entering the activation code provided after the purchase. Activation codes are different on every computer. Make sure to get the activation code corresponding to the identification code of the server computer. To do so, send us the identification code you get when you run Vehicle Fleet Manager on your server computer and we will send you back proper activation code.

To install in another folder than C:\Program Files\Vehicle Fleet Manager Data, follow these simple steps:

1. Log on to your server and download the setup program from http://www.vinitysoft.com/VFM/NetworkVFM.exe

2. Run the setup program that you downloaded in step 1, and, in the second window, specify in which folder you would like the database to be installed. Accept all defaults for the rest of the installation process.

This program will install a Firebird Database Server and a new Vehicle Fleet Manager database. The new database will be installed in the specified folder.

Connect the client computers to the shared database:

After installing the database server, you may connect your client computer(s) to the shared database server by following these steps:

Open Vehicle Fleet Manager on one of the client computers which it is installed on.

1. Select the menu Options - Personalize. Insert the name of the server(computer) that host the database in the field ‘Database Server’ (if you don't know the name of the server, log on to the server and right-click "My Computer", choose "Properties", and then select the "Computer Name" tab.)

2. If the path of the database file on the server is different than the default one (C:\Program Files\Vehicle Fleet Manager Data), you will have to enter it in the appropriate field just under the field 'Database Server'.

3. Click "Save"

4. Close and then reopen Vehicle Fleet Manager. You're now connected to the shared database server.

Warning! If your database server have a firewall configured (most of server computer have one), you wil have to either, deactivate it or, add an exception to the firewall. The program file you have to allow your client workstation to access to is : "C:\Program Files\Firebird\Firebird_2_0\fbserver.exe". To add an exception to the firewall (within Windows XP), go to "Start - Control panel - Firewall". Click on "Exceptions" tab then click on "Add a program". Click on "Browse" then select this file : "C:\Program Files\Firebird\Firebird_2_0\Bin\fbserver.exe".

Warning! If your network is not managed (small network are usually not managed), maybe you will have to type the IP adress of the database server instead of it's name in the field ‘Database Server’.