Network Setup Overview

When you install Asset 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 Asset 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 Asset Manager.
  2. Install the database server software on a shared Windows server.
  3. Connect the client computers to the database server.

Step 1: Install the client software:

The client software is the program that users interact with to enter and update asset records.  If you have used the trial version of Asset Manager, then you have already installed at least one copy of this software.  This software is available for download at http://www.kzsoftware.com/products/asset_management/trial.htm  Note that in order to connect to a shared database server, you must install the Asset Manager Enterprise Edition.  All editions of Asset Manager run in single user stand-alone mode by default.  The Enterprise Edition can also connect to a remote central database server.

Step 2: Install the database server software:

The database server software is very easy to install in the default configuration.  To install in the default configuration, follow these simple steps:

  1. Log on to your server and download the setup program from:
  2. http://www.kzsoftware.com/products/kzfirebird/download.htm.
    Note that this is a different setup program than the client software installed on the user's computers.
  3. Run the setup program and accept all defaults.

This program will install a Firebird Database Server and a new Asset Manager database.

Step 3: Connect the client computers to the shared database:

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

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

  1. Select the menu option Tools --> Database Connection (Note: if you don't see this option, you need to install the "Enterprise Edition" with multiple user network support from http://www.kzsoftware.com/products/asset_management/trial.htm)
  2. Enter the name of the database server in the connection dialog box (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.)  Note that you only need to enter the name of the database server - you do not need to enter a file path when connecting to a remote database server.  The file path is only required when connecting to a local database file.
  3. Click Ok
  4. Close and then reopen Asset Manager.  You're now connected to the shared database server.

Note: If you cannot connect to the database server, a firewall may be blocking the connection. Configure your firewall to allow TCP connections on Port 3050. For the Windows XP firewall, go to Control Panel --> Firewall --> Exceptions --> Add Port.

When you're finished configuring the database connection, set up a scheduled task to backup the database daily.

Advanced - Citrix/Terminal Server Configuration:

If you are installing the client on a Windows Terminal Server, please see the Citrix/Terminal Server Configuration Notes.

Advanced - Database File Storage:

If you are a server administrator and would like to change the default location where the Asset Manager database is stored, you may do so by following the instructions below.  Asset Manager is designed to run with the standard options "out of the box", and in most cases there is no reason to change the defaults; however, these instructions are provided for server administrators who would like to change the default installation.

  1. First stop the Firebird database service.
  2. Next copy the database file from C:\KZSoftware\AssetManager.adb to the new location where you would like it to be stored.  Note: the new location must be located on a hard drive that is physically connected to the host machine.  It cannot be located on a mapped drive, a file system share, or a network file system.
  3. Next, open the file C:\Program Files\firebird\aliases.config in notepad and change this line: AssetManager=C:\KZSoftware\ASSETMANAGER.ADB to reflect the new path to the database file.
  4. Finally, restart the Firebird database service.