Mac Server
Big Business Mac Server is software you run on one computer to connect many users.
Big Business Client is software each user runs to connect to share data and add entries. Mac Client and Windows Client can both be used from a variety of current computers.
This chapter describes the setup and benefits of this design and control it gives you.
Big Business Server is the multi-user version of Big Business, the integrated business management tool from bigbusiness.com. Big Business Server is based on a client/ server architecture that supports multiple simultaneous users— all your employees can access current information from the server.
Client / server architecture divides data processing between the client and the server. The division of labor between these two parts is transparent to users. The client part is located on the user computers. Its responsibility is to display the Big Business interface and to query the server in response to user actions.
The server part is located on a designated server computer. Its responsibility is to store and manage data and provide services to the client computers across a network. To search for a set of customers, for example, users ask the client to locate certain customer cards. The client sends the request to the server, which executes the search on the server machine and returns the resulting customer cards to the client.
The benefits of client/ server architecture are increased efficiency and speed. Work is divided between the clients and the server and is intelligently managed to reduce the amount of network passes. The less network traffic, the faster the entire system works. Because all data is stored on the server, each client has immediate access to up-to-the-minute data.
Mac Server Getting Started
Getting started with Big Business Server is easy. Installation takes just a few minutes. You use simple dialog boxes to set up the program with your company data. If you choose, Big Business Server can automatically set up almost everything. You can also import data from other programs.
This chapter explains how to install and set up the software. After you finish this chapter, you’ll be ready to start working with Big Business.
Mac Server Requirements
Big Business Mac Server needs a current computer to run efficiently. Minimums of 16GB of Memory and 4 Cores are recommended. Any new computer will meet these.
Big Business Mac Client and Windows Client can connect to Big Business Mac Server. Each client computer needs any current system and 8GB of Memory and 2 Cores.
Mac Server Install
Mac Server is easily to install. Download Mac Server from bigbusiness.com/download/
and open the disk image, pictured, and drag the Big Business Server to Applications.
Hold the Shift key while starting Big Business Server to select a different Data File.
Mac Server Installing Clients
Installing Clients to connect to your Mac Server is as simple as possible.
Building a Data File
Building a Data File is covered by unlimited setup support, to help you through setup.
Typically, you gather spreadsheets with essentials like, Customers with balances, and Items with inventory, and import them into a new Data File. We can do this for you.
Then, place your new Data File on your computer and open with Big Business Server.
Server Administration Window
This Solution describes the Server Administration Window (3260)
At startup the Big Business Server automatically displays the Server Administration Window. Closing the Server Administration Window does not Quit Big Business Server. Choose Administration from the Window menu to open the window.
The Server Administration Window lists activity and vital statistics for Big Business Server.
Quitting Server
This Solution describes Quitting Big Business Server for Mac OS X. (3259)
When you quit Big Business Server, the dialogue below will be displayed.
You may choose:
• to Wait for all users to disconnect
• to Disconnect all users in the default ten minutes
• to Disconnect all users immediately, by entering zero (0) minutes.
Launching Client
This Solution describes launching Big Business Client for Mac OS X to connect to Big Business Server (3257)
To start Big Business Client, double-click Big Business Client, or click once if you have added it to the OS X Dock.
The first time you launch Big Business Client, the Connect dialog will appear and will display Big Business Server on its Available tab. Select your Server and click OK.
The first time Big Business Client connects, there will be a delay while resource files are copied to the client computer.
The next time you launch Big Business Client it will automatically connect to the same server unless you hold down the Option key (Mac) or Alt key (Windows) to display the Connect to Server dialog.
Server Features
(3236)
Big Business Server and Big Business are virtually the same product with identical features and interface. However, Big Business Server has sophisticated multi-user capabilities not found in Big Business. As a result, Big Business Server includes multi-user management features that are not discussed in the Big Business User’s Guide. Those features are listed in this chapter.
In a client/ server architecture, the server stores and manages a single data set that all users access and share. This ensures that users have immediate access to current data. The server also stores the Big Business structure and manages multiple users accessing the same structure objects, such as screens, lists, or notes, at the same time.
Big Business provides an intelligent object-locking system that lets multiple users access and view the same structure objects simultaneously. To protect data integrity, Big Business allows only one user at a time to modify the object. For example, when you try to modify a customer card that is already in use, Big Business displays a read-only version of the customer card— you can view and print the card, but you cannot change it until it has been closed by the other user.
Server Specific Features
(3250)
This chapter includes instructions on these and other topics:
• In-Use Objects
• Single-Instance Objects
• Single-User Objects
• System Maintenance
• Updating Lists
• Making Deposits
• Performing a Check Run
• Creating an Invoice
After you have completed this chapter, you will be familiar with the basic differences of Big Business Server. Please refer to the Big Business User’s Guide for in-depth program and feature instructions.
In Use Objects
This Solution describes how Big Business Server for Mac OS handles multiple users and displays in-use objects, like a Customer Card which is locked In Use when another user is modifying it. (3237)
Big Business allows multiple Users to view the same object simultaneously, but only one User at a time can actually modify the object. For example, many users can view the Customer Card for A Shop For Gifts And Things at the same time, but only one user can actually edit the card. Once that User closes A Shop For Gifts And Things’s Customer Card, another User can begin making modifications immediately. Objects displayed in this Read-Only Mode can be viewed and printed by any number of users at a time. User access to objects is managed on a first-come-first-served basis.
Big Business does not display a dialog box when an object will be displayed in Read-Only mode. Instead the In Use indicator is displayed.
The following is a list of the objects that Big Business displays in Read-Only Mode:
• Customer, Vendor, Item, Contact, Employee, Company Cards
• Quotes, Orders, Invoices
• Receive Money
• Purchase Orders
• Bills
• Make a Payment tool
• Bank, Category, Account Cards
• General Journal
• Transfers
• Access
Single Instance Objects
This Solution describes how Big Business Server for Mac OS handles multiple users and single-instance objects, like a Deposit when another user is already using it. (3238)
Big Business won’t display certain objects in Read-Only Mode; only one instance of the object is allowed to be open on the network at one time. Big Business does this to protect data integrity and prevent event conflicts, such as printing duplicate Checks or duplicating Deposits. For instance, a User cannot perform a Check Run when another user has already started a Check Run. Once the first User has completed the Check Run, the other User may begin one.
Big Business displays the following dialog box when only one instance of the object can be open at a time. The following is a list of the objects that can be open in only one instance at a time:
• Prefs (except MyDesk)
• Balance Adjustments
• Reconciliation
• Deposits
• Finance Charges
Updating Lists
This Solution describes how Big Business Server for Mac OS handles multiple users and can update lists, like the Customer Listing when other users jhave modified it. (3242)
Certain lists, such as customer titles, account types, and salutations, are stored on the local client machines to increase system performance. The server stores a master of all these lists. As a result, user lists might not always match the master, and users will have to update their lists occasionally.
To update your list:
• Select the Update List item from a list.
List Up To Date
Big Business Client (used with Big Business Server) includes buttons to update lists (Customer, Vendor, Item, etc.) to check for new entries made by other users since you started your Client. (3243)
If your list is current, Big Business displays the following dialog box.
System Maintenance
This Solution describes how Big Business Server for Mac OS handles multiple users and exclusive objects, like the Maintenance Prefs when other users are signed-in. (3240)
You cannot perform maintenance on the system when other users are signed- in. If you launch the Maintenance Prefs tool when users are signed- in, Big Business displays the following dialog box.
Before using maintenance tools in Big Business, you need to wait until all users have logged off the server.
During Maintenance
This Solution describes how Big Business Server for Mac OS handles multiple users and exclusive objects, like the Maintenance Prefs when other users are signed-in. (3241)
Conversely, users will not be able to log on to the system when the Maintenance Prefs tool is active. Big Business displays the following dialog box when a user tries to log on and another user is currently performing system maintenance.
Payments Tools
This Solution describes how Big Business Server for Mac OS handles multiple users and single-instance objects, like Make A Payment when another user is already using it. (3239)
Big Business displays a dialog box when users try to use the Check Run and Schedule Payments tools in one of these three circumstances:
• A User has the Check Run tool open and another User tries to launch the Check Run or Schedule Payments tools.
• A User has the Schedule Payments tool open and another User tries to launch the Schedule Payments or Check Run tools.
• A User has either the Check Run or Schedule Payments tools open and the same User tries to launch the other tool.
Performing a Check Run
This Solution describes how Big Business Server for Mac OS handles multiple users and single-instance objects, like Check Run when another user is already using it. (3246)
To ensure the accuracy of all Checks being printed, Big Business will not let a User perform a Check Run if one or more of the Bills in the Check Run has been modified or deleted by another User. In such a case, Big Business displays the following dialog box.
Creating an Invoice
This Solution describes how Big Business Server for Mac OS handles multiple users and in-use objects, such as a Sales Order which is locked In Use when another user is modifying it. (3247)
When you open an existing sales order and another user tries to create an invoice for the open sales order, the other user will see the following dialog box.
Making Deposits
This Solution describes how Big Business Server for Mac OS handles multiple users and single-instance objects, like a Deposit when another user is already using it. (3245)
To ensure the accuracy of all deposits, Big Business will not let a user make a deposit if one or more of the items in the deposit is being modified by another user. In such a case, Big Business displays the following dialog box.
Screen Sharing
Screen Sharing is a feature of Mac OS X 10.5 and higher, allowing remote access to your computer from another Mac, or any VNC Viewer running on a PC, iPad, iPhone, etc..
This Solution provides basic setup information. (6203)
To allow Screen Sharing on your Mac:
1. Go to System Preferences to Sharing
2. Click the checkbox for Screen Sharing
This allows you to connect from another Mac.
3. Click Computer Settings
4. Click the checkbox for VNC Viewers and enter a Password
This allows you to connect from a VNC Viewer.
Connect a Mac locally:
On another Mac on your network, look in a Finder window under Shared for your shared computer and click Share Screen. Enter your name and password (for the computer you are connecting to).
Connect a VNC Viewer locally:
On your iPad or iPhone, use App Store to get a VNC Viewer such as Remoter, Jaadu, RealVNC, Mocha, etc.. Connect to your local network (e.g. Settings, Wi-Fi, On), and in the VNC Viewer connect (e.g. in Remoter, Sessions, Add, and choose your computer, enter name and password, and connect).
To connect remotely, see Allowing Remote Connections.
Allowing Remote Connections
If you want to access your Big Business workstation from a home computer, or portable like your iPad, tablet, iPhone, etc., you may need to configure your router or to allow the remote connection.
This Solution provides basic setup information. (6204)
On an office Mac:
1. Go to System Preferences, Network, click Advanced and go to TCP/IP to see the address of the Router.
On an office PC:
1. Go to the Command Prompt and type, "ipconfig, to see the address of the Default Gateway.
If addresses start with 10.0 or 192.168, they are private (internal) addresses used to share one public (outside) address. The trick is to find out your outside address and tell the router to send incoming requests to the internal address you want.
In a browser you can go to whatismyip.com (or a simlar service) to see your public IP address This is the outside address on your router, which you will enter in Big Business Client, Screen Sharing, or a VNC Viewer.
Before this will work, you must set the router to send incoming request to the computer you want.
In a browser go to the address of your router or gateway (e.g. http://192.168.0.1). Most routers have a browser interface and will ask for a password on a dialog saying, "you must log into ABC123", where ABC123 is the model of router you are using.
If you are not familiar with configuring your router (e.g. it was installed by a service provider) you can search the Internet for the model (ABC123) to find the documentation and help including the default Password and instructions for Port Forwarding (Virtual Serving, Pinholing, enabling Services, i.e. allowing incoming connections)
Setup the Port Forwarding (or similar) so your router sends VNC or Screen Sharing requests on port 5900 to the computer you want to access, or ports 19813 and 19814 for Big Business to your server computer.