I'm IT Admin for a CPA that does both conventional bookkeeping and forensic accounting. The forensic group results in the need to have a shocking number of versions of QB files. Between the need to not modify or upgrade a data file and the extended time for a case to complete, we need to be able to deal with QB files of 30+ versions and that number keeps growing. There will be a need to open a QB 2009 file ten years from now.
For the versions before Quickbooks Database Manager, I've used a separate Terminal Server Virtual Machine for each old versions of QB running on a appropriate OS. So if someone needs to run QB Enterprise v4 they connect and run a Terminal Server running Server 2003r2. For security, that VM is only started for that session and is firewalled from the rest of the network except for the specific ports needed for Terminal Server and for that user station.
The problem comes with the many versions that are on one server that uses the SQL software required by versions in the last dozen years. I can't seem to find any info on what versions of the Database need to be installed. Do I have to install each? For example Quickbooks 2009 and QB Enterprise v9. If so, in what order? Lots of conflicting information. I'm getting ready to create a new VM for this and want to do it the best way.
I've seen some references to install the Premier then Enterprise of the first year, then repeat for the next year, and continue. Really?
