Hosting QB Server in Windows 10

Thanks for checking this forum for help, @roadwarriormfleet,

If you want to host your company files over a network, use the Database Server Manager in your Windows computer. The detailed steps to set it up is found in the articles below:

• Install QuickBooks Database Server Manager
• Set up and install a multi-user network for QuickBooks Desktop

If you need someone to walk you through the steps, I recommend contacting our Technical Team for support. They can initiate a viewing session with you to complete the set up.

Here's how to get Support: 

1. Open QuickBooks and click the Help menu.
2. Select QuickBooks Desktop Help.
3. On the pop-up screen select Contact us.
   
4. Click the Search for Something else button then type your concern in the Ask us anything box.
5. Hit Search then scroll down to get your contact options.

Another option to contact us is through the web. Here's how:

1. Go to this link: https://help.quickbooks.intuit.com/en_US/contact
2. Select QuickBooks Desktop then Continue as guest.
3. Pick your QuickBooks version.
4. The self-help topics are listed in the What can we help you with section.
5. For live help use the Search for something else button.

Let me know how it goes. I'll be right here to help you if you need anything else. Have a lovely day!

I could be missing something but I have yet to find a guide that explains how other users connect to the company file once the database manger software is set up. Personally I always manually create a network share within windows 10. But it would be nice to have a guide on that written up as the correct QB recommended way. 

Unless does the database manager set up its own network share automatically? I feel like some more detail could be given for beginners. 

Thank you

Thank you for providing details of your concern, @roadwarriormfleet.

I'm here to help you set up a multi-user network for QuickBooks Desktop. Here's how:

1. You'll need to set up your QuickBooks Desktop (Step 1) .
2. Then, ensure your company files are already on your server computer's local hard drive.
3. Next, set up the folder permission so company files can be shared through the network. 
4. Once done, install the Database Server Manager. This will helps to organize and to share your company files within the network of users. 
5. After that, to ensure that Database Server Manager has permission to run on your server computer, you'll need to set your firewall permissions. 
6. When finished, use the Database Server Manager to scan your company files so you can host them over your network. 

Now that you've set up everything, turn on Multi-User Access on your server computer: 

1. In QuickBooks Desktop, go to the File menu and hover over Utilities.
2. Select Host Multi-User Access. Then click Yes to confirm.

The steps above will let you host your company files over your network. To access your multi-user network, sign in as a user with admin rights on your server computer and workstations.

Here’s the article that'll give you more info about the process: Set up and install a multi-user network for QuickBooks Desktop. 

If in case you want to have someone that can guide you with the process, you can reach out to our Technical support team by following the instructions given by my colleague, Jen_D.

Feel free to leave a comment below if you have more questions about setting up Multi-User in QuickBooks. I’m here to help however I can. Take care always.

Hi,

I have this annoying issue with H505 error. It keeps appearing after some time. I have noticed that the QBDB service is being stopped and then I need to start it manually every time. Is there any idea why this could happen? 
The DB server has been setup and network sharing also.

The firewall is off. inbound/outbound rules have been defined.

I'll make sure that you can get rid of this error, darylkeizer.

Error H505 means something is blocking the incoming and outgoing communication to your company file and the multi-user connection to your server.

Usually, this error occurs when one of your workstations has been set to be the server for QuickBooks. To isolate the issue, you'll want to make sure that your server computer is the only one hosting multi-user mode. I'll show you how:

1. Open QuickBooks on any workstations where you see the error.
2. Don't open your company file. Instead, select File from the top menu bar.
3. Choose Utilities.
4. If you see the Host Multi-User Access option, don’t click it. If Stop Hosting Multi-User Access is an option, you have to select it.
5. Repeat these steps on all workstations where you see the error.

After checking the workstations, move on to your server computer. Here's how to do it:
 

1. Open QuickBooks on your server computer.
2. Go to the File menu.
3. Choose Utilities.
4. If you see the Host Multi-User Access option, select it. If Stop Hosting Multi-User Access is an option, don’t click it.

I also recommend reading our QuickBooks Database Server Manager User Guide to help ensure that all users on your network can seamlessly work together in QuickBooks Desktop from multiple computers.

If you have additional questions about the multi-user network, please don't hesitate to let me know. Feel free to tag me in your posts and comments.

Hey KlentB,

Thanks for the feeedback.

These steps I'm aware of. 
What's strange is that  the QuickBooksDB service keeps getting stopped. That is the problem. And once I start the service, everything runs just fine. PC info: Windows 10 Pro ver 1703

Daryl

Let's make sure that we can get your database server manager working again, darylkeizer.

You can uninstall your database server manager, rename the installation folder, and then reinstall the server manager again. I'm here to guide you through the process.

1. On your keyboard, press the Windows key + R.
2. Tyoe appwiz.cpl in the Run dialog box and then OK.
3. Select the QuickBooks Database Server Manager. Then, Uninstall/Change.
   
   

After that, rename the installation folder by following these steps below

1. Go to your installation folder location (Example: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit).
2. Press Windows key + R on your keyboard.
3. Copy and paste the location of the folder, then Enter.
4. Right-click the folder, and choose Rename. Rename the folder to .OLD.
   
   

Next, reinstall QuickBooks Database Server Manager. Here's how:

1. Close all open programs on your server computer, including QuickBooks.
2. Open the installed file Setup_QuickBooks.exe. Then, follow the onscreen instructions. If you need to find your product or license numbers, here's how to find them.
3. Select Custom or Network Options when asks to choose an install type. Then, Next. 
4. Choose the best option for your network setup and then select Next. Both the options install the Database Server Manager. If QuickBooks Desktop is already installed on your server computer, this won’t overwrite any existing company data.
   1. If you want Database Server Manager and QuickBooks Desktop on your server computer, select I'll be using QuickBooks Desktop on this computer, AND I'll be storing... We strongly recommend this option.
   2. If you only want Database Server Manager on your server computer, select I will NOT be using QuickBooks Desktop...
5. Click Install.
   
   

You'll should keep your data server back up and running. You'll also want to check your firewall and antivirus permissions to make sure you give your server manager permission to run on your server computer. 

I've included these articles in case you'll encounter network issues. 

• Resolve network issues with QuickBooks File Doctor test results.

• Resolving Potential Data Issues.
  
  

Let me know if you need further assistance with your database server manager. I'll be right here to help you.

@darylkeizer 

OS Build 1703 is already outdated years ago. Consider upgrading your OS Build to make sure.

I have a server that hosts the QB data files.  One of the PCs that access these files have decided that it wants to host the files.  The user has to go in to the utilities menu and turn this off every time.  Is there a service on the PC that I can just disable that will keep the PC from being able to 'host the files'?

I'm here to share some information about hosting your company file, @HARDWYRE.

After turning on Multi-user Access, you should always have a server computer that hosts the QB data files. At this time, there's no option to disable that feature. Also, workstations with multi-user access enabled can inadvertently go into Alternate Hosting mode and take ownership of a company file. When this happens, other users won't be able to open the file.

To make sure that you have the right Windows permissions to access folders in the multi-user mode, check out this article for detailed guidance: Set up folder and Windows access permissions to share company files.

In case you'll encounter errors, you can use our File Doctor to resolve it. Refer to this article for more information: Fix company file and network issues with QuickBooks File Doctor.

Keep in touch with me if you need more assistance as you work on your company file. Enjoy the rest of your day while being safe!