How to Turn on Hosting Mode in QuickBooks?

With the advanced QuickBook software, you can operate your income, expenses, and many more services. Starting from communicating with clients or invoicing customers, making reports, paying bills or maintaining taxes, QuickBooks will have you all covered. As compared to the traditional model, the new version has evolved with better features and functionalities since its original release in 1983. The cloud based method requires you to host the licensed software on a third party provider which makes it remotely accessible and connects more business workstations. In simpler terms, it is important for you to learn how to turn on QuickBooks Hosting.

Through this guide, you will be explained the required steps that need to be taken. However, before we reach that part let us focus on the basic information.

What Does QuickBooks Hosting Mode Means?

When you convert to hosted QuickBooks, the main system (host) that hosts the QuickBooks company file essentially permits other systems to use it concurrently. In addition, there are many hosting configurations for QuickBooks software, such as peer-to-peer hosting, dedicated hosting, and alternate hosting.

In order to configure the software on the chosen server, you must set up files for the QB Cloud Desktop. The first step in the procedure is to download the QuickBooks Desktop setup, which you can do with the aid of your chosen cloud hosting company. Now let’s talk about how to activate QuickBooks Desktop hosting mode.

What are the steps to Turn on Hosting Mode in QuickBooks?

Install the QuickBooks Desktop on the cloud server

As when you are done downloading the file, install the software on the chosen third party server to host the software and data. With this it will also create a multi user network in which authorized users can access the company files and the hosted QuickBooks remotely.

It will include all these sub steps:

• Launch and set up QuickBooks on the cloud server.
• Under Installation type, choose Custom and Network install
• Decide if you want to use and store the QB Desktop on this system by choosing that option.
• Click the Finish button after continuing to adhere to the on-screen directions.

However if you feel like only storing your company files on the server, select the option ‘you will not be using QuickBooks Desktop on this system’. Even though it will store the company files on the cloud server, the connected workstations will be able to access the files through the same network.

Set up permission in the windows

After the QuickBooks installation process is over, it is time for the next step. The following steps require you to set adequate permissions which enable different work stations to access the company files. This will also add a layer or security to your system and make it not accessible to unauthorized users. Follow the given steps in order to proceed ahead:

• From the Start menu, select File Explorer.
• Click with the right mouse button on the QuickBooks business files folder.
• Choose Properties from the right-click submenus’s last available choice.
• In the Security tab of the window that displays, click Advanced.
• Select Edit after clicking QBDataServiceXX.
• Select “Allowed” for each of the following settings that will appear in the following window:
• Extended Attributes to read
• Navigate Folders/Open File
• Please enter extended attributes.
• Attributes to Read
• Write Data or Create Files
• Establish Folders or Add Data
• Permissions to Read
• Write Qualities
• Folder List or Data Reading

Allow to share

With this step you can enable sharing specifically to allow the folders to be accessed by different computers in the windows. However, if somehow you fail to enable the sharing, it won’t show up while connecting with other stations.

These are the steps you can follow to enable sharing of company files in windows 8 and 10:

• Click the Start button, then choose File Explorer.
• Right-click on the folder containing the company files for QuickBooks Desktop.
• Click Sharing => Properties =>. Choose “Add”
• Choose QBDataServiceUserXX (where XX is the version of QuickBooks you are using).
• Choose Full Control as each user’s authorization level.
• Select Share.

On other windows platforms, ownership will be required before sharing the files. Here are the steps to follow in windows 8.1:

• Launch File Explorer and select “Change Ownership” from the menu that appears.
• Click Share, pick the Advanced Security checkbox, and then click Change. Advanced
• Choose Find Now.
• After choosing users
• Click OK.

In case you particularly want to grant any folder’s full control. Follow these given steps:

• Launch File Explorer and select “Change Ownership” from the menu that appears.
• Select Add after clicking Advanced Security. choosing a principal
• Select “Advanced” Look Now
• Choose the users you wish to provide complete access to.
• Input OK.
• After choosing Full Control, click OK.

Moreover if you want to host QuickBooks on Windows server 2012 to enable the multi user mode, then these steps will be followed:

• Type “Run” into the Start menu, and then select the first result.
• Enter after typing “ServerManager” and choosing “Select File =>” => Storage Service Share
• Before choosing a profile, click New Share under the Task menu and review the variations between them.
• Select Quick SMB Share.
• Choose Type a Custom Path from the Share Location tab.
• Select the network-shared folder by clicking Browse and doing so.
• After choosing the folder, click Next.

With Database Server Manager, scan all the folders

With QuickBooks Database server manager, you can scan folders using these following steps.

• Open the server PC and sign in using the Start menu’s OS Type Database.
• Press the QuickBooks Database Server Manager button.
• In the Scan Folders tab, select Browse.
• After clicking “OK,” begin the scan.

Monitor Drives

If you require to move files from one folder to another regularly, in that case you should use the Monitor Drives option. This option registers the entire drive which helps you to move company files without any preferences. Here are the steps that needs to be followed:

• Using the Monitor Drives tab, select all the drives that you want the server manager to monitor.
• Select Close

It is however said that you should only include drives containing the company files.

Whenever needed restart your Server Manager

For instance if you face any error while working in multi user mode, simply restart the QuickBooks Database Server.

• Start the server’s QuickBooks Desktop program.
• Choose File => Restore or Launch a Company
• Click Select the Company File by opening a company file.
• Decide whether to open the file in multiuser mode.
• Enter the file’s authentication information and click Open.
• In the File menu, select Close Company/Log Off.
• Access the Start button.
• Then choose QuickBooks Database Server Manager after entering the database