Prodev Network Install Notes

The following notes describe how best to install Prodev for use over a Local Area Network. Whilst this method is straightforward, it is essential that the person carrying out the installation has a reasonable working knowledge of their network.

Prodev must be installed to a Mapped Drive (e.g. F:\) rather than a UNC (e.g. \\server\share). Before carrying out the installation it is important to decide, in advance, the network drive and path you plan using for Prodev. If you decide to use, for instance F:\APPS\PRODEV then this is the drive and path that should be used for all network clients. When Prodev is registered, this information is stored within the registration key and anyone who is not correctly mapped will not be able to access Prodev.

When carrying out the installation you must have full network administration rights. The Prodev install involves writing information to the System folders and System Registry which will not be permitted unless the appropriate rights are available at the time of installation.

There are three stages to a network install. First a Full Installation must be performed which will copy the program files to the network server drive and path. Once this is done a Network-Client install needs to be performed on each client computer that requires access to the server copy of Prodev. The Network-Client installation copies the relevant local Windows system files and creates the program access icons on the users Start Menu and Desktop.

There is no limit to the number of Network Client installations that can be carried out as the use of the software is limited by the number of concurrent licences that have been purchased. In the case of one concurrent user, this means that only one user will be allowed to use the program at a time; a three user licence will allow three users to access Prodev simultaneously. In this way it is possible to have a single copy of Prodev running anywhere over a network with its simultaneous use count limited by the number of licensed copies.

Stage 1 - Full installation

It is recommended that you carry out the Full Installation on a user's computer (but logged on with full administration rights) rather than at the server as the full Prodev install copies over numerous DLL's and other system files that do not need to reside on the server. Run the Setup program and follow the prompts until you reach the screen that asks you which installation type you would like to carry out. Select 'Full Installation' then on the next screen (after nationality) provide the network drive and path that you have already decided upon (e.g. F:\APPS\PRODEV - mentioned earlier in these notes). This will install the relevant program files to your network server. Note: Prodev must be installed to a mapped drive (e.g. F:\) rather than a UNC.

Stage 2 - Program registration

Once the initial Full Installation has been carried out then you can register Prodev. Run Prodev and a screen will display a 'Token Number' and ask you for a Registration Code. It is essential that Prodev is registered from a client machine rather than at the server. This is the stage at which Prodev will interrogate the system to see whether it is running on a local or remote drive. If Prodev is registered at the server it will identify it as a local machine. Prodev token numbers begin with either the letter L (for local) or the letter R (for remote). Therefore in the case of registering Prodev over the network the Token Number must begin with the letter R. If not then you will need to check your configuration. Once registered, Prodev will run both on the current machine and all other computers on which Prodev will subsequently be installed.

Stage 3 - Network Client install

The Full Installation also includes a Network Client install so it is not necessary to perform a separate Network-Client installation on the machine used for the original Network Installation, but it is required for other computers on the network. On every other computer on the network requiring access to Prodev run the Setup program. This time choose 'Network-Client Only'. It will prompt you for a drive and path so use exactly the same network drive and path information that you have entered before (e.g. F:\APPS\PRODEV - mentioned earlier in these notes). This information is required for the program icons so that it can find the Prodev application and its licencing information on your network.

The Network Client install needs to be performed on every single machine that needs to have access to Prodev. Prodev must be installed using its Setup program. This checks for and adds library files to the Windows system folder, it also updates the Windows System registry. It is not sufficient to simply browse for the Prodev program file on the network as it will not run unless the local installation has been performed.

Subsequent Network Client Installations

If you wish to provide additional users with access to Prodev then simply carry out further Network Client installations, as described in Stage 3 - Network Client install.

Contact Details

Interproperty Systems Ltd
UK Freefone: 0800 0185588 
Telephone: 44 (0) 1780 752288
EMail: info@propsys.com
Web: http://www.propsys.com

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