Newbie with a network question...

peabodyumc · Post by **peabodyumc** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 6:23 pm

Hi! Version 9 was delivered today and I am reading the manual in preparation of installation.

Currently, I am running a different software system on an old computer. My church trustees will select which computer bid they want to purchase on Sunday. At that time, the pastor and I are also requesting that they foot the extra bill to set us up on a network and we got the bids for that as well.

I am wanting to install PC+ on the new computer as soon as I can so that I can begin entering information (I am church secretary as well as membership secretary and treasurer) and be ready to go live on January 1.

However, other than working on a networked computer at my other part-time job, I know nothing about networks. There are two ways to install PC+ -- stand alone and network. I have a feeling that we won't be networked as soon as my computer is set up. So question #1 -- can I install PC+ on a stand alone and then change "something" once I am networked with the pastor? #2 -- I know my machine will be network ready before her machine will be so if I had to wait to install PC+ until mine is network ready can I install and start entering info before we actually are all set up with the network?

Thanks for any help. FInding this forum helped solidify my decision to recommend this software to our trustees. I can't wait to get started on it and really can't wait to take advantage of all the functions and reports once we go live!

Laurie

NeilZ · Post by **NeilZ** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 11:23 pm

peabodyumc wrote:Hi! Version 9 was delivered today and I am reading the manual in preparation of installation.

Currently, I am running a different software system on an old computer. My church trustees will select which computer bid they want to purchase on Sunday. At that time, the pastor and I are also requesting that they foot the extra bill to set us up on a network and we got the bids for that as well.

I am wanting to install PC+ on the new computer as soon as I can so that I can begin entering information (I am church secretary as well as membership secretary and treasurer) and be ready to go live on January 1.

However, other than working on a networked computer at my other part-time job, I know nothing about networks. There are two ways to install PC+ -- stand alone and network. I have a feeling that we won't be networked as soon as my computer is set up. So question #1 -- can I install PC+ on a stand alone and then change "something" once I am networked with the pastor? #2 -- I know my machine will be network ready before her machine will be so if I had to wait to install PC+ until mine is network ready can I install and start entering info before we actually are all set up with the network?

Thanks for any help. FInding this forum helped solidify my decision to recommend this software to our trustees. I can't wait to get started on it and really can't wait to take advantage of all the functions and reports once we go live!

Laurie

I suspect you're buying a new PC with Windows XP. What PCPlus uses for networking is basic Windows networking as you would setup in a home or small business, not a full network with a domain as used in larger businesses.

It is perfectly logical to load PCPlus on your machine as the main database location, then when the pastor's machine is ready to be added to the network, you simply setup the PCPlus folder on your machine for network sharing. The pastor should then be able to see the network share, map it as a local drive, then run the netsetup program in the PCPlus directory to setup her access. As far as entering data, you can begin as soon as you have PCPlus loaded on your machine, you don't have to wait for anything else to be done.

There's a some additional things that needs be done for the actual windows networking to be setup, but I'm sure there is at least one computer geek at your congregation that can help you out with that. In addition, if your pastor's computer is running Windows 98SE or higher, you can network it right now if it has a network card (NIC).

However, here, in a nutshell, is an article with what you have to do to setup your system in order to share the PCPlus folder on the network:

http://www.powerchurch.com/support/answ ... icle_id=33

Finally, be sure to download the maintenace release that's out today. I'm not sure if they refreshed the netsetup.exe file on the CD's they're sending out, but there is an update for that also.

Post by **Zaphod** » Thu Oct 14, 2004 9:16 am

NeilZ wrote:Finally, be sure to download the maintenace release that's out today. I'm not sure if they refreshed the netsetup.exe file on the CD's they're sending out, but there is an update for that also.

Yes, that was updated on the CD as soon as it was fixed. The CDs dated 9/1/2004 should be the only ones that have that problem. Everyone else should be fine.

Thanks for that answer Neil, I may link to this post in the future.

peabodyumc · Post by **peabodyumc** » Thu Oct 14, 2004 12:22 pm

Thanks Neil for your answers. I am really glad to know that I don't have to wait on anything and can begin entering information as soon as my computer arrives. The trustees will have to vote not only if we can network but then if wireless or cable is the way they want to go. I am thinking wireless as the bids are cheaper but if they choose cable for some strange reason I am sure that will add to the time I have to wait before we are networked.

Both bids on computers I got said I would need XP Pro if I want to network so I am getting that. However, the pastor's computer doesn't have pro -- just XP. I haven't had a chance to open the link you gave me so maybe it answers this there but if not are you saying that she wouldn't have to upgrade to XP Pro to be able to share PC+ on the network?

Thanks so much -- you have been extremely helpful!

Laurie

Post by **Zaphod** » Thu Oct 14, 2004 12:48 pm

You can have XP home on a network, but you need XP Pro if you need to log into a domain. If you're just going to have a couple of computers, there's no point in having a domain, you can just use a peer-to-peer network.

NeilZ · Post by **NeilZ** » Thu Oct 14, 2004 3:07 pm

Actually, I'd go with wired, much more secure.

peabodyumc · Post by **peabodyumc** » Thu Oct 14, 2004 6:46 pm

Thanks Zaphod and Neil -- good information to know on both accounts. I will be sure to use the information on Sunday when the trustees discuss my new computer and the network option!

Laurie

jeffkoke · Post by **jeffkoke** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 7:50 am

NeilZ wrote:Actually, I'd go with wired, much more secure.

If you choose not to go wired, I'd make really sure that both computers are using a good encryption method. Here's a link that can provide some basic information:

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sup ... ncrypt.htm

I would employ WPA as opposed to WEP.

If you want a more in-depth read:
http://www.csoonline.com/analyst/report2148.html

My $.07 worth,
Jeff

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