A sample network installation
This page gives a step-by-step description of the installation of a network version of Cardbox. It takes the simplest approach, but we point out to you when a different configuration might make more sense if your requirements were different.
The system configuration
All computers on this network run Windows.
The network file server is called AGNES. It does not have an Internet connection.
There are three workstations, called FELICITY, PERPETUA and ANASTASIA.
1. The Cardbox Server
Where to install it
The computer that is to run the Cardbox Server has to be permanently connected to all the others - or at least, connected whenever they want to use Cardbox. For this reason the network file server is usually the best choice, and so we will use AGNES.
How to install it
Log in on AGNES, as an administrator.
Click on this button to download the Cardbox Server installer:
Accept the suggested location for the program, C:\Program Files\Cardbox Server. There is no need for this folder to be shared on the network, and in fact it is better if it is not shared (to prevent accidental modification by users).
Once the installation is complete, the Server Settings control will open.
Where to store shared databases
Designate a folder that will hold the databases that are to be shared among Cardbox users. Choose the folder name according to your own system conventions. If at all possible, do not make the folder accessible to users across the network: this is so that an adventurous user won't be tempted to browse to a database file and open it directly, denying access to other users. We're going to assume a location of C:\Data\Cardbox Example.
Server Settings control: Server page
Set "Access to Databases" to "Read/Write".
Turn on "Automatic Directory".
Press the Browse button and browse to C:\Data\Cardbox Example.
If you want users to be able to create databases in this directory, turn on "Allow Users to Create Databases".
Server Settings control: Start page
Select "Run the server as a system service".
Select "Start the server automatically when Windows starts".
Press the Start button to start the Cardbox Server.
Conclusion
Close the Server Settings control.
You don't need to be logged on any more, so if you don't want to stay logged on for other reasons, log out as Administrator.
2. The workstations
Log in to FELICITY, preferably as an administrator. [This is not essential, but if you do it then Cardbox will be accessible to all users on FELICITY].
Click on this button to download the Cardbox installer:
Cardbox on its own Cardbox with sample databases
Accept the suggested location for the program, C:\Program Files\Cardbox 3.0.
Conclusion
Once the installation is complete, you can remove the CDROM and log out.
Repeat the same installation procedure on PERPETUA and ANASTASIA.
How we could have done things differently
A large installation
In a very large installation it can get boring going from one computer to another and downloading and running the installer on each.
- The download problem itself can be avoided by saving the downloaded installer to a shared folder on AGNES. Then, on each workstation, you can run the installer from that folder instead of downloading it again.
- You can avoid repeated installation altogether by installing on one workstation and then taking the contents of C:\Program Files\Cardbox 3.0 and copying them to C:\Program Files\Cardbox 3.0 on each of the other workstations. In this case you should open cardbox3.exe on each workstation after copying it, so that Cardbox can set up any necessary shortcuts and Windows registry settings.
- You may also want to set up a specific configuration - for example, add your own servers to the list that appears in File > Open > Server, or set other options in Tools > Options. In that case, do all this on the first workstation and then use Tools > Management > Save Cardbox Registry Settings to export a .REG file that you can install on each of the other workstations.
Putting the Cardbox program files in a shared folder
Suppose that you used FELICITY to install Cardbox to a shared folder called \\AGNES\Resources\Cardbox Program.
Then, on PERPETUA, you would navigate to \\AGNES\Resources\Cardbox Program and double-click on cardbox3.exe. Cardbox would then set up any necessary shortcuts and registry settings on PERPETUA. You would then do the same thing on ANASTASIA.
Despite this simplicity (and the relative simplicity of installing upgrades should they ever be necessary) we don't recommend this approach. It increases network traffic, and if an upgrade ever did need to be installed, keeping it on the server could mean (for reasons to do with the perversity of Windows) that the server would have to be rebooted for the upgrade to take effect.
If the file server has an Internet connection
If AGNES has a direct Internet connection and you don't want remote users (eg. staff working at home on their laptops) to have access through this connection, open the Connections page of the Server Settings control, and instead of All Connections, enable just the connection that links AGNES to FELICITY, PERPETUA and ANASTASIA.