Knowledgebase: Setup POSitive (General)
Move POSitive to Another Server or Computer
Posted by Sean W, Last modified by Sean W on 02 July 2020 07:22 PM

If you are moving both the SQL Server, database and your POSitive installation to another computer, here are the steps to accomplish this.



--- PROJECT SUMMARY---

IMPORTANT
We recommend installing newer SQL Server products because newer POSitive products are likely to utilize their performance enhancements. Otherwise, make sure you install the same or newer version of the SQL Server version that you are currently running onto the new computer.

Detailed instructions for each step is provided below. Contact POSitive Support if you have questions.

1. Simply backup the database on the old server
2. Restore it to the new server
3. Copy the POSitive installation folder from the old machine to the new machine
4. Open POSitive, choose your company, enter the new connection credentials when prompted,



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SQL SERVER VERSION CHECK
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!!! IMPORTANT !!!
As of April 12, 2016 Microsoft has discontinued support for SQL Server 2005 and you will no longer receive security updates. Therefore, if you are still running SQL Server 2005 you need to install a newer instance of SQL Server.

In most cases we recommend installing Microsoft SQL Server 2019 Express edition1, which is free. However, if you are running POSitive 'Multi-site' then you need to install the Standard (or better) edition of SQL Server (which is not free) at the Master or Publisher site. Otherwise, you can install a free Express edition. But be aware that the free versions of SQL Server have certain limitations which may haven an adverse effect on the performance of POSitive software, particularly in high volume situations.

A Few Examples of Limitations of SQL Server 2019 Edition:

  • Maximum Compute Capacity Used by a Single Instance
    Express: Limited to lesser of 1 Socket or 4 cores
    Standard: Limited to lesser of 4 Sockets or 24 cores
  • Maximum memory for buffer pool per instance of SQL Server Database Engine
    Express: 1.38 GB
    Standard: 128.00 GB
  • Maximum Relational Database Size
    Express: 10 GB
    Standard: 524 PB


Determine the current installed version of SQL Server and database size

  1. Open POSitive and click the 'Help' pull-down menu at the top
  2. Click 'SQL Properties'



--- STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS ---


Project Steps

  1. Review POSitive Software Minimum System Requirements
  2. Move POSitive to Another Server or Computer
  3. Windows and Microsoft Updates
  4. Add a Workstation: Network Setup Basics



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REVIEW POSITIVE SOFTWARE MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
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Be sure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements:
See: http://kb.gopositive.com/systemrequirements



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STEP 2: MOVE POSITIVE TO ANOTHER SERVER OR COMPUTER
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NOTE: We highly recommend contracting with a computer consulting firm, information technology professional or Authorized POSitive Software Dealer as our Gold or Standard Support does not include network setup, configuration and troubleshooting. Whereas Gold Plus or Advanced Support offers "best effort" troubleshooting support for POS hardware problems, networking errors, or other issues that affect the operation of your POSitive product. Alternatively, you can pay an hourly rate for the POSitive Support department to provide this "best effort" service. Contact POSitive Sales for details and pricing. The reason we recommend this is because we have found that some aspects of setup and configuration of POSitive software, including SQL Server manipulation and network setup, sharing and security, and other troubleshooting steps are not intended for novice or intermediate computer users.


OLD SERVER = current hard disk drive/server with POSitive
NEW SERVER = new hard disk drive/server that has been formatted
1. Exit everyone out of POSitive on every computer so you can make a copy of the POSitive installation folder (e.g. 'C:\POSitive\PFB') on the OLD SERVER.
1.1. On your server computer right-click on the shortcut you use to open POSitive and choose Properties
1.2. On the Properties Shortcut tab, the 'Start In' field indicates the path to run POSitive. The 'Target:' field's contents should point to the POSitive installation folder on a local drive, not a mapped drive on another computer. It typically begins with 'C:\' but it might be different on your computer. Usually, if it begins with 'P:\' or another letter (not including 'C:\') you are likely on the wrong computer because 'P:\' typically indicates a mapped drive, which means POSitive is not installed on that computer.
1.3. Open Windows File Explorer--not a web browser. For example, open 'My Computer', or 'This PC' and open 'Local Disk (C:)'
1.4. Navigate to the 'POSitive' folder at the path indicated by the 'Start In' field referenced above on your server computer (e.g. C:\POSitive). For example, open 'My Computer', or 'This PC' and open 'Local Disk (C:)'.
1.5. Now open the 'POSitive' folder and you should see the '[PFB]' folder in the window.
1.6. Right-click on the '[PFB]' (your folder may have a different name, but is still indicated in the 'Start in' path referenced above) folder and select 'Rename'... enter or type "PFB_[today's date]" (e.g. "PFB_2016-07-29" --- without the brackets or quotation marks). This ensures that everyone is out of POSitive. If you are unable to rename the '[PFB]' folder then reboot the server and try again.
1.7. Right-click on the newly renamed '[PFB]' folder and select 'Copy'.
1.8. Right-click in a blank area right next to your '[PFB]' folder and select 'Paste'. A new folder will be created with the name you gave your renamed folder with the word "copy" or a number as part of the new folder's name (e.g. "PFB_2016-07-29 - Copy" or "PFB_2016-07-29(1)").
1.9. Right-click on the newly copied '[PFB]' folder and select 'Rename' and rename it back to '[PFB]' (without the brackets or quotation marks).

2. Backup the SQL database on the OLD SERVER
See: http://kb.gopositive.com/backupsqldatabase

3. Copy the results of steps 1 & 2 to a USB flash drive or other removable media

4. In most cases you can download and install Microsoft SQL Server 2019 Express onto the NEW SERVER by following the instructions of our How to Install Microsoft SQL Server 2019 Express Edition knowledgebase article onto the NEW SERVER:
See: http://kb.gopositive.com/installsqlserverexpress

5. Create a folder called 'POSitive' on the 'C:\' drive on NEW SERVER, then copy the original POSitive installation folder (e.g. 'PFB') from removable media (step 3) into the 'C:\POSitive' folder. When you're done the path to POSitive should be 'C:\POSitive\PFB'

6. Restore the SQL database that was created on OLD SERVER to NEW SERVER
See: http://link.gopositive.com/restoresqldatabase

7. IMPORTANT:
Completely shut down and turn off the OLD SERVER. Otherwise when you go to launch POSitive it will try to reconnect to it.

8. Launch POSitive and select your company. When a connection error appears simply re-enter the correct connection settings (current settings were carried over from previous installation)



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STEP 3: WINDOWS AND MICROSOFT UPDATES
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Follow the instructions in step 13 of the 'Add A Workstation: Network Setup Basics' knowledgebase article.



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STEP 4: ADD A WORKSTATION: NETWORK SETUP BASICS
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If you intend to use POSitive on more than one computer then there are several additional steps that need to be completed. See the Add a Workstation knowledgebase article for detailed instructions:
See: http://kb.gopositive.com/addaworkstation




Updated 6/30/2020