Installation Instructions
for PROFITstar®, PROFITability®, Profitstar Suite™, PROFITstar® Portfolio, and PROFITstar® Budget Manager
~ 2009 editions ~
Date created: May 15, 2006
Last updated: August 19, 2009
Intended audience: IT professionals and end users
This document is available in electronic form at:
http://www.profitstar.com/dev/Install.pdf
Summary
This document contains detailed installation instructions for PROFITstar®, PROFITability®, Profitstar Suite™, PROFITstar® Portfolio, and PROFITstar® Budget Manager.
With the assistance of the Installation Wizard, the installation of these products is a straightforward process. Remember that for all types of installations, the person actually installing the software must have “Administrator” rights.
To find the instructions you need for a specific type of installation, refer to the Contents list on page 3.
Important Considerations
Prior to installing any of these products, you and your network administrator are strongly encouraged to review these instructions and the other white papers listed in Appendix B concerning the system and hardware requirements and antivirus scanning suggestions.
In addition, before attempting to install our products, it is important to be aware of the following key points:
General
§ Although it is possible for clients running any version of 2005 or later to move up to the newest version of the 2009 edition, it is a recommended best practice not to skip major release versions when upgrading. For example, if you are currently running a 2007 version of the software, you are encouraged to upgrade to the 2008 release before moving to the 2009 edition. Installation files for 2007, 2008, and 2009 can be found in the Client Area of our website.
§ If Microsoft® .NET Framework, version 2.0, files are not detected on a machine being targeted by the installation, the program will attempt to download the necessary files from Microsoft’s website.
If any of these “server” or “client” machines do not allow a connection to the Internet, the .NET Framework files will need to be downloaded on another PC and then manually installed on the appropriate machine(s).
The .NET Framework files are available on the Microsoft website and can be downloaded using the following link:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0856EACB-4362-4B0D-8EDD-AAB15C5E04F5&displaylang=en.
Server-related issues
§ Two Windows® services—the Profitstar Server and the Advantage Database Server (ADS)—are installed on the server PC. The Profitstar Server service relieves the client PCs of some of the heavier data processing duties.
§ Non-Windows operating systems—such as Novell Netware and Linux—are not supported.
§ The Share and Security permissions for all PROFITstar users, as well as the local System account, must be set to Full Control for the root data directory (C:\PSData by default) and the nested subdirectories (PS, PA, Common, and PMData).
§ The person installing the server components (ADS and the Profitstar Server) must have “Administrator” rights.
§ DFS-managed folders cannot be used for PROFITstar, PROFITability, Profitstar Suite, PROFITstar Portfolio, and PROFITstar Budget Manager data.
§ The server components must reside on the same physical machine as the PROFITstar, PROFITability, Profitstar Suite, and/or PROFITstar Portfolio data, but the service and the data do not have to be on the same drive.
Client-related issues
§ On each computer used to access PROFITstar or its related software products, users must have Modify rights to the folder in which the PS.ini file is stored. For a Profitstar Suite client, the default location for this file is: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Profitstar\PS Suite\2009\PS.INI
Client and Server-related issues
§ If a firewall is used to protect the server or server-like machine, it must be configured to allow incoming connections on port 6262, using the UDP protocol, and on port 20923, using the TCP protocol. In order to satisfy and manage client requests for data in the database used by PROFITstar and its related software products. The Advantage Database Server (ADS) uses the first port (6262), while the Profitstar Server utilizes the second port (20923).
§ Be aware that the 2009 editions of these products require the Microsoft® Windows® Installer. Some Windows 2000 users may need to download and run the current Windows Installer update. This installer update is available on the Microsoft website and can be downloaded using the following link:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=889482fc-5f56-4a38-b838-de776fd4138c&displaylang=en
Other
§ The Budget Manager server runs on TCP port 20563, so if you have internal firewalls, you will have to allow traffic on this port to pass through.
§ Several installation-related FAQs can be found at http://resources.profitstar.com/faqs/FAQs.htm#Installation\faqinst.html.
Contents
First Installation of the 2009 edition – from a CD on page 4
Updating from 2005 or Later on page 10
Converting your Existing Data on page 16
Installing on a New PC on page 18
Converting your PROFITstar Portfolio Data on page 24
Linking PROFITstar Portfolio and PROFITstar Data on page 24
Installing the Budget Manager Server and Client Software on page 25
Appendix A – Using UNC Paths on page 28
Appendix B – Related Links on page 29
First Installation of the 2009 edition – from a CD
New clients installing the PROFITstar, PROFITability, Profitstar Suite, and/or PROFITstar Portfolio 2009 programs for the first time, should perform the following steps:
1. Introduction
The combination of a Profitstar Server installation and a separate Profitstar Client installation, results in improved scalability and performance of the software
Initially, the Profitstar Server needs to be installed on the server machine, while the Profitstar Client installation must be run on each PC used to access the PROFITstar or PROFITability data.
For subsequent installations, however, only the Profitstar Server installation will need to be run, since it contains the necessary files for both the server and client applications. When each user attempts to log in, following the server installation, they will be prompted to automatically update their client application, without having to download the client installation file.
2. Verify the System Requirements
Review the system requirements and verify that the computers on which the software will be installed meet these requirements.
The system requirements can be found in the System Requirements for the 2009 edition white paper, which is available at http://www.profitstar.com/dev/SysReq.pdf.
3. Locate your Serial Number, Validation Code, and Product Key
To install the Advantage Database service, which is necessary to run the 2009 editions of PROFITstar, PROFITability, Profitstar Suite, and/or PROFITstar Portfolio, a Serial Number and Validation Code must be obtained for the computer on which the Advantage software will be installed. In addition, you will need the Product Key that will unlock the ProfitStars software products that your institution is currently licensed to install.
You will be prompted for this information, as necessary, during the installation process. These codes may have been provided to you if you received a 2009 edition CD. If you do not have this institution-specific information for the 2009 edition, please contact your Client Services analyst at 800-356-9099. Once you have a current set of installation codes, remember to keep them in a safe place, for future reference.
4. Special Considerations – Server and Client on the Same Computer
If you will be working on a laptop that is occasionally disconnected from the network, then that computer will need to have the server components (ADS and the Profitstar Server, with related configuration tools) and the program files for PROFITstar (and any related ProfitStars software products that you intend to use) installed on it. If the server components have not already been installed, you will need to obtain a special Advantage Database Server single-user Serial Number and Validation Code from your Client Services analyst.
5. Installation Rights
The person installing the database server service must have “Administrator” rights.
6. Server Components Installation (Steps 7 – 11)
The server components (ADS and the Profitstar Server) software must be installed on the PC where the data resides. It is possible to install them on:
§ A “true” 32 or 64-bit server machine
§ A non-server machine that is commonly accessible to multiple users
§ A single user’s own machine
7. Installing from a CD
Insert the CD into your computer’s CD or DVD drive. If autorun is enabled for the drive, the installation program will launch automatically.
If autorun is not enabled, click the Windows Start menu and select Run. Enter R:\Install.exe (where ‘R’ is the drive letter for your CD or DVD drive) and click OK.
This opens the first page of the Profitstar Installer.
To install the server components, select the Install the Profitstar Server option.
After each step, click Next to continue.
8. Defined Root Path
During this step of the installation process, you are asked to specify a “defined root path” for your ProfitStars dataset(s). If more than one dataset will reside on the “server” machine, select a path that will allow access to all of your data. If, for example, your datasets will be located under C:\PSData, then select that as your defined root path.
If you ever need to modify the defined root path, go to Start > All Programs > Profitstar Server 2009 > Profitstar Server Configuration to open a tool that lets you re-select the defined root path.
9. Advantage Database Service
If the data actually resides (or will reside) on the current computer, enter your ADS Serial Number and Validation Code during this step.
If you do not have this institution-specific information for the 2009 edition, please contact your Client Services analyst at 800-356-9099. Once you have a current set of installation codes, be sure to keep them in a safe place, for future reference. You will need these codes if you ever need to reinstall the software.
Remember that a laptop that is occasionally disconnected from the network will need a special ADS single-user Serial Number and Validation Code, if the server components and the client software are both installed on the same machine.
10. Install Profitstar Server
This page asks you to specify a path for the Profitstar Server installation. As with the prior step, you cannot install this software remotely, via a network or mapped drive.
11. Server Components Installed
Following the installation of the Profitstar server, you will see a completion message. Clicking the Finish button returns you to the installer’s Welcome screen.
If you are currently installing to a “server” machine, where the data and the server components are located, and if PROFITstar and its related software products will not be run from this PC, select Close to exit the installation program.
12. Client Installation (Steps 12 – 15)
The client installation should be run when:
§ You are currently installing to a “server” machine, where the data and the server components are located, and if PROFITstar and its related software products will be run on this PC.
§ You are installing the program files for PROFITstar and/or its related products on each PC that will be used to access the data.
If you have just completed the installation of the server components and you have been returned to the Welcome screen of the Profitstar Installer, you will see that the only option remaining is Install the Profitstar Client. Click this link if the client files also need to be installed on the “server” machine.
If you are installing the Profitstar Client on all the individual PCs that will be used to access the data, you can get to this screen by following the instructions for installing from a CD (Step 7) or by copying the contents of the CD to a network drive and then accessing Install.exe from each workstation. (Make sure that the properties of the CD files are not set to “Read-only.”)
13. Install Profitstar Client
When this screen is displayed, enter your institution’s Product Key. This key controls which program files will be installed on the current computer. If you do not have this institution-specific information for the 2009 edition, please contact your Client Services analyst at 800-356-9099. Once you have a Product Key, remember to keep it in a safe place, for future reference. You will need this code if you ever have to reinstall the software.
The Destination Directory, shown at the bottom of the screen, can be modified by clicking the Browse button and selecting a different folder.
14. Copy Data
This step is only displayed when data is detected on the installation CD.
Answer the copy data question—Yes or No—to determine whether the data files found on your installation media will be copied to your hard drive.
If you choose to have the data copied, verify that the Destination Directory displayed is correct. The data subfolders that will be created, depending upon the ProfitStars products purchased by the institution, are PS, PA, Common, and/or PMData.
If the data will be shared on a network, the data only needs to be copied once—during the installation on the network server PC. (The server components must also be installed on this computer.) While the Profitstar Client files do need to be installed on each PC that will be used to run ProfitStars’ software, you can select No when the Copy Data step is presented during each subsequent installation.
15. Network Installation
If the institution’s data is shared by multiple users on a network, be sure to repeat Steps 12 – 13 on each additional PC used to run the software.
16. Create Shortcuts
While you can go to the Windows Start menu and select All Programs > Profitstar 2009 to launch ProfitStars’ software programs, you can also use shortcuts on your desktop.
Unless your data is on your local drive, when specifying the path to your data, it is preferable to use the full UNC (Universal Naming Convention) path in your shortcut. Refer to Appendix A for details.
17. PSData Folder Permissions
Before PROFITstar/PROFITability/Portfolio users attempt to run the software, the Share and Security permissions for both the users and the local SYSTEM account—on the “server” machine where the server components (ADS and Profitstar Server) reside—must be set to FULL CONTROL. These permissions need to be set at the root data directory level (C:\PSData by default), the nested subdirectories (PS, PA, Common, and PMData), and at any Windows share name established for the root data directory.
IT personnel must set these permissions from the server.
18. Post-Installation Issues
Additional technical information—such as required permissions, firewall settings, and interaction with active antivirus scanning software—can be obtained either from the 2009 Installation section of our Web-based FAQs http://resources.profitstar.com/faqs/FAQs.htm#Installation/faqinst.html
or from our IT-related resources, available at http://www.profitstar.com/it_resources.html.
Links to individual papers of interest can be found in Appendix B.
Updating your Existing Software and Data to the 2009 edition
Although it is possible for clients running any version of 2005 or later to move up to the newest version of the 2009 edition, it is a recommended best practice not to skip major versions when upgrading. For example, if you are currently running a 2007 version of the software, you are encouraged to upgrade to the 2008 release before moving to the 2009 edition. Installation files for 2007, 2008, and 2009 can be found in the Client Area of our website.