Having trouble with Network

[astrad]

I can't seem to get 2 registers to be able to ring in a sale at the same time. I think it may be my set up though. What is the proper setup for a DOS system to be used as the global machine?

[Dale Harris]

Astrad,

Read this http://keyhut.com/postip3.htm#network

[astrad]

I've read that and followed it to the letter, but still, the computer with the global folder seems to take prescedence when it comes time to ring in a sale. The other computer is running windows xp, and the program stops if the computer with the global folder is using th stock table. Is this normal?

I realize that the instructions clearly state that it's my own responsibility to get the network running. I'm only asking for suggestions.

[Dale Harris]

Astrad,

When you are using the POS program in network mode and try to access the stock table you will first receive a warning that making changes in the stock table while other registers are ringing up sales may cause errors in the sales, the stock table, or both. To make this possibility as small as possible the register that is accessing the stock table tries to lock out the other registers or at least delays their access to the stock table while the register in the stock table is messing around with it.

So the answer is "Yes." If one of the registers, or the copy of the POS program in the global folder, is making changes in the stock table then it is normal for the registers ringing sales to work slower.

[Chas]

If You Are Using the DOS Machine as A Global\Server Machine You need to have some File Sharing Network Software Installed on it & on the XP machine too Such as Lantastic or something simmilar.... What Kind of software are you currently using??

Chas

[astrad]

Currently I'm using Microsoft Network Client 3.0 for DOS with workgroup extensions. What would be a better solution?

[Chas]

Microsoft Network Client 3.0 is a Client application that only allows you to use your DOS computers as Clients. You would use them in most cases to access info off of a windows based server. Microsoft does have a DOS Server addon that you can tryout at http://www.wown.info/j_helmig/dosservr.htm

Sometimes this server feature uses up too much of your memory on The DOS Server and may not work at all if you have alot of network traffic going in and out of the server. In my expierance when ever I would browse the DOS machine from my Windows based computers the DOS computer would just stop responding.

Microsoft Network Client works awsome in a DOS Client only setups. Before I switched to Lantastic All my tills were dos computers and the server was just a simple Windows 98 Machine. That wasn't a problem until I wanted to access each DOS Computer to do upgrades and file transfers from the office computer. After I switched to Lantstic I was able to share Drives on the dos machines & windows machines. I was also able to dedicate a DOS Machine as a Server with no network traffic problems at all. All the tills are still dos; I didnt have to change them. The Server is DOS and the office computer is Windows XP. The office computer can access all the DOS Computers with no problem. If I wanted the DOS computer could access the Windows XP machine but there is no need as one of the other DOS machine acts as the server. This prevents any inbound traffic into your valuable XP machine. The DOS machines also have a lockout feature on it so cashiers cant get out to a Command prompt to search the network drives and Server paths. Don't know if this helps I would try that link first. Then I would go the Lantastic Route!!!

Chas