Set up a Client Manager Server

Updated: 2020-07-17

Do you need to set up a Client Manager so more than one person can connect to it? If you answered yes, you will want to set up a server.

Choosing the right computer as the server

If you want to share a Client Manager database server with other computers on a network, it’s important to choose the best computer on which to set up the server.  

For the simplest setup and the best performance, we recommend choosing a computer in your office that meets the following criteria:

• The computer should be the same computer where the tax return files it will index are located.
• A newer computer (don’t run the server on your oldest machine in the office).
• A computer with a faster network connection (connecting directly with a network cable can be faster than wifi).

Where to store TaxCycle files in relationship to the server

We recommend putting the server on the same computer as the tax return files it will index and search.

The reason for this is permissions. The Client Manager runs as a service on the computer where the server is installed.
By default, service runs under the SYSTEM Windows® user account (to allow all users of that computer to use the Client Manager). If it were to try to watch folders that were on a different machine on the network, the SYSTEM user would need permission to access those folders, which are not the default Windows® network permissions. 

If this isn't possible, you can work around this by assigning the correct permissions to the Client Manager. To learn how, the Run as a network user help topic.

1. Click on Set up a server the first time you run the Client Manager, or when you open the setup wizard (learn more in the First-time Client Manager setup help topic):
   
2. Give the server a name. TaxCycle creates a name for you based on your computer name, but you can change this.
3. Do not check the Create a standalone/private server box. This makes it undiscoverable to other TaxCycle computers on the same network and is generally selected when you want to use the Client Manager only on one computer. (For instructions on a stand-alone setup, see the Stand-alone Client Manager help topic.
4. Click Next. 
   
5. Choose which folders the Client Manager should monitor for changes. The wizard automatically shows the list of the folders set Files and Folders options where you save your tax returns. Review the list make any changes:
   1. Check (or clear) the Subfolders box next to any folder to monitor (or stop monitoring) subfolders within a folder.
   2. Add more folder locations by clicking the Add folder button. A few things to note:
      • Unless you set the Client Manager up to run as a network user, these folders should be folders on the same computer where you are setting up the Client Manager. (Learn more in the Run as a network user help topic.)
      • Use the full network path as available to other computers on the network (for example, \\computer\folder) and not (Y:\folder).
      • Anyone editing files in these folders should have Windows network permissions to access these folders.
      • The Client Manager can also find and carry forward prior-year files from competitor software, so make sure those folders are in the list.
   3. Remove existing locations by clicking once on a folder in the list and then clicking the Remove folder button.
   4. Click the Reset folders button to pull the list of folders from the Files and Folders options.
6. Click Next.
   
7. Review the settings:
   1. Leave the Index tax returns after starting box checked so that the Client Manager will begin populating the database right away. Depending on the number of files, it may take several minutes before you can begin searching the Client Manager for files.
   2. Check Index VisualTax^® files only if you previously used VisualTax^®. The Client Manager does not index VisualTax^® files by default because the file name extensions are standardized in a way to make it easy to detect what files are from VisualTax^®. 
8. The setup wizard automatically sets up the server to pass through Windows firewall. However, if you're running a third-party firewall (such as Symantec Firewall), you may need to grant permission for the server to accept incoming requests. Check with your firewall on how to do this. The server application that needs access is called TaxCycleService.exe and is located in the same folder as the TaxCycle.exe.
9. Click Back if you need to return a previous screen.
10. Click Start to start the Client Manager.