RMS Server Crash Recovery Procedure Overview Important Information Step One - Regional Settings Step Two - Windows Updates Step Three - Install SQL Express 2008 Step Four - Create RMSWIN folder Step Five - Install RMS Full Version Step Six - Restore the RMS Backup Step Seven - Run Connection Wizard Resetting your RMS License Accumulation Step Eight - Installing the Configurator Step Nine - Re-Configure your Workstations Related Overview This document assumes that your server has crashed and RMS is non functional and that this is the same server that houses your data. I.e. your database is stored on this computer.. Important Information Before you start you must ensure that you have your most recent backup available and it can be read by the computer that you are restoring RMS to. If you do not have a backup but DO have access to the files on the old server it may be possible to copy the data from the old drive to the new one. Please contact RMS Support if this is the case. You will also require internet access from the new server. All steps indicated below must be performed using a Windows user with Administration rights. If you intend to re install RMS on the same server that crashed it would be expected that RMS has been fully removed from the system including SQL and/or the system has been reformatted. 1
Note: Having removed SQL you must manually rename/delete the C:\program Files\Microsoft SQL Server folder otherwise SQL will not reinstall. RMS can be recovered by installing the appropriate files from either the Installation CD or by downloading the relevant files from our Customer Support web page. If you are re installing RMS from a CD that is pre April 2008 it will have come with a version of SQL called MSDE. This version of SQL has been replaced by SQLExpress 2008 which is available on our web page or on CD s post April 2008. Specific notes relating to Windows 2003 Small Business Server (SBS) The following Windows 2003 SBS server variations are known to come preinstalled with SQL Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 Premium Edition Windows Small Business Server 2003 SP1 Premium If you are installing any version of Windows Server that comes pre bundled with SQL you will need to know the sa user password in order to run RMS. RMS Support cannot tell you what it is. Do NOT attempt to install SQL Express on one of these operating systems. Step One - Regional Settings Ensure that the system is set to English Australian regional settings through the Control Panel. Often (if you have reformatted or have a new PC) you will find that the system will be set to English American. Step Two - Windows Updates Install all critical Microsoft security updates via Windows Update. This step is very important. Step Three - Install SQL Express 2008 Install SQL Express 2008 from the Installation CD (or RMS Webpage) and restart the PC. Check that it has been installed by looking in Programs and Settings in Control Panel. It would be listed as SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER). Unlike MSDE (the older version of SQL) it does not display an icon in the system tray. For installation instructions on how to install SQL Express 2008 click HERE. Step Four - Create RMSWIN folder Make a folder on C drive that will store RMS form letter files etc. This folder should be called RMSWIN (c:\rmswin). Share this folder on the network (FULL ACCESS RIGHTS TO ALL USERS). 2
Step Five - Install RMS Full Version Install the full version of RMS from the CD or Webpage (you will need a password from RMS Support to download the version from our Webpage). Do not change any installation options. If prompted for a password enter cat. Step Six - Restore the RMS Backup It is now time to restore the RMS backup; Load the RMS Backup and Restore program from the start menu under RMS for Windows After it has loaded choose the restore button at the top of the screen Insert the backup media and be aware of what its drive letter is In the restore screen set the SQL Server to (local) from the drop down list Set the SQL username to sa Enter the password that you used when installing SQL (Step Four) - select the Test Connection button If the connection is successful continue below If the connection is not successful re-enter the username and password and try again Set the shared data path to c:\rmswin (Step Five) Set the Restore From field to be the location of your backup media E.g. F: or G: etc Press the Begin Restore button Once complete exit the restore program Step Seven - Run Connection Wizard Open the RMS Connection Wizard (Start > All Programs > RMS for Windows > Connection Wizard) Select Choose an Existing Database and click Next (you may receive an error message at this stage, simply click ok to continue) In this order - Set the username to sa and the password to that set during Step Four, THEN set the SQL Server to (local). You should see your database name appear down the bottom - Select it Make sure the shared data path says C:\RMSWIN (as created in Step Five and used in Step Seven) Select Finish to save the database and shared path settings Resetting your RMS License Accumulation You will now need to reset your RMS License Accumulation, click the title above for instructions on how to complete this step. 3
Step Eight - Installing the Configurator Failure to complete this step will leave RMS inoperable as it will not be at the versio that coincides with the restored data. Install the RMS Configurator from the RMS install CD or from the RMS Webpage. Once installed, the Configurator will download and install all further required updates. Allow this to complete all updates. If you are asked for your Client ID or Client Number you must enter the correct client number for your property. If you are unsure of this number please contact RMS Support. The Configurator should be running all of the time - simply minimize it to the system tray. Once the Configurator has completed you can run RMS from the shortcut icon found on your desktop (RMS for Windows). Any further updates queued by the Configurator would be installed at this time. RMS should load to the Login Screen or Main Menu. Step Nine - Re-Configure your Workstations Any workstations on the network that were using data from the old server need to have their connection wizards updated to reflect the new server and shared data path. From each workstation, run the connection wizard and choose an existing database. You may receive an error (this is because it cannot find the old server), choose ok to continue. The order in which you follow these steps is important Set the Username to sa Set the password to that used when SQL was installed Set the SQL server (using the drop down list) to the name of the new server You should now see the database name below select it. You must set the shared data path to point back to the RMSWIN folder on the new server. This must be in the form of a UNC style path such as \\server\rmswin (use the browse button to browse through the network to locate the RMSWIN share) Click Finish to complete the new connection. 4
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