Considerations for Deciding Where to Install CISM

• NOTE: if your QuickBooks is hosted offsite, talk to us.  For some hosting companies (such as Right Networks), there are special installation requirements that we can help you with.
• Ideally, CISM will be installed on a dedicated machine.  While this is not a requirement, we have found that the QuickBooks software that allows apps like CISM to access QuickBooks works best on stand-alone machines.
• CISM must be installed on a Windows machine that has Internet access, has QuickBooks installed, and that will be logged into the network whenever anyone is using your QuickBooks system. 
• Do NOT install CISM on a machine that is used as a "Terminal Server" (installing on a Windows Server is fine, just not on a Terminal Server). 
• Do not install CISM on a machine that is used for remote access if the remote users are logging into Windows with a different user name than used when installing CISM.
• Make sure you always log into this machine as the user used when doing the CISM install. 
• Ideally, the CISM machine will not be actively used by a user for QuickBooks.  That said, we do have numerous subscribers who DO use the CISM machine for QuickBooks usage.  Things to be aware of if you do use the CISM machine for QuickBooks usage:
  • QuickBooks should be opened using the same user name used when giving CISM permission to access your QuickBooks company file (typically, this is ADMIN).  If QuickBooks is opened as a different user, CISM will not be able to sync.
  • If the user tries to log into QuickBooks when CISM is doing a sync, the user will receive a message that another application is currently accessing your QuickBooks file.  The user will have to wait a minute or two, then try again.
  • If the user is already in QuickBooks and tries to exit while CISM is doing a sync, the user will receive a message that another application is currently accessing your QuickBooks file.  The user will have to wait a minute or two, then try again.
  • If QuickBooks is open and the user has opened a "modal" window, this will prevent CISM from being able to sync.  A modal window is a window that must be closed before the user can do anything else in QuickBooks, typically a question of some type of acknowledgment screen (Are you sure you want to delete this transaction? or something similar) or the Product Information window.
  • If you use other applications that integrate with QuickBooks, when that other app is accessing your company file, CISM will not be able to sync.  Likewise, when CISM is syncing, it will prevent other apps from accessing your company file.  
  • When QuickBooks is being backed up, CISM will not be able to sync.  Similarly, when CISM is syncing, QuickBooks will be prevented from being backed up.