Skip to content

Upgrade Server hardware moving ProfitSystem

Peer to Peer Server Upgrade

In Peer to Peer multi-user implementations you may have a need to change your server with a new computer. ProfitSystem offers a utility to help. It is found in the Tool header menu from the main switchboard. Main-> Tools-> Move Server.

Steps - Using Move Server Utility

Perform a ProfitSystem DATA BACKUP of OLD server. Keep in a safe place on another computer in network or a USB stick

Install the NEW server/computer by setting up it's operating system and providing proper READ/WRITE permissions. The name of the new server can be named (shorter the better) but should not be the same name as the old server. Attach this server to the network so all the other computers can see it as well as it being able to see the OLD server's hard disk and files.

The newest version of ProfitSystem server and workstation software are first installed on the NEW server/computer. Obtain copies of the ProfitSystem installation programs from BBL. Usually these will be downloaded from the internet. Everyone should have READ/WRITE to the ProfitSystem data folders once they are installed.of

The new server should then be authorized using an activation code from BBL Systems. Once ProfitSystem software is installed on new server check it's version number -> Help-> About.

Start ProfitSystem. Let it update data files and when complete run setup the ProfitSystem workstation s/w on all the other peer stations in the network. The data update should only take place ONCE, when ran on old server. If you are prompted again for data update,, then stop and call BBL tech support emergency line. This means the workstation setup was not ran properly on that workstation.

Once the license is authorized on NEW server connect NEW SERVER to existing network and insure it has access to the OLD SERVER's ProfitSystem data file location with READ/WRITE permissions - VERY IMPORTANT. Write down the data path. You may need to manually enter it in the Move Server utility.

On the new server, go to Tools->Move Server and click Start. Follow it's prompts. It will scan the network looking for the shared data files on the old server.

It will scan each computer on the network and look for data files shared at any of the following paths. For these examples, the old server is called \OLDSERVER

\OLDSERVER\TPSWINS\LIVEDATA\ \OLDSERVER\TPSWINS\TWDATA\ \OLDSERVER\PROFITSYSTEM\LIVEDATA\ \OLDSERVER\C\TPSWINS\LIVEDATA\ \OLDSERVER\C\TPSWINS\TWDATA\

These paths are the standard installation paths the ProfitSystem Setup programs create. Some customers place the data in NON-STANDARD locations and the Move Server utility may not find that data location. In these cases the data may be moved manually. Very old ProfitSystem installations installed the data in a folder named TWDATA. Newer installations store the data in LIVEDATA folder so the Move utility looks for those..

If it locates one copy of the shared data files, it will display the location(s) of the data files. If it cannot locate any shared data files it will prompt for the location of the data files. The user must navigate to the data location on the OLD server. TIP, if it locates more than one copy of the data files it will cancel the process. The move data process can only be used if there is one shared copy of the data files on the network. Delete the duplicate ProfitSystem data copies and restart the Move Utility.

When the data files have been located, click Move Data which will copy the data files from the old server to the new server.

The data files on the old server will be renamed so they can’t be used accidentally. The TW.DBC file is renamed to TW-MOVED.DBC.

Make note to the NEW Server data network location (known as UNC). This UNC data path must be entered on each workstation that will access the new server ProfitSystem data. Do this by clicking Housekeeping-> System Maintenance-> Edit INI files. on each workstation. This opens the TPSWIN.INI file to allow the datapath to be modified to the new server. Save & Exit. Finally, the new server may need another authorization using an new activation code from BBL Systems. Call BBL emergency support line if this is the case.

Turn off the OLD SERVER. Go to each workstation and start ProfitSystem. Insure they have access to events and other data by visiting those forms and performing a quick check. if there are issues contact BBL tech support emergency line.

You are done.

Reference on Data Path location Older Profit System installations - C:\TPSWINW\ Windows XP and Server 2003 - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Profit System\ Vista and Windows 7/8/10/Server 2008/2012 - C:\ProgramData\Profit System\ Edit TPSWIN.INI and change the DataPath line to reference the new server. For example, the old data path might be: DataPath=\OLDSERVER\TPSWINS\LIVEDATA\ And it would be changed to DataPath=\NEWSERVER\PROGRAMDATA\PROFITSYSTEM\LIVEDATA\

Note: Programdata is a hidden folder by default. Change File Explorer View settings to display hidden folders to see it in File Explorer.

Technical description of move server actions

The old server should be connected to the network and turned on. When you click Search, the network will be scanned for the shared data folder.

It looks for any share with \[computer]\TPSWINS\LIVEDATA\TW.DBC \[computer]\LIVEDATA\TW.DBC \[computer]\TPSWINS\TWDATA\TW.DBC \[computer]\TWDATA\TW.DBC If ProfitSystem finds more than one set of data on the network, it cancels the process since it does not know how to process multiple copies.

Determine the current folder being used for data storage and remove all others and restart Utility.

If ProfitSystem finds a single copy, it enables the 'Move Server' button If ProfitSystem finds none, it prompts the user for the location of the old data files. When 'Move Server' is clicked, the data files will be copied to this computer. It copies the LIVEDATA or TWDATA folder, and the USER folder. Finally, the data files will be modified on the old server so they can't be accidentally used. (The TW.DBC file will be renamed to TW-MOVED.DBC) ProfitSystem then displays a message: Files copied to this computer. The Profit System will now exit

Note: You will need to update the Data Path on all the workstations within their TPSWIN.INI file to [this computer data share] (Go to each workstation and click Housekeeping-> System Maintenance-> Edit INI files. This opens the TPSWIN.INI file to allow the datapath to be modified to the new server. Save & Exit.

Steps - Performing new server setup Manually

If you feel uncomfortable about following these steps, you may wish to hire a local computer consultant to perform these steps for you.

You may also contact BBL Systems for assistance with performing these steps (for a Server Migration fee).

BEFORE you attempt to migrate your ProfitSystem Server files from one Server to another, you must have a clear understanding of your ProfitSystem Server folder, and where it is located. The ProfitSystem Server folder contains your programs data, as well as any custom letters, tags, mailing labels and query reports you may have created over time. The name of your ProfitSystem Server folder depends on the version you first installed on your server when you first purchased ProfitSystem. The location of this folder depends on which version of Windows you are running: SERVER FOLDER NAME If you originally installed ProfitSystem version 7 or older, the name of the Server folder is 'TPSWINS' If you originally installed ProfitSystem version 8 or newer, the name of the Server folder is 'ProfitSystem' SERVER FOLDER LOCATION

If your Server folder is named TPSWINS, then your Server folder is located in \TPSWINS.

If your Server folder is named ProfitSystem, then depending on which version of Windows you are running, your Server folder is located in one of the following locations: \DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\ALL USERS\APPLICATION DATA\PROFITSYSTEM

or

\PROGRAMDATA\PROFITSYSTEM

Note that if you are unable to locate your ProfitSystem Server folder, you may need to make a change to Windows in order to see the Application Data folder or ProgramData folder (some versions of Windows hide these folders by default). To make these folders visible, open (My) Computer, click on the Tools menu and select Folder Options (Windows Vista and Windows 7 users must press the ALT key first, THEN click on the Tools menu). Click on the View tab at the top, then locate and select Show hidden files and folders). Finally, click on OK. PRE-MIGRATION NOTES:

  1. Do NOT perform this procedure on a weekend or holiday - should some unforeseen issue occur during the upgrade, or as a result of the upgrade, BBL Systems provides upgrade support Mondays through Fridays, 10:00AM to 6:00PM only. The entire procedure can take up to 1 hour to complete, so plan accordingly.
  2. Make sure you have a COMPLETE backup of your ProfitSystem Server folder BEFORE starting the process. If you don't understand what this means, contact BBL Systems Tech Support at (800) 587-7277 x 2 FIRST. You will need the ProfitSystem Server folder for the new server so copy it to a CD or DVD or flash drive so it may be later copied to the new server.
  3. You'll need your ProfitSystem installation CD or download the newest instatllation setup programs. Server installation and Workstation setup.
  4. You'll may also need to contact BBL Systems, Inc. during the process for license authorization, unless you have been provided a license KEY that allows the computer to be authorized over the internet, so please make sure you're doing this between 10a and 6pm EST. You may request an internet key from BBL prior to the migration. INSTRUCTIONS These instructions will assume the old computer machine name is OLDSERVER and the new computer is called NEWSERVER. Just replace these EXAMPLE names with your actual computer names.
  5. Run the ProfitSystem program on OLDSERVER and make a note of the register name. It is shown in the title bar of ProfitSystem (very top bar of window, just after the 'ProfitSystem -'
  6. Exit from ProfitSystem on OLDSERVER.
  7. Using the installation CD or downloaded setup program and choose to install the ProfitSystem Server on the new server (NEWSERVER). Use the same folder location and name as was used on the OLDSERVER.
  8. Make sure the ProfitSystem data folder is shared on NEWSERVER, and is read-write for all users. (the install program attempts to do that for you, but you can check it)
  9. Copy the Server folder from the old server to the new server, overwriting the existing new data folders using the CD /DVD/ Flash drive of the OLDSERVER copied data.
  10. Rename the ProfitSystem Data Folder on the old server to TPSWINSOLD (or PROFITSYSTEMOLD) so there's no chance of using it accidentally.
  11. If NEWSERVER will also be a workstation, install ProfitSystem Workstation software on it.
  12. Run ProfitSystem on the NEWSERVER. It may ask for the location of the data, station name, etc. Specify the data location. When it asks for the Register name, use the register name you noted in step 1 above from when you ran ProfitSystem on the OLDSERVER.. 9 The system should provide a warning that the station name is already in use. Click Ok. 10.. ProfitSystem will indicate that it needs to be authorized. Call BBL Support for authorization (1-800-587-7277, ext 303) or use the authorization key for over the internet authorization.
  13. ProfitSystem should now be running on the server. Let it update data files if it requests do so (in the event you upgraded to a newer ProfitSystem version) Once updates are completed, run the program, check events, customers & tickets to insure your data has been copied over correctly. When you are satisfied the data is intact you may move on to your workstation updates.

If you have other workstations, they will be to be updated as well (if you are also upgrading to a newer ProfitSystem version).

Update each workstation after you successfully run ProfitSystem on the NEWSERVER and have accessed the ProfitSystem main menu. 1. Update each workstation that runs ProfitSystem to use the new server by running the ProfitSystem workstation setup program. 2. Go to the program folder, prior to v8 new installs the default folder was \TPSWINW , v8 and after new installs the program folder is: \Program Files\ProfitSystem. In this folder locate the TPSWIN.INI file. If you are unable to locate TPSWINS.INI in that folder it may had been created in the data folder, so look in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\ProfitSystem. It must be in one of those locations. These steps only needed if the folder names are changed when you moved to the new server) 3. Double-click on the TPSWIN.INI file to edit it using Notepad. 4. Locate the DataPath=\OLDSERVER\C\TPSWINS\LIVEDATA line in the TPSWIN.INI file. 5. Change its entry for the data llocation to the new location on the NEWSERVER: DataPath=\NEWSERVER\ <whatever your path is> 6. Close Notepad and save the TPSWIN.INI file. 7. Start ProfitSystem on the workstation and insure it runs. If it requests to update files,

STOP! The data files should have been updated when the ProfitSystem program ran on the server. If it requests to do it now, then the DATAPATH is not set properly in either the SERVER or on the WORKSTATION. Correct and retry.